Construction of 14-storey Standard Chartered Bank building violates environmental laws — Expert witness

An expert witness, Dr Tunji Adejumo, on Tuesday claimed that a 14-storey building being constructed by the Standard Chartered Bank in Victoria Island, Lagos, violated Nigeria’s environmental laws. Adejumo made the claim while testifying before Justice Doris Okuwobi of an Ikeja High Court at the resumption of the suit filed by a lawyer, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, against the bank.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Braithwaite had asked the court to stop the project, which is being erected opposite his residence, due to its environmental impact. He also asked the court to grant him N10 billion as damages and an order for the 14-storey building and the multi-level car park to be demolished.
In his testimony, Adejumo, an associate professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Lagos, said an Environmental Impact Assessment (EAI) was carried out on the building.
According to him, the car park in the building which will accommodate about 120 cars on a daily basis, will lead to noise and air pollution, as well as vehicular traffic in the area.
Using a visual aid, the witness said the carbon monoxide from the cars and the three power generating plants sited in the building would lead to emission of gases hazardous to human health.
Adejumo said: “A simulation of what the building would look like when completed showed that it would have negative environmental impact on its immediate surroundings, including Braithwaite’s residence.
“The EIA did not follow the Federal Government of Nigeria’s EIA procedure, especially Section 4(b) of the Nigeria EIA Decree 86 of May 1992,” the expert said.
He said the construction of the project did not follow best EIA practices as residents and other stakeholders were not consulted by the bank. However, Counsel to the bank, Mr Adeniyi Adegbomire, described the suit as a “nuisance case” which ought not to be entertained by the court. Adegbomire argued that Adejumo’s claims must be particularised, adding that the project had no negative impact on the area, as being alleged. NAN reports that the matter was adjourned till Nov.27, for further hearing.