Group seeks coroner’s inquest into Lagos building collapse

The Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) has asked a high court in Lagos for a coroner’s inquest into the collapse of a four-storey building in the state.

On March 13, a four-storey building housing a private school collapsed killing 20 people, including children.

The incident occurred at Ita-Faaji area of Lagos Island.

In a letter dated March 14 and addressed to the high court’s chief registrar, Funmi Falana, chairperson of WELA, said after the inquest might have been concluded, appropriate recommendations should be made in line with the relevant laws of Lagos.

“On the 13th day of March, a four storey building collapsed at Ita-Faaji area of Lagos Island, leading to the death of 18 people. Not less than 41 people were injured in the building collapse,” the letter read.

“In the light of the foregoing, we request you to use your good offices to cause a coroner’s inquest to be conducted into the cause of collapse of the four-storey building at Ita-Faaji area of Lagos Island that led to the death of 18 people on the 13th day of March and make appropriate recommendations pursuant to section 15 of the Lagos state coroner’s law 2007 which provides that an inquest shall hold whenever a Coroner is informed that the death of a deceased person within his coroner district was a result of death in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation.

“In view of the high rate of occurrence of this building collapse specially in the Lagos Island part of Lagos state, it will be appreciated if the inquest is conducted without delay and the report made public to forestall such ugly recurrence.”