An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court on Thursday granted bail on self-recognition to Richard Nyong, the Managing Director of Lekki Garden Homes, owners of a five-storey building on Kushenla Road, Ikate Elegushi which collapsed on Tuesday, March 8, killing 35 people.
The Chief Magistrate, Folashade Botoku, also admitted Taiwo Odofin, the contractor of the collapsed buildings, to bail of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
Botoku ordered them to report at the State Criminal Investigation and intelligence Department, Panti-Yaba, everyday till the police complete their investigations.
She also said that the defendants must submit their international passports and were not permitted to travel out of the country till the matter was concluded.
Botoku had on March 11 ordered the remand of Nyong and Taiwo when they were arraigned following a remand application brought before her by the police.
The police had urged the court to remand the two defendants pending when they would conclude investigation into the building collapse.
At the resumed hearing on March 23 to consider their application for bail, the police did not produce the defendants.
Botoku, who decried the attitude of the police, stood down the case for an hour for the police to produce the defendant before their applications could be heard.
The prosecuting counsel, Godwin Osuji, had informed the court that the police did not produce the defendants because of intelligence report that that some hoodlums had planned to attack the court.
Osuyi said it was not advisable for the police to bring the defendants to court in the interest of safety.
Counsel to the defendants, Bode Olanipekun, told the court that the prosecutor had informed them earlier before the court sitting.
They urged the court to exercise its discretion in entertaining the excuse of the police.
In her ruling, Botoku disagreed with the police, saying that the court would not submit itself to threat because “it is the duty of police to ensure that adequate security is provided’’.
She adjourned the matter till Thursday and ordered that the police must ensure the two defendants were present in court.
