The collapsed Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCAN) building was not caused by structural defects, Coroner Oyetade Comolafe has heard.
A consultant engineer, Oladele Ogundeji, who supervised the project, repudiated claims “that the collapse was caused by foundation defects,” saying: “The building had 28 columns.
Ogundeji, who works Hardrock Construction and Engineering Limited, said a soil test was conducted by a geo-technical engineer whose report informed the building design.
The coroner admitted the amended architectural and structural designs of the building, which were tendered through Ogundeji as exhibit.
Led in evidence by SCOAN’s counsel Mr Olalekan Ojo, Ogundeji told the coroner last Friday that he was trained in Building Technology and Building Engineering in Yugoslavia, adding: “I will not agree that the collapse was caused by structural defect. If it was a structural defect the collapse will be gradual. There will be cracks visible even to a layman.
“When I watched the CCTV footage, everything came down within four seconds. Speaking sincerely, I believe that it must have been induced scientifically but I don’t know the means.”
The direction and the speed of the fall of the building were not consistent with structural failure, adding: “According to the drawing and based on the geotechnical reports, the foundations were okay. This project is a technological cause, it can be verified.
“Now, when we were working on site, we did not envisage that something like this would happen but after the collapse, an agency of the state, the Lagos State Material Testing Agency came to the site, they instructed that three bases should be excavated, they took some samples and carried out laboratory tests. They came out with the result; the concrete pad footing passed the test, the reinceforcement passed the test and the columns passed the test. Apart from this, the foundation on site that the six-storey building stood upon are still there, they are intact, no rotation and no tilting.”
According to Ogundeji, despite the stress occasioned by the collapse, the foundation still passed the test conducted by the agency. The results, he said, were in the court’s custody.
When asked about the signs of a building that collapsed because of foundational compromise, Ogundeji said there would have been cracks in the foundation and the wall, adding that the building would have been tilting weeks before its collapse.
Illustrating with a schematic diagram, Ogundeji said: “If it is a structural failure, the whole building would not come down suddenly on no account and when it is coming down it would be gradual, it may take days, weeks or months and it can take 10 years and there will be cracks that even a layman will see it.”
The construction, the witness said, followed best practices, adding that though his client was responsible for the supply of building materials, he gave the specification and suggested the supplier.
He said Dangote cement was used for the construction, adding that every bag of cement procured was used within two weeks of manufacture because the storage room was small.
Ogundeji disagreed with the agency’s recommendation that a raft foundation should have been erected for the structure.
Under-cross examination by Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran, counsel to the Lagos State government, Ogundeji said certified designs were sufficient for the start of the project.
Hearing resumes today.
