24th July, 2012
Some lawyers on Monday in Lagos faulted the Lagos State Fire Services for acting “too slowly” during the June 3 Dana plane crash in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.
Speaking at a coroner’s inquest into the plane crash which took place at Agbado Oke-Odo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, the lawyers noted that it was unfortunate that private companies, such as Julius Berger, was brought in to help in the rescue operation.
“The same thing happened during the Bellview incident; it was still the same Julius Berger that came to our help,” human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, told the inquest which was presided over by a Lagos State Coroner, Mr. Oyetade Komolafe.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inquest was at the instance of a Lagos-based law firm, Falana and Falana Chambers, who had petitioned the Lagos State Chief Coroner, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, for an inquiry into the incident.
In his testimony, Gbadebo Olaogun, an official of the Lagos State Fire Services, told the inquest that the fire service was alerted about the crash at 15:56 hours and fire fighters got to the crash site within 15 minutes of receiving the distress call.
“Our first effort was to make sure that we put out the fire, because the fire was already on the buildings when we got there.
“The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes and we recorded this in our normal routine report.
“After that, we were able to rescue 45 victims that were not burnt but were suspected dead,” said the Fire Service official.
Olaogun said that other agencies such as the police, LASEMA, Salvation Army, Red Cross, as well as Julius Berger Construction Company, also participated in the rescue operations.
But Adewale Adeniyi of Falana and Falana Chambers, who claimed he was at the crash scene on the day of the incident, said that the fire was still raging after 4.30 p.m.
He said: “I was there because my brother’s wife was involved.
“The Fire Service was not able to quench the fire on time. You people did not do your job diligently.
“I was there precisely at 4.30 p.m. and it was Julius Berger that helped in putting out the fire,” said the Lagos lawyer.
Also, Mr. Ola Momodu, representing MRS Oil Plc, also faulted the fire fighter’s testimony, saying that a video footage of the crash scene showed that the fire was still on until the late hours of the day.
Meanwhile, the coroner expressed dissatisfaction with the low turnout of witnesses at the inquest.
Komolafe, who adjourned proceedings to July 25, notified all parties that the inquest had been moved to the Ikeja High Court premises in Lagos, to accommodate more people.