Court remands truck driver over death of four in BRT accident

For alleged reckless driving that led to the death of four persons along Ketu-Ikorodu Road, Lagos, Special Offence Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered the remand of a Dangote Cement truck driver, Sheriff Adebayo in Correctional Custodian Center (Prison Custody).

Justice Sherifat Solebo ordered the remand of the 25-year-old driver yesterday following his arraignment on four count charges brought against him by the State government.His alleged offence bordering on involuntary manslaughter contravenes Section 224 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015.

According to the prosecution team led by Mr. Yaqub Oshoala, Lagos State Director for Public Prosecutions informed the court that the defendant, “Sherif Adebayo (male) on the 27th of August, 2019 at about 9.30hrs around Majidun along Ikorodu Road did unlawfully kill one Samuel Apochi, Adenine Ismail, Sunday Balogun and Augustine Isaac.”

It would be recalled that on August 27, 2019, a fully loaded Dangote cement truck owned by Dangote Cement Company reportedly skidded off the main carriageway to collide with a BRT bus on a dedicated lane.

The driver was said to be driving his truck dangerously and recklessly, thereby hitting the deceased inside a BRT bus with registration number LSR 228XS.

The accident, which happened at Majidun Ikorodu Road, left four people dead and 58 others sustained different degree of injuries.However, following the plea of not guilty by the defendant, his counsel informed the court that he has filed an application for his bail before the court. The judge subsequently adjourned the case to November 26, 2019.