An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court on Thursday admitted, Robert Nyong, the Managing Director of Lekki Garden Homes to bail on self-recognition for the collapsed five storey building. The Chief Magistrate, Afolashade Botoku, also admitted Taiwo Odofin, one of the collapsed building contractors to bail in the like sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum. Botoku ordered them to report at the State Criminal Investigation and intelligence Department, Panti-Yaba, everyday till
the police complete their investigations. She also said that the defendants would submit their international passports and were not permitted to travel out of the country till the matter was concluded. Botoku had on March 11 ordered the remand of Nyong, and Taiwo when they were arraignment following a remand application brought before it by the police. Nyong is the owner of the five-storey building that collapsed in Lekki Area of the state which killed 35 people. The police had urged the court to remand the two defendants pending when it would conclude its investigation on the incident. At the resumed hearing on March 23 to consider their application for bail, the police did not produce the defendants. Botoku, who decried the attitude of police, stood down the case for an hour for the police to produce the defendant before their applications could be heard. The prosecuting counsel, Goddey Osuyi , had informed the court that the police did not produce the defendants due because of intelligence report that that some hoodlums had planned to attack the court. Osuyi said that in the interest of safety, it was not advisable for the police to bring the defendants to court. The Counsel to the defendants, Olabode Olanipekun and Mr Uwangboje, told the court that the prosecutor had informed them earlier before the court sitting. They urged the court to exercise its discretion in entertaining the excuse of the police. In her ruling, Bokotu disagreed with the police, saying that the court would not submit itself to a threat because “it is the duty of police to ensure that adequate security is provided”. She adjourned the matter till March 24, and ordered that the police must ensure the two defendants were present in court.
