Rivers collapsed 7-Storey building: architect, others to be prosecuted

There are indications that the victims of the collapsed 7-storey building in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital will soon get justice that their souls may finally rest in peace.

This followed the directive weekend, by the state government to the Attorney General of the state to begin a process to arrest and prosecute the owner of the building, Sir Francis Allagoa, apparently for the failure to comply with the building approval he got for the project in 2014.

A proposed 7-storey building (with an underground layer) under construction in the Woji road axis of the Government Reserved Area(GRA), of Port Harcourt, the state capital, fail at the shortly after the casting of the sixth floor in November 2018, killing unknown number of persons, apparently workers at the site, and injuring many others.

The state Governor Nyesom Wike in the bid to unravel the cause of the collapse set up a commission of inquiry led by a state High court Judge to investigate the incident, the committee sat between December 23, 2018 and January 7, 2019.

The Justice Adolphus Enebeli-led 7-man judicial commission of inquiry report indicted Alagoa, the site engineer and the Architect of the building for the tragedy.

Also found wanting in the masse murder are some principal staff of the state ministry, including the Commissioner, Dr. Reason Onya, who voluntarily stepped aside from his position to allow for smooth and uncompromised investigation into the immediate and remote cause of the callapse.

The  government after the  state Executive meeting presided over by Wike Friday, directed the State Attorney General, Zacchus Adango  to prosecute Alagoa and any other person whose actions constituted criminality as established by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that investigated the collapsed 7 Storey building.

Read Also: Rivers polls: Wike leads in 13 councils

The government spoke through the ,  Commissioner of Information and Communications,  Emma Okah,  a Lawyer,  who announced that the council accepted  that it will be inappropriate to recall the Commissioner of Urban Development and Physical Planning,  Dr Reason Onya because of the inappropriate actions he took and ommissions he committed.

Okah said: “The Rivers State Government accepts that the owner of the building, Sir Francis J. Allagoa should bear all liability regarding compensation to families of the deceased persons and individual expenses of those injured.

“Sir Francis J. Allagoa is also to bear the cost and make good the damage done to the adjoining property owned by Mrs Edna Ezekiel Hart”.

The Rivers State Government declared that in line with the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry it will comprehensively reform the procedures and processes relating to building approvals and actual construction of buildings to eliminate failure of buildings in the future.

The government added that the collapsed 7-Storey building was not covered by any approval and that the one obtained in July 2014 was for a four-five floor building.

“Government accepted to push for a reviewed law to punish any developer whose building collapse due  to negligence or other acts resulting in deaths.

The Rivers State Executive Council noted that 18 persons died while 22 others suffered various degrees of injuries.

The Rivers State Government directed the State Civil Service Commission to take disciplinary action against Town Planner Edmund Obinna, Director of Buildings and Plan Approvals because his actions fell short of expectations.

The Council also directed the State Civil Service Commission to take disciplinary action against Rev Dr. Mina Aprioku, Director of Development Control for professional deficiency.

The Attorney General of the State was directed to prosecute Engr Adeniyi Ibiyeye and Architect Timiebi Reuben for professional misconduct

The Council resolved to report Engr Ibiyeye to the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria for necessary disciplinary action.” they said.