The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria says it will go ahead with hearing into the case of two engineers indicted by the Lagos Coroner over the collapse of a Synagogue Church building in Lagos in September 2014.

The Chairman of the COREN-Registered Engineers Investigation Panel, Mr Nurudeen Rafindadi, said this at the maiden hearing in Abuja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the six-member panel had invited the two indicted engineers, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbola Fatiregun, to appear before it over alleged professional negligence, which led to the building collapse.

Although the two respondents were absent at the panel’s proceeding on Monday, their lawyers presented a court order on the issue.

The chairman explained that the panel’s main assignment under the COREN Order was to investigate alleged professional misconduct against the two registered members.

Rafindadi said the cases pending in the Lagos High Court were criminal matters, which had no bearing with the mandate of the panel, adding that the injunction, therefore, did not restrain COREN from investigating the duo.

He added, “This investigation is not a criminal proceeding. It is not an investigation into the cause of death as the Coroner’s mandate was. It is not a criminal case as the court mandate was.

“COREN has the powers to investigate the professional conduct of our members.

“This panel is calling for investigation in pursuance of the mandate of COREN as contained in the Engineers Registration Act Cap E-11, Section 1(b).

“It is an open investigation based on fair hearing, to investigate alleged misconduct by a professional colleague who is a licensed engineer.”

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