Coroner summons PUNCH over Ikoyi building collapse

The Lagos State Government has begun a coroner’s inquest into the death of the victims of the Ikoyi building collapse.

The coroner also summoned PUNCH Newspapers to appear before the court.

PUNCH Metro had reported that a 21-storey building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, owned by a developer and Managing Director of Fourscore Heights Limited, Femi Osibona, crumbled on November 1, trapping him, his personal assistant, Oyinye Enekwe, his US-based friend, Wale Bob-Oseni, a corps member and many others working at the site.

Forty-six persons were later recovered dead from the rubble, while 15 persons were rescued alive.

However, in a summons dated November 30 and signed by the Chief Magistrate, O.A. Komolafe, PUNCH Newspapers was summoned to testify on the building collapse.

The summons read in part, “I am credibly informed that you can give evidence concerning the death of victims of the Ikoyi building collapse who died in the circumstances which may require the holding of an inquest under the Coroners’ System Law.

“You are hereby summoned to appear before the Coroner Court of the Lagos Island district sitting at Block 1, 2nd floor Old Secretariat, Ikeja, on Monday, December 6, 2021, to testify what you know in such a matter.”