LASG arraigns owner of collapsed building

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Lagos State Government has arraigned in court the owner of a three-storey building which collapsed along Adesegun Okunuga Street in Ikate-Elegushi, Eti-Osa area of the State.

The owner of the building, Kenneth Okenini was arraigned at the Special Offences Court, Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, for various offences, including disobedience of an order by Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, in accordance with the law.

A statement issued by Adetayo Akitoye-Asagba, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, LASBCA, said the arraignment followed an earlier warning issued by the state government to owners and developers of property contravening the State’s building codes.

Okenini was said to have allegedly flouted provisions of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of Lagos State by engaging non-professionals for construction and ignoring all warnings to desist from violating the law.

“It is suspected that the three floor structure, which collapsed on the 13th May, 2023, resulted from the refusal of Mr. Okenini to obey the Stop Work Order earlier issued by LASBCA on 8th May, 2023, when the property was also sealed.

“The government seal was also broken, and construction work continued in defiance of the law. The offences are punishable under Section 122 (a) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 as well as Section 75(2) of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019 (as amended),” the statement said.

According to the government, investigations suggested that the property owner failed to insure the building, contrary to Section 48 of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development (Amendment) Law, 2019, and punishable under Section 75(2) of same law.

“The Lagos State Building Control Agency will continue to identify and prosecute property owners and developers who confront government and its officials to serve as deterrent to others,” the statement said.