A court in Nigeria has ruled against TB Joshua and the Synagogue Church of All Nations following successive delays in their case against the Lagos Coroner's Court.
Joshua filed suit in November last year, alleging that Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe of the Coroner's Court had exceeded his jurisdiction by repeatedly summoning the influential pastor to appear and testify as part of an investigation into the September 12, 2014 collapse of a guest house at his church complex that killed more than 100 people.
According to Sahara Reporters, the church had also filed a similar suit in the Federal High Court in Lagos but it was dismissed.
According to Information Nigeria, Ikeja High Court Judge Lateefa Okunnu fined TB Joshua and the Church N25,000 (around $125, £81) for further delaying the proceedings of the suit.
Vanguard reported that Joshua's counsel, Prince Lateef Fagbemi told the court that Magistrate Komolafe was only limited to "(determining) the cause of death and identify the body (or bodies) of the deceased" as, mandated by the Sections 32 and 33 of the Lagos State Coroner's Law 2007, but had in addition to this been hearing evidence on the building's construction.
The Lagos State Government defended Magistrate Komolofe, stating that the Coroner's Court can investigate the causes of the deaths that it examines. It said that the Magistrate "has all the powers of a magistrate to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses" as part of its investigation. The State then moved to have the case dismissed.
The case had been adjourned and was due to resume hearing on Tuesday, but Fagbemi filed a motion and a consolidated Reply on Points of Law on Monday shortly before. The Lagos State Government's legal team requested another adjournment to examine the new applications.
Information Nigeria reports that Justice Okunnu then levied the fine against the church for instigating the delays, noting that the case was repeatedly adjourned upon request of TB Joshua and the church. She then told them to file an affidavit of compliance before the case resumes hearing on Friday.
