The Lagos state government has said that developer of the three-storey building which collapsed on Saturday, February 12, in Yaba area of Lagos state, will be prosecuted.
The developer was however arrested after it was reported that five people died from the building collapse.
The Lagos state ministry of physical planning and urban development disclosed that the developer disobeyed the stop work order and returned to the site.
Lagos state commissioner for physical planning and urban development, Idris Salako, in a statement said, “Preliminary findings indicated that the site had been sealed off twice by the Lagos State Building Control Agency in 2021 for non-compliance with building regulations after which the site was abandoned,”
“However, the developer later broke government seal, sneaked into the site and re-commenced construction without official authorisation.
“The developer in charge of the site has since been arrested and handed over to the RRS Team.
A statement issued by the state government on Sunday, said it had directed that the developer of the building be prosecuted.
“The Government regrets the needless loss of lives and property due to his unlawful conduct and antics of defying stop-work orders as well as evading supervision.
“It is hoped that his prosecution will send a strong warning to all recalcitrant developers that it is mandatory to build right and engage professionals in constructing buildings in Lagos State, as we will not hesitate to bring to book whoever errs against the law.”
“excavation of the site by emergency responders” will continue “until the site is levelled to ground zero”.
