NAN-H-35
Manslaughter
Tomisin Erogbogbo
Lagos, Feb. 15, 2017 (NAN) A 26-year-old panel beater, Tajudeen Salau, was on Wednesday charged before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly driving a space wagon recklessly killing a trader.
He was, however, released on N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mr Omolaja Kazeem, said one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, while the other surety must be an officer of not less than Grade Level 14 in the Civil Service.
He directed that the case file should be duplicated and a copy forwarded to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing manslaughter charge.
The prosecution told the court that the accused allegedly drove the vehicle given to him to work and rammed into a shop causing the trader’s death.
The prosecutor, Insp. Philip Osijiale told the court that the accused had on Feb. 3 at about 7.00 p.m. along Oju-Olobun Garage, Enu-Owa on Lagos Island, hit a trader, Mrs Wosilat Ogunbiyi.
“The accused drove a Ford Freestar space wagon with registration no. SMK 641 EC in a reckless manner, lost control and hit the woman in front of her shop.
“Salau hit Wosilat and her sister, who were sitting outside their shop, abandoned the vehicle and ran away.
“The two sisters were seriously injured and were rushed to a hospital by other traders where Wosilat was later confirmed dead.
“The police contacted the owner of the vehicle, who explained that he left his car with his panel beater at Costain Area of Ebute Meta, Lagos.
“The accused was later produced by his family members,” he said.
According to him, the offence contravened Section 20 of the Road Traffic Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The case was adjourned to March 8.(NAN)
TME/JEO/DA
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Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Dele Akinsola