The once-celebrated De Castle Inn, a landmark hospitality outfit located along Queen Elizabeth II Road, Ibadan, has been demolished by the Oyo State Government, bringing to a dramatic end a 14-year saga of business decline, unfulfilled compensation promises, legal battles, and allegations of political interest.
The hotel, known for its premium services and strategic location near the bustling Total Garden-Gate axis, served as a key hospitality destination for travelers, business executives, and leisure seekers, contributing significantly to Ibadan’s local economy.
Ibadancity Announcer gathered that in June 2011, the fortunes of De Castle Inn took a downward turn when the then Oyo State Government, under former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, commenced a road dualization project aimed at decongesting traffic in the area. The project saw a deep trench dug across the hotel’s frontage and a retaining wall constructed, effectively cutting off customer access to the premises.
The shutdown that followed marked the beginning of a prolonged struggle for the hotel’s owner, Architect Yemi Omole. Though government officials initially promised compensation to affected property owners, including Omole, several attempts to claim the promised funds yielded no results.
Omole’s repeated engagements with government agencies met dead ends, prompting him and other stakeholders to stage a protest in 2014, a move that also failed to secure any compensation. Over time, the once-bustling hotel fell into disrepair, becoming a shadow of its former self.
In February 2024, the state government, citing concerns over the building’s dilapidated state, threatened to take over the property. Omole challenged the move in court, arguing that the government could not demand renovation on a property it had rendered inaccessible without fulfilling its compensation pledge. The court sided with Omole, barring the government from seizing the property.
Despite the court victory, pressure on Omole reportedly persisted, with political actors allegedly making covert moves to acquire the property. Financially drained and unable to revamp the building, Omole was said to have considered selling the property, expressing a preference for a Yoruba buyer who would understand the land’s significance.
On July 19, 2025, the Oyo State Government commenced the demolition of De Castle Inn, citing public safety concerns. According to Mr. William Akin-Funmilayo, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey, and Urban Development, the abandoned structure had become a notorious criminal hideout, posing a threat to residents in the Total Garden–Mokola–Agodi Gate corridor.
Security personnel were deployed to maintain order during the exercise, which began over the weekend. Akin-Funmilayo referenced earlier warnings issued in February 2024 that abandoned buildings deemed security risks would be taken over by the state.
The demolition has stirred mixed reactions across Ibadan. While some residents welcomed the move as necessary for security and urban renewal, others condemned it as an unfair punishment for a property owner who suffered years of neglect and unmet promises from successive administrations.
