Building collapse: Lagos sets to prosecute Lekki Gardens contractors, others

The Lagos State Government is set to begin the prosecution of suspects linked to the collapse of the five-story building which killed 30 people in Lekki area of the state in March 2016.

The five-storey building owned by Lekki Gardens collapsed on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 in Lekki, killing 30 people.

In a press statement signed on Wednesday by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, the government said it had concluded its legal advice and ready to prosecute nine suspects deemed culpable in the collapse of the building.

“Following the conclusion of investigation by the Nigerian Police Force and technical reports of relevant experts, my Office has concluded its Legal Advice and decided to prosecute the suspects for failure to obtain Planning Permit contrary to the provisions of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, Ch. CU2 and Involuntary Manslaughter contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Ch. C17, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 respectively”, the Attorney-General said in the statement.

It would be recalled that on Tuesday, 8 March, 2016, a property being built by Messrs. Lekki Gardens Estate Limited and Get Too Rich Investment Limited known as Horizon 1 Extension, House H15, Lekki, Lagos State collapsed, claiming the lives of 30 people.

Kazeem reiterated the commitment of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration to protect the lives and properties of its citizens and assured the general public that it would leave nothing to chance to ensure that criminal negligence and any form of crime are duly brought to book.

-Kazeem Ugbodaga