The Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Pastor T.B. Joshua, on Monday sunned the court where he was expected to be arraigned alongside others over the collapse of a guest house within the premises of the church in Ikotun area of Lagos State.
So also were the two engineers who supervised the construction of the collapsed building absent.
Only one member of the Board of Trustees was present in court.
Joshua, the two engineers and other members of the church’s Board of Trustees were dragged before a Lagos State High Court over the collapse of the guest house, which left 116 persons dead.
The dead were mostly South Africans.
However, on Monday, Joshua failed to honour the court summons.
A Coroner, Oyetade Komolafe, had found the church guilty as the verdict indicated that the collapse was due to structural failures.
Komolafe recommended that the church should be prosecuted as the six-storey building did not have the requisite construction permit of the Lagos State Government.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Akapo Lawal, expressed unhappiness over the absence of the defendants.
Lawal said he would not tolerate any unnecessary delay of the trial.
He said: “It appears the defendants are not mindful that this is a criminal proceeding.
“This is a criminal trial and a sensitive matter like this one should be given accelerated hearing.”
Lawal ordered the defence team to provide the court with the engineers’ addresses within 72 hours and adjourned the case till December 11.
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