Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has sent a protest letter to the Bayelsa state police command over an alleged illegal demolition of her property, Aridolf Resort Wellness and Spa, located in Okaka area of the state capital by government officials led by a former secretary to the state government and the chairman of the state’s Physical Planning and Development Board, Alabo Gideon Ekeowe.
Mrs Jonathan in her letter to the police is demanding the arrest of Alabo Gideon Ekeowe over alleged abuse of office, criminal demolition and abuse of court processes.
The demand for the arrest of Ekeowe was provoked by Friday’s destruction of the fence of the hotel without allowing the management of the hotel and the police respond to the court order arising from the Motion on Notice instituted by the physical planning board.
Investigations revealed that while the court ruled on the motion on notice on Monday, the Bayelsa police command was expected to jointly implement received the copy on Friday but officials of the board started the demolition at about 3pm on Friday without the police. The law establishing the board says such demolition cannot be done without police approval.
Though the demolished fence allegedly encroached on the legal line in the state physical development plan, the action of the board violated court processes and abuse of office.
A source within the board told newsmen that the protest was creating an uproar and Governor Douye Diri seems to have dissociated himself from the action of the board.
Attempts to contact Ekeowe for his response on the allegation met a brick wall as his mobile phone indicated it was unreachable.
But an official who is close to the board’s boss acknowledged the complaints of Mrs. Jonathan, declaring that the action of the officials of the board was backed by the ruling of the Physical Planning Tribunal Development tribunal headed by Justice Emmanuel Ogola (rtd).
“I am not aware of any disagreement between Madam Jonathan and Alabo Ekeowe. And I don’t know if she is calling for his arrest. But all I know is that a tribunal ruled against the property and it was executed,” the official said.
