Synagogue:
A member of Building Collapsed Prevention Guild (BCPG), Mr.
Ebenezer Olumide Ologuntoye, Thursday told a Lagos High court,
Igbosere that the test carried out on the foundation and bearing of
the collapsed building in Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN)
did not fail soil test.
Ologuntoye stated this while being led in evidence by the
counsel to the church, Olalekan Ojo (SAN).
The witness said BCPG is a non-governmental organization
interested in reducing incidents of collapse building to the barest
minimum and that he got to know about the collapse of SCOAN
building when he was selected as a member of the committee saddled
with the responsibility of investigating possible cause of the
collapsed building.
The Registered Trustees of Synagogue Church of All Nations SCOAN
are facing 110-count charge of involuntary manslaughter, contrary
to section 222 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011 filed
against them by the Lagos State government.
The defendants, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun charged
alongside their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering
Company and Jandy Trust Limited.
A fifth defendant, the Registered Trustees of SCOAN is facing a
lone count of building without approval.
They however pleaded not guilty to charge.
At the resumed hearing of the matter Thursday, the witness who
testified before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo said that when the
building collapsed, the BCPG set up a committee and they were asked
to look into the possible cause of the collapsed building.
He said that they carried out an analysis on the soil and
foundation and discovered that the foundation and the bearing
capacity were adequate.
Ologuntoye, a geotechnical engineer, who specializes in soil
Investigations, quality and assurance control also, gave an
analysis on how the test were conducted at the site of the
collapsed building.
The witness said that two tests were carried out with Dutch Comb
Machine, and the sample was taken to University of Lagos Unilag,
laboratory for analysis.
“I carried out geotechnical borehole, and took the sample of the
soil from top to bottom. Then the samples taken were taken to
UNILAG soil laboratory for analysis.
“As a geotechnical engineer, I was expected to investigate what
happened to the foundation, the soil on which the foundation stands
was okay.
“I investigated the soil using two major equipment, namely: the
geotechnical borehole and a dutch -comb, an electrical testing
machine. Both equipment were gotten from BCPG.
“Sample of the soil gotten through the borehole test was sent to
the University of Lagos Laboratory for analysis while the
dutch-comb test result was gotten on the spot of the test and it
was signed by all parties at the site.
“The parties that signed the report include representative of
SCOAN, Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory and the Corona Court
Representative,” he said.
The witness further told the court that he compared and analyzed
the result sent by the UNILAG Laboratory with the dutch-comb
report.
“My findings on both reports showed that the foundation did not
fail and the bearing capacity is adequate.
“I wrote the report on the final analysis of the test carried
out on SCOAN and submitted to BCPG.
“The other tests were done in the presence of parties; members
of SCOAN, Lagos State testing representative and a representative
of the coroner court was also there. There is a meter on the
machine which is called Dutch Cone penetration, test and the result
was gotten.
“The value got from the machine to know the value of the soil
was done at the site, in the presence of the parties and they
signed,” the witness said.
The witness also told Justice Lawal-Akapo that he has worked
with renowned organizations in Nigeria and the diaspora.
On his work experience, he said he has worked with a Polish
company, Naeimor International, Ekiti State Service Local
Government Commission, Foundation Development Limited in London
Lakeside Park, London among others.
The defence counsel, Olalekan SAN tendered the report of the
test to the court and it was admitted into evidence.
Meanwhile, a subpoenaed witness, George Opeoluwa, the president
of the BCPG had earlier tendered the report before the court.
Justice Lawal-Akapo thereafter adjourned the matter till May 16,
17 for cross-examination of the witness.
Read more synagouge-collapsed-building-foundation-didnt-fail-soil-test-witness/
Ganduje Commissions N270mn Gidan Zakka Road
Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state, on Thursday evening,
commissioned the 1.1 kilometer Gidan Zakkah – Kofar Waika road in
Kano metropolis, constructed by his administration, at the cost of
about N 270 million.
Performing the function, Gov. Ganduje explained that the project
was conceived following the noticeable hardship faced by commuters
within the densely populated area, particularly during the rainy
season.
“This project is one of the road projects we constructed in Kano
city to ensure easy flow of traffic and to generally reduce
flooding, since some of the old roads do not have culverts. As you
can see this road has concrete gutters and will soon be fitted with
street lights”.
“As we can see, change is visible within this area as the
quality of homes and indeed the environment is looking modern while
people can now use their vehicles’ conveniently. Even those walking
on foot will be happier as pavements have been constructed”.
Dr. Ganduje expressed the commitment of his administration to
ensure speedy completion of more roads especially in the state
capital to consolidate its urban renewal programme.
“Because of our population and the arrival of people to do
business, our city is growing and gradually becoming a mega city.
This means that we must invest in critical infrastructure like
roads to facilitate movement of goods and services”.
The governor called on the people in the Goron Dutse – Kofar
Waika axis of Kano city to make good use of the road and to support
the government to enable it accomplish its vision.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Works, Housing and
Transport, Engr. Aminu Aliyu Wudil explain that street lights would
be installed at designated points along the road while the Kofar
Waika Gate would be reconstructed at the end of the road, to
preserve the state’s history and culture.
He disclosed that the second phase of the road, which would
cover Kofar Waika to Dawakin Tofa would commence before long.
Ameen K. Yassar
Director General, Media and Publicity,
Government House, Kano