How Airport-Bound Real Estate Mogul Perished In Ikoyi Building Collapse

Wale Bob-Oseni, a Real Estate Dealer and Executive Director of African Bureau for Legislative Empowerment has been identified as one of the casualties who died in the ill-fated 21-Storey building that collapsed in Ikoyi on November 2, 2021.

Wale Bob-Oseni, who is based in the United States was reportedly on his way to the airport when he received a call from his friend and owner of Fourscore Homes, to check out the ongoing development at Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos state.

The building, which is said to have failed an initial integrity test, caved to the ground with both friends buried beneath its rubble. They have now been presumed dead after 48 hours of rescue efforts.

In a viral video shared across various media in the wake of the collapse, a man who claimed to be Bob-Oseni’s driver was seen shedding profuse tears.

According to him, he was taking Mr Oseni to the airport when he decided to make a detour to visit his friend’s building project.

“He was heading to America. I want to go and drop him in the airport,” the driver said in tears.

It remains unclear how many persons are buried under the rubble but the initial estimate is that no less than 50 persons have been trapped.

As of Wednesday, the death toll of the building collapse had risen to 22, while nine persons have been rescued.

Read Also: BREAKING: Death Toll From Ikoyi Building Collapsed Rises To 38

Ovation Magazine Publisher, Dele Momodu, who described both men as his “aburos” (younger brothers) could not muster the words to explain his grief.

“Wale was on his way to the US… this is so tragic,” he said.

Otunba TJ Abass, an erstwhile President of Eko Club International, an umbrella group for Lagosians living in the diaspora, described the incident as a tragedy of devastating proportions.

“This guy is my Aburo, a former member of Eko Club Washington DC Metro in the USA. He moved to Nigeria to participate in nation-building,” he said.

He recalled seeing a good-spirited Bob-Oseni at the one year coronation anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom; unaware that the fine figure of a young man would soon come to a premature end.

Alhaji Kemi Kareem(KemKem), also former President of Eko Club Washington DC described the loss as a tragic one for his family and the organisation that wale served with utmost zest and vigour.

Prayers, condolences and commiserations have continued to rent the air as first responders sift through the wreckage in search of more survivors.