Tag: Synagogue disaster

The Lagos Coroner has dismissed an application seeking to stop the inquest into September 12 building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun, Lagos.

The coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, described as an abuse of court process the application which sought to stay proceedings on the matter, filed by Olalekan Ojo, on behalf the founder of the church, Pastor Temitope Joshua.

About 116 persons, mostly South Africans, died, while several others sustained varied degrees of injuries in the incident.

Joshua had on November 11 filed an application to stop inquest into the incident.

The application, however, came on the heels of another application filed before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, presided by Justice Lateefat Okunnu.

Joshua, in the said application before Justice Okunnu, had asked for a judicial review of the coroner’s proceedings, which began on October 13.

He also asked the court to determine whether the witness summons served on him to appear before the coroner was not a violation of his rights.

He further contested that the coroner had been extending his inquisitions into areas beyond its statutory purview.

The Lagos State coroner’s court will on December 10 rule on whether or not to stay proceedings on the inquest being made into the collapse of a building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun.

The coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, took the decision after hearing arguments from the founder of the church, Prophet Temitope Joshua’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo and the Lagos State Government’s counsel, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran.

Joshua had filed an application before the coroner, seeking a stay of proceedings on the inquest.

A total of 115 persons died in the collapse of a six-storey building on September 12 this year.

The Synagogue founder had also asked the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to stop further inquest into the incident.

In the application, Ojo urged the court to stop invitation of Joshua and other witnesses by the coroner.

Despite claims by South African President, Zacob Zuma, that 67 of his nationals died in the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) disaster, the church has remained silent on the number of people affected in the incident or their identities.

Zuma had on alleged that 67 South Africans died in the mishap, while several others sustained injuries.

His disclosure came at a time when the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) had pegged the bodies recovered at 63, with speculation of more bodies in the debris.

At the time of filing this report (4.50pm), the death toll has risen to 80, including three non-Africans.

Government agencies have distanced themselves from Zuma’s claims, stating that the figures released by the agencies were true representation of operational findings.

They denied knowing where and how Zu‎ma came about his figures, insisting that they were not aware of the identities of victims or survivors.

Rather than set the record straight on the claims by South Africa, the church on Wednesday went round the various hospitals where survivors are being treated in search of South Africans.

During visit to some of the hospitals, The Nation observed that church members were offsetting the bills of their patients, while South African nationals were being discharged and taken away by the church.

The Nation gathered that the church’s move was geared towards preparing the South Africans for their return home as well as finds ways to respond to Zuma’s claim.