TB Joshua
The Thursday sitting of the coroner probing the September 12 Synagogue building collapse was hampered by faulty electronic recorder, leading to further adjournment till Friday (today).
Scheduled for appearance on Thursday before the coroner, Magistrate O.A. Komolafe, were the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, the Lagos State Ministry of Works, the founder, Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T.B. Joshua and the contractor that built the failed structure.
While the SON and Ministry of Works were represented, both Joshua and the contractor were however absent and no reason was given for their non-appearance.
But the proceeding was however halted mid-way into the testimony of the SON witness, Mr. Bede obayi, who is the Head, Inspectorate and Compliant Department of the SON.
Prior to the adjournment, Obayi, an expert in Metallurgical and Material Engineering, had submitted to the coroner results of three separate tests carried out on samples of the materials used in building the collapsed building.
Introducing the test results, Obayi told the coroner that immediately his team received the news of the building collapse, they visited the site and collected relevant samples, including iron rods and the broken bricks.
According to Obayi, SON’s investigations traced the iron rods used as the reinforcement timbers of the failed building to four different companies.