• Akpabio denies ownership of estate
By Oluwole Farotimi and Magnus Eze, Abuja
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the immediate evacuation of occupants of Lekki Gardens to give room for government to conduct integrity test on the buildings.
Ambode yesterday said he would wield the axe on anybody who contravenes the laws of the state adding that the era of sacred cows is over.
The governor said any government official who fails in his line of duty or aid housing developers to cut corners will henceforth be dealt with.
Ambode said this when he spoke with newsmen after visiting the scene of the Lekki Gardens collapsed building, which killed 34 people in Lekki area of the state.
“The reported collapse of a six-floor building in Lekki Gardens in Eti-Osa Local Government on March 8, 2016 where 34 people died and dozens have been injured, is one building collapse too many.
“Since the unfortunate collapse, the state government has taken the following steps: I ordered the immediate sealing of the construction site and cessation of further construction.
“Ensured the co-ordinated emergency rescue of all injured victims and treatment at its hospitals; ordered owners of the collapsed building to submit themselves to the police. I understand that they submitted themselves and are currently helping the police with their investigations.”
The governor added that,”some government officials have been relieved of their duties.
“I want to assure you that there will no longer be any sacred cows. If there is failure of duty, there will be sanctions.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio has distanced himself from the ownership of the Lekki Gardens.
The former Akwa Ibom governor said yesterday in Abuja that his attention had been drawn to a malicious twitter ‘flash’ by an online publication which claimed he “has been linked to the ownership of Lagos Lekki Gardens, where a building under construction collapsed recently and 31 people died in the collapsed building.”
Akpabio said he is neither the owner of Lagos Lekki Gardens nor has any form of relationship whatsoever with the said company.
