Judiciary
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The Lagos State government has appointed a coroner to hold an inquest into the collapse of the six-storey building belonging to T.B. Joshua, pastor of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, and has threatened to sue him if he is found culpable
| By Fidelia Salami | Oct. 13, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT |
THE Lagos State government has had a rethink over its earlier decision to suspend investigation into the collapse of the six-storey building belonging to Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, owned by T.B. Joshua, its founder. On Monday, September 29, the government inaugurated a coroner to hold inquest into the cause of the building collapse. The coroner’s inquest is done in line with the provisions of Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007. The government has also threatened to sue Joshua and make him face relevant laws of the land as it affects collapsed building if he is found to be criminally liable for the monumental tragedy. The collapsed building which had more floors than its foundation could hold killed more than 150 persons, including 84 South Africans. The casualty rate is likely increase as more dead bodies are still being excavated in the rubble of the caved in building.
Ade Ipaye, attorney general and commissioner for justice, issued a statement, saying the state government is investigating the cause of the September 12, Synagogue Church of All Nation’s building collapse. The coroner of inquest, chaired by O. A. Komolafe, has been charged with the duty of establishing the cause of the collapse of Synagogue’s six-storey building.
“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 prosecution 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 or visitation schedules and other details and to hold the inquest at the premises of the High Court of Lagos State, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja. In doing this, he (Komolafe) 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,” he said.
The action of the Lagos State government has in no way appeased the South Africa. South Africans are determined to take the Prophet to court for the death of their relations. Two South Africans, who lost relatives in the tragic incident, have told the BBC that they intend to sue Joshua. The two men, who both lost sisters in the collapse, are appealing for more families to come together in bringing a case against the televangelist.
Thanduxolo Doro and Mpho Molebatsi, who lost their sisters, said that nothing will stop them from taking the man of God to court. “It is not that the building collapsed, rather what was done after the collapse – we didn’t get any news from the church. When I contacted them they wouldn’t tell me anything. We saw reports that emergency workers were denied access initially, access that could have saved lives. The actions of the church after the incident are very telling,” Doro, whose sister Vathiswa Madikiza died, told the BBC.
In an open letter published in South Africa’s Star newspaper, Doro called on more families to sue Joshua. “I need to do this for her. Even if I stand alone, I am determined to see that something is done. I understand that some families are afraid to take on someone who purports to be God’s messenger and I don’t blame them but I will do this,” he said. Doro said he was informed by South African officials about his sister’s death this week, but has to wait for the results of the DNA tests before her body can be repatriated for burial. He said he had spoken to two families who were eager to join him in suing Joshua, but no concrete plans had been made.
On his part, Molebatsi, whose sister Hlubi Molebatsi also died, said he has contacted his lawyers. “I have spoken to other families but it has been difficult because this is a time of mourning. I would like to see families get something from the church as some of the people who died were breadwinners,” he told the BBC.
With court actions at various levels facing Joshua, some overzealous church members are manufacturing outright lies to shield him. One of such lies was perpetrated by one Ken Emeakayi, who purports to be Joshua’s aide but the church has disowned him. Emeakayi has said that the Lagos state government gave the church permit for a 12-storey building contrary to the well-publicised permit for two-storey before Joshua unilaterally raised the build to six floors without any building approval from the Lagos State Building Agency.
However, the church has distanced itself from Emeakyi’s falsehood. The church’s official Facebook page, said: “Even though Emeakayi is a member of the SCOAN and Emmanuel TV partner, he went to the media to air his personal views and not those of the church. Our attention has been drawn to several articles circulating around the internet quoting Mr. Ken Emeakayi as an official representative of T.B. Joshua, The SCOAN and Emmanuel TV….While Mr. Ken is a member of the SCOAN and an Emmanuel TV partner, he went to the media on his own personal level to air his views concerning the incident and not to officially represent the church. Any official statement from The SCOAN will be published on our website and our official Facebook page,” it stated.
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Tags: State Attorney General Synagogue Church of All Nations T.B. Joshua
