Synagogue: Structures without planning permit can regularize papers – Witness
A Fellow with the Nigerian Institute of Town Planner, Mr. Adebisi Adedire on Thursday told a Lagos High Court, Igbosere that those who built without planning permit or developmental permit in the state can regularize their papers even after erecting their structures in the future.
The witness, who was subpoena by the court via a letter dated October 4, 2018 said the Lagos state government made a publication recently, asking those who did not have planning permit before erecting their structures to come and regularize their papers.
Mr. Adebisi testified before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo as a defence witness in the trial of the Registered Trustees of SCOAN and four others.
The church – with Adebisi’s testimony – is calling its second defense witness to a one-count charge of building without approval brought against it by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), following the dismissal of its no-case submission on March 8, 2016.
The other defendants are the two engineers who built the building: Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun, and their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited.
Aside SCOAN’s one-count charge, the other defendants are facing 110 counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Led in examination-in-chief by SCOAN Trustees counsel, Mr Oluseye Diyan, the witness said planning permit is a process whereby a proponent who seeks to develop a land brings developmental proposal to the planning office.
He listed those documents required before permit can be issued to include a survey plan duly signed and registered by a license surveyor; a tax clearance certificate; various architectural drawings among others.
The witness who told the court that he is an external examiner at the Lagos State Polytechnic continued that after acquiring these documents the proponent take these to the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) to face screening exercise.
After the screening exercise, the proponent proceeds to make assessment fee which does not have a time frame but, stated that approval will not be granted without payment.
When asked the procedure for enforcing compliance, he said there are series of enforcement notices to be served if the proponent failed to comply as the authority will issue a stop work order followed by a quit notice and then demolition notice.
The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building at Ikotun Egbe, had collapsed on September 12, 2014 killing 116 people.
Meanwhile Justice Lawal-Akapo has adjourned further proceedings till today for cross examination of the witness and continuation of trial.
