Prophet T.B. Joshua to Appear in Court As Investigations into Church Building Collapse Continue
Founder of the recently collapsed Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T.B. Joshua, has been ordered to appear before the court, alongside the contractor of the building, as investigation into the tragedy continue.
During the sitting of the court on Friday, the presiding coroner, Magistrate O.A. Komolafe, stated that despite Joshua’s lawyer’s argument that the Prophet was not needed as a witness in court, his presence was important to the findings of the court.
Joshua must now appear in court on November 5 to give evidence along with the contractor in charge of the collapsed six-storey building, which claimed no fewer than 115 lives.
Komolafe, who adjourned the case till Tuesday, said, “We have heard that he has been addressing the press at various times. Let him come and address the court. The court has summoned him; let him come and tell us what he knows. He cannot sit over there and be sending words to us that he cannot come. The court has said that for the purpose of what we are doing that he should come over.”
The Chief Operational Officer of the Lagos State Fire Service, Adebayo Musiliu, also told the court that contrary to claims by Joshua that the building collapsed as a result of an explosion, no evidence has been able to support the speculation.
He said, “All the bodies recovered were whole and not dismembered or burnt. Also there were no scattered bricks. The floors and pillars were also not shattered, rather the building had collapsed on top of each other.
“The collapsed building did not depict any sign of explosion or implosion.”