Synagogue: More Knocks for Lasema, Nema as Nollywood rallies round T.B. Joshua

The Chief Security Officer to The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Mr. Sunday Okogie has told the coroner's inquest that NEMA and LASEMA were more interested in granting interviews to the press rather than concentrating on their statutory duties of rescuing persons trapped under the rubble of the collapse.

At the resumed hearing of the coroner's inquest on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, Mr. Okojie, who said he was on ground during rescue operations, also told the court that the decision of the LASEMA boss and his team to return to the scene of the collapsed building after they had left on the 13th of September, 2014 was due to the information they received that the Executive Governor of the state, Babatunde Raji Fashola was visiting.

In other words, the attitude of the LASEMA team bordered more on showmanship and eye service. According to Mr. Okogie "It was very obvious that the GM of LASEMA and the Public Relations Officer of NEMA were more passionate about talking to the press than rescuing the victims trapped under the collapsed building. On a daily basis, they granted at least two press interviews. Anytime they were speaking to the press, you see their staff struggling to have their faces captured on TV".

Earlier, counsel to the SCOAN, Olalekan Ojo, while cross-examining the witness from the Civil Defence Corps, had told the witness that his submission in his written deposition claiming that both the Civil Defence Corps and LASEMA worked round to the clock was untrue. According to Ojo, there is CCTV footage that showed most of the statutory rescuers, especially LASEMA, closing between 5 and 6 pm to resume the next day.

Meanwhile, a cross section of Nollywood actors and actresses thronged to the court premises to register their support for Prophet T.B. Joshua whom they described as a great gift to Africa and the world. Some of them who spoke to the press observed that the recent international recognition Prophet T.B. Joshua received after being listed among the world's most famous people is a testimony of his good works. The film stars included Taiwo Akinwande popularly known as Yetunde Wunmi, Fausat Balogun widely known as Madam Saje and Don Richards, amongst others.

Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe thereafter adjourned hearing to Wednesday, March 4, 2015, when the Lagos State Ministry of Works and the Building Collapse Prevention Guild are to testify.

Nosa Osazuwa was present during court proceedings