SCOAN Building Collapse Prohibition Suit: Court Fixes March 3 For Ruling

JUSTICE Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja Friday set aside March 3, as the day to deliver ruling on the prohibition suit, instituted by the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), alongside its founder, Prophet Temitope Joshua.

The judge fixed this date after lead counsel to SCOAN, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) replied on point of law to the arguement canvassed by the Lagos State government counsel.

The suit was filed by SCOAN against the Lagos State Coroners Court sitting in Ikeja, and the Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe who is presiding over the court. 

SCOAN had prayed the court to stay further proceedings of the inquest and suspend further actions on his (Joshua’s) invitation to appear to give evidence before the court, pending the determination of his suit against Chief Magistrate Komolafe before the High Court.

The suit was brought pursuant to Order 40 Rule 5 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure Rules) 2012 and signed by one O.M Abimbola.

Joshua is praying for court order of prohibition, against the Coroner’s Court of Lagos State and the presiding magistrate Komolafe from exceeding their jurisdiction in the conduct of coroner’s inquest into the death of unknown persons in the collapsed building within the premises of SCOAN on September 12, 2014.

The suit delineated ID/188MJR/2014, SCOAN want the Lagos High Court among others,  to issue, “An order of Certiorari to quash the proceedings of the 1st and 2nd respondents in the conduct of the coroner’s inquest into the death of unknown persons in the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos on 12th September, 2014 in suit number CR/AL/01/2014 concerning matters, issues and circumstances other than what directly caused the death of the victims and the manner of their death for having been conducted without or in excess of the statutory jurisdiction of the 1st and 2nd respondents.