Lagos: Court remands BRT driver who crashed into train

By Lukman Olabiyi

Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, has ordered that a driver of the state government’s staff bus, Oluwaseun Osibanjo, who allegedly ran into a moving train, causing grievous harm and involuntary manslaughter to the passengers, be remanded at the appropriate custodial centre, pending the filing and hearing of his bail application.

The driver was docked before the court yesterday, on a 16-count-charge bordering on involuntary manslaughter and grievous harm. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, thereafter, prayed the court for a trial date and, also, asked that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending his trial.

Martins told the court that the defendant committed the offences on March 9, at 7am, on Shogunle Level Crossing, Ikeja.

He submitted that the defendant ignored warning signals and ran into an incoming train and negligently killed one OreOluwa Aina, Tolulope Emmanuel, Olayinka Rokosu, Ganiyat Salaudeen, Lasisi Isah and Victoria Dada.

The prosecution also alleged that the defendant inflicted grievous harm on Bolanle Ogunbunmi, Ayomide Shobowale, Sarah Adeleye, Abiola Olarewaju, Esther Ekundayo, Samuel Fagbola and Ismail Bakare. Others were: Ayuib Arowoye, Rilwan Abdulazeez and Shiyanbola Murtala.

The defence counsel, Mr Lekan Egberongbe, however, prayed the court to remand the defendant in police custody, due to his health.

“The defendant was brought from the Federal Medical Centre Ebute-Metta, this morning, my lord. I plead with the court while we await the trial date to allow him to be remanded in police’s custody.

The judge, however, declined the prayer of the defendant, saying the court did not have any medical report of the defendant.

“The court does not have the power to remand the defendant in police custody.

“If the custodial centre is served with the necessary medical report of the defendant, he should be given proper medical attention,” Justice Ogala said.

The court has adjourned the case till May 26 for the commencement of trial.