Why we blocked Tambuwal from entering National Assembly — Police

The Nigeria Police Force has defended its decision to block the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from the National Assembly Thursday, saying the operation was based on an “intelligence report” and was meant to forestall the invasion of the assembly by “hoodlums”.

Mr. Tambuwal was barred from the assembly by security operatives on the first day the House was to sit since he defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Police fired teargas to stop mainly opposition lawmakers, including Mr. Tambuwal, from accessing the assembly, before the speaker’s loyalists smuggled him through security barriers into the House of Representatives chamber.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused the police of acting on the directives of President Goodluck Jonathan to pave the way for Mr. Tambuwal’s removal as speaker.

In a statement hours after the attack, police said the action was to prevent the breakdown of law and order at the National Assembly and that its personnel had “the duty to restore order and normalcy, using lawful means”.

“Following an intelligence report of a likely invasion of the House of Representatives by hoodlums and thugs, the Nigeria Police Force promptly deployed its personnel to the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order,” a statement by police spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said.

“Consequently, the Police condoned the area and began screening of all members and visitors alike.”

The statement accused Mr. Tambuwal of arriving with a crowd, assaulting the police and violating a security cordon.

The Nigeria police was the first government establishment to move against Mr. Tambuwal after he defected to the APC on October 28.

On October 29, the police withdrew the speaker’s security aides and announced that Mr. Tambuwal was no longer the speaker.

In the statement issued by Mr. Ojukwu Thursday, the police did not refer to Mr. Tambuwal as the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Read the full statement below:

“Following an intelligence report of a likely invasion of the House of Representatives by hoodlums and thugs, the Nigeria Police Force promptly deployed its personnel to the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Consequently, the Police condoned the area and began screening of all members and visitors alike.

In the course of this lawful exercise, Alh. Aminu Tambuwal CFR, arrived the venue with a motley crowd, who broke the cordon, assaulted the Police and evaded due process and the Police had the duty to restore order and normalcy, using lawful means.

The IGP seizes this medium to warn all political actors and their followers to respect constituted authority and due process and to desist from the use of thugs to pursue their agenda.

The Nigeria Police shall continually apply all lawful means to prevent a breakdown of law and order in all segments of the society and shall apply the full weight of the law on any political actor who violates the peace and security of the nation.

Ag. CP Emmanuel C.S Ojukwu

Force Public Relations Officer

Force Headquarters

US to unveil changes to visa application process

                                  

                                      James Entwistle, US Ambassador to Nigeria

For Nigerians planning to travel to the United States, the visa application process has changed, the American Embassy said on Thursday.

The new changes will be announced at a special media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

“Select members of the media are invited to attend this press conference to convey this important information to the public,” the Embassy said.

General questions will also be entertained.

Atiku Advises Jonathan Not Heating Up The Society

Atiku Abubakar, ex Vice-President, has criticized what he described as the rough methods the President Goodluck Jonathan’s government is using to weaken and humiliate alleged political enemies.

Atiku Abubakar

The former Vice President reacting to the incident at the National Assembly on Thursday said in a statement by his media office that the ‘siege mentality’ of the president’s administration poses serious threats to country’s democracy, the rule of law and the separation of powers as preserved in the 1999 constitution as edited.

Atiku said, “Obviously, the emergency rule has failed to stem the unrest. The Federal Government must work with, rather than against those who understand and have been elected by the people to govern.”

According to him the supposed rough show of power by Jonathan and his agents foreshadows gloomy signals for the future of our democracy, which was not a surprise as president did not partake in the pricy fight that brought our current democracy into existence.

He said the behaviour of the PDP-led government to Tambuwal was not decent and adequate under a president that has dedicated himself to uphold the rule of law.

“This crisis highlights the absolute failure of the current PDP’s idea of government: arrogant, indifferent and incompetent,” Atiku said.

He lamented that abuse of power by using state agents to weaken, threaten and humiliate alleged opponents by the president was not only capable of heating the society on alarming scale, but also carried the risks of separating and politicising security operatives in the country.

The ex-Vice-President counselled President Jonathan to practice what he speaks by not heating up the society, a charge he always directs at opposition politicians.

“It is not too late, however, for President Jonathan to pull the plug on these assaults to our democracy because it is inconceivable that the show of shame at the National Assembly is what he wanted as a birthday present.”

SCOAN COLLAPSE: TB Joshua Drags Coroner To High Court

Popular televangelist, Prophet TB Joshua has reportedly challenged coroner Oyetade Komolafe, on the ongoing inquest into his church’s building collapse.

Vanguard reports that counsels to the clergyman on Thursday revealed that they had filed a legal challenge against the coroner for summoning Prophet Joshua to come and testify on the building collapse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) which happened on September 12, 2014, at Ikotun area of Lagos State, where about 116 worshipers lost their lives.

                           

                               Prophet TB Joshua

The prophet has been summonsed twice to give evidence at an inquest examining the circumstances of the tragedy, but has repeatedly declined to appear on both occasions. It was gathered that the recent refusal of TB Joshua to show up at the inquest annoyed the coroner who threatened to order the arrest of the prophet.

However, Joshua’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, who spoke after the hearing said: “We have gone to the high court to challenge the jurisdiction of the coroner to issue a witness summons. The coroner has unconsciously exceeded his jurisdiction in that he has started inquiring into matters that are not causative of deaths.”

Komolafe is reportedly angered that the pastor was not present for the start of proceedings on Thursday after failing to appear on November 5, 2014, but Joshua’s counsel had argued that the prophet has been‘unavoidably absent’ and failed to receive the summons, and that, he does not want to create the impression that he is avoiding the court.

But the coroner Komolafe had on Thursday insisted that:“any of the witnesses who is not in court today will be arrested. I think the court has been lenient enough.”

Ojo hinted that the prophet had received the latest summons but cleared the air that his appearance was conditional on the outcome of the high court challenge.

“The Prophet has respect for the law of the land and will not do anything that will hurt the law. If at the end of the day, it is appropriate for The Prophet to appear he will be in court. We do not intend to abuse the legal process. Besides, The Prophet has a milk of human kindness. He is still grieving over the horrendous loss of lives. Coming to court is not proper. It is not a good way of showing respect for the dead,” Ojo said.

Meanwhile, the self-acclaimed miracle worker, TB Joshua, who has presidents and powerful politicians from across Africa as members of his church had initially alleged that the building collapse was caused by a mysterious aircraft, seen ‘hovering’ around the building before the collapse.

He also claimed that the church collapse was an attack, although building experts and witnesses have ruled out the theory of aerial sabotage or an explosion. It was further gathered that the building had no planning permission and that several other structures in the church are structurally unsound as well.

Reactions have trailed the tragedy with a lot of people calling for the arrest and prosecution of the prophet following the revelation made by the Lagos State authorities, which indicated that illegal addition of extra floors was responsible for the collapse.

But Komolafe on the opening day of the hearing on October 13, 2014, explained that the inquest was not a criminal court saying: “we are here to find facts, find out what has happened, why, where, when and how so as to prevent a recurrence.”

Just recently, the dead bodies of 74 South Africans nationals who involved in the collapse were repatriated from Lagos last weekend out of a total of 81.

Princess Female Comedian Calls Linda Ikeji Ugly

Divorced comedian is still upset with gossip blogs, fires her anger at Linda Ikeji at comedy show.

Princess disses Linda Ikeji

On Sunday November 16, 2014 popular comedian Tee A held a comedy concert in Ikeja where female comedian Princess made jokes about gossip blogger.

Princess fired shots at Linda Ikeji saying she prayed for Google to take down her blog which happened on October 8, 2014. The comedienne's exact words were "Have you seen Linda Ikeji before? Do you know Linda Ikeji is very ugly, I’m finer and sexier than her, my prayers made google shut down her blog, I remember I went to MFM to pray and when I got back, her blog was shut down"

Princess who blames solely the media for the collapse of her marriage is clearly still holding a huge grudge.

Shame Of A Nation: Tambuwal, Legislators Teargassed

The sprawling premises of National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, was thrown into chaos this morning as officers of the Nigeria Police Force and State Security Services tried to stop the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, and other legislators  from gaining access into the Assembly’s chamber.

The effort, however, failed as the Speaker was eventually smuggled into the chamber by lawmakers who are his loyalists, though with a lot of drama.

Some of the legislators scaled the locked National Assembly gate to gain acces and th epolice responded by shooting teargas to disperse them.

In an early indication of what to come, a large contingent of SSS and police personnel had early Thursday morning been deployed around the expansive complex.

Because of the security cordon around the complex, the law enforcement officers proceeded to seal off all entry points to the National Assembly,  leaving only one open which ensured that all those who wanted to gain entry are thoroughly searched.

                                    

 •Reps Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal covering his nose after he and other legislators were teargassed this morning by the police in •Reps Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal covering his nose after he and other legislators were teargassed this morning by the police in Abuja  

Trouble began when Tambuwal  arrived and sought to drive into the Complex, but was stopped by the police.

The Speaker, who was accompanied by other lawmakers who are his loyalists, mostly members of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, then alighted from his vehicle trekked from the gates to the main complex, a distance of over 500 metres amid a hail of teargas by the police.

It was gathered that following a long argument, some lawmakers came out of the Assembly, broke the third gate and brought the speaker inside the chamber. Some APC lawmakers who were barred from driving in through the third gate were also seen scaling the fence to gain access into the National Assembly Chamber.

                                     

•Hon Kawu Sumaila, Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Reps, climbing NASS gate to have access to the premises today

However, it was not clear if the House plenary session convened to consider the extension of the State of Emergency.

P.M.NEWS gathered that Senate President David Mark led some Senators into the lower chamber in solidarity with the Representatives.    

P.M.NEWS had on Tuesday reported that there was anxiety among members of Nigeria House of Representatives as the lawmakers were set to reconvene Thursday  to consider a request by President Goodluck Jonathan to extend emergency rule in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

“On Tuesday, 18th November 2014, I received a communication from the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, requesting for the extension of the existing State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states by the House of Representatives,” Tambuwal said in a statement while announcing the reconvening of the House.

“Pursuant to the powers conferred on me by Section 305 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which requires me to ‘forthwith convene or arrange a meeting of the House’ and in order to treat the extension before the expiration of the current State of Emergency in accordance with Section 305 (6) (c) of the Constitution, I hereby reconvene the House of Representatives…,” he added.

The Senate had received the same letter asking for extension of the state of emergency from the presidency. The letter was read to Senators by Senate President David Mark on Tuesday.  It was gathered that Senators could not reach a consensus on whether to extend the state of emergency for the third time or not.

The House had adjourned on 28 October immediately after Tambuwal, the Speaker announced his defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

                                      

•Hon Cheche, from Niger State, scaling the gate to enter the National Assembly this morning

The House was scheduled to resume on 3 December and it was believed that the long adjournment was to avoid potential backlash over the defection from majority PDP members of the House.

Members of PDP led by President Goodluck Jonathan and Adamu Muazu, the chairman of the party, had met with PDP caucus of the House after the defection on the possibility of removing Tambuwal from office as a punishment for the defection.

The Speaker whose security details have been ordered withdrawn by Suleiman Abba, the Inspector General  of  Police, following the defection has filed a suit to stop his removal by the PDP caucus of the House led by Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha.

P.M.NEWS learnt that members of the House were anxious over speculations that the Presidency, which is still smarting from the defection of the Speaker, may employ extra constitutional means to stop Tambuwal from presiding when the House reconvened on Thursday.

It was believed that the move to stop the Speaker from entering the National Assembly on Thursday was in furtherance of the move by the PDP using the police to remove him.

President Jonathan met with the the Senate President and the Deputy Speaker behind closed doors at the Aso Rock presidential villa on Tuesday.

Though both men refused to speak to the press after the meeting, it was believed that the issue of the state of emergency as well as the defection of the Speaker were the main topics of the meeting.

#PMNEWS

PHOTOS National Assembly Members Scale Fence

According to reports, some members of the National Assembly have been forced to scale the fence of their complex after the entrance was barred by armed security personnel.

                                                                 

Members of the National Assembly have been forced to scale the fence of their complex after the entrance was barred by armed security personnel. Facebook 

According to reports, some members of the National Assembly have been forced to scale the fence of their complex after the entrance was barred by armed security personnel.

The officers, consisting of Secret Service agents and policemen, were reportedly deployed to the building to prevent the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal from gaining entry.

The House is due to reconvene for a special sitting today to discuss the proposed extension of emergency rule in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states.

Jonathan Celebrates Birthday At Presidential Villa

President Goodluck Jonathan is celebrating his 57th birthday with his relatives and aides at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Goodluck Jonathan celebrates his 57th birthday with family and aides. Credits: 

Reuben Abati

The ceremony started with a short holy communion service and then continued with cutting festive birthday cakes, Punch reports.

President Jonathan, standing together with his wife Dame Patience and mother Eunice, addressed Nigerians:

“Though we face challenges, we will surely get over them. Let us live together, work hard together and pray together.”

Presidential Spokesman Reuben Abati took to his Twitter account to share the bright photos from the occasion. See them all below.

Goodluck Jonathan celebrates his 57th birthday with family and aides. Credits: Reuben Abati

  Goodluck Jonathan celebrates his 57th birthday with family and aides.              Credits: Reuben Abati

Goodluck Jonathan celebrates his 57th birthday with family and aides. Credits: Reuben Abati

Goodluck Jonathan celebrates his 57th birthday with family and aides. Credits: Reuben Abati

Goodluck Jonathan celebrates his 57th birthday with family and aides. Credits: Reuben Abati

Goodluck Jonathan celebrates his 57th birthday with family and aides. Credits: Reuben Abati

Goodluck Jonathan celebrates his 57th birthday with family and aides. Credits: Reuben Abati

Goodluck Jonathan celebrates his 57th birthday with family and aides. Credits: Reuben Abati

Police, Amaechi clash in Abuja as APC supporters block Force Headquarters

The police warned Amaechi to stay in his state.

The authorities of the Nigerian Police and the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, clashed in Abuja on Wednesday after a rally organised by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

The APC, which held what it termed “Salvation Rally”, was said to have marched to the Police Headquarters with some of its supporters to lodge a complaint with the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba.

On getting to the gates of the Louis Edet House, the procession, which the police said was led by the party’s Chairman, John Oyegun, and Mr. Amaechi, were barred from entering the premises to deliver the party’s message to Mr. Abba.

Apparently frustrated, the APC leaders and supporters blocked the entrance to the expansive compex housing top officials of the Nigeria’s Police Force.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the party leaders and supporters sang solidarity songs in front of the police headquarters.

The APC leaders and supporters were said to have left the location when it became obvious that the IGP would not give them audience.

In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, alleged that Mr. Oyegun and Mr. Amaechi led APC supporters to disrupt normal activities at the Force headquarters.

“After the party finished its rally here in Abuja, the APC chairman and Amaechi led a large crowd of supporters and said they wanted to see the IG without any prior notice. When they were stopped, they barricaded the Force Headquarters,” Mr. Ojukwu said.

Inspector General Abba later issued a statement, expressing resentment at the blockade of the gates to the Force headquarters by supports of the opposition party, and advising political parties to take their campaigns to the electorate and stop disrupting government activities.

Mr. Abba bared his mind in a statement signed by the police spokesperson, Mr. Ojukwu.

Part of the statement read, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, hereby advices political leaders to take their campaigns to the electorate, rather than engage in disruption of government activities and daily chores of Nigerians engaged in the pursuit of their lawful businesses.

“The IGP further urges members of the political class and their followers who have grievances to seek redress in the court of law, rather than disturb the peace of innocent, law abiding citizens.

“These admonitions are the fallout of an ugly event today, Wednesday November 19, 2014 when some politicians led by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Governor Rotimi Amaechi, barricaded the entrance gates of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.”

In spite of what the police described as the uncivilised conduct of the APC leaders and supporters, Mr. Abba said the police exhibited maximum restraint.

Repeated attempts by this newspaper to speak with the leadership of the APC and Mr. Amaechi failed as calls to their mobile telephones were not answered.

Mr. Amaechi’s Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, who sent a terse reply, said, “It was an APC party event. Please speak with Lai Mohammed.”

CAN demands punishment for soldier who stabbed man to death in Plateau

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has demanded swift justice for a killer soldier who stabbed a private security officer to death.

Tension has remained in Barkinladi Local Government Area of Plateau State days after the attack by a member of the military task force.

Pam Chollom, a security officer with Operation Rainbow, a Plateau State government-owned security outfit, was stabbed to death by a soldier at a checkpoint.

The Special Task Force, STF’s media officer, Ikedichi Iweha, in an interview, said the officer who stabbed the private security personnel has been arrested and detained at the force headquarters in Jos.

The STF was also accused of shooting three other youth, who protested the killing of Mr. Chollom on Monday.

However, Mr. Iweha denied the shooting of the youth.

Mr. Iweha, a captain in the Nigerian Army, said the STF members at Sector 7 used “minimal force” to dispel the protesting youth, who, he alleged, attempted setting the entire headquarters of the Sector 7 ablaze.

“The youth, in the early hours of (Monday), mobilized themselves to the Sector 7 in Barkinladi, destroyed our gates, vandalized two of our operational vehicles and burned our oil bunker,” he said. “It was at that point that our troops had to use minimal force to dispel the protesters. In the process, one person was injured.”

The protesting youth allegedly trooped to the streets and barricaded the Barkinladi-Mangu highway and impeded motorists traveling to central and southern Plateau state. The road was barricaded till noon, Monday.

Mr. Iweha described the death of Mr. Chollom as unfortunate and called for calm.

The Plateau state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Soja Bewarang, on Tuesday condemned the killing and asked for immediate justice.

“The offender must be punished accordingly to serve as a deterrent to other security operatives,” it said. “Their assignment is to protect Nigeria citizens not kill; no matter the provocation,” CAN said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the council chairman of Barkinladi, Emmanuel Lomang, insisted that three youth were shot by the soldiers. Two among them sustained serious gun wounds and were taken to the Barkinladi General Hospital for treatment. They were later moved to Jos for better medical attention as their condition deteriorated.

A witness, a food vendor, Nanat Timothy, who claimed the incident occurred close to her restaurant, told journalists at the Barkinladi Secretariat gate that the STF personnel who stabbed Mr. Chollom to death was in uniform at the time of the murder and the incident occurred at a security check point along Gashik-Barkinladi road.

“There was an argument among the three councillors who were supervising the on-going voters’ registration and the Operation Rainbow man was in company of the Councillors,” she said. “The Operation Rainbow officer was trying to introduce himself to the soldier and the soldier stabbed him in his private parts. He died on the spot. The soldier immediately handed over the knife to his colleague and left.”

One of the Councillors, Barry Rigat, representing Marit Ward, in an interview in Barkinladi, also confirmed the soldier stabbed the security officer.

According to Mr. Rigat, the soldiers threatened to kill him.

“Two of the soldiers were dragging me to the bush,” he said. “I insisted on not following them. That was when one of the soldiers stabbed our security man to death.”

 

Culled from premiumtimesng.com

Bayelsa senators, Reps back Patience Jonathan against Dickson

There is a strong indication that the rift between the wife of the President, Patience Jonathan, and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has deepened.

It was learnt that Bayelsa senators and members of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly had allegedly joined forces with the First Lady against Dickson.

The federal legislators, it was learnt, had formed a strong alliance to counter the moves by the governor and his loyalists to deny them re-election in the 2015, through zoning allegedly orchestrated by Dickson.

The aggrieved lawmakers, it was further learnt, had backed the moves by Mrs. Jonathan to replace Dickson with her loyalists in 2016.

The governorship election will take place in 2016.

Recently, it was gathered that some of the senators allegedly held separate meetings with President Jonathan and the First Lady in a bid to perfect strategies to outsmart Dickson, to get the Peoples Democratic Party tickets for 2015 general elections.

The governor has been locked in the battle of wits with the lawmakers following their interests to return to the National Assembly for the second and third terms.

The governor’s camp was said to have, through stakeholders’ meetings, arrived at decisions to zone the National Assembly positions for the sake of equity, unity and peace.

The development has undoubtedly created some cracks in the state chapter of the PDP, resulting in the holding of parallel congresses by the federal lawmakers to counter moves by Dickson’s loyalists.

It was gathered that following the development that played out during the congresses, Dickson was angry, particularly at the alleged plots by Mrs. Jonathan to work against his return in 2016, in addition to the gang up by the national lawmakers to have their way.

The last week’s visit of the First Lady to the state provided an opportunity for the federal lawmakers to make a bold political statement to Dickson’s camp.

At the Samson Siasia Stadium, where the President’s wife had gone to distribute empowerment items and cash to Bayelsans under the auspices of the Millennium Development Goals, all the three senators representing the state were in attendance but Dickson was absent.

Mrs. Jonathan had at the event told the large crowd that before they arrived in Yenagoa, the three senators had held a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan prior to the event. A source, who craved anonymity, said that the absence of Dickson at the occasion was a pointer to the cracks in the relationship between the governor and the First Lady.

“All these are just passing strong messages to the governor that all is not well. Also, both the First Lady and President Jonathan failed to attend the Bayelsa Thanksgiving Day, even though they were in town then. The battle has just begun,” the source said.

But Dickson had said on Sunday that there was no division in the rank and file of the PDP in the state.

He maintained that the party was one peaceful unit, a focused family, under the leadership of Jonathan and himself.

He had warned party faithful, particularly those seeking elective positions and their supporters, to be mindful of their utterances and actions.

He expressed concern that unguarded utterances could be capitalised upon by the opposition to paint a wrong picture of the state of affairs in Bayelsa.

Dickson restated his unflinching support for Jonathan’s re-election, calling on the political class and the entire people of the state to support the President.

It will be recalled that the First Lady resigned her appointment as Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service recently.

Though the 57-year-old Patience was said to have left the service voluntarily, sources said the resignation was due to the alleged rift between her and the governor.

The alleged frosty relationship between them was said to have been triggered by her unwillingness to support Dickson’s second term bid.

Instead, it was learnt that the First Lady had preference for the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa.

#THE PUNCH

Synagogue: Police witness identifies mystery aircraft, says collapse looked like controlled demolition

LAGOS—The proceeding  of the coroner court investigating the collapse of a guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations continued yesterday with the police witness, DSP Olushola Agboyi, officially identifying the aircraft which allegedly hovered over the building as Hercules CH 130 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force. 

                      

                          TB Joshua-Synagogue Church

LAGOS—The proceeding  of the coroner court investigating the collapse of a guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations continued yesterday with the police witness, DSP Olushola Agboyi, officially identifying the aircraft which allegedly hovered over the building as Hercules CH 130 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force.

The police investigator, who is of the Homicide Section, Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, also insisted that the incident could have been sabotage.

Led in evidence by police lawyer, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, Agboyi testified that the aircraft was on a circuit training mission and was flying very low.

The witness said he led the team that investigated the collapse and also a member of the Federal Government’s panel.

Agboyi disclosed: “I recorded statements from 34 witnesses who claimed the aircraft was flying very low and had caused panic among residents of the Ikotun area.”

However, the witness noted that the police had not completely ruled out the possibility of structural defects as being responsible for the collapse, as they are still waiting for the final report of the investigating team put up by the Federal Government.

To support his argument, he disclosed that his team wrote to the Lagos State Ministry of Works to analyse the materials used for the building, adding that they were still awaiting the report.

He maintained that the preliminary reports suggested that the collapse could have been caused by internal sabotage from lodgers or visitors to the church.

He said: “The saboteur, undetected, could have used explosives or chemical substances to bring down the building.”

He told the coroner led by Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe that the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Police visited the scene of the incident but was yet to present their report.

Agboyi disclosed he interviewed one of the survivors, Mr Taiwo Temitayo Taiwo, who claimed “he heard a thunderous noise and saw lightening moments before the building came crashing.”

He said after watching the footages of the incident, he was of the view that it was consistent with controlled demolitions.

“The building came down in seconds. From the analysis of experts, the collapse looked like controlled demolition. It should be subjected to the testing of experts outside the country,” the witness suggested.

He explained further that the Federal Government inter-agency panel investigating the incident had yet to conclude its findings.

The proceedings continue today.