SYNAGOGUE: YOU CAN BUILD WITHOUT PLANNING PERMIT IN LAGOS – EXPERT

LAGOS, Nigeria – A fellow of Nigeria Institute of Town Planning and Housing Expert today told an Igboshere High Court that it is permitted to build a house in Lagos state without planning or development permit, that all the builder has to do is to regularise it with the state once erected.

The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) collapsed on September 12, 2014 killing 116 people. The witness who was being cross-examined by the prosecution,Mr Jonathan Ogunsanya, a director in the Ministry of Justice said ‘the provision for regularization makes it possible for you to embark on your property development and regularise your papers with the Ministry’.

The witness, who was subpoena by the court said the Lagos state government made a publication recently asking those who did not have planning permit before erecting their structures to come forward and regularise the papers. Mr Adedire who is a consultant to Lagos State government on Town planning matters further supported his position with an advertisement of Lagos State government in March this year on: ‘Enforcement of planning laws and regulations in government schemes and other areas in Lagos state’ added that such regulations provision had been practice for years even before he began to practise.

But the prosecution objected to his tendering a certified true copy of the publication on the ground that the publication was made after the collapse of Synagogue church’s guest house. Defense counsels, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Chief Akpofure SAN, Mrs Titii Okanlawon SAN, and Mr Olalekan Ojo SAN all argued for the relevance of the publication as a tenderable exhibit. Mr. Adebisi testified before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo as a defence witness in the trial of the Registered Trustees of SCOAN and four others.

The church – with Adebisi’s testimony and cross examination had concluded with its second defense witness to a one-count charge of building without approval brought against it by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), following the dismissal of its no-case submission on March 8, 2016.

The other defendants are the two engineers who built the building: Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun, and their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited.Aside SCOAN’s one-count charge, the other defendants are facing 110 counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Led in examination-in-chief by SCOAN Trustees counsel, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, said planning permit is a process whereby a proponent who seek to develop a land brings developmental proposal to the planning office adding ‘the essence of obtaining it before development permit is to ensure legitimate erection of buildings in accordance to government regulation and to generate revenues for the state among others.

According to him, documents required before permit can be issued to include a survey plan duly signed and registered by a license surveyor; a tax clearance certificate; various architectural drawings among others. The witness who told the court that he is an external examiner at the Lagos State Polytechnic continued that after acquiring these documents the proponent would take them to the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) to face screening exercise.

After the screening exercise, the proponent proceed to make assessment fee which does not have a time frame but, stated that approval will not be granted without payment. When asked the procedure for enforcing compliance, he said there are series of enforcement notices to be served if the proponent failed to comply as the authority will issue a stop work order followed by a quit notice and then demolition notice. Meanwhile Justice Lawal-Akapo has adjourned further proceedings till December 6 and 7, 2018 for continuation of trial.