Synagogue Church of All Nations has described the verdict of a Lagos coroner, Mr. Oyetade Komolafe as biased and one sided.
On Wednesday the Coroner found SCOAN and the structural engineers guilty over the death of 116 people in a collapsed six-storey building on its premises.
The Coroner accused SCOAN for embarking on a construction without obtaining the necessary permit.
In a statement on Thursday by the Church counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, the church said “The church disagrees most vehemently with the finding that the incident was due to structural failure.
“The church considers it strange that the coroner did not refer its verdict to the evidence of the COREN-registered structural engineer and contractor used by the church nor did it evaluate the conflicting evidence given by civil and structural engineers as to whether or not the incident was as a result of structural failure.
“It was a one-sided verdict which left many issues unaddressed and questions unanswered.
“The church disagrees with the findings concerning the aircraft that hovered over the six-storey building because there was evidence before the court that the incident could have been brought about by external forces such as controlled demolition or an explosion.
“The verdict did not even refer to the CCTV footage which showed the six-storey building falling in less than four seconds – a manner consistent with controlled or externally induced demolition – nor did it refer to the interim report and investigation by the Nigeria Police Force which pointed to sabotage by external forces.
“The recommendation for the investigation and prosecution of the contractors and structural engineers used by the church for criminal negligence is premature because it gives the impression that the coroner has found them guilty when a coroner is not allowed in law to make any finding of civil or criminal liability against anybody.”