Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has threatened to sue the governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, over the demolition of Music House owned by popular musician, Yinka Ayefele.
The building, located in Ibadan, which was destroyed on Sunday by the Oyo State Government houses a radio station also owned by Ayefele, Fresh FM.
SERAP issued the threat on Tuesday in a letter to the governor.
The group described the action of the Oyo State government as illegal and in bad taste.
In the letter signed by its Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, the organisation called on the government to stop the demolition of the building and carry out repairs on it.
The group gave the government seven days with which it must comply with the demands made.
According to SERAP, the government should “immediately halt all further eviction and demolition of Fresh FM building and to show full respect for the safety and dignity of residents and owner of Fresh FM.
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“We also urge you to immediately begin repairs of the Fresh FM building and to adequately compensate the radio station and its owner and publicly guarantee non-repetition.”
“We request that you take this step within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will take national and international legal actions to compel your government to act in the public interest and the overall interest of the rule of law,” the group warned.
SERAP declared that the “apparently unlawful action” of the government had set a bad precedent and created a high level of uncertainty and anxiety among many radio stations and other media organisations in Oyo State about the future.
That, it argued, was because of the likelihood of their buildings being demolished when deemed to broadcast views which the Oyo State authorities might consider critical or ‘defamatory’.”
