The arraignment of Pastor T B Joshua and other registered trustees of Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN and four others over the September 12, 2014 building collapse which claimed 116 lives including 81 South Africans was adjourned till December 11.
Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court adjourned the case due to the absence of four out of the five defendants including Pastor T B Joshua in court on Monday.
The defendants are the Registered Trustees of Synagogue Church of All Nation, SCOAN, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company, Jadny Trust Limited, Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun.
Prosecuting counsel and Lagos State Attorney- General, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, told the court that some of the defendants were yet to be served.
Kazeem said “We confirmed that Synagogue Trustees and the Hardrock Construction Company have been served.
“The other defendants in the matter could not be served because their addresses are not valid.”
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Mr Oluseun Abimbola also confirmed that the defendants were absent because they have not been served.
He said “The state cannot say that they do not have valid addresses because they were served in previous proceedings.
“The engineers, Ogundeji and Fatiregun, were even arrested by the Police and charged before a magistrate’s court where they were later released on bail.”
Akapo urged the prosecution to serve the remaining defendants urgently. He said “Service in any proceeding is fundamental and anything done outside of this is a nullity.
“The defence counsel is hereby directed to oblige the prosecution team with valid addresses of the third, fourth and fifth defendants within 72 hours.”