Major new development in Lekki Gardens building collapse tragedy
– The MD of the Lekki Gardens building complex has been arrested by police in Lagos
– The collapse of the Lekki Gardens building caused at least 34 deaths and dozens of injuries
– According to a government investigation, inspectors had previously sealed off the building as it was unsafe
The Lagos state police command confirmed today that they had arrested Richard Nyong, the managing director and chief executive officer of Lekki Gardens.
He was responsible for managing the construction of a five-story building that collapsed last Tuesday in Lekki, Lagos state.
The death toll of the tragedy has now been confirmed at 34, and dozens of other people were injured in the building collapse.
Barely anything was left of Lekki Gardens after the building collapsed
On Wednesday, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of ordered every director of Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited to submit themselves to the Lagos state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, within twenty-four hours or face arrest.
In compliance with the governor’s directive, Nyong reported himself to the office of the police commissioner in the company of his lawyer, Wole Olanipekun.
Confirming the arrest, the Lagos state police spokesman Superintendent of Police Dolapo Badmus said; ‘’Mr Richard Nyong of 167, Kushenla road Ikate Elegushi, has been arrested. He is in custody and will soon be charged to court.”
Nyong voluntarily handed himself into the police
The Lagos state government has already launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse.
According to its preliminary findings, state officials had issued a violation notice on the building for exceeding the number of approved floors and the building was subsequently sealed by inspectors.
However, according to state government, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of Lekki Gardens, criminally unsealed the property and continued building beyond the approved floors until the horrific collapse.
The collapse is one of the worst in Nigeria’s history
A state official subsequently reported that Governor Ambode was furious at the number of collapsed buildings in the state,
“The governor is determined “to wield the big stick so as to put a stop to the disturbing trend,” the official said, speaking anonymously.
READ ALSO: Nigerians furious over Lekki gardens misfortune
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