OJUELEGBA TRUCK TRAGEDY:

Court Remands Truck Owner In Prison Custody

An Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrates' Court has remanded Adeyanju Kilani, the owner of the articulated vehicle which fell of the bridge on Sept. 2, in prison custody.
The articulated vehicle carrying a 20ft container fell of the bridge and killed three people at Ojuelegba, Lagos.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Folashade Botoku, gave the ordered in Lagos on Tuesday.
Kilani, 50, was arraigned on a two-count charge of permitting his driver, one Wasiu Adeleke to drive without a valid driver's licence, MOT test and Road worthiness certificate.Prosecutor G.O. Osuyi said that the offences were committed on Sept. 2, on Ojuelegba Bridge along Funsho Williams Avenue, Lagos.
Adeleke, driver of the articulated vehicle, was arraigned before the same court on Sept. 11, on an eleven-count charge of reckless driving negligent manner, and causing the death of three motorists.
``Adeleke, drove a Diesel truck with Reg. No. Lagos EPE 46 XK carrying a 20 feet container loaded with iron doors and white cement in a negligent manner.
``In view of his alleged reckless driving, the container fell, causing the deaths of one Abubakar Sule, 52, Umaru Sulaiman, 46 and Kamilu Umaru, 28.
``The truck also damaged a Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. LSD 532 CN, valued at two million naira belonging to Sumaila Marksman and a Nissan Sunny, Reg. No. DG 750 LND, valued at N600,000, belonging to one Joseph Ajayi,’’ he said.
The offences, Osuyi noted, contravened Sections 31 and 36 (1 and 2) of the Lagos state Road Traffic Law 2012.
Kilani, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Botoku, ordered that Kilani be remanded in prison custody pending when she would deliver ruling on his bail application.
The Counsel to the accused, W.O. Toriola, had requested the court to grant the accused bail based on self-recognition being a senior citizen of the country with no prior criminal record.
Osuyi, however did not oppose the application for bail.
The case was, thereafter, adjourned till Sept. 23, for ruling on the bail application. http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/ojuelegba-truck-tragedy-1-court-remands-truck-owner-prison-custody