Along the Lekki Epe Expressway, two truck drivers have been charged with manslaughter at a Tinubu magistrate’s court, Lagos State, after they allegedly drove recklessly, killing six road users along Frajend and Bogije bus stop.

The suspects, Babatunde Oshiyemi and Kola Taiwo, were arraigned on a charge of manslaughter before Magistrate F.M. Dalley.

They were granted bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

In the first crash which occurred at Frajend Bus Stop, Ibeju-Lekki, a truck driven by Oshiyemi reportedly rammed into a Volkswagen car while he was trying to maneuovre his vehicle out of traffic.

He was said to have killed the driver of the Volkswagen car, one Ayorinde Akomolafe, and three others waiting at the bus stop.

It was learnt that a police team from the Elemoro division was mobilised to the scene and they arrested the driver.

While one of the passersby was identified only as Hassan, the identities of the two other men had yet to be ascertained.

 According to the police, Oshiyemi did not have a valid driving licence.

City Round gathered that the second accident occurred at Gbogije Bus Stop, also in Ibeju-Lekki, involving a Mack truck and a Volkswagen vehicle.

The truck driver, Taiwo, reportedly knocked down two commuters – Akingosoye Monday and Omogbehin Adetayo – and damaged the car.

He was also apprehended by policemen from the Elemoro division.

A police prosecutor, Sergeant F. Adeleye, brought the two suspects on Monday before the court on four separate counts bordering on reckless driving and manslaughter.

Adeleye told the court that the offences contravened sections 15, 18 (1), 19 (1), 20 (1) A84, No 4 of the Lagos State Traffic Law, 2012.

The charges read in part, “That you, Babatunde Oshiyemi, being the driver of a Volvo mini truck with the number plate, KJA 411 XQ on December 19, 2018, at about 6.35am, at Frajend Bus Stop, along Lekki-Epe Expressway Road, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, drove the same vehicle on the public highway in a careless and inconsiderate manner or without care about other road users or condition of the road at that time.

“That you, Babatunde Oshiyemi, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, drove the same vehicle on the public highway in a dangerous manner without attention to traffic at that time, crossed over to the opposite side of the expressway and had a head-on collision with a Volkswagen Passat car, with the number plate, GCE 259 CY, driven by the late Ayorinde Akomolafe and caused the death of the driver; one Hassan and two other males yet to be identified.

“That you, Kola Taiwo, being the driver of a Mack truck with the number plate, XY 290 AKD, on December 24, 2018, at 3pm, at Bogije Bus Stop, along Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, drove the same vehicle on the public highway, without attention to other road users, and knocked down two persons – Akingosoye Monday, 42 and Omogbehin Adetayo – who died and that you also damaged one Volkswagen Passat car with the number plate, KRE 404 SA, driven by Alabi Adejare and three other motorcycles.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them and they elected summary trial.

The presiding magistrate, Dalley, granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two gainfully employed sureties in the like sum.

The case was adjourned till February 14, 2019 for mention.

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