AKIN KUPONIYI

The Container accident at Ojuelegba

The owner of the truck whose container fell and killed three people at Ojuelegba over head bridge, in Lagos, on September 2, 2015, Mr. Kilani Ojo Adesanya, has been arraigned before an Ebute Metta chief magistrate court in Lagos state south west Nigeria, on two count criminal charge of giving the truck to a driver without driving documents.‬

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

The accused 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 authority. ‬

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 authority. ‬

According to the prosecutor Barrister Godwin O. Osuyi, the offences alleged to have been committed by the accused 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.‬

‪However, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A. Folashade Botoku, queried the prosecutor, Barrister Osuyi, for not informing the court of the sister case, in which the driver of the truck was charged before the court, and for not asking for the consolidation of the two cases.‬

‪Consequently, the Chief Magistrate,Botoku adjourned the matter till September 23,2015 for ruling on the bail application.‬

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

The offences according to the prosecutor are contrary to and punishable under sections 222(2), 249(1)(a) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2011. And sections 20, 111,number 1; 111 number 10, 11 and 12; and 19 of the Lagos state Road  Traffic Laws of 2012.‬

The driver pleaded not guilty to all the counts. Thereafter  Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Botoku, adjourned till September 23, for ruling on his bail application.‬