Lekki Gardens MD, Others Face Six-Count Charge Over Involuntary Manslaughter
Lekan Paul
Posted On Jul 4, 2017
The Managing Director of Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Mr. Richard Nyong, and seven other defendants have been arraigned before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere over the collapse of a building in Lekki area of the State that allegedly killed 34 people on March 10, 2016.
Other defendants joined in the suit by the Lagos State Government are Lekki Gardens’ Executive Director, Mr. Sola Olumofe; the firm’s contractor, Odofin Henry Taiwo; Omolabake Mortune, Omotilewa Oluwatosin Joseph, Lekki Gardens, Get Too Rich Investment Limited and HC Insight Solution Limited.
The defendants are facing six-count charges for failure to obtain building approval for the collapsed building and involuntary manslaughter, offences contrary to and punishable under Section 75 (1) of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of Lagos State 2010, and Section 229 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 respectively.
At the hearing, Justice Sybil Nwaka had ordered the prosecution team led by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, to affix the seal on the charges.
Justice Nwaka also ruled that the defendants except the second defendant (Olumofe) should continue enjoying their formal bail conditions, but added that they should deposit their international passports with the court.
The matter has been adjourned to October 26 and 30, 2017 for definite hearing.
