Court remands driver over deaths of five UNIOSUN students, one other

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the remand of Ibrahim Muntari, a luxury bus driver, over his alleged involvement in a tragic accident that led to the deaths of five students from Osun State University (UNIOSUN) and one other individual in Ikire.

The Guardian had earlier reported that the incident involving the luxurious bus belonging to Silver Luxury Travels and Freight and a commercial bus with registration number OYO GHD 499 XA that occurred on March 23, 2025, in Ikire, Osun State, resulted in the death of six people.

The victims were identified as Olagbemide Olaoluwadotun, Funmilola Mary Olawuyi, Ogundare Oluwapelumi Rhoda, Ogundare Ayomide, Farooq Suleiman and others whose names and addresses are yet unknown.

The university management had confirmed that five of its undergraduates died in the road mishap while one was seriously injured.

When the police dragged 35-year-old Muntari to court on Wednesday, he was slammed with eight counts, which bordered on driving in a manner dangerous to the public, causing death by reckless driving, and violating traffic rules.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The police prosecutor, Akintunde Jacob, told the court that Muntari drove the bus with registration number LAGOS EPE 796 VH on the public highway in a manner that was dangerous to the public, causing the death of six people and injuring four others.

Defence counsel Shaibu Gomina applied for his bail, which was denied by the court.

In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara, adjourned the case till June 2, 2025 and ordered that Muntari be remanded in the correctional centre.