Following the collapse of a six-storey building within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, killing more than 150 people, 82 of them South Africans, the founder and General Overseer of the church, Prophet T.B. Joshua, is to appear before the coroner, Mr Oyetade Komolafe, sitting at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos State.
Prophet Joshua will appear on November 5, along with the contractor in charge of the collapsed building.
Komolafe, during the sitting of the court on Friday, stated that the appearance of the church’s founder was important to the findings of the court. Though, counsel for the church, Mr. Jude Nnadi (SAN), argued that the appearance of the pastor would not be necessary as he was not an eyewitness, Komolafe insisted that Joshua must appear. The coroner, who said he had heard that Joshua had addressed the press at various times, said the pastor must also appear before the court to give evidence.
“We have heard that he has been addressing the press at various times, let him come and address the court. “The court has summoned him; let him come and tell us what he knows. He cannot sit over there and be sending words to us that he cannot come. “The court has said that for the purpose of what we are doing, that he should come over,” Komolafe said.
Meanwhile, a Chief Operational Officer with the Lagos State Fire Service, Adebayo Musiliu, told the court on Friday that his observation revealed that the building did not collapse as a result of an explosion. Musiliu, who said he had 34 years of experience in rescue operation, insisted that there was nothing to suggest that the accident occurred as a result of an explosion.
“All the bodies recovered were whole and not dismembered or burnt. Also, there were no scattered bricks. The floors and pillars were also not shattered, rather, the building collapsed on top of each other.“The collapsed building did not depict any sign of explosion or implosion,” Musiliu told the court.
Source: Tribune
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