Court adjourns ruling to Nov. 9

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday fixed Nov. 9 to rule on a suit by an engineer of the Synagogue Church, Mr Akinbela Fatiregun, seeking enforcement of his rights.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit, which was earlier fixed for ruling on a preliminary objection, was adjourned following the absence of the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba.

The court registrar announced to counsels that the court would not be sitting for the day.

No reason was given for the adjournment.

A new date, Nov. 9, was therefore, fixed for the ruling.

NAN reports that a guest house within the premises of the Synagogue Church collapsed on Sept. 12, 2014, leading to the death of over 100 persons.

Following the collapse, the Lagos State Government set up a coroner's inquest to ascertain the cause of death.

The inquest, presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, in its verdict, indicted the church for criminal negligence and recommended that it be prosecuted.

The coroner also indicted the church's structural engineers, Mr Akinbela Fatiregun and Mr Oladele Ogundeji, and recommended that they be investigated and tried for criminal negligence.

Fatiregun filed the suit to challenge the verdict of the coroner's court.

Joined as respondents in the suit are the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Council of Registered Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), the Attorney General of Lagos State and Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, the Coroner.

Fatiregun is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Commissioner of Police in Lagos from arresting, detaining, investigating or prosecuting him.

He also wants an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the Lagos State Attorney General or any officer under his authority from initiating or commencing criminal proceedings against him based on the verdict of the coroner.