YAHAYA IBRAHIM
A prosecution witness in the trial of the Managing Director of Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Richard Nyong and others over the collapsed of a five story building at Lekki in 2016, on Monday told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that the building has no approval.
The building known as Horizon, located at Elegushi had collapsed on March 8, 2016 and killed 30 people.
The witness, Maruis Agwu, who testified before Justice Sybil Nwaka, said the initial plan of the building was a three story building before Nyong later told him of his intention to increase the building to five floors because of the high demand of tenants.
Agwu a self acclaimed Architect who was led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution DPP, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, said when he discovered the defect on the collapsed building, he drew the attention of the Lekki Gardens boss to it and he promised to do something on it but he never did.
The witness narrated that he first met Nyong in 2011 and they became close friends, after the Lekki Gardens owner introduced himself as a developer and he in turn introduce himself as an architect.
According to him, Nyong later told him of a project in Lekki and asked him if he would be able to provide him architectural design services, adding that he was given a brief to design the building after showing a portfolio of designs he has done in the past.
He also told the court that though he is a graduate from University of Nigeria, Nsuka and also got a masters degree from the university in 2007 but he is not a certified architect.
During cross examination by the counsel to the first, sixth and seventh defendants, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, the witness admitted that he was not a registered architect, he also said that he did not sign and seal the design of the collapsed building.
Agwu who said the piling of the collapsed building was his first experience, denied that any integrity test and soiling was conducted on the building.
But when asked if he could remember the statement he made to the police on May 16, 2016, where he said that the company that handled the piling, conducted integrity and soiling test, he said, he could no longer remember.
However Olanipekun tendered the statement he made before the police in court and he read” The company that handled the piling, conducted integrity test and soiling test,.”
The court admitted the statement as exhibit A.
The case was adjourned till December 14, for continuation of cross examination.
The Lagos State Government had charged Nyong alongside Lekki Gardens Estate Limited and Get Too Rich Investment Limited known as Horizon 1 Extension, House H15, Mr Sola Olumofe; the firm’s contractor, Odofin Henry Taiwo; Omolabake Mortune, Omotilewa Oluwatosin Joseph, Lekki Gardens, and HC Insight Solution Limited.
They were arraigned on a six count charge bordering on failure to obtain building approval for the collapsed building and involuntary manslaughter.
The offences, according to the charge are contrary to and punishable under Section 75 (1) of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of Lagos State 2010, and Section 229 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.