Driver remanded over alleged death of passengers

By  Sade Adewale, Ondo
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A driver,  Moses Jeremiah, who allegedly drove dangerously on highway, thereby causing  the death  of three people, has been remanded in prison custody.

The Ondo Magistrates’ Court gave the order after the police charged Jeremiah to  court for driving recklessly along Igushin, Ondo /Ore road,  while on top speed.

He was alleged to have knocked down  a 60-year-old man,  Mukaila Afolabi,  Omobolanle Oyedotun, 28, and Aminat Mudashiru, 25, who were passengers of a bus.

The accused, while driving a Toyota Sienna bus with number plate Lagos EPE 430 XD, was also alleged to have injured  one Tohibu Suraju, and  caused damage to a bus marked Rivers PBT 641 XA, property of Tribel Global Motors Company Limited.

The police prosecutor, Mr Gbenga Akinsulure, said the accused committed the offence in May 29, 2019 at about 1:00pm at Igunshin along Ondo/Ore road Ondo,  contrary to and punishable under section 18 of the Road Traffic Laws Cap 136,, Volume 3 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The charges read in part,” That you, Moses Jeremiah on May 29, 2019, at about 1:00pm at igunshin along Ondo/ore road in the Ondo Magisterial District,  being the driver in charge of same vehicle drove on the public highway and caused the  death of one Mukaila Afolabi,, 60, Omobolanle Oyedokun, 28, and Aminat Mudashiru,  25, and  thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under 18(1) of the Road Traffic Law Cap 136 Volume 3 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.:

That you,  Moses Jeremiah on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district being the driver in charge of same vehicle drove same on the public highway and caused bodily harm to one Toshibu Suraju and also damaged one Toyota Sienna Bus with  number plate  Rivers  PBT 641 XA, property of Tribel Global motors company limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under 18(1) of Road Traffic Laws Cap 136 Volume 3 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

Akunsulire, therefore, asked  the court to remand  the accused  in prison pending the  advice from the  office  of the Director of Public Prosecution.

The defence counsel, Otuba S. J Ochayi, did not oppose the application made by the prosecutor to remand his client in the prison custody.

Magistrate Odenusi Fadeyi granted the application of the prosecutor and directed him to send  the case file to the DPP’s office.

Fadeyi  adjourned the case till August 22, 2019 for response from the DPP’s office.