Olufemi Falade, a Nigerian-born landlord, owned the building that collapsed and killed eight people in Brooklyn, New York City.
On Wednesday, the building situated at 1321 Flatbush Avenue
suddenly collapsed while construction crews worked on an adjacent lot.
According to the New York Post, Falade is a notorious
slumlord who once went to jail for ignoring housing violations.
Falade has reportedly landed on the NYC public advocate’s
annual Worst Landlords Watchlist six times.
The report said the city records showed that Falade has also
racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
According to the report, Falade collected nearly $115,000 in
unpaid water bills over the years and has owed $113,500 in property taxes since
2021.
The Nigerian-born landlord is also said to owe more than
$50,000 in personal income taxes to the state and federal government.
The report said he was sentenced to 12 days in jail and
fined $50,000 for civil contempt after he failed to fix more than 1,800
violations in 2006. The violations reportedly included vermin infestation and
leaking pipes across 12 buildings he owned in Brooklyn.
The building that collapsed had 98 violations against it
before it crumbled, including a leaky roof and bedbugs, the report said.
The report added that Falade bought the property in 1999,
and its roof has been leaking since 1976.
Farah Louis, the city’s councilwoman, has called for a full
investigation into the collapse.
“A building does not simply collapse in the middle of a
residential neighbourhood without warning signs or systemic failures,” Louis
said.
“I am demanding a full investigation of 2625 Bedford
Avenue’s structural inspection records, active permits, open violations, and
landlord maintenance history.
“If negligence or ignored safety complaints contributed to
this fatal collapse – where children, pregnant women, and elderly New Yorkers
were put in harm’s way – those responsible must be held fully accountable under
the law.”
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