Lagos arraigns owner of Eti-osa collapsed building for contravention
18 May 2023 |
2:54 am
Lagos State government has arraigned Kenneth Okenini before the Special Offences Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, for contravening the state’s building codes.
Lagos State government has arraigned Kenneth Okenini before the Special Offences Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, for contravening the state’s building codes.
Okenini is the owner of a three-storey structure, which recently collapsed along Adesegun Okunuga Street in Ikate-Elegushi, Eti-Osa, Lagos. He was arraigned before Chief Magistrate K.O Ogundare for various offences, including disobedience of an order by Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), in accordance with the law.
The arraignment followed an earlier warning issued by Lagos State government to owners and developers of property contravening the state’s building codes.
According to the charge, the property owner, allegedly flouted provisions of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of Lagos State by engaging non-professionals for construction and ignoring all warnings to desist from violating the law.
The three-floor structure collapsed on May 13, 2023, as a result of Okenini’s alleged refusal to obey the Stop Work Order earlier issued by LASBCA on May 8, 2023, when the property was also sealed.
The state alleged that government’s seal was also broken, and construction work continued in defiance to the law. Investigations also revealed that the property owner failed to insure the building, contrary to Section 48 of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development (Amendment) Law, 2019, and punishable under Section 75(2) of same law.
The offences are punishable under Section 122 (a) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 as well as Section 75(2) of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019 (as amended).
When the charge was read, the property owner pleaded not guilty to the charge. Consequently, he was granted bail to the tune of N500,000.00 with a surety in like sum.
The Magistrate ordered that the surety should be gainfully employed, with means of identification and must have an address verifiable by the police with an evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.
Further hearing on the matter has been adjourned to June 14, 2023.
Meanwhile, the state has assured that LASBCA would continue to identify and prosecute property owners, and developers who attack government and its officials to serve as deterrent to others.
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