A journalist with the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES), Kelechi David, has appealed to Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to intervene in the demolition of his four-bedroom apartment in Ifaki-Ekiti.The property, located along Esure Road in the Ona Oko Ika area of Ifaki, was reportedly pulled down on the orders of the Olokun of Ifaki-Ekiti, Chief Tunji Olaiya, who claimed to be acting on a valid court judgment.
Kelechi, who is the Chairman of the BSES Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, said he legally purchased the land in 2019 from Adeyeye Olajide, whose late father, Moses Olajide, he believed to be the rightful owner.
He explained that he financed the construction through loans and personal savings, completing the building earlier this month with plans to roof it soon before it was demolished.
The journalist lamented that the demolition was carried out without prior notice or engagement, alleging that over 2,000 blocks and other building materials were also destroyed in the process.
“This is a house I laboured hard to build through loans and years of savings. It is disheartening that it was brought down without any form of dialogue,” he said.
Kelechi further claimed that the structure had earlier collapsed in 2024 under mysterious circumstances, forcing him to rebuild it in 2025.
However, Chief Tunji Olaiya confirmed ordering the demolition, maintaining that it was executed in line with a court ruling.
According to him, the legal dispute over the land dates back to 2016 and was resolved in favour of his family the same year. He clarified that the case was against the original seller, Adeyeye Olajide, not the journalist.
Olaiya stated that all individuals who purchased land from the disputed source were invited for negotiations but failed to cooperate.
“We acted based on a court order. The judgment granted us possession of the land, and we gave ample time for affected parties to come forward,” he said.
The traditional chief warned that more structures erected on the disputed land would be demolished as the family moves to fully reclaim its property.
The incident has sparked concern among residents, with calls for government intervention to prevent further escalation and ensure justice for all parties involved.
