THE Lagos State Judiciary has announced that a coroner’s inquest into the recent Afriland Tower fire tragedy, which claimed the lives of ten people, will commence with a preliminary meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
News Point Nigeria reports that the inquest, to be presided over by Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji, follows a formal request by the law firm of Falana & Falana’s Chambers, led by human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, urging the Chief Coroner of Lagos State to investigate the circumstances surrounding the September 16 inferno.
In a letter dated October 6, 2025, and signed by Magistrate Adetunji on behalf of the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, the judiciary confirmed that the matter has been assigned to Coroner Court 9 of the Igbosere District, which will sit at Court 4, Yaba Magisterial District.
“Please be informed that your matter has been assigned to Coroner Court 9 of Igbosere District, sitting at Court 4, Yaba District,” the letter stated.
“There would be a preliminary meeting with all parties to chart a course for the inquest if one were to be convened.”
The preliminary session, scheduled for 9 a.m. on October 14, will bring together key stakeholders, including representatives of the victims’ families, safety regulators, corporate bodies, and emergency agencies, to agree on modalities for the full inquest.
Magistrate Adetunji also requested that Falana’s Chambers provide a list of relevant stakeholders expected to attend the meeting to ensure an inclusive process.
The inquest was triggered by a formal petition submitted by Falana & Falana’s Chambers on September 29, 2025, signed by Taiwo Olawanle on behalf of the firm.
Citing Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s Law of 2007, the firm called for a public inquest into what it described as an “avoidable tragedy” that resulted in multiple fatalities.
“We are a firm of legal practitioners committed to the defence of human rights, the rule of law, and public accountability in Nigeria,” the letter read.
“It was alleged that 10 people lost their lives in the September 16, 2025, fire at Afriland Tower on Broad Street, Lagos Island. The victims included four officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and six workers of United Capital, who were trapped in the six-storey building after thick smoke engulfed the premises.”
The firm urged the Lagos judiciary to investigate the cause of the deaths, determine who may have been responsible for safety lapses, and make appropriate recommendations to prevent future occurrences.
According to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s Law, 2007, an inquest shall be conducted whenever a coroner is informed that the death of a person within the district was violent, unnatural, or suspicious.
Falana’s firm argued that the Afriland Tower fire squarely fits this description, warranting a judicial investigation to establish accountability and ensure justice for the victims and their families.
“Having regard to the avoidable tragic incident, we humbly request you to use your good offices to cause a coroner’s inquest to be conducted into the cause of the death of these persons and make appropriate recommendations under Section 15,” the letter emphasized.
The September 16 fire that engulfed the Afriland Tower, a six-storey commercial building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, shocked the nation and prompted widespread calls for safety reforms in high-rise office buildings.
Preliminary reports indicated that ten people, including four officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and six employees of United Capital Plc were trapped and died after thick smoke from the inferno filled the building.
The cause of the fire has yet to be officially determined, but eyewitnesses reported that the blaze began from the upper floors, quickly spreading due to inadequate evacuation measures and alleged malfunctioning fire safety systems.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Fire Service, and other first responders battled for hours to bring the situation under control.
Afriland Properties Plc, the company that manages the building, has since published a detailed FAQ document explaining its response to the incident and promising full cooperation with investigators.