A structural engineer, Olayemi Esho, who worked as a non-residential engineer at the 21-storey building that collapsed on Gerrard Road, in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State, on Thursday, has explained how he withdrew from the construction project, saying that his working relationship with the owner was like father to son.
THE PUNCH reports that Esho made the statement during the ccoroner inquest presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe on the circumstances surrounding the building collapse.
It was reported that the building collapsed around 2pm on November 1, 2021.
The skyscraper, owned by Fourscore Heights Limited, trapped over 50 persons, including the firm’s Managing Director, Femi Osibona; his friend, a United States of America-based Nigerian businessman, Wale Bob-Oseni; and his personal assistant, Oyinye Enekwe, amongst others.
During cross-examination with the engineer of Beyond Design Limited, he told the coroner that he could not give advice while the project was ongoing because he was not a resident engineer.
Esho, a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, explained that Osibona was advised to carry out a structural audit of the building before it was initially sealed by the Lagos State Government.
When asked why he didn’t report the issue to the government after he discovered that the floor was increased to 21 floors, he said;
“Like I said earlier that my relationship with the deceased was like father to son and I could only give advice as a non-residential engineer, which was my duty as expected of me.”
The coroner asked the structural engineer, who has been in the industry for over 12 years, if he had handled a project of such magnitude before, he denied.
He was asked to explain why his relationship with Osibona went sour in June 2021, he said; “The deceased called and asked my company to write a letter of certification of the building construction, but we declined.
“I then issued a withdrawal letter.
“It was done orally because of my relationship with the deceased,” he added.
Esho admitted that it was because Osibona became angry over his decision to withdraw from the project, that he returned to work with him.
Magistrate Komolafe adjourned further hearing till March 18, 2022.
