OGD vs OGS: Govt gives clarification on misleading media report

Ogun State Government has debunked the misleading media report from the camp of former Governor Gbenga Daniel (OGD)on the court proceedings over a case filed regarding Daniel’s property, claiming that the government’s legal team were at the receiving end.
The said report also falsely claimed that the State’s default caused the court to extend the interim injunction protecting the property, saying the state government failed to act in the defence of the matter.
A statement by the Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Oluwasina Ogungbangbe, SAN, on Friday described the claim as total falsehood and a deceptive move to dubiously change narrative for cheap political gains.
It said the government, contrary to the claim had actively participated in every stage of the proceedings and equally demonstrated a commitment to defeat Daniel’s claims, urging the general public to believe only the court’s record as authentic report of proceedings.
Ogungbangbe, according to the statement challenged the former Governor, his media and legal team to come out and support their narrative in the media space with verifiable evidence from the court.
The statement read: ”The Ogun State Ministry of Justice has observed media reports suggesting that the State Government was on the receiving end of judicial rebuke in a case filed regarding Senator Gbenga Daniel’s properties.
“This report is false.The true facts are as follows: On 14 October 2025, the three consolidated suits – HCS/371-373/2025 came up merely for mention. Honourable Justice Oloyede in High Court 2, Sagamu Judicial Division presided. A M Kotoye SAN with O T Are and A O Adeniyi represented Senator Daniel’s interest while Ogun State was represented by Mrs R B Kadiri (Director, Civil Litigation), Mrs A E Odukoya (Assistant Director, Civil Litigation), Mr. W A Onawole (Assistant Director, Civil Litigation), and Mr A T Fadipe (State Counsel).
“Even before the case was called, the judge announced to the court that he would not take any contentious matters because he was about to proceed on vacation. As such, Mrs Kadiri identified all the papers that the State had filed. Mrs Kadiri informed the Court that the State could not serve Senator Daniel’s team with the documents filed because the lawyer who the Senator’s team had designated to accept court papers in Ogun State – Mr A A Ogunba – had died and Mr Kotoye had not nominated a new person to accept court documents for him.
“Mr Kotoye SAN made unfounded accusations against State officials, alleging contempt and non-cooperation in purported settlement efforts. Mrs Kadiri responded that it was rather Senator Daniel and his team who refused to submit their building documents to the permit authorities as directed by the court, but instead merely filed a further affidavit with an exhibit labelled as “building approval,” unverified by the appropriate agencies.
“Mr Kotoye SAN applied to the court for an extension of the interim injunction granted to the Claimants, but Mrs Kadiri was quick to remind the court that the interim order had already expired seven days after it was granted and could not be extended. The Judge agreed and instead renewed his direction to all parties to maintain status quo and repeated his advice that the parties explore the amicable settlement option.
In view of the Judge’s impending vacation, Mrs Kadiri then applied that the matter should be transferred to another Judge for expeditious hearing since the State had completed all filings expected of it. Mr Kotoye had no response to this application.
“Accordingly, the Judge enjoined the State to take necessary action to transfer the case to another Judge then adjourned the proceedings before him in the alternative e to 14 January 2026.At no point at the proceedings did the court express dissatisfaction or reprimand the State Counsels present in court. To the contrary, the Honorable Court had to expressly advise the Senator Daniel’s counsel – Mr Kotoye SAN – to refrain from using uncouth language against colleagues during proceedings.
“We challenge Senator Daniel, his lawyers and his partisan media talebearers to produce any record from court that supports the falsehood circulated in the media yesterday. We enjoin the public to not be deceived or misled by partisan distortions of court events or sensationalised media reports. The report from the Senator’s team even by its hyperbolic tone and theatrical presentation should caution discerning members of the public. If the Senator is confident in the case he has filed in an actual court of law, why is he so determined to make his case in the court of public opinion? With lies, no less”.