A High Court in Ikeja, Lagos has remanded the driver of a Lagos State BRT Staff bus, Oluwaseun Osibanjo.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala on Tuesday ordered Osinbajo’s remand after he appeared in court.
He is being prosecuted by the Police on 16 counts of charges bordering on involuntary manslaughter and grievous harm.
Background
On March 9, at about 7:am, Osinbanjo’s reckless driving cost many lives as he ran into a moving train, which resulted in manslaughter.
Upon arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him by the Police.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, who led the prosecution, pleaded with the court to remand Osibanjo, at a correctional center and also fixed a date for the trial.
The prosecutor said the defendant committed the offense at the Shogunle Level Crossing, Ikeja on March 9 at about 7:00 am.
He said the driver refused cautions or the warning signals on the road despite the train movement.
He said as a result of Osinbanjo’s negligence and recklessness, he brought death to passengers.
listed as the victims of this crash are; Oreoluwa Aina, Tolulope Emmanuel, Olayinka Rokosu, Ganiyat Salaudeen, Lasisi Isah, and Victoria Dada.
While Bolanle Ogunbunmi, Ayomide Shobowale, Sarah Adeleye, Abiola Olarewaju, Esther Ekundayo, Samuel Fagbola, and Ismail Bakare are the passengers who sustained injuries during the incident.
The prosecutor included that Ayuib Arowoye, Rilwan Abdulazeez, and Shiyanbola Murtala were also victims of this harm.
He noted that the defendant has violated the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
In the defense, Mr. Lekan Egberongbe prayed that the court remand Osinbajo in police custody on the ground that his client is not well and was brought to court from the Federal Medical Centre Ebute-metta.
Mr Egberongbe said, “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 with the police”.
In response to this claim, the judge said the court has not yet received the hospital report and cannot rule on such defense.
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Court’s Decision
The presiding judge, Oyindamola Ogala, ordered Osinbajo to remand at the appropriate correctional center pending the filing and hearing of his bail application
“The court does not have the power to remand the defendant in police custody.
“If the custodial center is served with the necessary medical report of the defendant, he should be given proper medical attention,” The Judge held.
Subsequently, the matter was adjourned for May 26.