Magistrate’s absence stalls trial on Lekki building collapse

Proceeding on suit against Managing Director of the firm that handled Lekki Garden’s collapsed building, Robert Nyong and project supervisors was stalled yesterday, due to absence of the presiding magistrate.

The matter was transferred from Magistrate Afolashade Botoku to A. O. Awogboro, following the former’s transfer to another jurisdiction of the court.

The court registrar told both counsels and litigants of Awogboro’s indisposition, a development that made both parties to agreed on a new date of September 30, 2016.

The new date, which was jointly agreed upon by the prosecutor, Goddy Osuyi and defendants’ counsels, Bode Olanipekun and Uwangboje, was communicated to the registrar.

It would be recalled that the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) of Lagos State Police Command, had on March 11,2016 brought both the Managing Director and the contractor before the court for remand.

This followed the collapse of a five-storey building in Lekki area of the state, which killed 35 people, leaving many others injured.

In the application, the police urged the court to remand the defendants, pending when it would complete it’s investigation on the matter.

The magistrate had granted their request and adjourned the matter till March 23,2016, while ordering the two men to be remanded in the SCIID’s custody.

However, on March 23 when the matter came up, the court blamed police for failing to produce the defendants before the court.

The defendant, who were then granted bail, were ordered to deposit their international passports, pending the conclusion of the matter and adjourned the matter till April 12,2016 and later June 30, upon the transfer of the former magistrate.