A coroner of inquest has been set up by the Lagos state government for the purpose of investigating the cause of the September 12 collapse of a guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN) that killed no fewer than 115 people.
According to This Day, this was
disclosed in a statement by the Public Relation Officer of the Ministry
of Justice, Mrs. Bola Akingbade.
According to the statement, the Coroner
court has all the powers of a magistrate to summon and compel the
attendance of witnesses, including medical examiners, and require them
to give evidence, produce documents or present other relevant materials.
A statement credited to the Lagos State Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, says the coroner inquest will
be headed by Magistrate O. A. Komolafe in pursuant to Section 15 of the
Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007 and their duty is to
establish the cause of the Synagogue collapse.Ipaye said: “Komolafe has all the powers of a magistrate to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, including medical examiners, and require them to give evidence, produce documents or present other relevant materials.”
Ipaye explained that depending on the final submission of the coroner, there might be an institution of a criminal charge against the church and it may be prosecuted.
There are indications that the Coroner court will commence sitting from next week at the premise of the Ikeja High Court.
It would be recalled that Prophet TB Joshua of SCOAN had attributed the tragic collapse to a strange aircraft which hovered over the building for some minutes before the incident.
Meanwhile, professional builders in Lagos State, have faulted the “strange aircraft” theory purported by the Synagogue church.
Several groups have called for the arrest and trial of T.B Joshua.
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