Ojuelegba Tragedy: Truck Driver, Owner Arraigned

The owner of the truck whose container fell and killed three
people at Ojuelegba overhead bridge, in Lagos, on 2 September, 2015, Mr. Kilani
Ojo Adesanya, has been arraigned before an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court
in Lagos State Southwest Nigeria.

He was arraigned Tuesday, on a two-count criminal charge of
giving the truck to a driver without driving documents.

The 50-year-old man was arraigned before the court by the
men of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of Lagos State Police
Command, Panti,Yaba, Lagos.

The accused truck owner was alleged to have permitted the
driver of the truck Wasiu Adeleke to drive his truck with registration number
EPE 46 XK without a valid driver’s license issued to him by the appropriate
authorities.

He was also alleged to have given the truck to the driver to
drive on the highway without MOT test certificate, road worthiness certificate,
and vehicle license issued in respect of the truck by the appropriate
authorities.

According to the prosecutor Barrister Godwin O. Osuyi, the
offences allegedly committed by 

Adesanya are contrary to and punishable under
sections 36(1 &2) of Road Traffic Laws of Lagos State, 2012.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His lawyer, Mr. W. O. Toriola urged the court to grant him
bail on self recognition.

He hinged the bail application on the premise that the
accused is a senior citizen of the country without any previous criminal
record.

The prosecutor did not oppose the bail application.

The driver of the truck, Wasiu Adeleke, was last Friday also
arraigned before the court, on 11-count charge of multiple manslaughter as the
accident caused the death of three persons namely: Abubakar Sule, 52; Umaru
Sulaiman, 46; and Kamilu Umaru, 28.

PM News