Lagos may prosecute TB Joshua

The Lagos State Government has set up a coroner of inquest for the purpose of investigating the cause of the September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nation’s building collapse.

This was made known in a statement credited to the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, on Sunday.

According to the statement, Ipaye had instigated the coroner’s inquest pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007.

The coroner of inquest, headed by Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, has been charged with the duty of establishing the cause of the collapse of Synagogue’s six-storey building that killed no fewer than 115 persons.

Ipaye, who spelt out the responsibility of the coroner, said its final submission might necessitate the institution of a criminal charge against the church.

The commissioner was quoted to have said, “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.”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/lagos-may-prosecute-tb-joshua/

Prophet T. B Joshua has again failed to appear at the coroner's inquest today to explain how 116 people died in a building collapse at his Lagos church, Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

TB Joshua had been summoned to give evidence at the hearing into the September 12 tragedy at his church, which left 84 South Africans among the dead.

Coroner Oyetade Komolafe said last week that Joshua, would be arrested if he failed to show but Joshua worker did not appear on Wednesday to be questioned over his claims that sabotage from a low-flying aircraft and a terror attack may have caused the tragedy.
"The Man of God has not been personally served the witness summons," his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo told the court when asked about his client's whereabouts.

"He was unavoidably absent when the sheriff went for the service. We don't want the impression to be created that The Prophet is avoiding the court." More: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2014/11/tb-joshua-fails-to-appear-at-lagos.html