Lagos judiciary begins coroner’s inquest into Afriland Towers fire incident

The Lagos state judiciary has scheduled a coroner’s inquest into the death of 10 persons, in the Afriland Towers fire incident, for October 14.

A coroner’s inquest is a formal, public hearing conducted by a coroner or judicial official to investigate the circumstances of a death. It seeks to answer the questions surrounding an incident.

The Lagos judiciary scheduled the inquest following a letter from Femi Falana Chambers, calling for an investigation into the incident.

On September 16, fire broke out at the six-storey Afriland Towers on Broad Street in the Lagos Island area.

The building houses a branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), United Capital Plc (UCAP) and other businesses.

The incident led to the death of four FIRS staff and six UCAP employees.

THE LETTER

In a letter dated September 29, and addressed to the chief coroner, high court of Lagos, by Taiwo Olawanle on behalf of Falana & Falana’s Chambers, the firm asked the chief coroner to begin an inquest into the fire incident in line with section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s Law 2007.

“Having regard to the avoidable tragic incident, we humbly request you to use your good offices to cause a coroner’s inquest to be conducted into the cause of the death of this sudden but avoidable death of these persons and make appropriate recommendations,” the letter reads.

“Under 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 deceased person within his Coroner District is as a result of a death in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation.”

RESPONSE

In a letter dated October 5, and signed by A.A. Adetunji, a senior magistrate, the Lagos judiciary said the inquest has been assigned to coroner court 9 of Igbosere district sitting at court 4 Yaba district.

“There would be a preliminary meeting with all parties to chart a course for the Inquest if one would be convened,” the letter reads.

“Your kind assistance is thus welcomed with detailed information of suggested stakeholders who must attend the said meeting.

“The preliminary meeting is hereby tentatively scheduled for Tuesday the 14th of October, 2025 at Court 4 Yaba Magisterial District at 9am; pending the confirmation of attendance and convenience of all parties.”