Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN on Wednesday sent a message of condolence to Ibadan based senior lawyer, Chief Niyi Akintola SAN who lost not less than five properties in the explosion that rocked Bodija Estate area of Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, charging him to rise up and challenge the negligence of the state government on behalf of other victims.
On of the properties lost by the senior lawyer is House 40, a posh hotel located around the vicinity of the blast. Akintola after the explosion wrote on a platform about his experience:
“This is what remains of my modest contributions to hospitality businesses in Ibadaland just after the explosions of last night in Bodija. It is a posh hotel in a posh area known as ‘House 40″ on Dejo Oyelese Street. Bodija. I recalled that some of our colleagues on this platform who had at one time enjoyed the hospitality of the modest 24 beds which include 8 suites, 3 chalets and 13 standard rooms are Alariwo, Wole Iyamu SAN, H,E. Iyiola Oladokun (whose residence) that shared a fence with my house 40 was completely destroyed. Other members of the Bar whose properties were destroyed on the street include the Late Chief Bola Ige SAN, the late Chief Bandele Aiku SAN, and an hospitality building said to belong to the late Governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN. My 3 other properties on Alabiamo Street, Adeyi Street and Adenuga Street were also slightly damaged with removed roof, removed POP ceilings, sliding doors, air-conditionals and several electrical applications. Oh my God, it is terrible. As I write this with my hands trembling, some guests and 3 hotel staff are in the hospital but we thank God that no casuality was recorded. What a way to start a new year? I need your prayers please”.
However, in a condolence message, Falana urged Akintola to rise beyond his loss and use the opportunity to challenge the government on behalf other victims, including the dead, for negligence.
Below is the letter:
Dear Chief Akintola SAN,
I was highly disturbed to read your account of the blast that occurred in Ibadan last week and the destruction of your hotel and several houses. It has since been confirmed that the explosion also killed not less than 5 persons and injured about 100 others.
Please accept my sympathy over the avoidable loss of your properties and those of other colleagues. Since the explosives that caused the explosion were illegally kept in a private apartment, the disaster was a product of criminal negligence on the part of the owner and the Government.
In his reaction to the recent explosion, a respected newspaper columnist, Bola Bolawole had recalled that”…on Sunday, 18 April, 2021, I drew the attention of Gov. Makinde to the activities of illegal miners in the state, with the title ‘Is Makinde aware of this?’ published on page 22 of that day’s edition of the Sunday Tribune, it obviously caught the attention of the government as a result of which a Special Adviser to the governor called me afterwards to say their government was aware of the activities of the illegal miners and that something was being done.”
Apparently, nothing was done by the Government to check the menace of the illegal miners in the State. However, the Government has turned round to condemn the explosion which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of properties worth several billions of Naira. But apart from the condemnation, the Government will neither file criminal charges against the owner of the explosives nor claim reparation for the victims of the explosion.
You will agree with me that this is a clear case of *res ipsa loquitor.* Therefore, in view of your privileged position in the society, I am compelled to call on you to initiate legal proceedings at the Oyo State High Court for payment of huge reparation to all victims of the explosion by the owner of the explosives and the Government. The action should be filed on behalf of all victims and the bereaved families of the 5 persons that were killed in the explosion. You may wish to pray the Court to restrain the Government from giving licences to individuals and corporate bodies to engage in mining activities in any part of the country without a comprehensive insurance policy.
This is the only way to make the government accountable and prevent the reckless mining of solid minerals and other resources by local and foreign merchants in Oyo State and other States of the Federation.
Femi Falana SAN.
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