COLLAPSED SYNAGOGUE CHURCH BUILDING PASSED GEOTECHICLA TESTS, SAYS EXPERT
The defendants, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun alongside their companies – Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Lt are standing trial on a 110-count charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Led-in evidence by the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the witness, Ologuntoye said he belongs to a Non-Governmental Organization known as ‘Building Collapse and Protection Guild’ (BCPG) that is interested in reducing incidents of collapse building to the bearest minimum.
Penpushing further reports that, the witness told Justice Lawal-Akapo that he has worked with renowned organizations in Nigeria and the diaspora, and reeling out his work experience, he said he has worked with a Polish company, Naeimor International, Ekiti State Service Local Government Commission, Foundation Development Limited in London , Lakeside Park, London among others.
The witness said, he got to know about the collapse of SCOAN building through BCPG when he was selected as a member of the committee saddled with the responsibility of investigating possible cause of the collapsed building.
“As a Geotechnical Engineer, I was expected to investigate what happened to the foundation, the soil on which the foundation stands was okay. I investigated the soil using two major equipment, namely: the geotechnical borehole and a dutch -comb, an electrical testing machine. Both equipment were gotten from BCPG’, he explained.
“Sample of the soil gotten through the borehole test was sent to the University of Lagos Laboratory for analysis while the dutch-comb test result was gotten on the spot of the test and it was signed by all parties at the site. The parties that signed the report include representative of SCOAN, Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory and the Corona Court Representative.”
Penpushing also reports that, the witness further told the court that he compared and analyzed the result sent by the University of Lagos Laboratory with the dutch-comb report, stressing that, “my findings on both reports show that the foundation did not fail and the barring capacity is adequate. I wrote the report on the final analysis of the test carried out on SCOAN and submitted to BCPG’.
The Defence Counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) tendered the report of the test to the court and it was admitted into evidence.
The President of the Non-Governmental Organisation, BCPG, George Opeoluwa, a subpoenaed witness had earlier tendered the report before the court. A fifth defendant, the Registered Trustees of SCOAN is facing a count of building without approval.
Penpushing further reports that, Justice Lawal-Akapo thereafter adjourned the matter till May 16, 17 for cross-examination of the witness.
