A Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje,
on Tuesday filed a suit in a Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking an
order to stop further inquest into the collapsed Synagogue Church
building.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
that on September 12th, a six-storey building within the premises of
Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed in Lagos.
The incident led to the death of over 100 people, most of whom were foreigners.
The Lagos State Government on September
26th, constituted a Coroner’s Court to unravel the circumstances leading
to the incident.
A magistrate, Oyetade Komolafe, was appointed coroner.
The coroner has already visited the scene of the incident and summoned the General Overseer of the Church, Prophet T.B Joshua, to appear before him on November 5th.
Meanwhile, Ogungbeje, in the suit, is seeking an order stopping further inquest into the matter.
The defendants in the suit are Lagos State Government, Attorney- General of Lagos State, Ade Ipaye, and Komolafe.
The lawyer said the composition of the
Coroner’s Court was a negation of the principle of natural justice and
Section 36 of the Constitution, and as such, unconstitutional and void.
He averred that the inquest was
constituted by the Lagos State Government after the agencies of the
state government had indicted the church of erecting additional
structures on an already existing building without approval.
Ogungbeje argued that if allowed to
continue, the proceedings of the Coroner would occasion a miscarriage
of justice, as the same Coroner would base its decision on the
testimonies of the same agencies of Lagos State.
The lawyer alleged that the Lagos State
Emergency Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Building Control Agency and
the Lagos State Fire Service, had made prejudicial reports that the
building collapsed due to additional structures.
He averred that the contention of the
church that the building collapsed as a result of an aircraft hovering
round the building moments before it collapsed was ignored.
Ogungbeje averred that the Lagos State Building Control Agency went ahead to seal up the main building of the church.
The lawyer is therefore, seeking an
order nullifying the composition of the Coroner and the proceedings so
far, as well as an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the
defendants jointly and severally from further proceedings.
He wants every sitting, investigation,
fact finding or any action in any manner whatsoever on any facts
connected to the case, to be put on hold until the suit was determined.
The suit which was filed on Tuesday has yet to be assigned.post by expdonaloaded
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