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Tag: Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN)

  • Buhari needs prayers, says TB Joshua

    Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Prophet TB Joshua, has canvassed special prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    TB Joshua gave the appeal during on Sunday at the international headquarters of the church in Ikotun Egbe, Lagos.

    The cleric advised the prayers be directed towards ensuring that God grants the President wisdom in directing the affairs of the country.

    Read Also: AfCFTA: Free trade must be fair, says Buhari

    Joshua stated there was no perfect man on health, emphasising the need to pray for Buhari.

    According to him: “I am here to share a vision I had two weeks ago concerning my nation — Nigeria — the heartbeat of Africa. Let us pray for our government, President Muhammadu Buhari. There is no perfect man on earth.

    “Ask God to protect and fill him with wisdom enough to lead this nation. In my vision, I saw the seraphim coming down with rain. This rain comes with freshness and calmness. Nigeria, let us pray!”

     

  • 10 popular tourist sites in Lagos City

    Lagos, Nigeria’s mega city of aquatic splendor, is a city of extreme paradox. A city where you find the extremely affluent and also see abject squalor. It is a city that habours individuals with deep spirituality  and those with extreme irreverence for the supernatural. It is a city brimming with massive population  that at peak periods in some places, getting  spaces to walk  takes a lot of effort. It is a city that rewards the hardworking and daring and suffers no lazy individual.  That is the allure of Lagos.

    The recent visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and his decision to visit African Shrine to  have a feel of the late Afro-beat music legend, Fela Anikulapo- Kuti’s legacy, has again kindled the desire to know some of the most visited tourist sites and destinations  in Lagos.

    Below are the most visited places by tourist visitors to Lagos City:

    Synagogue Church of All Nations

    Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) of Prophet Temitope  Balogun Joshua located in Ikotun in Lagos West attracts the highest number of tourists not just to Lagos, but to Nigeria as a whole.

    Tourists from all over the world, cutting across different geographical locations, races and religions visit SCOAN on pilgrimage to worship, listen to Prophet Joshua and find solutions to their physical and spiritual ailments.  The church does not have low or high season. The influx of tourists quadruples anytime Prophet Joshua calls for prayer line.

    The steady number of tourists that keeps streaming to the church is a testament to the church’s global popularity. The church has been visited by many sitting heads of governments, ex-presidents and foreign presidential candidates; many went on to win their elections.

    African Shrine

    Coming behind   the SCOAN is African Shrine built by Femi Kuti, a scion of Afro-beat legend, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Most leisure and business tourists visiting Lagos always demand to visit the place or Fela’s museum , or even both. Having listened, read and heard so much about Fela, tourists visiting Lagos always feel the trip would not be complete without visiting African Shrine to have a feel of Fela’s music vibe.  It is actually not surprising that the French President chose  African Shrine as the place to visit during his tour of Nigeria.

    Africa Shrine is a centre that promotes Nigeria music both past and contemporary. The shrine is located few metres from the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa.

    Nike Arts Gallery

    Located on Elegushi Road, off Lekki-Epe Expressway, Nike Gallery is among the must-see for visitors to Lagos. It is founded by the legendary artist, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Ekundaye. Nike Gallery offers total Nigerian experience. Tourists are welcomed with drumming and singing by the hospitable staff of the gallery in full Nigerian costume.

    Even for local tourists, the experience at Nike Gallery is exciting. First, there is the adire/batik crash workshop where visitors are trained how to make batik. Then, the taste of Nigerian traditional delicacies like akara and puff puff.

    There is a dance class that tests one’s flexibility and foot dexterity. The biggest thrill is roaming the two filled to brim with old, classic and modern Nigerian art works in different media. One could spend hours moving around the work. Nike Gallery experience is always something inbound tourists look forward to.

    Freedom Park

    Freedom Park is a former colonial prison  located on Hospital Road, Marina, Lagos.  It was opened in 1882, but later closed and abandoned for several years. In 2010, the old prison was turned into a cultural and recreation centre.

    The beauty of Freedom Park is that apart from the centre being aesthetically pleasing to behold, it has almost everything that would keep tourists in the park for hours: the different prison cells have stories of past horror to tell. There is an open air stage for performance. For those who are to have a taste of the Nigerian cuisines, the centre  offers food outlets for tourists to enjoy.

    Terra Kulture

    Located in Tiamiyu Savage Street, off the famous Ahmadu Bello Way, Terra Kulture, as the name indicates, is a place to experience the totality of the Nigerian culture from contemporary stage performance to Nigerian literature, music and cuisine.

    The centre organizes exhibitions and excursions for school children, foreigners and Nigerians. It has a 250-seater hall for Nigerian arts and culture. Tourists could have wonderful time watching some of these performances.

    Terra Kulture pays attention to some spoken Nigerian languages like  Ibo, Yoruba and Hausa. One could enjoy authentic Nigeria dishes at the restaurant and purchase books.  Also being close to hotels in and around Victoria Island is one of the things that makes the place popular with tourists.

    The late Afro-beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s larger than life image and the wide acceptance of his music within and outside Africa has made the museum popular among foreign tourists. Located in his old house on Gbemisola street, Ikeja, lovers of his songs, music  and ideology come there to remember Fela and what he stood for in his lifetime.

    Items like his personal effects, musical instruments and pictures could all be seen at the museum.

    Iga Idugaran, Isale Eko

    Iga idugaran in Lagos island is the royal palace of the Oba of Lagos on Lagos Island, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu. Many tourists who desire more knowledge about the history of Lagos, one of Africa’s largest cities, go to Iga idugaran. The palace offers tourists opportunity for a first hand experience of royal  activities in the palace of a first class African traditional ruler.

    Eko Atlantic City

    Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island, Lagos  is an ambitious smart city project being carried out on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean.  Standing on 10 million square metres piece of land, it is regarded as the Africa’s most ambitious tourism project. This has become a hit with inbound tourists who always desire a tour of the place. That informed the decision of African ministers of tourism in their recent meeting in Abuja to take a day off tour Eko Atlantic City.

    Elegushi Beach

    Located in Lekki, Elegushi Beach is at the end of Elegushi Road.  Despite the negative activities of ocean surge that have washed away a chunk of the white sandy beach, Elegushi Beach still holds certain charms to visitors.  Like travel experts would say, beach front anywhere  in the world attracts a huge number of leisure seekers.  Elegushi Beach might not be the best beach Lagos can boast of, but its proximity to the Victoria Island and Lekki and the top hotels gives it an advantage.

    National Museum

    National Museum, Onikan is a draw for tourists because many international tourist visitors believe that one could have a better glimpse and understanding of a foreign culture by visiting the museum. Although not in the best shape compared to museums of other megacities the world over, National Museum Onikan is still a prism to see Nigeria’s rich history. There are artifacts that date back to thousands of years and those of the recent past like the Mercedez Benz car that former Nigerian Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed was in when he was assassinated in the 1976 botched military coup.

    Fela’s Museum storey building

  • Synagogue engineers have case to answer, court rules

    Synagogue engineers have case to answer, court rules

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere Thursday dismissed the no-case submission filed by the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and two engineers, Ms Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun.

    Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo upheld the prosecution’s contention that the no-case submission lacked merit.

    The judge adjourned till April 27 for the defence to open its case.

    Ogundeji and Fatiregun, through their firms Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Ltd, allegedly built a six storey building for SCOAN which collapsed on September 12, 2014, killing 116 people.

    They are facing a 110-count charge of involuntary manslaughter preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.

    The state also filed a one-count charge of building without approval against the SCOAN Registered Trustees.

    Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ms P. K. Shitta-Bey said the defendants violated Section 75 of the Urban and Regional Planning Law of Lagos State 2010, as well as Section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defendants were arraigned on April 19, 2016.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecution subsequently opened its case.

    However, upon the close of the prosecution’s case in October 2017, the defendants, rather than enter their defence, filed a ‘no-case’ submission. They contended that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them and urged the court to quash the charge.

    This was opposed by the prosecution.

    Read Also: Synagogue procured false prototype of collapsed building – Witness

  • Synagogue stampede: Police, NEMA, LASEMA debunk report

    Synagogue stampede: Police, NEMA, LASEMA debunk report

    Report of a stampede at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) that allegedly claimed three lives have been dismissed by the Police, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

    Similarly, the church denied the report, insisting that they have watched their video recordings of Prophet Temitope Joshua’s outing during Saturday’s special healing service and nothing of such was seen.

    One of the spokespersons for the church who refused to be named said: “It’s just a rumour. I can tell you categorically that nothing of such happened here. Funny enough, I was even in church on that said Saturday when they claimed it happened. All the same, when I got the call from a journalist, I still consulted all the media team.

    “You can make your findings. Nothing like that happened. You know the media team follows the prophet around with a video and still camera. How come none of the cameras picked up the stampede?”

    However, some worshippers at the church and taxi drivers who carried passengers outside the premises told The Nation that there was an actual stampede.

    According to a source, it happened outside the church premises around 4am, when Prophet Joshua came out.

    He said: “What happened was that the man of God came outside the church and as he was walking, people tried to touch him.  Alot of people were outside including sick people and they were running over themselves trying to touch him. That was when some people trampled on others.”

    A taxi driver who refused to be named said he was carrying passengers to and fro the place, adding that he could not really ascertain if those trampled upon died.

    He said: “It was early in the morning. I usually go there to carry passengers on their special healing service because so many people come from different parts of the world.

    “People outside were forcing their way in and in the process, pushing one another. I don’t really know if anybody died but I know that some people were trampled upon.”

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni said he was unaware of any stampede at the church, wondering how something like that would happen without the police knowing.

  • ‎Synagogue auditorium has no permit, says witness

    ‎Synagogue auditorium has no permit, says witness

    A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja heard yesterday that the auditorium of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) have no valid building permit.

    Former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Olutoyin Ayinde, made this revelation before the court presided by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.

    The witness in-chief was being led

     in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Idowu Alakija in the ongoing trial of two engineers of the church, Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun and their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited.

    ‎They are facing 111-count charge for their involvement in the September 12, 2014 collapse of a six-storey guest house belonging to the church, which led to the death of 116 persons.

    The state government has brought the charges  which bordered on criminal negligence, manslaughter and failure to obtain building permit were brought against them by the Lagos state government.

    Ayinde, a consultant urban planner and a fellow  of the Institute of Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria‎ said his preliminary investigation into the incidence showed that the permit given to the church did not cover the site of the collapsed building.

    “The building collapse occurred on a Friday, I got in touch with the District Officer of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority  (LASPPPA) to confirm if the Synagogue Church had any building approval in the system.

    “The Electronic Document Management System was searched and the only building approval for the church  did not cover the site of the collapse building.

    Ayinde further told the court that the permit given to the church covered only the auditorium.

    The former Commissioner said that a building approval  is normally issued to enable owners of buildings to be adequately compensated in the event of road construction or compulsory acquisition by the government.

    He said: “The document, a five – storey building approval  was meant for the church auditorium but as at the time of the collapse, the church auditorium had gone from five floors to eight floors.

    “By the Ministry’s definition, the approval the church had for the auditorium is no longer valid and there was no application for approval registered for the collapsed building”.

    He stated further that the Building Control Agency pasted their sticker on the auditorium because it had surpassed the approved five – storeys building.

    He said no sanction was placed on the other building of the church because it had already collapsed.

    Asked of his role when he served  as a Commissioner during the administration of the former governor of the state, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

    He said: “as a Commissioner,  I occupied a supervisory role over the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and it’s three agencies.

    “The three agencies are; the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), he noted.”

    Ayinde further told the court that

    there were too many first responders  at the site of the collapse building on his first visit.

    “I visited the site two days after the collapse as I was attending a retreat outside Lagos when the incident occurred.

    “With me were the General Managers of LASPPPA and LASBCA as well as the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) as an advanced team to receive Governor Fashola.

    “The first thing we noticed were there were too many first responders, many of whom were church members whom we ordered out of the site because they were clogging the responsibilities of the rescuers.

    “I gave a directive that the rescue work should stop at ground zero to enable the material testing laboratory to conduct tests on the foundation and columns on the debris”, he added.

    The trial judge,  Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, adjourned the matter till today for continuation of trial.

  • Synagogue building collapse: Court remands two engineers

    Synagogue building collapse: Court remands two engineers

     

    Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Tuesday  remanded the two engineers who handled the construction of the collapsed seven-storey guest house building the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

    The  building ‎which collapsed September 12, 2014 had killed 116 people, 85 of whom were South Africans.

    Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun, were remanded after they pleaded not guilty to a 111-count charge of gross negligence and criminal manslaughter preferred against them by Lagos state government.

    The prosecution led by the Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija, alleged the defendants committed the offences between August 20 and September 2013.

    Alakijja alleged that the defendants constructed a seven-storey building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Ikotun Egbe area of Ikeja, Lagos with “gross negligence and disregard for human life”.

    The formal arraignment of the trustees of the church came after Justice Lawal-Akapo dismissed two separate applications filed by counsels to the defendants, Mrs Titi Akinlawon (SAN) and Chief E.L. Akpofure (SAN).

    Akinlawon who is the counsel to Fatiregun had in an application dated March 3, 2016 prayed for an order adjourning further hearing pending the determination of her application of before the Court of Appeal.

    Akpofure who is the counsel to Ogundeji had also, in his application dated February 17 objected to the inclusion of Jandy Trust Limited as one of the defendants.

    He said there was nothing in the proof of evidence linking the company to the crimes.

    But Justice Lawal-Akapo in his ruling said “Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) states that subject to the constitution, an application for a stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before the High Court should not be entertained before the Court.”

    Lawal-Akapo added “I find no merit in the two applications, they are lacking in merit and substance.

    “This is a clear case of abuse of court processes to the irritation and annoyance of the court.”

    The Judge immediately ordered the arraignment of Fatiregun, Ogundeji and the trustees of SCOAN despite a lot of opposition from the defence.

     

    The order of the court drew a mild drama into the proceedings as the counsels representing the defendants made several attempt to prevent the court from proceeding with the arraignment.‎

    While Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) representing SCOAN argued that since the business of the court  was for ruling, it would be improper to proceed with arraignment.

    Akpofure for instance told the court that his mother died and that as the only son, he is emotionally disturbed‎ and needs to take a flight home to make necessary arrangements for burial immediately.‎

    But the DPP, Alakija said she was also bereaved even more that Akpofure but that she was not going to make it the business of the court.

    Justice Akapo unperturbed by the outpourings of the counsels,‎ however overruled them and ordered that the charges be read to the accused persons.

    After they made a not guilty plea, Justice Lawal-Akapo ordered the engineers to be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

    The trial judge subsequently adjourned the matter to April 26, 2016 for hearing of the defendants bail applications.

  • #PanamaPapers: TB Joshua denies owning company

    #PanamaPapers: TB Joshua denies owning company

    Founder Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) Prophet Temitope Joshua Tuesday denied owning Shell Company in Panama, the British Virgin Islands.

    In an official statement released Tuesday, Joshua described as malicious, claims that he and his wife owned Chillon Consultancy Limited, one of the companies mentioned in the infamous #PanamaPapers.

    Debunking the allegation first published by Premium Times, an online news site, Joshua warned against defamatory statements against his person or his church, insisting he was not a businessman.

    “Whoever is involved in this malicious write-up and propaganda with an obvious intent to defame my person and the ministry, remember what the Bible says in Luke 2:34 – “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many… and to be a sign that will be spoken against.”

    “I am not a businessman and have no business whatsoever. What God has given me is more than enough. I have nothing to do with the Panama Papers. As for me and my family, we shall remain in the vineyard of God.

    “Premium Times – do not allow your company to be used. Do not allow your company to stand against God. This is a lie! Take note – this news was written by the same journalist who alleged that I bribed him during the building incident and went to different channels – both local and international – to propagate these fabrications.

    “Since the building incident, there have been a series of threats towards the ministry and my person by this same journalist, Nicholas Ibekwe, who represents a gang of people.

    “After everything that has been done in an attempt to destroy this ministry, this is what he has resorted to. Even the picture used in the write-up is taken from the Mexico Crusade I recently held. It was a crusade I went for, nothing more.

    “Do not use the Panama Papers to attack those you have been looking for an opportunity to victimise. This is to show that not everybody alleged in the media to be involved in the Panama Papers is truly involved. My own case is a good example.

    “Beware of those using the Panama Papers for fraudulent purposes! This is a very big mistake the fraudsters have made. Those who read this report – take time to do your findings. It is malicious.

    “Note – people are misusing the data in the Panama Papers for fraud to attack innocent people.”

  • Synagogue: Coroner inquest to end March

    Synagogue: Coroner inquest to end March

    THE inquest into last September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building collapse will end next month, the Coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe said yesterday.

    He, however, said the inquest could not proceed yesterday because of a letter from SCOAN’s counsel Olalekan Ojo, praying for an adjournment.

    Chief Magistrate Komolafe adjourned till tomorrow for cross-examination of SCOAN’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) Sunday Okojie.

    Lagos State government raised the inquest to unravel the cause of the building collapse in which 115 persons mostly from South Africa died.

    In his letter, Ojo claimed that he was appearing in another case at the Federal High Court and appealed to the coroner to adjourn to a more convenient date for him.

    Ruling, Chief Magistrate Komolafe said: “This court cannot continue indefinitely. I just want to say that I am not going to sit for more than two weeks. Anybody that will not come during that period, we will skip his or her testimony and move ahead.”

  • Synagogue: Verdict in suit challenging inquest Nov 17

    Synagogue: Verdict in suit challenging inquest Nov 17

    The Federal High Court in Lagos will on November 17 deliver its verdict on a suit seeking to stop the inquest on the collapse of a building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, a Lagos suburb.

    A lawyer, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje is seeking an order stopping further inquest on the collapse. Lagos State, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Adeola Ipaye and the District Coroner Magistrate Oyatade Komolafe are the respondents.

    The collapse, which occurred on September 12, claimed the lives of over 115 people, mostly South Africans.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned after arguments from the applicant and the respondents.

    Ogungbeje urged the court to grant his prayers.

    The state, represented by Mr Akinjide Bakare, said the inquest is a fact-finding exercise not intended to convict anyone, and therefore should not be stopped.

    Besides, government argued that Ogungbeje lacked the locus standi (legal right) to file the suit as he was neither a member of the Synagogue Church, nor was he personally affected by the inquest.

    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, null and void.

    He said the inquest started sitting after state agencies had indicted Joshua and his church for wrongdoing and after the officials had blamed the church for adding additional structures on the building without approval.

    He argued that if allowed to continue, the inquest proceedings would occasion miscarriage of justice. According to him, the Coroner would base his decision on the testimonies of the same state officials who openly indicted Joshua and his church.

    Ogungbeje said for instance, the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), the Building Control Agency, the Fire Service, the Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and others made public and prejudicial statements on the cause of the building’s crash.

    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.

    “The Lagos State Building Control Agency even went ahead to seal up the main building of the church. The General Manager of the agency said in the papers and I quote him as follows: ‘We have investigated and found that they had no approval for the additional structures. Even the main church which they have added about three floors on was sealed two days ago,’” he said.

    The lawyer is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from calling further witnesses.

    He wants the court to stop them from sitting, investigating, embarking on fact-finding or taking any untoward action in any manner whatsoever on any fact connected to the case.