By Ovat Abeng
Governor of Anambra state, Charles Soludo has been asked to withdraw two members of the Panel of Enquiry into the collapse of the CENTENARY BUILDING at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha.
The two members, Prof. Akaolisa Ezeagu who chairs the Panel and Engr. Sir Victor Meju, a key panel member were reported to have made prejudiced comments and publications following the collapse of the building.
In a letter sent to the Governor on behalf of the DMGS Old Boys and Diocese on the Niger,, which was also made available to journalists in Awka on Tuesday, a team of legal Practitioners led by Barrister Nnamdi Ibegbu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, expressed worry that the public and the Diocese may not get a fair hearing with these persons who have demonstrated manifest bias and unprofessionalism on the matter being members of the Panel.
The Legal Team cited the Sun Newspaper of 16th June 2024, under the column, Voice of the Nation- with heading “No Approval Given For The Collapsed Onitsha School Building-NBRRI” where Prof Akaolisa Ezeagu made comments and came to the conclusion publicly that there was no authorization from any quarters before the gigantic structure was erected.
The Prof. had also in the same news publication even before the commencement of investigations attributed the collapse to the foundation, which he claimed was as a result of disconnect between the building team and the Technical Engineer. Prof. Ezeagu also in the same publication erroneously stated that preliminary investigation points to foundation problem.
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The Legal Team for the DMGS and Niger Diocese further cited the Punch Newspaper of 14th June 2024 with headline “Three More Victims Rescued from Anambra Collapsed Building As Probe Begins” Engr. Sir Victor Meju, a Mechanical Engineer, and Chairman COREN, Anambra State Chapter, in the Newspaper stated that the collapse could be traced to a faulty Foundation and substandard materials used for construction.
He went further to state that the approval was given for a two- storey building, but that our clients decided to add more floors to it.
The Legal Team told the Governor that the two persons, Prof Akaolisa Ezeagu and Engr. Sir Victor Meju have acted unprofessionally and that it is doubtful that they will give unbiased decision in the panel.
The Legal Team pleaded with the Governor most respectfully to withdraw the two persons from the panel or in the alternative the two persons be allowed to honorable recuse themselves from the panel, so that Natural Justice, Equity, Good Conscience and Fairness shall prevail in the deliberation and report of the panel.
They however commended the Governor for setting up the Panel of Enquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of building collapses in parts of the state.
The Legal Team believes that this laudable initiative by the Governor Wil help to ensure utmost professionalism in the construction sector in the state.
In his reaction, the Chairman of the Panel, Engr Victor Meju, described the allegation as a distraction, appeal to the public to disregard the information, noting that the responsibility repose on them will be carry out in a transparent manner.
Meju denied speaking to any print media during COREN visit to the collapse building site.
He also clarify that he is not a Mechanical Engineer as been quoted by the petitioners.
According to him, I was Inaugurated by the governor to investigate and unravel the real cause of the collapse that claims two lives and not to bind words with people plotting to distract Soludo’s effort in trying to curb the menace of building collapse in the state.
Recall that the governor set up and inaugurates the panel to investigate the true cause of the incident in the commercial city of the State.
