A structural engineer, Muritala Olawale, has told a Coroner Inquest into the 21-storey Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos building collapse that the builders were not certified.

Mr Olawale made the disclosure in Ikeja on Wednesday while testifying about the circumstances that led to the November 1 building collapse which killed 46 people.

While being questioned by A.S. Odugbemi, counsel for the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr Olawale said that the builders at the construction site were not certified by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON).

He also revealed that he was not registered with the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

“I am not COREN certified. I do not have a B.Sc Engineering but a Higher National Diploma from the Polytechnic Ibadan,” he said.

Mr Olawale said that when his team worked with Fourscore Heights Ltd, they were responsible for the first f floors of Block B which collapsed.

He told the inquest that he withdrew his structural consultancy services via a letter dated Feb. 20, 2020.

“The contractor was Fourscore, I supervised the staff of Fourscore. I did not see the approved architectural drawings, mechanical drawings and electronic drawings for the project,” he said.

The Coroner, Oyetade Komolafe, adjourned proceedings until December 16.

Of the three high-rise buildings (Blocks A, B and C) which were situated on Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Block B (21-storeys) collapsed on November 1 killing 46 persons while 15 persons were rescued alive. 

(NAN)