According to Bayelsa State Physical Planning Board, the developer blatantly refused to abide by contravention notices imposed on him by the Board, and the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board consequently sealed the site.
The property, a one-story hotel facility situated at the Okaka Housing Estate in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was sealed on Friday, September 16, 2022, according to a statement by the Head of the Public Relations Unit of the Board, Mr. Imgbi Gbalipre Stanley.
Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, the executive chairman of the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board, claimed during the sealing process that the developer consciously chose not to follow the Board's rules despite receiving multiple enforcement notifications.
Speaking through Town Planner Tari Ikposo of the Board's Development Control Department, the Executive Chairman noted that during a routine development control exercise in 2018, staff members noticed construction and contacted the developer by serving all necessary notices, but the developer chose to ignore them all.
"We will give you a Stop Work Notice, which is intended to force the developer to appear before the Board, and a Contravention Notice afterwards. When a developer disregards this process leading to plan approval or a development permit, the matter will be brought before the Tribunal when the required number of days have passed ".
The chairman claimed that the developer's reluctance to abide by the numerous notifications imposed on him was what prompted the Baord to bring him before the Physical Planning and Development Tribunal, and that he also ignored all court summonses and hearings.
After obtaining a court order giving the Board the authority to seal the property, Alabo Ekeuwei claimed that the action was brought about as a result of his reluctance to honor the Board and the Tribunal.
The property will remain sealed unless the Ekeuwei complies with the Board's demands and provides all the requested documents regarding the development, the Ekeuwei claims. He also warns that if he disobeys and forcibly reopens the property, he will be arrested and charged with contempt of court in accordance with the provisions of the law that established the Board.
However, he utilized the opportunity to caution land developers to always seek the Board's consent before beginning any construction in the state.
