The Nigerian Police say that the Synagogue six-storey building could have been felled by a technique known as controlled demolition.
The Homicide Department of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, has explained that controlled demolition is when a building is felled using a chemical or electronic device.
The Head, Homicide Investigation and Crime Scene Management, DSP Olusola Agoyi, who was testifying at the resumed sitting of the Coroner, Magistrate O.A. Komolafe, probing the cause of the September 12 tragedy, said that the speed and the rate at which the Synagogue building caved in, coupled with some dust-like smoke that followed were peculiar elements seen only in a building felled by controlled demolition.
The investigator said that it was not impossible for a saboteur to have disguised into the church premises as a lodger or a visitor.
The Coroner, Magistrate Komolafe, was however not impressed with the level of investigation done. He, therefore, instructed the Police to do a proper investigation as he would be called back to testify.
The representative of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Bede Ogbeya, in his report, stated that the result of the test carried out revealed that the site had compressive strength and surface hardness value below the minimum standard requirement.
As the proceedings continued in the court room, a large crowd had gathered outside the court to wait for the arrival of the church founder, Prophet Temitope Joshua, but he was no where insight and the Coroner was again disappointed that the Prophet was not in court.
He, therefore, adjourned due to a malfunction of the recording device till Friday, November 21, warning that if Joshua still failed to show up, a bench warrant would be issued for his arrest.
It was still unclear why the prophet did not show up in court and if he eventually would.
