Dr Olusegun Oyenuga, a state witness in the ongoing trial of two engineers charged with negligence and manslaughter in the collapsed building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) told an Ikeja High Court that the church did not respond to requests for documents at the start of investigations into the building collapse.
Dr. Oyenuga, a civil engineer, made this revelation while being cross-examined by the lead counsel for the defence team, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
“The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), sent a letter to the Synagogue Church to furnish some documents which would aid investigations into collapsed building but we did not receive during our investigations, he said. "
Oyenuga, had listed his educational qualifications as an HND in Civil Engineering from the Yaba College of Technology in 1978, a first class Bsc degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Lagos in 1981.
He listed his professional qualifications as; A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers, a past President of the institution who served from 2009 to 2011 and a current registered engineer of COREN.
While under cross-examination, Dr. Oyenuga told the court that the nine-man investigative committee that visited the site of the building collapse was created by COREN in conjunction with the Nigerian Buildings and Roads Research Institute (NIBRRI).
“The investigative committee consisted of nine people, there was no geophysist in the committee, he told the court.”
Dr. Oyenuga, however, admitted he had no knowledge of who delivered the letter of request from COREN to SCOAN neither did he have an acknowledgement copy of the letter.
Mrs Titi Akinlawon (SAN) a counsel for the defence questioned Oyenuga’s claim that he received no documents from SCOAN.
“You had alleged in your evidence that you got exhibits P2 and P3 from the church, in what circumstances did you get those documents? Akinlawon asked.”
“I did not get those documents from the church but rather from the office of the Coroner which was set up to investigate the building collapse, Oyenuga said.”
Akinbela Fatiregun and Oladele Ogundeji alongside their companies; Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited and the trustees of SCOAN are facing a 111-count charge of gross negligence and criminal manslaughter.
Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, adjourned the case till tomorrow for continuation of trial.
Dr. Oyenuga, a civil engineer, made this revelation while being cross-examined by the lead counsel for the defence team, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
“The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), sent a letter to the Synagogue Church to furnish some documents which would aid investigations into collapsed building but we did not receive during our investigations, he said. "
Oyenuga, had listed his educational qualifications as an HND in Civil Engineering from the Yaba College of Technology in 1978, a first class Bsc degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Lagos in 1981.
He listed his professional qualifications as; A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers, a past President of the institution who served from 2009 to 2011 and a current registered engineer of COREN.
While under cross-examination, Dr. Oyenuga told the court that the nine-man investigative committee that visited the site of the building collapse was created by COREN in conjunction with the Nigerian Buildings and Roads Research Institute (NIBRRI).
“The investigative committee consisted of nine people, there was no geophysist in the committee, he told the court.”
Dr. Oyenuga, however, admitted he had no knowledge of who delivered the letter of request from COREN to SCOAN neither did he have an acknowledgement copy of the letter.
Mrs Titi Akinlawon (SAN) a counsel for the defence questioned Oyenuga’s claim that he received no documents from SCOAN.
“You had alleged in your evidence that you got exhibits P2 and P3 from the church, in what circumstances did you get those documents? Akinlawon asked.”
“I did not get those documents from the church but rather from the office of the Coroner which was set up to investigate the building collapse, Oyenuga said.”
Akinbela Fatiregun and Oladele Ogundeji alongside their companies; Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited and the trustees of SCOAN are facing a 111-count charge of gross negligence and criminal manslaughter.
Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, adjourned the case till tomorrow for continuation of trial.
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