Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday, remanded a truck driver, Ketu Asikpata, in a correctional facility over alleged involuntary manslaughter of nine persons.
The judge ordered his remand after he was arraigned on a nine-count charge of involuntary manslaughter brought against him by the state government.
The prosecuting counsel, Ola Azeez, told the court that Asikpata committed the offence on January 29, 2023, on the Ojuelegba bridge in Lagos, inward Fadeyi, while driving a container-laden truck with registration number KJA 380 XD.
He told the court that the defendant drove the truck with gross negligence and reckless disregard for other road users, leading to the container falling on a Suzuki mini bus with registration number KTU 921 YD.
The prosecutor said nine people: Felix Ifeanyi; Blessing Okwuma; Basirat King; Emeka Okoli; Ifeyinwa Okoli; Chidiebube Okoli; Ifechukwu Okoli, Abdulrahman Wahab, and Kamorudeen Garara died as a result of the incident.
The offence, according to the counsel, contravened the provision of Section 224 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C. 17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, and the prosecution prayed the court for a trial date.
Consequently, Justice Ogala adjourned the trial till February 12.
