The Lagos State Police Command confirmed today that they had
arrested Richard Nyong, the Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer of Lekki Gardens, a construction company
handling the construction of a five-story building that collapsed
last Tuesday in Lekki, Lagos State. The death toll from the collapsed
building, located on Kushenla Road, Ikate Elegushi in Lekki on
Tuesday, has reached 31, according to one state official.
A police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, disclosed that Mr. Nyong has
been detained at Panti Police Station. Ms. Badmos added that the
construction firm’s MD would be charged to court as early as
tomorrow as investigations are almost completed.
On Wednesday, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State had
ordered all directors of Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited to submit
themselves to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai
Owoseni, within twenty-four hours or face arrest.
In compliance with the governor’s directive, Mr. Nyong reported
himself to the office of the Commissioner of Police in the company of
his lawyer, Mr. Wole Olanipekun. The police then detained him after an
initial interrogation.
Following the collapse of the building, the Lagos State Government
revealed that preliminary investigations indicated that state officials
had issued a violation notice on the building for exceeding the number
of approved floors. The state added that the building was thereafter
sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency.
The government stated that, in a brazen act of defiance and impunity,
the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the
promoters of Lekki Gardens, criminally unsealed the property and
continued building beyond the approved floors until the tragic collapse
that has claimed the lives of more than 30 people.
A state official told SaharaReporters that Governor Ambode was
furious at the number of collapsed buildings in the state, adding that
the governor was determined “to wield the big stick so as to put a stop
to the disturbing trend.”
Source: Sahara Reporters