The Lagos government on Tuesday said it would press charges of negligence against Gboyega Bello, the developer of a building that collapsed in Onike, Yaba area of the state in February.

Mukaila Sanusi, spokesperson for the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said the commissioner, Idris Salako, made this known during a review meeting in Alausa, Ikeja.

Mr Salako said the developer was “culpable for disregarding the due process in building construction in Lagos State” because he began building without planning permit and authorisation from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

He also blamed Mr Bello for not taking insurance for the building as required by the law, as well as ignoring contravention, stop-work and seal up notices served by LASBCA.

“The owner of the building obtained Planning Permit well after commencing construction while he also failed to submit the structure for stage-by-stage inspection and certification, being the statutory methodology to ensure that the developer builds right,” he said.

Mr Salako said the developer deceived the regulator by feigning compliance by leaving the construction site only to return secretly to break the government seal on the property and continue the building.

The commissioner said the state government would ensure the case is seen to a logical conclusion to serve as deterrence to all recalcitrant property owners and developers.

He added that the government was still looking for the owner of the building who had been identified as one Sodeinde Soyode. 

(NAN)