20th November, 2014
Henry Ojelu
The ongoing inquest into the 12 September collapse of a guest house within the premises of Synagogue Church of All Nations in Ikotun area of Lagos State, western Nigeria, could not proceed Thursday due to a faulty automated recording machine.
At least 116 persons, mostly of South Africans, lost their lives in the incident. Their corpses have since been repatriated to South Africa.
The coroner’s inquest investigating the incident had fixed Thursday for continuation of hearing with founder of the church, Prophet T.B. Joshua scheduled to testify among other witnesses.
Although TB Joshua was not sighted within the Ikeja High Court venue of the inquest, the coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, insisted that he must appear before the court or risk arrest.
Komolafe gave the threat after a Police DSP Agboyi Olusola concluded his testimony.
Soon after his testimony, the court summoned an official of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Bede Obayi to present the findings of his organisation on the incident.
Moments after Obayi began his testimony, the court registrar informed the presiding magistrate that the court’s automated recording machine was no longer working.
The magistrate called for a 10 minutes recess for the machines to be fixed. When the court reconvened about 20 minutes later, the magistrate informed the court that the machine was still not working.
He subsequently adjourned the matter till Friday but warned that TB Joshua and other witnesses must appear before him tomorrow or risk arrest.