Synagogue: Church Members Prevented Us From Gaining Access To Collapsed SiteWitness

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations and the two engineers that constructed the collapsed building, Adesola Kabir told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that the church members prevented emergency responders from accessing the site of the incident.Kabir, who is the Liason Officer to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), told the trial judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo that there was a serious argument between his team and SCOANs security operatives before assess could be given for them to get to the site of the collapsed guest house.The Lagos State government is prosecuting the Registered Trustees of the church, the two engineer, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun, their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited on a 111 count charges of criminal negligence, manslaughter and failure to obtain building permit.It would be recalled that the collapsed building had killed no fewer than 116 worshippers who had lodged at the guest house belonging to SCOAN.While being led in evidence by lawyer to the Lagos state government, Idowu Alakija, the fourth prosecution witness said, We had some challenges on the part of the members of the church because they did not want us to get to the scene of the collapsed guest house.A LASEMA camera was even smatched when we attempted to take photo shots. But at night when the church members had left, we were able to work more.When the then Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola came, he ordered that LASEMA and other responders should be allowed to do their work. It was at that point that we were allowed full access to the collapsed site, the witness testified.Justice Lawal-Akapo has adjourned the case till December 15, 2016 for continuation of trial.
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