Synagogue Building Collapse: Trial Kicks-off June 3

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday fixedJune 3, 2016, to commence the trial of the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), alongside the engineers that supervised the collapsed guest house belonging to the church. The reason for the adjournment was due to the late filing of additional proof of evidence by the prosecution. The collapsed building had killed 116 people resident in the building at the time of the incident. It is recalled that the SCOAN’s registered trustees, the two engineers, Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun alongside their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited were in May arraigned on 111-count charge over their alleged involvement in the September 12, 2014 collapse of a six-storey guest house belonging to the church by the Lagos State Government. They are answering questions to alleged criminal negligence, manslaughter and failure to obtain a building permit. Justice Lawal-Akapo had in his ruling last week directed the prosecution led by Mrs Idowu Alakija, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to furnish the defence with the statement of the prosecution witness, Adebayo Musiliu Olayinka who was not allowed to testify before the court by the defence team. The lead lawyer for the defence, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) had raised an objection to the witness giving evidence for the reason that his witness statement was not forwarded to the defence team as stipulated by the law. The senior lawyer further argued that in a criminal proceeding, the proper practice is for the prosecuting team to serve the defence with the list of witness and their statement. The Judge upheld the argument of the defence and ordered that the witness statement should be filed and served on them. But at yesterday’s sitting on the matter, Alakija told the court that the state has filed the additional proof of evidence, which was served on the defence team yesterday morning. The DPP also informed the court that the prosecution witnesses, Adebayo Musiliu Olayinka was in court and was ready to testify. The defence team led by Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) confirmed that the additional proof of evidence has been served on them but they would need time to study the documents. Fagbemi again objected that the witness cannot testify until they (defence) finished studying the additional documents and urged the court to give them time to study it to enable them to cross-examine the witness well.