Building collapse: Lagos files fresh charges against Lekki gardens’ MD, others

The Lagos State Government has filed a revised charge before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere against the Managing Director of Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Richard Nyong and others over alleged carelessness in the events leading to the collapse of a building in Lekki area of the State on March 10, 2016.

Mr Adeniji Kazeem, who represented the state government through the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, had dragged Nyong and others before Justice Sybil Nwaka over the building collapse. The collapsed building reportedly claimed 34 lives

Ms.Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the State’s Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) told the court of the revised charge dated June 13, 2017 and an extra of evidence filed against the defendants. She stated that all the defendants have since been duly served at the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, June 13, 2017. Apart from Nyong, other defendants are Omolabake Mortune, Odofin Henry Taiwo, an Executive Director of Lekki Gardens, Sola Olumofe; HC Insight Solution Limited Omotilewa Oluwatosin Joseph, Lekki Gardens, and Get Too Rich Investment Limited.

According to Oguntade, the accused was receiving treatment for Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol in the United Kingdom when the bench warrant was issued against him, and that he flew into the country to make himself available for trial. However, the lawyer gave a firm commitment that his client would not travel outside the country until the matter against him is complete.

In response to the application, the State’s DPP (Shitta-Bey) urged the court to brush off the application on the ground that it was baseless. Different from Oguntade’s contention, Shitta-Bey said even the accused admitted in his supporting affidavit that there was a link between him and the matter, as he was the lead technical professional in decision making with respect to the building of the collapsed building.

 

 

 

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