Ojuelegba Tragic Accident: Truck owner, driver face manslaughter charges, more

The owner of the truck and the driver responsible for the Ojuelegba accident are facing some very serious charges.

On Wednesday, September 2, 2015, an articulated vehicle carrying a 20ft container fell of the bridge and killed three people at Ojuelegba, Lagos.

On Friday, September 11th, the owner of the truck, Adeyanju Kilani, was taken to Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrates' Court and kept in prison custody.

Adeyanju, 50 years old, was found guilty of permitting his driver, a Wasiu Adeleke, to drive without a valid driver's licence, MOT test and Road worthiness certificate.

The driver, Wasiu, has an eleven-count charge of reckless driving negligent manner, and causing the death of three motorists.

"Adeleke, drove a Diesel truck with Reg. No. Lagos EPE 46 XK carrying a 20 feet container loaded with iron doors and white cement in a negligent manner. In view of his alleged reckless driving, the container fell, causing the deaths of one Abubakar Sule, 52, Umaru Sulaiman, 46 and Kamilu Umaru, 28. The truck also damaged a Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. LSD 532 CN, valued at two million naira belonging to Sumaila Marksman and a Nissan Sunny, Reg. No. DG 750 LND, valued at N600,000, belonging to one Joseph Ajayi."

According to the prosecutor, G.O. Osuyi, all of these are violations against Sections 31 and 36 (1 and 2) of the Lagos state Road Traffic Law 2012.

The owner of the truck, Adeyanju, has pleaded not guilty to his charges and his counsel, W.O. Toriola, has requested for bail based on his age and lack of any previous criminal record.

Mr Adeyanju and the driver, Wasiu, will remain in jail until September 23rd, when the case is resumed by the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Folashade Botoku.

Watch the video of the scene of the accident above.

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