The family of Anietie Ndarake, an architect and member of Reigners Bible Church in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, where a building collapsed in December, has called for his unconditional release.
It urged the police to arrest the proprietor of the church, Bishop Akan Weeks.
Uwem Ndarake, the detainee’s older brother, addressed reporters yesterday in Uyo with his relations.
He said the bishop knew everything about the collapsed church building.
The distraught brother noted that as a committed member of the church and a professional, Anietie felt obligated to visit the site from time to time.
He said: “He (Aniette) was not contracted or paid to supervise any aspect of the construction work. He had no hand in the drawings or designs. Neither did he work at the site as someone paid to offer professional service.
“Bishop Weeks controlled everything at the site. He paid those working there. We are aware that he personally paid people to remove the scaffold that held the weight of the ‘drum or fulcrum’ of the truss of the roof.
“It was after removing the scaffold on Friday evening, from what we gathered, that a crack was noticed on the wall. Why did he order the removal of the scaffold against advice? Why did he keep threatening workers at the site to act against sound advice? We want Akan Weeks to release Anietie immediately.”
The family urged the Federal Government to appoint coroners who would conduct an inquest into the building collapse. The panel should also determine the number of persons who died. We request that the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) be allowed to independently conduct an investigation and make its report known to the public.
Uwem expressed worry about the state of his brother’s health, adding that the police had denied him administrative bail.
The designers of the structure and the roof as well as other persons who supervised the project, including Bishop Weeks, were released after making statements to the police.
This happened several days after the incident.
Two persons were detained in police custody since December 12, last year. The suspects are: Ndarake, and Mr. Idongesit White, the roof contractor who merely interpreted the design according to the specification of the structural design handed over to him.