Dana crash: Coroner issues bench warrant against oil companies

Written by Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare, Lagos Friday, 27 July 2012

THE coroner presiding over the inquest into the June 3 Dana Air plane crash in Iju/Ishaga area of Lagos, Mr Alexander Oyetade Komolafe, on Thursday, issued bench warrants against some oil companies and emergency relief agencies, calling for their appearance before the cororner on Monday.
Komolafe gave the order while responding to the submissions of Mr Femi Falana to the Lagos State chief coroner, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, asking for an inquiry into the incident.
Among the affected organisations were the Red Cross Society of Nigeria, Conoil Plc and Total Nigeria Limited.
When the inquest commenced on Thursday, Falana called the attention of the coroner to the fact  that some oil companies and agencies that were served with summons were yet to appear before it and suggested that the police be ordered to investigate the people that died on the ground, since it was not the responsibility of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).
According to Falana, the job of the AIB is to investigate the causes of the crash of the ill-fated Dana aircraft.
Komolafe, as well as other interested parties, consequently agreed to schedule appearance of witnesses, following the submissions of the counsel for the Nigerian Airspace management, Mr Obi Okwusogu.
According to the schedule, Channels Television and African Independent Television (AIT) are to appear on Monday, to show the clips of the crash as recorded on that day, while the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) and Julius Berger Plc, which had earlier been summoned but failed to show up, are scheduled for Tuesday, along with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The AIB, represented by its counsel, Maureen Tsenongo, told the coroner that it intended to submit a written deposition and applied to appear before the inquest on Wednesday, so as to call its witnesses.
The coroner also granted the request of the counsel for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Babatunde Irukera and that of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), C. Chiwete, to appear on Thursday and Monday, August 6, respectively.

SOURCE: Nigerian Tribune, 27 July 2012. http://tribune.com.ng/index.php