30th June, 2011
A commuter bus driver, Akeem Akinyola, 22, and a trailer driver, Olatunde Muhedeen, 38, have been docked at an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, Lagos for manslaughter.
Prosecuting Police Inspector Barth Nwaokanpe arraigned the duo on a five-count charge of dangerous driving, plying a wrong route (driving against traffic) and causing the death of Yinusa Musa, 23 and Nura Usman, 23.
According to the police, the accident occured on 11 May, 2011 along Ogba Road, Odo Eran, Lagos State, when Akeem Akinyola drove his Mazda bus with registration number XD 269SGB on the highway without caution.
In the process, he allegedly caused the death of Yinusa Musa and Nura Usman both of 10, Old Ota Road, Orile-Agege.
One of the charges read: “That you, Olatunde Muhedeen on 11 May, 2011 along Ogba Road, Odo Eran, Agege, in the Ikeja Magisterial District drove Sinotruck trailer with registration number XQ 796 FST and caused the death of one Yinusa Musa and Nura Usman of 10, Old Ota Road, Orile-Agege having no regard to all the circumstances of the case, including the nature and condition of the road and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 of the Road Traffic Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.â€
When the accused persons were first arraigned on 20 May, 2011, they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. B. T. Olatokun admitted the accused on bail and adjourned the matter till 29 June for mention.
When the case was mentioned yesterday (Wednesday), it was further adjourned till 10 August, 2011 for further mention.
However, a relation of the deceased persons, Ado Shuaibu Dansudu told P.M.NEWS that Yinusa Musa hired Nura Usman, an Okada rider to take him to Mile 12, Ketu, to buy pepper and tomato on the day of the incident.
Shuaibu regretted that the families and relations of the deceased were not contacted by the police on the matter before it was charged to court.
“We did not know when they were arraigned. We have not seen any of the two drivers until we got to the court on Wednesday. None of them visited the relations of the deceased to condole with them,†Shuaibu lamented.
—Oluwatunmise Ige