Synagogue Building Collapse: Coroner's Inquest To Commence Sitting On Oct.13

The coroner's inquest into the recent collapse of a building within
the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations at Ikotun Egbe, a
Lagos suburb, would commence sitting on Oct.13.

This is contained in a press statement signed by Mrs Bola Akingbade,
spokesperson of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, and made
available to journalists on Friday in Ikeja.

The statement said the inquest would take place at the premises of the
Ikeja High Court and would be presided over by Magistrate Oyetade
Komolafe.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 86 persons were
reportedly killed and 131 others rescued after the multi-storey
building collapsed on Sept.12.

The inquest was instituted under the Lagos State Coroner's System Law
No. 7 of 2007 for the purpose of establishing the cause and manner of
the collapsed building incident.

The statement said those expected to give evidence at the inquest
would include Prophet Temitope Joshua- founder of The Synagogue
Church of All Nations, and the contractors handling the church
building.

Others are members of the families of the victims of the incident,
some media houses including NAN, Channels TV, Television Continental,
Vanguard newspaper , Daily Independent, The Nation and Punch
Newspapers.

The statement also stated that some ministries, departments and
parastatal agencies (MDAs) of Lagos State, the state police command,
security agencies and the Nigerian Red Cross, would testify.

The statement said an eye witness, Lindiw Ndwande and Mr Rebone Tau,
Chairman of the Youth League's International Relations Committee of
South Africa, would also give evidence.

It urged the expected organisations, bodies and persons to contact the
coroner's registrar immediately to schedule their appearances.

The statement also urged those who wish to give evidence or tender
any material that would assist the coroner in its findings to contact
its registrar.

(NAN)