The Coroner inquest sitting into the circumstances which led to the collapse of a 21-storey high-rise building at Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos was stalled yesterday, due to power outage.
At the resumed proceedings, in Ikeja, which was scheduled for continuation of the testimony of Mr. Muritala Olawale, a structural engineer and the Managing Director of Prowess Engineering Nigeria Limited, Coroner Oyetade Komolafe suggested that the proceeding be adjourned or stood down due to power outage.
He said that the microphones in the courtroom and the equipment used to record the proceedings are not working due to lack of electricity.
“You will not be able to hear me and we will also be unable to hear the witness.”
The counsel present in court were; Mr. Akin George, representing the Lagos State Government and Mr. A.S Odugbemi representing the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
Others are Mr. O.M Adeosun for Prowess Engineering Nigeria Ltd and Mr. Yusuf Laman from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and Architect Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) had representatives at the inquest.
However, counsel for parties and the coroner agreed that proceedings should be adjourned to January 12 and 13 2022 for the continuation of Olawale’s evidence.
Olawale had on December 15 in his evidence, told the coroner inquest that he rendered structural consultancy services to the late Osibona and the initial brief his firm received was for three blocks of four-storey buildings.
He said that Osibona kept revising the brief by adding more floors to the buildings and that his team were only responsible for the first four floors of 21-storey Block B which collapsed.
Olawale stated that Osibona was the contractor/builder of the thproject and was also in charge of getting all government approvals for the high-rises. He said, “I never saw the approved architectural drawings, mechanical drawings and electronic drawings for the project.”
The structural engineer said that when he realised that standard construction procedures were not being observed on the site, his company withdrew their services to Osibona via a letter dated February 20, 2020.
SOurce: Guardoan.ng
