3rd November, 2021
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday issued 30 days deadline to the Independent Panel of Inquiry he set up to investigate the collapse of 21-storey building in Ikoyi, to submit its report.
The building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi collapsed on Monday, with lots of people trapped in the debris.
So far, over 22 people have died while some have been rescued.
The governor, who was at the scene of the collapsed building told newsmen that the panel had 30 days to submit its report of the collapsed building.
Sanwo-Olu also said that an executive order would be signed to give legal backing to the Panel of Inquiry set up to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the accident.
Members of the panel are: Toyin Ayinde (Chairman); Ekundayo Onajobi (Secretary); Idris Akintilo; Yinka Ogundairo; Godfrey. O. Godfrey and Mrs Bunmi Ibrahim.
The governor assured that the law would take its full course on whoever was found culpable in the accident.
According to him, it is on record that government asked the General Manager of the Building Control Agency, Architect Oki to proceed on an indefinite suspension.
Sanwo-Olu added: ”You can rest assured that if there are other people that are found in the course of the investigation, everybody will also face the full wrath of the law.
”So for us to get to the real issue of what had happened, I have set up a high powered commission of inquiry. It is a strong, professional, investigative panel that consists of everybody from outside of government.
”I will be signing an executive order to give legal backing to their composition, so that you can start work immediately and turn out a report not later than 30 days.”
The state government also identified six of the nine survivors from the rubbles in the Ikoyi building collapse.
They are Oduntan Timilehin (26); Ahmed Keleku (19, from Cotonou); Sunday Monday (21, suffered left leg fracture); Adeniran Mayowa (37, hip injury); Solagbade Nurudeen (33, pelvic injury); and Waliu Lateef (32).
He said families of deceased would be asked to come and identify the bodies of their loved ones on Thursday after autopsy would have been conducted.