Romanus Okoye
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), has called for coroner’s inquest into the collapsed building that led to the death of innocent children.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Henry Peter Ekine, CDHR asked the Lagos State government to activate the extant Coroner Law and described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable.
The body blamed property developers and personnel of regulatory agencies for connivance and negligence, while calling on the government of Lagos State not to overlook this incident as well as similar incidents of avoidable disasters that constitute violation of the rights of citizens.
CDHR implored the governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and government of Lagos State to immediately direct thorough prosecution of all culprits.
“The body regretted the apparent avoidable disaster of the collapsed school building at Ita-Faji, Lagos Island, Lagos on Wednesday 13th March, 2019, killing and injuring numerous schoolchildren.
“Criminal negligence by property developers with the connivance of errant personnel of regulatory agencies has led to numerous avoidable disasters of collapse buildings across Nigeria. Several citizens have been deprived of their rights to life, guaranteed under section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The present Ita-Faji avoidable disaster that has killed many children and left several others seriously injured must be thoroughly and dispassionately investigated while culprits and errant regulators must be duly prosecuted.”
CDHR decried the level to which developers of buildings and public officers in regulatory agencies have abdicated their responsibility and public duty of care to citizens.