Eminent lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, has expressed support for the Lagos State Government on its decision to prosecute the Synagogue Church of All Nations and the engineers that built the Guest House of the church that collapsed on September 12, 2014.

Also, a former Chairman of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Monday Ubani, and Lagos lawyer, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, have hailed the resolve of the state government to implement the Coroner’s report on the collapsed building, which recommended the prosecution of the church and the builders.

Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, had, in its report on the collapse of the building on July 7, recommended the investigation and prosecution of the church for failing to secure necessary approval before building.

Komolafe also recommended the prosecution of the contractors for negligence that led to the collapse of the six-storey guest house, where 116 persons, mostly South Africans, died.

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had promised to implement the verdict to the letter.
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Sagay, in an interview on Wednesday, described the incident as a criminal offence, saying the governor’s effort was commendable given the fact that the church authorities and the contractors failed to obtain necessary approval before embarking on the project.

He added, “The statement from the Lagos State Government is a commendable one. This is because the whole tragedy not only involved human lives, it also involved the lives of non-Nigerians, creating what I will call a diplomatic incidence between Nigeria and South Africa.

“It is a major tragic development and it has become clear from the findings of the Coroner that the building was not professionally constructed and they did not receive the imprimatur of the Ministry of Physical Planning before constructing it.

“The engineers, who took part in the exercise, ought to have demanded approval before commencing construction based on the plan given to them. It is a criminal offence and they should be punished and investigated.

“Also, the church authorities, who actually engaged them to do the work without first obtaining physical plan permit, should also be prosecuted for breaching the physical planning laws of Lagos State.”

Ubani said the verdict, if implemented, would give Nigerians a sense of hope that true change had come to the country.

he added, “That is a good one from the governor. It is heartwarming when a government official says that he will carry out the judgment of the court. Nigerians will be happy to see government follow up on its vow and promise to do the right thing.

“If the Coroner has made a recommendation and the government has vowed to implement it, that is a healthy development because most times, judgments of the court are usually not being followed up by government officials.

“Let us begin to follow our law. And the change we have voted for, let it now start from every angle. Those who have been implicated by the Coroner should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

Ogunye said Lagosians were not expecting anything less than implementing the Coroner’s recommendations from the state government.

According to him, the governor is right and deserves commendation for insisting on diligent prosecution given the outright disregard for relevant laws by the church authorities and the contractor who handled the failed project.

He stated, “Now that statement by the Lagos State Government is a welcome one. We do not expect anything less. After the incident, especially during the coroner inquest, we said the Synagogue Church of All Nations didn’t exhibit the expected response.

“We are saying this not because we are jumpy about condemning a place of worship but because of the monumental disaster, one incident in which 116 persons perished, many of them non-Nigerians, coupled with the international implications. We certainly did not expect the church to be instigating laughable protests; people carrying placards; insinuating or suggesting that the Coroner was partial and exhibiting a conduct that showed that they are not sorry about the accident.

“Now that the coroner has recommended that the civil engineer, who handled the construction and the church to be prosecuted for criminal negligence and refusal to obtain building permit, I believe the Lagos State Government is right in insisting that there should be diligent prosecution.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/sagay-others-back-ambodes-decision-to-prosecute-synagogue-builders/

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