Traders, sopping complex owner in shouting match over N100m refund for demolished shops 

Traders who paid for shops at a demolished shopping complex owned Chief Osamede Adun, the Aiyobahan of Benin Kingdom, yesterday lamented the non refund of their money.

They are demanding refund of over N100 million  paid as rent for the shops but was not refunded to them as the building was demolished by the Edo State Government.

The traders who protested to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, said they will have no option but to drag Chief Adun to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if he fails to refund their money.

Some of the traders who spoke to  journalists said they paid as much as N800,000 for two shops at the complex before it was pulled down.

The traders who displayed their receipts as evidence of payment alleged that several attempts made by them to get Chief Adun to refund their money since he could not provide shops for  them have yielded no result.

One of the traders who only gave his name as Isaac, said he borrowed the money he used to pay for the shop and that he is currently paying interest for on the money.

Others who also spoke said they were told that a new shop would be given to them  but they are to get the shops.

Responding, Chief Adun said he was yet to be paid compensation by the Edo State Government.

He denied collecting such amount of money from the traders ,adding that he was waiting for the government to pay him so that he would refund their money.

The State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu, said he was not aware of any compensation owed Chief Adun.

But a government who pleaded anonymity said the state government acquired the property for public interest.

He said “government acquired that place and pulled  it down for being an illegal structure. An advertisement was placed inviting anybody that has interest in the place to come forward,”

According to him, somebody has written to us stating that he owned the land and that he was in court  with Chief Adun over ownership of the land.

” Chief Adun should not be talking about compensation when he is yet to proof ownership of the place.”
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