10 yrs after: BCPG tasks FG, Lagos govt on outcome of Synagogue building collapse’s case

Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) is calling on the federal and the Lagos State governments, especially the Attorney General of the Federation and Commissioner for Justice, to provide the outcome of the court case on Synagogue’s building collapse to the public 10 years after.

The Igando-Ikotun Cell of BCPG made this call while remembering the unfortunate incident where a seven-storey multipurpose building within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations caved in, leaving 116 people, comprising both locals and foreigners, dead.

Recalling that the tragic incident occurred on Friday, September 12, 2014, the group, in a statement, said the government must get to the root of the matter and ensure that justice is served.

The statement was signed by the cell’s Coordinator, Adekemi Okusaga; General Secretary, Olusola Ayelemi and Publicity Secretary, Segun Fadeyi.

The trio pointed out that as an independent body of built environment professionals, BCPG was tasked by the coroner’s inquest to investigate the cause of the collapse that led to such a huge loss of lives.

According to them, an intensive technical investigation was carried out pro bono, resulting in a comprehensive report that became instrumental in the subsequent court prosecution.

“Today marks the 10th anniversary of this unfortunate building collapse. How time flies! However, a pressing question weighs on our minds on this solemn day: “What is the outcome of the court case?”

“We hereby call on the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro, to provide an answer to this important and legitimate question.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. The lack of consequences and deterrence foster a culture of impunity,” the statement by BCPG read.

Since the fatal Synagogue building collapse, the experts said the group has recorded 306 additional building collapses in Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of no fewer than 508 people, with many others injured.

“This preventable loss of lives and the colossal waste of building materials must stop,” the statement added.

The group seized the occasion to offer prayers for the repose of the souls lost and for divine comfort and protection for the bereaved.

“The September 12 anniversary serves as a reminder to all Nigerians to prioritise safety in building construction in order to prevent the continued loss of precious lives through these tragic building collapses,” it read further.

In another statement by the former President of BCPG, Mr Kunle Awobodu, titled, ‘Prevention is Better than Damaged Control,’ remarked that coincidentally, the current Minister of Justice and Attorney

General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, was the leading defence counsel for the trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations.

He wants the Attorney-General to use his good office, the extant neutrality, to facilitate the adjudication, dispensation of justice in the archived Synagogue building collapse case to the relief of the bereaved and salving the conscience of the litigants.

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