NIGERIA: Coroner Dismisses TB Joshua's Application Seeking To Halt Building Collapse Inquest
Following an application by the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T.B Joshua, seeking to put on hold the inquest, the ...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2014/12/nigeria-coroner-dismisses-tb-joshuas.html
Following an application by the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T.B Joshua, seeking to put on hold the inquest, the coroner probing the September 12 building collapse within the premises of the church, Mr O.A. Komolafe, has dismissed the application, describing it as an abuse of court process.
It will be recalled that Prophet T.B. Joshua had filed the application asking Komolafe to put on hold further inquisition into the cause of death of the victims of the collapsed building.
No fewer than 116 persons lost their lives while several others sustained varying degrees of injury in the tragic incident.
Joshua’s application for stay of proceedings dated November 11, 2014 came on the heels of an application he had filed before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
In the said application before Justice Lateefat Okunnu, Joshua asked for a judicial review of the coroner’s proceedings, which began on October 13.
Among others, he had asked the High Court to determine whether the witness summons served on him to appear before the coroner to give testimony was not a violation of his right.
He further contested that the coroner had been extending his inquisitions into areas beyond its statutory purview.
According to Joshua’s lawyer, Mr Olalekan Ojo, the duty of the coroner was limited to determining what killed the victims of the collapsed building and nothing more.
Ojo argued argued that it was beyond the scope of the coroner to delve into the questions of what was responsible for the collapse of the building itself.
According to Ojo, it was not the duty of the coroner to inquire into issues bordering on building approval, soil and/or material tests of the collapsed building.
He had therefore asked the coroner to suspend further inquisitions till when Justice Okunnu would rule on the issues raised.
Ruling on Joshua’s application on Wednesday, Komolafe held that it was an abuse of court processes.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
It will be recalled that Prophet T.B. Joshua had filed the application asking Komolafe to put on hold further inquisition into the cause of death of the victims of the collapsed building.
No fewer than 116 persons lost their lives while several others sustained varying degrees of injury in the tragic incident.
Joshua’s application for stay of proceedings dated November 11, 2014 came on the heels of an application he had filed before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
In the said application before Justice Lateefat Okunnu, Joshua asked for a judicial review of the coroner’s proceedings, which began on October 13.
Among others, he had asked the High Court to determine whether the witness summons served on him to appear before the coroner to give testimony was not a violation of his right.
He further contested that the coroner had been extending his inquisitions into areas beyond its statutory purview.
According to Joshua’s lawyer, Mr Olalekan Ojo, the duty of the coroner was limited to determining what killed the victims of the collapsed building and nothing more.
Ojo argued argued that it was beyond the scope of the coroner to delve into the questions of what was responsible for the collapse of the building itself.
According to Ojo, it was not the duty of the coroner to inquire into issues bordering on building approval, soil and/or material tests of the collapsed building.
He had therefore asked the coroner to suspend further inquisitions till when Justice Okunnu would rule on the issues raised.
Ruling on Joshua’s application on Wednesday, Komolafe held that it was an abuse of court processes.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
