The Igbosere High Court on Thursday declared that the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) involved in the collapsed six-storey building have a case to answer in the charge preferred against them.

The court made the declaration while ruling on a No Case Submission application filed by the defendants.

The state government had charged the church’s Board of Trustees to court over the collapse of the building, which killed no fewer than 116 persons on September 12, 2014.

The engineers – Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun – were also charged alongside their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Ltd.

They are facing 110 counts of involuntary manslaughter, while the registered trustees of SCOAN were charged with one count of building without approval.

The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions stated that 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.

They were arraigned on April 19, 2016, but they pleaded ‘not guilty’.

The prosecution subsequently opened its case, called witnesses and tendered documents to prove the allegations against the defendants.

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

The defence insisted that there was nothing in the evidence provided by the prosecution to warrant their clients to proceed into any defence.

They, therefore, urged the court to discharge the defendants.

However, the prosecution opposed the no-case submission, arguing that the defendants had a case to answer based on the evidence of all prosecution witnesses.

The prosecution maintained that a prima facie case had been established, which the defendants had to defend.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo dismissed the no-case submission filed by the defendants, ordering them to open their defence.

He adjourned the case until April 27 for the defence to open its case.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/03/08/tb-joshuas-church-must-face-trial-court-rules/

Cc: Mynd44, lalasticlala

God is in charge

Dem never still finish this case? Since 2014, why court matter dey slow like this? You can see why people prefer Ogun and okija shrine

Why not let the victims rest in peace, its over 4 years now, what have they been doing ,oh they just remembered that's a way to fetch out money(bribe) .... I stand with TB Joshua ,,,,like if you do

By the time TB go predict the next governor of Lagos and him come win, then come do Thanksgiving for Synagogue, the case go don die

our justice system is very poor

tragergeorge:
Why not let the victims rest in peace, its over 4 years now, what have they been doing ,oh they just remembered that's a way to fetch out money(bribe) .... I stand with TB Joshua ,,,,like if you do

Keep standing with that crook. How stupid!

And you say nothing is wrong with our judicial system?




A case of almost 4yrs is still being prepared for court... Abeg when will the judgement be passed? 2035 I guess.!!

tragergeorge:
Why not let the victims rest in peace, its over 4 years now, what have they been doing ,oh they just remembered that's a way to fetch out money(bribe) .... I stand with TB Joshua ,,,,like if you do

What sorta nonsense is this? is there a statute of limitation for cases like this?

Oh God
What a slow judiciary we have a our country

tragergeorge:
Why not let the victims rest in peace, its over 4 years now, what have they been doing ,oh they just remembered that's a way to fetch out money(bribe) .... I stand with TB Joshua ,,,,like if you do

So we are now blind and deaf because of religion? Over 100 people died, and you are standing with him. It's early ooo bros. No make early morning curse catch you.

I concur

money must change hands na,,wonder how the case dragged on for so long when the grasses on the victims graves are now forests

Masama:
Dem never still finish this case? Since 2014, why court matter dey slow like this? You can see why people prefer Ogun and okija shrine

nigerian justice system exists only for one purpose- To enrich dubious lawyers, magistrates and judges.

Even if the lawyers knows what to do to kill off a case, they'll rather keep adumburating aimlessly for years till the case drags on for donkey years.

The two opposing lawyers might even be best friends or former classmates and will be ready to keep extracting money from their clients on every adjournment date for 'transport' even when they've been paid for Consultation+Professional fees.

Even if both parties/families decide to settle out of court, the greedy lawyers may go to court sue their clients claiming they are being owed money in 'legal fees' and claiming millions.

If you have a case look for a lawyer that has blood/family connection to you or a very good friend whom you've known for years for speedy resolution. Most nigerian lawyers are largely thieves with pens and wigs.

My family lawyer is my secondary school classmate, a bossom friend of more than 18 years and I'm most grateful to him.

Emmanuel!!!!!!!! God is with us

So does it mean that TB Joshua will now stand trial in court? I don't understand what they mean by the board of trustees must stand trial.

All I know is that the great judge is at work. Nothing will happen to Scoan as long as the church is of God. The gate of hell shall not prevail over Scoan and the great Prophet T.b Joshua in Jesus name. You are free to abuse me.

Timmmy:
All I know is that the great judge is at work. Nothing will happen to Scoan as long as the church is of God. The gate of hell shall not prevail over Scoan and the great Prophet T.b Joshua in Jesus name. You are free to abuse me.

Smh

100 people died when a building collapsed. This has nothing to do with whatever your religious beliefs are. The person or people responsible for the shoddy construction work NEED to be prosecuted and punished.

Calling the legal system 'the gates of hell' just shows poor judgement on your part.

Anybody is permitted to rant, SCOAN is marching forward and the gate of hell cannot overpower her.

Good nobody is above the law.. The court shouldn't forget Bishop Akan weeks

texazzpete:


Smh

Shake very well oga. He never killed anyone

tragergeorge:
Why not let the victims rest in peace, its over 4 years now, what have they been doing ,oh they just remembered that's a way to fetch out money(bribe) .... I stand with TB Joshua ,,,,like if you do

95 percent of the victims were south africans, and the south african government with the victims familes have already forgotten these issue...

Nigeria my country....

These mumu court had better make this case disappear...SCOAN brings more revenue to the Statethan even Oil.

shugaboo:
Good nobody is above the law.. The court shouldn't forget Bishop Akan weeks

Aje...I know say you go cry...if I catch you ehn...Holy Ghost thunder go hammer ya mouth

shugaboo:
Good nobody is above the law.. The court shouldn't forget Bishop Akan weeks

Courts can only decide on cases brought before them. None has been filled against the Bishop.

GogobiriLalas:
Aje...I know say you go cry...if I catch you ehn...Holy Ghost thunder go hammer ya mouth

lolz that kind holy ghost thunder it should strike the man dead first for killing innocent souls

chiddyok:

So we are now blind and deaf because of religion? Over 100 people died, and you are standing with him. It's early ooo bros. No make early morning curse catch you.

leave religion matter, nor be 9ja we de,na today day break na dem de sleep since,as long as this case aint gonna bring d dead back make dem park well ,if not bribe wat are de bringing it up for ,abi dem wan close d church or dem wan jail d pastor ,my friend get sense o,country wen nor fit sentence looters or even d notorious Evans u hear e matter again,,,mtchew

Timmmy:


Shake very well oga. He never killed anyone

Who is the 'he' here? Have i mentioned anybody's name?

Let the prosecution continue. Someone is responsible for those 100+ deaths.