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| Nigeria church run by TB Joshua 'should be prosecuted' | Nigeria church run by TB Joshua 'should be prosecuted' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A church run by the popular Nigerian evangelist TB Joshua should be prosecuted after the collapse of one of its buildings, a coroner has ruled. | A church run by the popular Nigerian evangelist TB Joshua should be prosecuted after the collapse of one of its buildings, a coroner has ruled. |
| A multi-storey church hostel collapsed last September in Lagos killing 116 people, many of them South Africans. | A multi-storey church hostel collapsed last September in Lagos killing 116 people, many of them South Africans. |
| The authorities said it had more floors than its foundation could hold. | The authorities said it had more floors than its foundation could hold. |
| "The church was culpable because of criminal negligence resulting in the death of the victims," coroner Oyetade Komolafe said at the inquest in Lagos. | "The church was culpable because of criminal negligence resulting in the death of the victims," coroner Oyetade Komolafe said at the inquest in Lagos. |
| Mr Komolafe said Mr Joshua's Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), had not obtained proper approval before putting up the structure. | Mr Komolafe said Mr Joshua's Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), had not obtained proper approval before putting up the structure. |
| Those who built the hostel should also be investigated, he said. | Those who built the hostel should also be investigated, he said. |
| Africa news updates | Africa news updates |
| TB Joshua, referred to by his followers as a "prophet", had blamed last year's incident on a small plane which he said had been circling the building, a claim dismissed by the court. | TB Joshua, referred to by his followers as a "prophet", had blamed last year's incident on a small plane which he said had been circling the building, a claim dismissed by the court. |
| Straight after the building collapsed, emergency teams complained that church officials had blocked access to the site. | |
| The coroner also criticised the fact that the preacher had not appeared as a witness during the inquest. | The coroner also criticised the fact that the preacher had not appeared as a witness during the inquest. |
| "Among the individuals and organisations summoned, only Prophet TB Joshua refused to testify," the AFP news agency quotes Mr Komolafe as saying. | "Among the individuals and organisations summoned, only Prophet TB Joshua refused to testify," the AFP news agency quotes Mr Komolafe as saying. |
| The BBC's Will Ross in Lagos says the preacher went to another court arguing that the coroner did not have the right to summon him. | |
| Mr Joshua's services, at a mega-church in Lagos's Ikotun district, are known for attracting thousands of people. | Mr Joshua's services, at a mega-church in Lagos's Ikotun district, are known for attracting thousands of people. |
| Followers in Nigeria and abroad believe he has the gifts of healing and prophecy. | Followers in Nigeria and abroad believe he has the gifts of healing and prophecy. |
| Our correspondent says the coroner's verdict is really a recommendation and now it will now be up to Lagos state's director of public prosecutions to decide what legal action to take. | |
| TB Joshua | TB Joshua |
| Profile: Nigerian preacher TB Joshua | Profile: Nigerian preacher TB Joshua |
| In pictures: TB Joshua's ministry in 2005 | In pictures: TB Joshua's ministry in 2005 |
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