Nearly two months after the collapse of Reigners’ Bible Church building, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has urged the Federal Government to prosecute the leadership of the church for gross negligence resulting to the death of some Nigerians. The collapsed church building claimed not less than 26 lives and injured many others.

In a petition addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and signed by CSNAC’s chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, the coalition urged the minister to issue a directive and monitor the prosecution of the church for its reckless act of impunity and negligence which resulted in the loss of lives at its church site.

The petition referred to reports that “the owners of the church blackmailed and harassed the authorities by threatening to liaise with the government to dismiss any of the authority’s employees who made attempts to embarrass workers on the church site.”

According to CSNAC, “Based on the above facts, it is therefore our conclusion that the church in a flagrant display of nonchalance, high-handedness, impunity and negligence to the safety of lives at its church site caused the death of over 25 well-meaning Nigerians.

“We believe in the sanctity of human lives and as such any infraction of same should be dealt with according to the laws of our land in other to serve as an effective deterrent in future cases. This should be the case regardless of whose ox is gored.

“CSNAC hereby urge you to use your good office, as the chief law officer of the country, to issue a directive and monitor the prosecution of the said Reigners’ Bible Church for its reckless act of impunity and negligence which resulted in the loss of lives at its church site.”

Update news