Court finally docks Synagogue Church Trustees, engineers for manslaughter

 

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Lagos High Court has ordered the arraignment of Synagogue Church of all Nations, SCOAN, trustees and two engineers alongside their companies involved in the September 12, 2014 building collapse that killed 116 persons in the Ikotun area of the state.
They were finally arraigned on Tuesday after the judge dismissed the application filed by two of the defendants seeking to quash the charge.
Since the Lagos State Government filed the 111 charges which border on criminal negligence, manslaughter and failure to obtain building permit, the defendants have severally stalled their arraignment by filing several applications.

Immediately after Justice Akapo initial ruling, lead counsels representing the defendants made several attempts to convince the court not to proceed with the arraignment.
While Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, representing SCOAN argued that it would be improper to proceed with arraignment since the day’s business of the court was for ruling, Chief Akpofure, SAN, representing Hardrock Construction Company said he just lost his mother and would not be able to proceed.