Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, fixed February 1, 2024, for adoption of final written addresses in the ongoing trial of Elijah Shokoya for allegedly causing the death of an officer of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

The judge fixed the date after listening to the testimony of the third defendant, the Group General Manager, Human Resources Department of Shokoya’s employer, Mr. Ahmed Gobir.

The witness, who identified a copy of the company’s terms and conditions, told the court that the defendant was deployed among the employees and could be assigned to drive senior staff, who could be Nigerian or expatriate.

Led in evidence by the defence counsel, Mr. Ebunola Ewonowu, the witness informed the court that no driver was employed without a valid drivers licence and that the defendant had no records of accidents, at least, not to his knowledge.

He was thereafter cross examined by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ola Azeez, who asked the witness to tell the court whether he was at the scene of the incident.

Gobir responded that he was not there and he does not know what happened at the scene.

The state government had charged the defendant (Shokoya) for involuntary manslaughter. He was alleged of causing the death of Mr. Olawale Akinmade, an officer of LASTMA, when he ran him over with an Opel car with Lagos registration number AAA 74 GG

The prosecution said that the incident occurred at about 7:20p.m., on January 26, 2021, on Ikorodu Road at Demurin Junction, Ketu, Lagos State.
The defendant was thereafter arraigned on June 23, 2021, and pleaded not guilty.

After listening to the witness, the trial judge ordered counsel to the parties to file and serve their final written addresses before January 20, 2024.