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Tag: SCOAN

  • Ruling in Synagouge’s case Friday

    Ruling in Synagouge’s case Friday

    A Lagos High Court will on Friday decide whether to stop the coroner inquest into the last September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) collapsed building.

    Justice Lateefa Okunnu reserved  ruling yesterday after hearing a suit brought by SCAN’s founder Prophet Temitope Joshua and its board of trustees against the coroner, chief magistrate Oyetade Komolafe.

    She deferred the ruling, which was initially billed for yesterday, to enable the parties address her on whether the coroner is a “juristic” person that can sue and be sued.

    Justice Okunnu said she raised the issue because she considered it vital to the determination of the case.

    The parties will address the court on the issue before its ruling on Friday.

    SCOAN is praying the Justice Okunnu to suspend the inquest and the coroner’s invitation to Joshua to testify, pending the determination of his suit against Komolafe.

    It is seeking to bar coroner from exceeding his jurisdiction on the inquest into the death of unknown persons in the collapsed building.

    No fewer than 115 people mostly South Africans died in the incident.

    When the case resumed yesterday, SCOAN’s Chief Security Officer Mr Sunday Okojie told Chief Magistrate Komolafe that the church “is a secure haven”.

    According to the CSO, the buildings within the church premises have always been under security surveillance before and after the September 12 incident.

    Before the incident, security personnel and officials were deployed on their respective duty posts and in all the entrance and exit points.

    He said there was no side of the premises that was left unsecured.

    He told the court that Visitors Coordinators (VCs), a team in his department, was assigned to visitors and guests, adding that the jurisdiction of the VCs are not restricted, hence they have access into guests’ rooms to ensure their safety.

    The church, he said, has two entrances adding that for security reason, only one was now left open after the incident.

  • Synagogue: Coroner sits today

    The coroner conducting inquest on the collapse of a building  at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) may resume sitting today.

    The coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe announced the new date following the poor turnout of lawyers and interested parties last week.

    He expressed the court’s determination to see to the end of the matter within the next two weeks.

    He, therefore, urged lawyers and interested parties against using delay tactics in the proceedings of the court.

    He urged the interested parties to use last week to view the CCTV footage already filed as evidence before the court.

    It would be recalled that the strike embarked upon by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), between January 5 and 25 made it impossible for the court to resume sitting after the Christmas and New Year breaks.

    At the last hearing December 23, last year, SCOAN’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Sunday Okogie, in his testimony confirmed that both NEMA and LASEMA officials were not prevented from rescuing people trapped under the collapsed guest house.

    The CSO also submitted the unedited Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footages of the incident from September 12 to September 16, to the court.

    Okogie pointed out that both agencies arrived at the church about an hour after the building collapsed and gained access to the scene in less than a minute.

    Also the National Executive Co-coordinator of Life Savers Foundation (LSF), Mrs. Fola Shoetan, had told the court that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) were not well equipped to manage disaster situations in the country.

    The court had on December 23, adjourned till January 6, this year when it hoped that Justice Lateefa Okunnu would rule on an application filed by SCOAN founder, Pastor Temitope Joshua.

    Joshua, in his application had  prayed Justice Okunnu’s court for an order of prohibition against the Coroner’s Court of Lagos State and Magistrate Komolafe from exceeding their jurisdiction in the conduct of coroner’s inquest into the death of unknown persons in the collapsed building within the premises of SCOAN on September 12, 2014.

    He had also urged the court to issue, “An order of Certiorari to quash the proceedings of the 1st and 2nd respondents in the conduct of the coroner’s inquest into the death of unknown persons in the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos on September12, 2014 in suit number CR/AL/01/2014 concerning matters, issues and circumstances other than what directly caused the death of the victims and the manner of their death for having been conducted without or in excess of the statutory jurisdiction of the 1st and 2nd respondents.

    “A declaration that the decision of the coroner to summon the applicants to give evidence at a time when no materials were placed before the coroner against the applicants is a breach of the applicants’ right to fair hearing.

    “A declaration that the coroner, who relied on his personal knowledge of the facts of the case, is not a proper person to preside at the inquest into the death of people at the collapsed building of Synagogue Church of All Nations.

    “A declaration that the coroner who relied on extraneous matters not borne out of the records to reach his conclusion that the 2nd applicant is a necessary witness when in fact is not, is in breach of the rules of natural justice and fair hearing guaranteed by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “An order prohibiting the coroner from conducting further inquest/proceedings relating to the construction of the collapsed building, which facts are clearly outside the scope of a coroner’s inquest.

    “An order quashing the proceedings of the coroner’s inquest in its entirety for being conducted in breach of the rule of natural justice, likelihood of blade, and for taking proceedings clearly outside the scope of the jurisdiction of the respondent.

    “An order prohibiting the respondent from insisting on the personal attendance of the 2nd applicant as such will be without or in excess of jurisdiction, unconstitutional and unlawful.

    “An order of injunction to restrain the respondents as presently constituted from further conducting any inquest into the collapsed building of Synagogue Church of All Nations, as the 2nd respondent has demonstrated personal interest in the subject matter and his neutrality clearly compromised.

    “An order of injunction restraining coroner from taking and continuing to take evidence/proceedings on the issue of approval and construction of the collapsed building, which issues are clearly outside the scope of a coroner’s inquest.”

    Owing to the strike of JUSUN, the court could not deliver its ruling on January 6, on the application.

  • Poor attendance stalls inquest on Synagogue building collapse

    Poor attendance stalls inquest on Synagogue building collapse

    Further hearing in the coroner inquest on the September 12, 2014 Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), building collapse continues on Wednesday.

    Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe adjourned the case yesterday following poor attendance by lawyers and interested parties.

    Before the adjournment, Magistrate Komolafe said he was determined to conclude the matter in two weeks.

    He warned lawyers and interested parties against delaying proceedings, saying during the remaining days of this week interested parties would be allowed to watch the CCTV footage tendered as exhibit.

    The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) January 5 to 25 strike affected the coroner’s sitting.

    Last December 23, it adjourned till January 6 when it hoped that Justice Lateefa Okunnu would have ruled on an application filed by SCOAN founder Pastor Temitope Joshua.

    In the application, Joshua, among others, prayed Justice Okunnu for an order stopping Komolafe from exceeding his jurisdiction in the handling of the case.

  • ‘Radiation may have caused Synagogue building collapse’

    ‘Radiation may have caused Synagogue building collapse’

    The September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) guest house collapse in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb, may have been caused by a high-energy infrasonic radiation, a witness said yesterday.

    Mr Biedomo Iguniewei, an independent witness and consultant with specific interest in explosives and weapon research, was testifying at the coroner inquest into the incident that claimed 115 lives.

    Iguniewei (37), a graduate of Chemistry at the University of Maiduguri, is currently a post-graduate student of Explosives and Material Science at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna.

    The witness told Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe that he was in a position to reach such a conclusion based on his experience with the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, where he worked for six years.

    Iguniewei said he took personal interest in the collapse because of his background, adding that he had already visited the scene to conduct research for eventual publication of his findings.

    His interest in the incident, he said, was ignited by the controversy surrounding how it happened.

    The witness said: “I was worried when I heard them talking of controlled demolition. And from the video that I watched, I started asking myself: What could have led to the building crumbling in near vertical fall?”

    He said he travelled from Kaduna to the church to conduct the research as a thesis for his post-graduate programme.

    Testifying on his deposition filed before the court, the witness said he took samples and observed the crumbled building, other structures surrounding it and their pillars with rods.

    Iguniewei also claimed to have interviewed some survivors inside the building when it collapsed, adding that after eliminating all the other possible options, he concluded that the building could have been fired at with an infrasonic radiation.

    “Having analysed all the video evidence and interviewing the survivors of the collapsed building and observing the site of the collapsed building, I came to the conclusion that the building collapsed as a result of infrasonic weapon probably fired from a flying object or a stationary location on the ground”, he said.

    Under cross-examination by counsel to the state government Akingbolahan Adeniran and counsel to the National Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) Fola Alade, the witness described infrasound as a type of sound measuring bellow 20Hz, which is below what the normal human ear could detect.

    According to him, an infrasonic weapon can be fired or deployed from any flying object or from a location within a distance of between 100 metres and 1000 metres away from the intended target.

    He said: “The striking thing about infrasound is that you cannot see it, but it causes remarkable vibrations when used as a weapon. Those of us who work with the security know that weapons are produced and they are always looking for where to test the weapons.

    “I am of the opinion that what happened that day, especially with the strange plane-like objects seen in the video, was that an infrasonic radiation was fired upon the building and if you observe, you will discover that it took about 30 minutes for the building to come down.”

    Iguniewei said the building was  susceptible to being destroyed by infrasonic radiation since its construction did not envisage that it could be a target of such an attack.

    “It is important for this court to be aware of this option but why it could have been used here is another matter entirely. But since I have been pondering why a building would collapse the way this one did, this is the most plausible explanation for me.”

    The witness said it was important to consider the option of infrasonic radiation especially with the repeated movement of the aircraft said to have passed over the collapsed building.

    “That object flew close to the building, and that is all that is needed for the infrasonic radiation to reach the building. As far as I am concerned, the repeated over-passage of the plane-like object is to ensure that the building received enough dose of the radiation sufficient to bring it down,” Iguniewei said, adding: “Engineers generally believe that a structure would fail due to bad foundation and materials, but if you go there now, the foundation pillars are still very intact. My position is that the building weakened from the top.”

    Asked what would be seen as evidence after a building has been felled by infrasonic radiation, the witness said there would be no material evidence because the radiation does not generate heat and does not lead to charring or burning compared to when a bomb was used.

  • Synagogue: Coroner threatens to arrest absentee witnesses

    Synagogue: Coroner threatens to arrest absentee witnesses

    The Coroner investigating the cause of the building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, a Lagos suburb, yesterday threatened to issue bench warrant against witnesses absent at proceeding.

    At the resumed sitting of the inquest, Coroner Oyetade Komolafe, after taking a roll-call of witnesses present in court, discovered that only the police witness, Olusola Agoyi, was present to continue his testimony.

    The court asked the lawyers representing various agencies for the whereabouts of their witnesses; they assured him that they would turn up as the proceeded.

    Expected to give evidence before the Coroner were Prophet Temitope Joshua; the contractor who handled the project; Lagos State Ministry of Works; Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the police.

    An angry Komolafe, who said it was obvious his leniency was being trampled upon, added that he would not hesitate to issue bench warrant on any witness who failed to show up at the end of yesterday’s proceedings.

    However, the threat could not be executed as the court’s verbatim recorder developed technical hitch as SON’s witness, Bede Obayi, was giving his evidence.

    Less than two hours into the day’s proceeding, the voice recorder stopped working; hence, the court suspended proceedings for 10 minutes to enable technicians rectify the issue.

    When the court reconvened and the situation was the remedied, Komolafe adjourned proceedings today, but with the threat to issue arrest order of any witness who failed to turn up today.

    Earlier, Obayi, while submitting results of three laboratory findings carried out by SON, stated that the organisation’s findings could not be concluded because they could not speak to the contractor or site engineer of the building, who are crucial to their findings.

    Obayi said he requested to see the contractor and engineers to get information from them but was told they were with other agencies on similar request.

    “The results tendered in court are not enough to conclude because only the contractor and owner of the building have history of the construction and their input are germane.

    “When we visited the site, the church’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) Sunday Okogie conducted us round the place. We collected necessary samples including broken bricks, steel reinforcement bars, nails and other components of the building at the site.

    “Following the unique identification number on the iron rods samples got from the site, we traced the rods to four different companies. We took the samples  to three different laboratories to ensure accuracy of result. One sample was submitted to a neutral steel rolling company, not implicated in the accident; another to the four companies implicated and a third set of samples was submitted for analysis at the SON’s laboratory,” he said.

    Obayi said the laboratories where the tests were carried out were not disclosed to avoid undue influence.

    The police witness, under cross-examination by counsel to Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Opeyemi Ogunleye, said the collapsed building was about 72 feet.

    He said the aircraft flew “at a much lower rate” than the standard 1,500feet given by NAMA, which he said prompted the residents to raise alarm.

    Agoyi said the issue of  “strange” aircraft was incorrect, since it was established through NAMA’s letter that it was an Air Force craft.

    He said since investigations were still ongoing, he could not say which among the three suggested causes was responsible for the mishap. “It could be any of sabotage, aircraft or structural defect. But the investigation is still ongoing,” he said.

  • Synagogue: ‘Strange aircraft’ belongs to Air Force, say police

    Synagogue: ‘Strange aircraft’ belongs to Air Force, say police

    •Building collapse was sabotage, church insists

    The police yesterday identified the “strange aircraft” that allegedly hovered over the collapsed Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building was a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) CH 130 Hercules.

    A police witness, Olusola Agboyi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), while testifying before Coroner Oyetade Komolafe, said the aircraft, which was on a circuit training mission, flew at very low altitude.

    “I recorded statements from 34 witnesses who claimed the aircraft was flying very low and had caused panic among residents of the Ikotun area,” said Agboyi.

    He stated that preliminary reports suggested the foreign guest house might have caved in as a result of internal saboteurs – visitors or lodgers at the premises.

    He said the saboteur, undetected, could have used explosives or chemical substances to bring down the building.

    Agboyi said he interviewed one of the survivors, Taiwo Temitayo Taiwo, who claimed he heard a thunderous noise and saw lightening moments before the building came crashing.

    The witness said he led the team that investigated the collapse and was also a member of the federal government’s panel.

    He, however, noted that the police did not rule out the possibility of structural defect, but were yet to get a reply to the letter the agency wrote to the Lagos State Ministry of Works, requesting a test on materials used at the site.

    Asked about the outcome of the federal government’s inter-agency panel, he told the court that findings were yet to be concluded.

    Agboyi told the court that the Bomb Disposal Unit of the police visited the scene of the incident, but was yet to present its report.

    He said after watching the CCTV footages of the incident, he was of the view that it was consistent with controlled demolitions.

    “The building came down in seconds. From the analysis of experts, the collapse looked like controlled demolition. It should be subjected to the testing of experts outside the country,” Agboyi said.

  • Giant of Africa, my foot!

    When a South African team, including military, forensic and autopsy personnel, came to Nigeria to collect the bodies of their compatriots killed in the September 12 building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun, Lagos, there were lessons to be learned by the Nigerian side. But it is a different matter altogether whether the lessons were learned, or would ever be.

    A report said: “The South Africans, who arrived in the country in two aircraft, shunned local facilities and items. They came with four forensic pathology trucks, generators, water, buses, pick-up vehicles and other items.”  The Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State and Consultant Forensic Pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, was quoted as saying: “They brought in everything including trolleys, dustbins and water.”

    In case anyone missed the point in the country, it should be pointed out that it was a most embarrassing experience for Nigeria, speaking specifically of the implication that the so-called giant of Africa could not be relied upon even in the smallest detail.

    “When we talk about Nigeria being the giant of Africa, I think we are just fooling ourselves,” Obafunwa said. He elaborated on this put-down. Speaking about the disaster refrigerated vans flown in by the South Africans, he said: “It is puzzling that Nigeria can conveniently provide 10 to 20 of this, yet none is in existence. I don’t see any reason why each state cannot provide its own disaster refrigerated vans. It is highly useful in the scene of mass disaster. One doesn’t need to take in a body into a building; but with this disaster refrigerated vans one can carry out forensic analyses.”

    Obafunwa further said: Nigeria needs a functional forensic science laboratory. And why is this too difficult for the Federal Government to establish? We don’t have a single functional forensic science laboratory in this country.”

    Against this background, is it surprising that the South Africans came with everything they needed, and did not leave anything to chance?  It is noteworthy that, shortly after the tragic incident, in an impressive demonstration of overseas crisis readiness, a South African team of experts in forensic science and disaster management promptly arrived in the country to focus on specific areas: “body recovery and repatriation, victims listing and confirmation, post-mortems as well as assessing of injured persons to determine the medical condition and the required levels of care”. In furtherance of this timely intervention, 25 injured South Africans were flown back to their country to continue treatment at the time. So, that first experience must have given the South Africans a sufficient opportunity to physically assess the state of things in the country, particularly in the health sector; and they must have arrived at the realistic conclusion that the country could not be depended upon.

    Perhaps a redeeming feature in this story of unjustifiable negligence, if not an inexplicable blindness to the demands of disaster management in the modern world, is the creditable role of the local forensic team headed by Obafunwa. He said: “It is of note that South Africa has not complained about how we handled the forensic investigation. We have been working together.”

    Only small-minded observers would interpret the South African approach as showing off. No, it further highlighted the failure of Nigeria’s crooked leadership.

     

  • Dead South Africans flown home

    Dead South Africans flown home

    THE bodies of South Africans that died in the September 12 collapsed guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) were flown to Johannesburg aboard two cargo planes yesterday.

    The planes took off at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The two aircraft, Russian Antonov, arrived the airport last Friday.

    It was parked at the tarmac of the airport.

    The airlift of the bodies, due to have commenced around midday yesterday, was delayed due to clearance and diplomatic issues at the morgue.

    It was learnt that South African officials had to put necessary measures in place to ensure the bodies were intact before they were ferried into the aircraft.

    As early as 4.00pm, the luggage of the victims arrived the presidential wing of the Lagos Airport for onward carriage into the aircraft.

    Some officials of South African government were on hand to ensure the pre- flight activities for the dead bodies went on unhindered.

    Apart from officials of South African government, personnel belonging to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as well as the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) were also on hand to facilitate the process.

    At a hotel in Ikeja, scores of journalists waited for hours for a briefing by a South African minister, Mr. Jeff Radebe, which did not hold as at the time of writing this report.

    Some officials on hand said they will get back to reporters with a statement updating them on the modalities for the airlift of the dead bodies.

     

  • Synagogue: South African mortuary vans arrive Lagos today

    Synagogue: South African mortuary vans arrive Lagos today

    •Fashola approves movement of 54 foreign victims

    Special mobile mortuary trucks from South Africa are expected to land in Lagos today. They are billed to collect the bodies of 81 of its nationals, three Zimbabweans and one Democratic Republic of Congo national, who died in the building that collapsed at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, Lagos, on September 12.

    Government inter-ministerial task team’s spokesman Phumla Williams, who is in Nigeria to facilitate the repatriation, said they would return home on Sunday.

    “Another task team will arrive in Lagos tomorrow to prepare to load the bodies into the mortuary trucks, which will arrive at the Waterkloof Air Force Base on Sunday.

    “From there, the trucks will be driven, without the need to individually offload the bodies, to the different government mortuaries in the eight provinces involved, unless the families want them taken to their private undertakers,” she said, adding that costs of funerals would be borne by the families.

    To facilitate the arrangements, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday granted approval for the release of the bodies of 54 South Africans.

    He gave the approval at a meeting with delegates of the South African government at the State House in Marina.

    The governor said the development became necessary following complaints that the bodies were being held for too long.

    He assured the delegation that the government would ensure proper identification in line with South African tradition and culture.

    Fashola added:  “We have no reason to deny you the right to take those 54 bodies. You have my word; you can take them whenever you are ready to do so. It is left for you to decide whether to take them in batches or wait until we conclude the exercise. But if you are ready, my team will ensure that you take them without any delay.”

    He said coroner’ inquest was still ongoing to investigate the cause of disaster in order to prosecute anyone found culpable.

    Earlier, the leader of the South African delegation to Nigeria, Special Envoy and Minister at the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, said that South-African culture and traditions demand burial within a week of bereavement.

    “But today makes it two-month since the incident, so I did pay a condolence visit to President Goodluck Jonathan two days ago, to convey the message of our president and find ways of speeding up the processes and reparations of the mortal remains of disease.

    “The whole nation of South Africa is in mourning, especially the families that have to endure these two months of waiting in order to bring closure to the whole incident. We are ready to repatriate them as soon as we get the green light from the State government.”

    “We appreciate your government for the cooperation and our team has been briefing us on the challenges of identifying the bodies,” the envoy said.

    The Director in the Presidency, Cassius Lubisi explained that all necessary mercenary were already in place for smooth return of the bodies to S/Africa.

  • Synagogue yet to send manifest, says pathologist

    Synagogue yet to send manifest, says pathologist

    •’116 died in building’
    •Lawyer seeks to stop inquest

    A coronary inquest into last month’s building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Lagos, yesterday heard that victims of the disaster died from traumatic asphxia.

    The state Chief Medical Examiner (CME) and forensic pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa made the disclosure during an inquiry before Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe.

    Obafunwa said though the conclusive medical report was not ready yet, there are reasons from autopsy to ascribe the cause of death to traumatic asphxia as a result of crush injury.

    He said a total of 116 people died from the incident, contrary to the official 86 given by the rescue agencies and the 115 death toll which was reported long after the operation ended.

    Obafunwa stated that 116th body was brought in on September 22, after a patient who sustained injury during the disaster passed on at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    He told the coroner that 46 bodies were deposited at Isolo General Hospital’s mortuary – six at LASUTH mortuary (before the death recorded on September 22) and 63 at the Mainland Hospital’s mortuary in Yaba.

    Explaining the role his team played, Obafunwa said that autopsy of external appearance, clothing and photographs were taken, while internal examination of various injuries were documented.

    The CME stated that only five families totalling 10 persons have turned up for DNA samples at the state pathology department, expressing fears that case of missing persons will arise if more families do not come forward to donate samples for identification. He disclosed that some of the bodies were already decomposed because of heat.

    Obafunwa stressed that the heat was not as a result of fire or explosion but because of the temperature variance underneath the rubble.

    The chief pathologist said  some of the bodies were mutilated, with severe cuts, multiple injuries, fractured ribs and bones, adding that following the decomposing nature, the bodies were embalmed.

    “We took samples of subsequent examination for the purpose of DNA analysis and the dental team moved in for dental charting. Prior to the commencement of the autopsy, the bodies were finger-printed. Five families came forward – two members from each.

    “All these were packaged in addition to 116 bone samples, 116 muscle samples of autopsy cases among others were shipped to the laboratory currently doing the DNA. At the moment, the autopsy report, dental report and photographs are being put together and will be included in the microscopic findings.

    “But we are awaiting three things before the final submission – report of the finger printing, DNA analysis and the list of those who might have been resident or working in the building. With all that, we should be able to come up with our final report,” said Obafunwa.

    Obafunwa said autopsy was performed on embalmed bodies that were decomposing.

    The church did not cross-examine Obafunwa on grounds that its needed time to study his deposition. The court obliged.

    In his evidence, the representative of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said they were not allowed to complete control of the disaster site.

    But the church, through its counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said NEMA officials were let into the premises within five minutes with one vehicle.

    NEMA, however, said its men came with an Incident Response Vehicle (IRV) with about 30 equipment, adding that the church provided 11 ambulances that were used in evacuating the affected persons to hospitals.

    Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Lagos has been urged to discontinue the inquest on the incident.

    A lawyer, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje is seeking an order stopping Justice  Komolafe from sitting over further inquest hearings on the collapse.

    He joined the state, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Adeola Ipaye and Mr Komolafe as respondents.

    The state constituted on September 26 under its Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007 to investigate the causes and circumstances of the collapse.

    The coroner, who began sitting on October 13, had visited locus in quo (scene of the event). He also summoned the church’s leader, T.B Joshua, to appear on November 5.

    Ogungbeje contended that the composition of the inquest negates the principle of natural justice and Section 36 of the Constitution, and therefore should be declared unconstitutional and null and void.

    He argued that if allowed to continue, the proceedings would occasion miscarriage of justice.

    The lawyer said the coroner would base his decision on the testimonies of the same state officials who indicted Joshua and his church.

    Ogungbeje said the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), Building Control Agency, Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and others made public and prejudicial statements on  the cause of the incident.

    He said Joshua’s claim that an aircraft hovered over the building prior to its fall, and that it could have been sabotaged, was ignored.