Coroner’s inquest into Dana plane crash stalled

BY ONOZURE DANIA

Lagos — The absence of Lagos pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, Tuesday, stalled the resumption of the coroner’s inquest into the June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash.

It will be recalled that 153 passengers and 10 residents of Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State, where the crash occurred, were killed in the incident.

The inquest was to have resumed yesterday after the dismissal of a suit by a group, Civil Aviation Round Table, seeking to halt the inquest.

The suit was dismissed in August 2012 by Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Lagos for lack of merit.

Obafunwa, who is the Chief Medical Examiner of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, had testified on July 25,2012 on the cause of death of the victims.

He was expected to be cross-examined on his testimony during the inquest  and also to submit the autopsy reports to the court.

However, the Lagos State coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, said the proceedings could not go on, because of Obafunwa’s absence.

Also to be cross-examined is Captain Oscar Wilson, Director of Flight Operations, Dana Airlines who had also given evidence before the inquest.

Komolafe, therefore adjourned the inquest till January 18, 2013 to enable summons to be served on witnesses and parties expected to testify before the court.

It will also be recalled that Dana Air line resumed operations on anuary 4, 2013, after the ban of the airline has been lifted by Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.