Taiwo Popoola
The Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has constituted an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the fire outbreak at AfriLand Towers on Broad Street, Lagos, which killed several people, including a member of the branch.
The panel has been given an initial 21 days to conclude its investigation, although the timeline may be extended if required.
NBA Lagos Chairman, Uchenna Akingbade, said the association was compelled to act in line with its mandate of defending the rule of law and safeguarding human rights, particularly the right to life and safety.
“This tragedy claimed valuable lives, including one of our own members. Every individual has the right to life and the right to operate in a safe environment. What happened at AfriLand Towers raises serious questions: were safety protocols followed? Could this disaster have been prevented? Could lives have been saved?” Akingbade asked.
He explained that the panel was set up to provide answers to these questions and push for reforms. “This is not a government initiative but an independent inquiry. Our findings will guide advocacy for policy reform and, where necessary, escalation of issues to relevant authorities for civil or criminal redress. That is the purpose of this exercise,” he said.
Akingbade added that while the NBA does not have prosecutorial powers, it would present its findings to authorities and use them as tools to demand accountability, strengthen safety regulations, and protect lives.
The panel is chaired by Mr Nonso Azih, with Mrs Vivian Okoh-Olutunfese serving as alternate chair. Azih disclosed that the six-member team of lawyers would adopt a multidisciplinary approach by working alongside medical doctors, engineers, safety officers, and facility managers.
“This is not just a lawyer’s affair. We will examine the legal and regulatory aspects but also rely on experts from relevant fields to conduct a holistic assessment. Our mission is not to witch-hunt but to ensure lessons are learned so that such tragedies do not recur. Lives may have been lost, but they must not have been lost in vain,” Azih said.
He cited past interventions by the NBA, including an inquiry into the death of a medical officer in a faulty lift at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, as precedent for this initiative.
