Investigators looking into the collapse of a three-storey building in Umuahia have been urged to broaden their scope and consider all possible factors behind the incident, including potential sabotage.
Making the call during a media chat on Wednesday, Umuahia-based legal practitioner and property lawyer, Barrister Goodman Iheikwunacho, emphasized that probing only the technical and regulatory aspects might not reveal the full picture.
The building, which collapsed in the early hours of last Saturday, left residents in shock. Remarkably, a 35-year-old woman, Blessing Ugochukwu, and her two children survived the disaster. The incident has since sparked widespread concern and calls for accountability.
In response, two separate investigations are set to be launched. The Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), on behalf of the Abia State Government, has announced plans for an official probe, while the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Umuahia Area Office, has already dispatched a technical team for preliminary assessment.
However, Barrister Iheikwunacho advised that investigators must not limit themselves to issues like structural defects or non-compliance with building codes. He called for a thorough and open-minded inquiry that also considers external or malicious interference.
“I’m aware that the owner of the collapsed building, Chief Ikechi Emenike, is a prominent politician and the 2023 APC governorship candidate in Abia State,” Iheikwunacho noted. “You can’t rule out the possibility that political enemies might be involved.”
He cited media reports in which residents said they heard a loud boom — described variously as thunder or an explosion — shortly before the building came down, suggesting the need to investigate these claims.
“As a public figure, Chief Emenike might have people with grudges against him, and they could resort to extreme measures to damage his reputation,” he said. “An edifice doesn’t just collapse like a pack of cards without multiple contributing factors.”
Iheikwunacho stressed that only a comprehensive investigation—one that leaves no stone unturned—can reveal the real cause and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Government has announced plans to conduct integrity tests on the two remaining buildings within the
