The tribunal of inquiry set up to determine the causes of the collapse of the 21-storey building at Ikoyi that killed 45 people has called for memoranda from members of the public, professional bodies, construction industry stakeholders as well as individuals who have useful information that has a direct bearing on the issue being investigated as well as recommendations to prevent future occurrence.
The 21-floor structure situated at 44 B, C, D Gerrard Road in Ikoyi, Lagos had on November 1, 2021, collapsed, killing the owner and 44 others.
Following the unfortunate incident, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State inaugurated a six-man tribunal of inquiry to among other things determine the causes of the building collapse; determine whether there was full compliance with the physical planning, building, building materials testing, laws and regulations in the State by the developer or by any other person as well as to determine whether there were any supervisory, oversight or enforcement lapses on the part of any of the relevant regulatory authorities in the State.
Chairman of the tribunal, Toyin Ayinde, said that all memoranda, recommendations and submissions should be sent to the e-mail; [email protected] on or before November 24, 2021.
Ayinde, during the tribunal’s first press conference, told newsmen that some documents have been received from some government MDAs, adding that the tribunal has started studying them.
He also made known that the tribunal has interviewed some of the Lagos State Government staff in the relevant MDAs but noted that the results of the tests on the construction materials are still being awaited.
The tribunal, according to him, began formal interviews with witnesses from November 16, 2021, in order to identify the roles played in the activities that led to the collapse of the building; adding that report from the consultants who conducted verticality tests on the remaining structures standing in the premises of the collapsed building has been received.
“The results of the tests on the construction materials are still being awaited.
“Also, interviews conducted have been recorded for the purpose of record-keeping, and the tribunal would meet as many as are willing to present credible and factual statements, with evidence(s), relating to the collapse,” he said.
