The Management of Ikeja Golf Club has announced plans to take legal action against the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) following an alleged invasion of the club, the assault of staff members, and the club’s subsequent shutdown.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, when LASBCA officials sealed off the club’s premises, citing public safety concerns.
According to the club’s management, two of its staff members, the Manager and the Accountant were arrested during the invasion and detained at the Lagos Taskforce headquarters in Oshodi. They were later released the following day, along with the unsealing of the club’s premises.
Speaking to *City & Crime*, Babatunde Ojo, the Captain of the club, expressed outrage over the invasion, stating that the club had instructed its legal team to file charges against LASBCA for violating the fundamental rights of its staff. He added that a formal petition would also be sent to the state Attorney-General, the Ministry of Physical Planning, and the State Police Commissioner to investigate the involvement of their officers in the incident.
Reports indicate that the invasion stemmed from a stray golf ball that allegedly struck a LASBCA staff member about two weeks prior. Ikeja Golf Club, established in 1968, has long enjoyed a peaceful relationship with its neighbors, including government agencies, schools, and private establishments. The management claims that despite the incident, the club had not violated any building codes, and the invasion was a gross misuse of authority.
Ojo also pointed out that the club has a comprehensive insurance policy in place to address accidents, including injuries caused by stray golf balls. He further criticized LASBCA’s actions, saying that the agency’s overreach was unfounded, especially given that their own headquarters, located on Muiz Banire Road, had only recently moved into the neighborhood.
In a disturbing account, club staff alleged that a female administrative worker was assaulted during the invasion, and her mobile phone was seized by enforcement officers. Another witness, Omolara Mary, a club member, claimed she was stripped by security personnel associated with the LASBCA enforcement team. The club’s General Manager, Joseph Alao Israel, who was also detained with the Accountant, described being held incommunicado for nearly 24 hours.
Responding to the incident, LASBCA defended its actions, emphasizing that the club’s closure was a necessary response to ongoing public safety concerns. According to Adu Ademuyiwa, Director of Public Affairs at LASBCA, a key reason for the shutdown was a recent incident where a stray golf ball hit a LASBCA staff member at the agency’s Ikeja headquarters. LASBCA also cited numerous complaints about golf balls causing damage to vehicles in the surrounding area, further justifying the closure.
“The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has taken decisive action by sealing off the Ikeja Golf Club at Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA, after several incidents of negligence raised concerns about public safety of lives and property damage,” Ademuyiwa stated. “The closure was prompted by repeated complaints and a recent incident in which a golf ball struck a LASBCA staff member in its Ikeja Headquarters premises.”
This ongoing dispute highlights tensions between the regulatory body and the golf club, with both sides digging in their heels over the causes and consequences of the incident.
