There was tragedy at the popular Cocoa House in Dugbe area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday as a faulty lift killed one person and injured three others.
The incident, which occurred round 11am, was said to have been as a result of a technical issue on the lift while the victims were repairing it.
A reliable source told Newsafresh that the lift had been abandoned for a while two others in the building were been used.
The latest deceased was said to have been at the top of the machine while others where in it during repairs on Wednesday before the accident occurred.
The source said the injured engineers were injured in their arms and legs and were rushed to the hospital, while the remains of the deceased have been removed.
A statement signed by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Oodua Investment Company Ltd (OICL), Mr Victor Ayetoro, said, “At around 11am this morning, the lift installation team from our contractor handling the lift and who were working on dismantling the old lift in readiness for a new lift instalment, while working on the lift suffered a mechanical failure.
“The said failure resulted in the lift car dropping and crashing into the basement pit.
“Unfortunately, one of the technicians in the team did not survive the incident.
“Three other technicians suffered minor injuries and have been taken to the hospital for check up/ treatment.
“The head office of the company has been informed and their representatives have arrived to take charge of the situation while the Police have also been informed.”
Recall that Cocoa House, the first skyscraper in Nigeria and West Africa, was completed in 1965.
The 26-storey building was gutted by fire on January 9, 1985 and was closed to the public until it was renovated in August 1992.