Follow Us on Google
- Call on Soludo to review panel list
From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The Governor of Anambra state, Prof Charles Soludo has been asked to withdraw two members of the Panel of inquiry into the collapse of the Centenary building at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha recently constituted by the state government.
The two members, Prof Akaolisa Ezeagu who chairs the Panel and Engr. Sir Victor Meju, a key panel member were reported to have made prejudiced comments and publications following the collapse of the building.
In a letter to the Governor on behalf of the DMGS Old Boys and Diocese on the Niger, a team of legal Practitioners led by Barrister Nnamdi Ibegbu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) expressed worry that the public and the Diocese may not get a fair hearing with these persons who have demonstrated manifest bias and unprofessionalism on the matter being members of the Panel.
Ibegbu cited the Sun Newspaper of 16th June 2024, under the column, Voice of the Nation- with heading “No Approval Given For The Collapsed Onitsha School Building” where Prof Akaolisa Ezeagu made comments and came to the conclusion publicly that there was no authorization from any quarters before the gigantic structure was erected.
He alleged that Prof Ezeagu had also in the same news publication even before the commencement of investigations attributed the collapse to the foundation, which he claimed was as a result of disconnect between the building team and the Technical Engineer. Prof Ezeagu also in the same publication erroneously stated that preliminary investigation points to foundation problem.
The lawyer further cited the Punch Newspaper of 14th June 2024 with headline ” Three More Victims Rescued from Anambra collapsed Building As Probe Begins” Engr. Sir Victor Meju, a Mechanical Engineer, and Chairman COREN, Anambra State Chapter, in the Newspaper stated that the collapse could be traced to a faulty Foundation and substandard materials used for construction.
“He further stated that the approval was given for a two- storey building, but that our clients decided to add more floors to it”
The petitioners told the Governor that the two persons, Prof Akaolisa Ezeagu and Engr. Sir Victor Meju have allegedly acted unprofessionally and expressed doubt that they will give unbiased decision in the panel.
The lawyer also pleaded with the Governor to withdraw the two persons from the panel or in the alternative the two persons be allowed to honorable recuse themselves from the panel, so that Natural Justice, Equity, Good Conscience and Fairness shall prevail in the deliberation and report of the panel.
He however commended the Governor for setting up the Panel of Enquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of building collapses in parts of the state, stressing that the laudable initiative by the Governor will help to ensure utmost professionalism in the construction sector in the state.
