THE coroner inquest into the death of over 153 victims of the ill- fated Dana Air aircraft which crashed at Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos on June 3, commenced on Monday before the coroner of Alimosho District in Lagos, Mr Oyetade Alexander Komolafe, who is also a magistrate.The inquest was ordered last Thursday by the coroner-judge of Lagos State, Justice Lateefah Okunnu, based on a request made by the Falana and Falana Chambers.At the inaugural sitting, Mrs Funmi Falana, while addressing the court, said the chambers of Olisa Agbakoba was also interested in the matter. She told the court that in line with the relevant law, certain persons and agencies ought to be summoned before the court.Both Mr Komolafe and Mrs Falana agreed between themselves what persons and agencies should be invited by the court.Persons expected to appear before the court while inquest lasts include, the Minister of Aviation; Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Lagos and Ogun states; representatives of Dana Air; National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); the Lagos State Police Command; the Lagos Airport Command of the Police; Lagos State Fire Service; Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA); Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); the Nigerian Red Cross; Cleanserve Oil; Sahara Oil; MRS, AP, Total, Conoil, Nigerian Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, relatives of victims of the deceased passengers in the plane and those on the ground, surviving victims, among others.The coroner consequently adjourned till July 12, 2012 for the parties to be served and to enable the chambers of Olisa Agbakoba to prepare for the inquest.In the request to the coroner-judge, the principal partner of the Falana & Falana Chambers, Mr Femi Falana, had written: 'We have confirmed that the aircraft was allowed to fly even though it was defective. The distress call made by the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft several minutes before the crash was ignored by the airport authorities while the management of the disaster was crude as members of the public had to use bare hands in the rescue operations.'Falana had drawn on Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner's Law 2007 which provides that an inquest shall hold whenever a coroner is informed that the death of a person within his district was 'in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation.'Justice Okunnu, in a letter, then directed Mr Komolafe to 'conduct an inquest as desired, and thereafter send to me a copy of your findings and recommendations in that regard.
Click here to read full news..
