By Tope Musowo
Lagos
An Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate Court, yesterday struck out a motion filed by the Managing Director of Lekki Gardens, Mr. Richard Nyong, seeking a variation of the earlier bail conditions ordered by the court following his trial over the collapse of a five-storey building under construction on Kushenla Road, Ikate Elegushi area of Lagos state, which killed no fewer than 35 persons.
The state government had dragged Nyong and one of the contractors handling the project, Odofin Taiwo Henry to court, after which they were admitted to bail on some conditions including the deposit of their international passports.
Nyong had filed the motion for variation asking that his passport be released to him to facilitate a trip abroad for medical healthcare.
But, at the resumption of the matter yesterday, Nyong’s lawyer, Mr. Bode Olanipekun, applied to withdraw the motion, saying that the issue had been overtaken by events, and as such, it was no longer necessary.
The application was not opposed by other parties, while the trial Magistrate, Mr. T.A Ellias, struck it out.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr. Goddy Osuyi, drew the court’s attention to the legal advice issued by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) of Lagos State Ministry of Justice on the case.
Osuyi, a Legal Officer attached to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, said the case file was forwarded to the DPP by the police for Legal Advice, and that the DPP had since concluded work on the file.
He, however, urged the court to allow the Legal Advice to be read to Nyong and Odofin
But Olanipekun and Odofin’s lawyer, Mr. Gboyega Okenla, opposed the application of Osuyi, saying that same was not supported by any practice or
After considering the arguments by the parties, Magistrate Ellias adjourned the matter to February 23, 2017 to await the decision of the Attorney General.