Scores of people escaped death in the commercial capital of Abia state, when a court suddenly collapsed some 20 minutes after its sitting.
The incident happened Tuesday afternoon at the Four Aba High Court chaired by Judge Clinton Okoroafor.According to eyewitness accounts, the roof of the courtroom suddenly collapsed as some people at the scene, including lawyers, litigants and court staff, rushed to safety.
The cause of the sudden collapse is not yet established but some have attributed it to the dilapidated structure.
Some attorneys who witnessed the incident said the building was renovated three years ago “but was not done properly.”
They say the building has been leaking since after the renovation, exposing the structure to rain.
Efforts to get a reaction from the state’s Chief Justice were unsuccessful, but a source at the Department of Justice said the CJ had been duly informed and “he thanked God that no life had been lost ”.
According to the source, the state government has also been informed of the necessary measures.