Ikoyi building: Sanwo-Olu swears-in panel of inquiry, gives 30-day ultimatum

Ayodele Olalere

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday sworn-in a Six-man tribunal of inquiry into the collapsed 21-Storey Ikoyi building.

The swearing-in took place at the Five Cowries Terminal, Ikoyi. It is recalled the governor had vowed the government would not leave a stone unturned in investigating circumstances sorrounding the collapse of the building which has so far claimed 22 lives, while efforts are ongoing to pull out bodies from the rubbles.

The tribunal is chaired by the President of Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, Toyin Ayinde.Others are Ekundayo Onajobi (Secretary); Idris Akintilo; Yinka Ogundairo; Godfrey. O. Godfrey and Mrs. Bunmi Ibrahim

The governor charged the panel to do its job without fear or favour, adding Lagosians and the country as a whole deserves to know what led to the incident and forestall future occurrences.

Sanwo-Olu said coming generations would not “forgive us if we do not do the right thing.”

“Life is something that we need to continue to cherish. We can’t lose it at shortest time even beyond our expectations. The Constitution of this panel shows want to know what really happened so we can all learn and ensure we can live in a safe environment,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor added members of the panel has 30 days turn around time to complete it’s investigation but could request for more time. He further said members of the panel have been carefully chosen because of the records.

” No one can describe the pain families of the victims are going through. We believe Justice will be done and lessons learned will be used to guard our path forward. The whole nation is watching.”

The chairman of the panel , in his vote of assurance, promised the panel would chat a new course with it’s report at the end of it’s sitting.