The coroner conducting an inquest into the cause of the
building collapse at The Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, today,
threatened to order the arrest of T.B Joshua, the church’s founder, if he fails
to honour the invitation extended to him, Premium Times reports.
building collapse at The Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, today,
threatened to order the arrest of T.B Joshua, the church’s founder, if he fails
to honour the invitation extended to him, Premium Times reports.
The Magistrate said the court does not owe anyone an
explanation for its decision to invite Mr. Joshua.
explanation for its decision to invite Mr. Joshua.
Mr. Joshua, whose real name is Temitope Balogun Joshua, is
billed to testify at the inquest on November 5.
billed to testify at the inquest on November 5.
“If he doesn’t come, he will be arrested, please advise
him,” the coroner told the church’s counsel at the inquest.
him,” the coroner told the church’s counsel at the inquest.
“The sheriff said he has served him (a witness summons) and
I have the evidence of that. If he cannot come on that day, he should tell us
why he cannot come.”
I have the evidence of that. If he cannot come on that day, he should tell us
why he cannot come.”
The magistrate was however responding to an earlier
suggestion by Lateef Fagbemi, the church’s counsel, that only people who would
be of relevance to the court ought to be invited.
suggestion by Lateef Fagbemi, the church’s counsel, that only people who would
be of relevance to the court ought to be invited.
“I have gone through all the depositions filed, no mention
has been made of Joshua,” Mr. Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said.
has been made of Joshua,” Mr. Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said.
“I will suggest that it is those who can be of assistance
from the SCOAN that will be invited.”
from the SCOAN that will be invited.”
To support his argument, Mr. Fagbemi cited Section 32 of the
Coroner Law where the court was vested with the power to summon anyone that can
give “material evidence” during an inquest.
Coroner Law where the court was vested with the power to summon anyone that can
give “material evidence” during an inquest.
“He must be someone who must be able to assist you. Has
there been anything said against Joshua?” Mr. Fagbemi argued.
there been anything said against Joshua?” Mr. Fagbemi argued.
But the coroner stood his ground, reminding the lawyer that
the court specifically invited Mr. Joshua and not The Synagogue Church.
the court specifically invited Mr. Joshua and not The Synagogue Church.
“The church is not our problem here. We summoned the
prophet, we summoned the contractors. The prophet is different from the
church,” the coroner said.
prophet, we summoned the contractors. The prophet is different from the
church,” the coroner said.
In a related development, Olukoya Ogungbeje, a Lagos based
lawyer, has approached a Federal High Court in Lagos praying for an order
restraining the coroner from conducting further proceedings on the inquest.
lawyer, has approached a Federal High Court in Lagos praying for an order
restraining the coroner from conducting further proceedings on the inquest.
Joined as defendants in his suit include the Lagos State
Government, the Attorney General of the state, and Mr. Komolafe (the coroner)
as first to third defendants.
Government, the Attorney General of the state, and Mr. Komolafe (the coroner)
as first to third defendants.
Mr. Ogungbeje argued that the composition of the Coroner’s
inquest was a negation of the principle of natural justice and Section 36 of
the Constitution, and as such it was unconstitutional, null and void.
inquest was a negation of the principle of natural justice and Section 36 of
the Constitution, and as such it was unconstitutional, null and void.
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