…Says Order In Interest Of Justice, Public Safety
Managing Director Of Lekki Gardens, Richard Nyong and the Contractor, Taiwo Odofin in the dock at the Ebute Metta Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos, on Friday, March 11, 2016.
An Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate Court on Friday granted the request of the Lagos State Police Command seeking to keep the Managing Director of Lekki Gardens, Mr. Richard Nyong in custody pending the conclusion of on-going investigation into collapse of a five-storey building under construction on Kushenla Road, Ikate Elegushi area of the state which killed no fewer than 35 persons.
The court also ordered one of the contractors handling the project, Odofin Taiwo Henry to be kept in police custody at Panti alongside Nyong for the next 30 days.
Magistrate Folashade Botoku, who granted the remand order, held that same was in the interest of justice and public safety.
34-year-old Nyong was apprehended on Thursday, while Odofin was arrested on Wednesday.
The building had crumbled around 3am on Tuesday with several workers trapped in the rubble.
The state government had sealed the building, which was originally designed to be a three-storey structure but in a brazen act of defiance and impunity, the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of Lekki Gardens, were said to have criminally unsealed the property and continued building beyond the approved floors until the unfortunate incident.
Nyong and Odofin were brought to court at about 1pm in a black Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle with registration number (Abuja) KWL 682 CN.
When the case was called, police prosecutor, Godwin Osuji informed Magistrate Botoku of an ex-parte application seeking to remand the defendants beyond the constitutionally prescribed period, saying the application was brought in the interest of justice, public safety, public order and morality.
He said in view of the circumstances of the case, it was …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
