Kunle Awosiyan
The owner of a three-storey structure along Adesegun Okunuga Street in Ikate-Elegushi, Eti-Osa, has been arraigned at the Special Offences Court at Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, for various offences, including disobedience of an order of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) in accordance with the law.
The arraignment followed an earlier warning issued by the State Government to owners and developers of property contravening the State’s building codes.
The property owner, Mr. Kenneth Okenini, allegedly flouted provisions of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of Lagos State by engaging non-professionals for construction and ignoring all warnings to desist from violating the law.
The collapse of the three-floor structure on the 13th of May, 2023, may have resulted from the refusal of Mr. Okenini to obey the Stop-Work order earlier issued by LASBCA on the 8th of May, 2023, when the property was sealed, and the government seal was later broken and construction work continued in defiance of the law.
The offences are punishable under Section 122 (a) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 as well as Section 75(2) of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019 (as amended).
Investigations suggest that the property owner failed to insure the building, contrary to Section 48 of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development (Amendment) Law, 2019, and punishable under Section 75 (2) of the same law.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency will continue to identify and prosecute property owners and developers who disobey lawful government order to serve as a deterrent to others.
