Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun – the two engineers – who constructed the collapsed seven-storey guest house of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), were remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Lagos on Tuesday.
Lateef Lawal-Akapo, a judge of an Ikeja high court, who gave the ruling, said the men should be kept behind bars until the charges would be determined.
“The defendants are remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons pending the determination of the charge,” he ordered.
The engineers had pleaded not guilty to a 111-count charge bordering on gross negligence and criminal manslaughter.
The prosecution led by Idowu Alakija, director, Lagos state directorate of public prosecutions (DPP), said the defendants committed the offences between August 20 and September 2013.
According to her, the defendants constructed a seven-storey building at the church in Ikotun-Egbe in Ikotun area of Lagos with disregard for human lives.
One-hundred-and-sixteen persons, 85 of whom were South Africans, died in the incident.
On July 8, 2015, the coroner’s inquest instituted by the Lagos state government, had said the collapse was caused by structural failure due to a combination of designs and detailing errors.
The inquest ordered that Synagogue church be investigated and prosecuted by the relevant authorities for not possessing necessary building permits, while the two engineers should be tried for criminal negligence.
The arraignment of the defendants by the Lagos state government had been continuously stalled by the defence through several adjournments and filing of various applications before the court.
But at Tuesday’s proceedings, the Judge dismissed two seperate applications of Titi Akinlawon (SAN) and E.L. Akpofure (SAN), and immediately ordered the arraignment of Fatiregun, Ogundeji and the trustees of the church in spite of opposition from the defence.
The case was adjourned to April 26 for hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.
-The Cable
Hmmmm...only God knows what really happened
ReplyDeleteWhy now?
DeleteAt last 2 people are in kirikiri. good
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteWhere is TB Joshua?
He is at home...
DeleteLmao!!
DeleteFinally
ReplyDeleteBut in d case of d collapsed Lekki Garden's building. the owner was d one arrested.
ReplyDeleteIs dis a case of some animals being more equal than others?
It was the MD that was arrested. He is not the owner, the owner is rumoured to be Godswill Akpabio. The MD is clearly not the owner, so get your facts right,MR Money TAKER!
DeleteDid you say rumoured? You be real goat.
DeleteMay the souls of all who perished in dt building RIP
ReplyDeleteAmen!...
DeleteDid they just remember the case? Would they have done that if not because of public outcry against their selective treatment of Richard's case
ReplyDeleteThis case has been in court since. It wasn't thrown out of court. We all know how our judicial system is. They take time in all this things. Just the same way we haven't heard anything about that of Richard since. Doesn't mean the case has ended.
DeleteThank you fab mum. Buffon mrs T you heard! B4 u start letting your mind running wild
DeleteAt last two people are in prison, I hope they are
ReplyDeleteThese two engineers are now the proverbial sacrificial lambs.
ReplyDeleteSome are born to be Pawns in the Chess game of life.
Some animals are more equal than others...what is good for the goose is not good for the other sacred goose.
ReplyDelete..
May God be with them
ReplyDeleteTB Joshua that contracted them to build the site what happens to him. Which telling d Engineers to raise d building will they raise it to 7 floors.
ReplyDeleteI really don't even understand why smone will leave dere country and all d churched there and go to SCOAN. Is God not also in SA.
Well done pastor Joshua, it's obvious you have powers at ur bank. Bcos ur supposed to be picked up like Lekki gardens boss.
Shut up!...
DeleteAnd who made you a judge with this your rubbish english...
Tomorrow you will come and claim graduate!...now I know why most of you don't have a job...
Dumbo queen so pity n full of pride. What she said is what is rightly done in a sane society that wants equity for all. Furthermore, are you a better English writer. To read and understand English on this blog you keep assimilating with your native sense n tribal language. Queen of worms😜
DeleteHis followers are more foreigners than Nigerians. I guess he appeals to their audience more.
DeleteMay God save them all.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed
ReplyDeleteThis should have happened since.
ReplyDelete