Lagos Assembly seeks closure of Yard 158 Events Centre over ignored petition

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, LASCOPA, to shut down Yard 158 Events Centre, Oregun, over its persistent failure to honour official invitations arising from an unresolved consumer complaint.

The resolution followed a motion raised on the floor of the House by the Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Abiodun Tobun, who presented details of an ongoing investigation stalled by the company’s alleged non-cooperation.

Tobun told lawmakers that the committee was handling a petition filed by Mrs Nurat Alaba against the event centre but noted that progress had been impossible because the company repeatedly ignored summons from both the House and LASCOPA.

According to him, Mrs Alaba paid N3 million on January 30, 2025, to reserve the venue for an event scheduled for December 21, 2025.

She reportedly requested a date change to December 20 on the same day and was informed that management would respond accordingly.

He explained that after several follow-ups, the petitioner was eventually told that a 33 per cent cancellation fee would apply.

Mrs Alaba reportedly accepted the condition and requested a refund of the remaining balance.

However, Tobun said the company went silent until October 2025, when Mrs Alaba visited the premises and was informed that the cancellation fee would be calculated based on the full event cost of N6.5 million, rather than the N3 million already paid. This, he said, prompted the petitioner to approach the House of Assembly.

The lawmaker expressed concern that despite several invitations, neither the owner nor any representative of Yard 158 Events Centre had appeared before the committee. He added that letters sent by LASCOPA were also ignored.

“This level of disregard for constituted authority will not be tolerated in Lagos State. The committee has resolved to bring this matter before the House for decisive action,” Tobun stated.

He further appealed to Speaker Mudashiru Obasa to compel the management of the event centre to appear before the House to enable the committee conclude its investigation and submit its report.

Supporting the motion, Nureni Akinsanya emphasised the need to protect the authority of the legislature, warning that failure to act firmly could encourage other businesses to disregard lawful directives.

Kehinde Joseph noted that petition hearings serve as a mechanism for restoring order and fairness in the state, adding that defiance by corporate entities undermines that process.

Bonu Solomon also called for a comprehensive probe into the circumstances surrounding the company’s refusal to recognise the authority of the House.

In his ruling, Speaker Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit a clean copy of the House’s resolution to the relevant authorities for immediate action.