Lagos - A Lagos High Court in Ikeja, presided over by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, struck off an application on Friday seeking a stay of proceedings in the criminal charges against the registered trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) and four others.
Justice Lawal-Akapo struck off the application following the disclosure by the defendants of their intention to withdraw the said application which was filed on February 18.
The Lagos State Government had slammed the charges, bordering among others on building without approval and involuntary manslaughter, on the defendants.
A six-storey building within the premises of Scoan, in the Ikotun Egbe suburb of Lagos, collapsed on September 12, 2014, killing 116 persons, mainly South Africans, who had visited the church for worship and healing. Their arraignment had been stalled owing to their application for a stay of proceedings dated February 18.
The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Idowu Alakija, in her response said she was not opposed to the defendant's request to withdraw their applications for a stay of proceedings.
However, she said she needed time to respond to the application, which was only served on Thursday.
Justice Lawal-Akapo subsequently struck out the defendant's application for a stay of proceedings and adjourned until March 22 to hear the fresh application.
Independent Foreign Service