Urges Government To Ensure Ethics Are Followed During Constructions
Two months after the collapse of the 21-storey building at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, The six-man tribunal set up by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to ascertain the cause of the collapse of the 21-storey building at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, two months ago has submitted its report.
On November 4th, 2021, the 21-storey structure, which was being developed by Fourscore Homes, caved in killing about 44 persons, including Femi Osibona, owner of Fourscore Homes.
Submitting the report on Wednesday, Toyin Ayinde, a town planner who chaired the panel, urged governments at all levels to ensure that ethics and due diligence are followed during construction.
The report had it that the collapse of the building was a result of the erosion of professional ethics and due diligence.
A statement by the Tribunal stressed that “building collapse is rooted in the collapse of values, morals and ethics which we need to work on as a nation.”
It reads, “Having spent approximately six weeks on this assignment, we now wish to make our submission to the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who constituted the Tribunal.
The tribunal had the opportunity to access the home of the late CEO of Fourscore Heights Limited, in the presence of members of his family, where some documents that were scanned helped in gaining further insights into the case, particularly the processes that led to the construction and eventual collapse.
“The tribunal also hosted a representation of the developer’s company comprising two legal firms. It is on record that in their first and second appearances, the lawyers had expressed the fact that they were external lawyers to the company and had little knowledge about the case in hand.
“We were, however, later to receive a request from the same lawyers (five weeks after the collapse) to make an independent investigation in view of a suggestion, to them only, of possible sabotage.
The tribunal was of the opinion that pursuing such a course was equal to mocking all of those who lost their lives in the collapsed building, and for which there had been no closure yet. The lawyers were advised to seek permission from the state authorities.
“We are, therefore, pleased to present to Mr. Governor the report of the inquiry carried out, containing the various findings, and the recommendations, which we hope the government would be able to implement in order to bring a lasting solution to building collapse, not only in Lagos State, but nationally.
“We, therefore, seek protection as members of this tribunal to be seen as having discharged this assignment to the best of our ability, without sentiments, and that we have acted based on the documents that were made available to us, as well as the information gathered from all the witnesses who appeared before the tribunal.”
The panel’s report was submitted to the Governor by the Chairman, Mr Toyin Ayinde, at Lagos House, Ikeja.
Those present during the presentation included the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) and other members of the panel.
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