Lekki Gardens MD, Richard Nyong arraigned for ‘involuntary manslaughter‎’

Lagos State Government on Monday arraigned the Managing Director of Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Richard Nyong, before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere over alleged complicity in the events leading to the collapse of a building in Lekki area of the State on March 10, 2016.
The company had claimed that only 5 workers died in last year collapse of one of its buildings under construction in Lagos, despite official figure of 34.

Nyong was arraigned alongside others before Justice Sybil Nwaka over alleged negligence resulting in the collapse of the building.
Other defendants are Lekki Gardens’ Executive Director, Mr. Sola Olumofe; the firm’s contractor, Odofin Henry Taiwo; Omolabake Mortune, Omotilewa Oluwatosin Joseph, Lekki Gardens, Get Too Rich Investment Limited and HC Insight Solution Limited.
Before the arraignment of the defendants, Justice Nwaka had ruled on an application contending the suitability of the criminal charges against the defendants on the grounds that there was no seal of the counsel to the prosecution on the information as required.

The Court held that the contention was a simple matter that only required a directive for the prosecution to affix the seal on the charges, and thereafter ordered the prosecution to do so, a directive which the prosecution led by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem immediately complied with.
After the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty, while their lawyers including Bode Olanipekun and George Oguntade (SAN) urged the court to allow the defendants to continue enjoying the previous bail granted to them.
Justice Nwaka ruled that the defendants except for the second defendant (Olumofe) should continue enjoying their bail conditions, but added that they should deposit their international passports with the court.

For Olumofe, who is an Executive Director of Lekki Gardens, Justice Nwaka granted bail to him in the sum of N100,000 and two sureties in the like sum.
The sureties must be gainfully employed, while the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) must verify the sureties.