The Lagos State Government has through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye commenced investigation on the tragic incident that led to the collapsed building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations at Ikotun Egbe, Lagos and the several deaths involved. To unravel the cause, Ipaye, who constituted the Coroner court in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007, noted it will investigate the cause and circumstances of deaths and bring his findings and recommendations to the appropriate authorities. The Coroner Court is expected to commence sitting from next week at the premise of the Ikeja High Court.
According to Section 15 of the Coroner Law, it states that a Coroner “shall hold an inquest whenever he is informed that the death of a deceased person lying within his Coroner District was as a result of a violent, unnatural or suspicious occurrence.” In a statement by the Public Relation Officer of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Bola Akingbade, quoting the Attorney General, said, “In doing this, he (Coroner) has all the powers of a magistrate to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, including medical examiners, and require them to give evidence, produce documents or present other relevant materials.”
According to Section 15 of the Coroner Law, it states that a Coroner “shall hold an inquest whenever he is informed that the death of a deceased person lying within his Coroner District was as a result of a violent, unnatural or suspicious occurrence.” In a statement by the Public Relation Officer of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Bola Akingbade, quoting the Attorney General, said, “In doing this, he (Coroner) has all the powers of a magistrate to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, including medical examiners, and require them to give evidence, produce documents or present other relevant materials.”
Ipaye said further, “The Law requires the verdict of a Coroner as certified in writing to be forwarded to the State Attorney General and such verdict may form the basis of criminal prosecutions depending on the evidence collected. The Coroner in this case is Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, who also sat as Coroner in the Dana Air Crash case. He is expected to announce his sitting/visitation schedules and other details and to hold the inquest at the premises of the High Court of Lagos State, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja." The video below...