The trial over the role of a Nigerian megachurch, Synagogue Church of All Nations, in the deadly collapse of one of its buildings that killed over 100 persons last year was postponed until next month on Friday (December 11).
The church, Synagogue Church of all Nations is run by the famous T.B Joshua and the ministry has drawn tens of thousands of followers from across Africa over the last few years amid claims he has the ability to cure normally incurable ailments.
The regular influx of visitors from abroad for his services, which can run for up to a week, created a demand for accommodation and the construction of the guesthouse.
The church's guesthouse which collapsed in September 2014 killed at least 115, including 84 South Africans.
The petition for postponement came at the request of the Lagos state government's counsel, who said they had not finished serving all defendants, which are said to include the building's construction company and trustees, with court orders.
A Nigerian coroner ruled in July the megachurch should be prosecuted over the disaster, blaming poor construction work and a weak foundation to the structure.
In turn the Nigerian church fought the allegation, dismissing it as unreasonable, one-sided and biased - maintaining its stand that the incident was as a result of sabotage.
Members of the church gathered outside the court on Friday in support of the evangelical pastor.
One man called on the court to temper justice with mercy.
''We all know that what happened is an accident," John Uche, a film producer from the city said. "It was not a handmade or manmade so we are soliciting the court to be lenient with him (T.B. Joshua) and throw away the case."
The new trial date has been set for January 19.
South Africa earlier accused Nigeria of not doing enough to investigate the disaster and said Nigerian authorities did not react quickly enough to rescue those trapped under the rubble.
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