The Lagos State Government on Monday arraigned the Managing Director of Lekki
Gardens Estate Limited, Mr. Richard Nyong,
before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere over
alleged complicity in the events leading to the
collapse of a building in Lekki area of the
State on March 10, 2016.
Nyong was arraigned alongside others before
Justice Sybil Nwaka over alleged negligence
resulting in the collapse of the building which
reportedly killed 34 people.
Other defendants are Lekki Gardens' Executive Director, Mr. Sola Olumofe; the firm's contractor, Odofin Henry Taiwo; Omolabake Mortune, Omotilewa Oluwatosin Joseph, Lekki Gardens, Get Too Rich Investment 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 grounds that there was no seal of the counsel to the prosecution on the information as required.
The Court held that the contention was a simple matter that only required a directive for the prosecution to affix the seal on the charges, and thereafter ordered the prosecution to do so, a directive which the prosecution led by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr.
Adeniji Kazeem immediately complied with.
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, 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.
Justice Nwaka ruled that the defendants except for the second defendant (Olumofe) should continue enjoying their bail conditions, but added that they should deposit their international passports with the court.
With respect to Olumofe, who is an Executive
Director of Lekki Gardens, Justice Nwaka
granted bail to him in the sum of N100, 000
and two sureties in the like sum. The sureties,
according to the court, must be gainfully
employed, while the Lagos State Directorate
of Public Prosecution (DPP) must verify the
sureties.
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