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A video has surfaced online showing how Femi Osibona, owner of Fourscore Homes, the developer of the collapsed 21-storey edifice in Ikoyi, Lagos state, resisted the sealing off of the property.
In the two-minute video clip, dated 2020, a group of men, who appeared to be officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), insisted on sealing off the building, but Osibona attempted to stop them from doing so.
He was aided by group of policemen who shot into the air to disperse the officials of LASBCA and onlookers.
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On Monday, the building, which is situated along Gerard Road in Ikoyi, collapsed killing about 38 people, and with many more suspected to be trapped in the rubble.
REWIND: In 2020, Femi Osibona resisted the sealing off of his 21-storey IKoyi building (Video) pic.twitter.com/SrF2dec7O3
— TheCable (@thecableng) November 4, 2021
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While the cause for the collapse is not certain, Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos state, had said work at the collapsed building in Ikoyi was once stopped after it failed a structural integrity test.
He said LASBCA sealed off the premises for four months when some “anomalies” were observed.
Gbolahan Oki, the now suspended general manager of LASBCA, had said Osibona was given approval to construct only 15 floors.
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“He got an approval for a 15-storey building and he exceeded his limit. I am on ground here and the materials he used are so inferior and terrible,” Oki had said.
“The materials he used, the reinforcement, are so terrible. He got approval for 15 floors but built 21.”
TheCable had reported that Prowess Engineering Limited withdrew its services from the building in 2020 over poor execution of the project.
In a letter seen by TheCable dated February 20, 2020, Muritala Olawale, managing director of the engineering company, said the firm can no longer vouch for the integrity of the building.
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Babajide Sanwo-olu, Lagos state governor, set up a panel to investigate the incident, and issued a 30-day timeline to the committee to look into the matter.
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3 comments
When it was sealed for four months, on whose order was the seal removed?
Egunje….. kills…
I learned that the property developer has developed houses in the UK, but can he cut the kind of corners he did here in the UK ? Obviously, the high rate of corruption and impunity in Nigeria makes the property market much more attractive since he can make crazy profits at the expense of people’s lives and safety.
Very well said Stanley.
Now he too had paid for it.
I hope it will be a Lesson to others