vestment Limited and HC Insight Solution Limited.
Before the arraignment of the defendants, Justice Nwaka had ruled on an
application contending the suitability of the criminal charges against the
defendants on the ground
that there was no seal of the counsel to the
prosecution on the information as required.
After the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty,
while their lawyers including Bode Olanipekun and George Oguntade (SAN) urged
the court to allow the defendants to continue enjoying the previous bail
granted to them.
In response, the prosecution, led by the Lagos State Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said in as much as the court was
now seized of the matter, it was important for conditions that would ensure the
presence of the defendants for trial to be imposed.
In her ruling, Justice Nwaka ruled that the defendants except the second
defendant (Olumofe) should continue enjoying their formal bail conditions, but
added that they should deposit their international passports with the court.
Tragedy had struck on March 10, 2016 when a six-storey building under
construction by Lekki Gardens in Lekki collapsed and killed 34 people. The
developer was said to have added additional floor to the building against what
was approved by government for construction.
Specifically, the defendants are facing six-count charge for failure to
obtain building approval for the collapsed building and involuntary
manslaughter, offences contrary to and punishable under Section 75 (1) of the
Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of Lagos State 2010, and
Section 229 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 respectively.
The matter has been adjourned to October 26 and 30, 2017 for definite
hearing.
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