The Coroner’s Inquest investigating the conditions which led to the collapse of a six-storey guest house of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has settled Prophet Joshua request to stay off the proceeding awaiting the resolve of his application.
Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, the Coroner, postponed Joshua’s attendance pending the resolve of his case against Komolafe before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court.
Komolafe had delivered witness summons on related individuals and institutions including Prophet T.B Joshua.
The inquiry was initiated by the Lagos State Government under the state Coroner’s System Law No.7 of 2007 to investigate the reason and circumstances causing in the death of 166 people following the breakdown on September 12, 2014 and bring its results and recommendations to the suitable authorities.
But Joshua instead of appearing before the inquiry had filed an appeal before Justice Okunnu to stay further proceedings of the inquest and suspend further actions on his invitation to appear to give evidence before it pending the determination of his suit against Komolafe before the High Court.
Justice Okunnu had settled December 22, 2014 to hear the appeal.
Komolafe had last week dismissed a similar application filed by Joshua before him on the ground that it was misuse of court procedure.
Meanwhile, at today’s proceeding, the Coroner, after listening to an oral application by Joshua’s chief counsel, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) decided to suspend Joshua’s appearance pending the determination of his suit before the High Court.
However, a Deputy General Manager, Air Traffice Control, with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Rafiq Olubukola Arogunjo told the court that a Nigeria Airforce Aircraft was on a training mission within the Ikotun area on September 12 when the Synagogue church building collapsed.
Arogunjo who noted that the plane never flew directly over the collapsed church said that the aircraft preserved the statutory 1000 feet flight distance in congested areas.
He further stated that the controversial aircraft had to fly over the Ikotun area for about six times due to the high traffic of in coming aircraft at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The coroner while addressing all parties in the matter insisted that the inquest would be concluded before the end of this month.
He subsequently adjourned the matter till December 17.
GOD dose not forsake HIS Own“ not even in this time of huge trial.GOD is Awesome and Faithful.