Train Accident: Lagos BRT Driver Remanded For Manslaughter

Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has remanded in prison Oluwaseun Osibanjo, the driver of the state’s staff bus, which collided with a moving train, for allegedly causing the death of six people.

Justice Ogala ordered that Osibanjo be kept behind bars after he was arraigned before her by the state government on a 16-count charge of involuntary manslaughter and causing previous harm.

The Lagos State director of public prosecutions (DPP) Babajide Martins informed the court that the BRT driver negligently killed the victims by ignoring warning signals and running into an oncoming train.

Martins also claimed that the defendant negligently inflicted grievous harm on ten other passengers on the bus.

He alleged that the defendant caused the death of Oreoluwa Aina, Tolulope Emmanuel, Olayinka Rokosu, Ganiyat Salaudeen, Lasisi Isah and Victoria Dada.

The prosecution  alleged that the defendant inflicted grievous harm on Bolanle Ogunbunmi, Ayomide Shobowale, Sarah Adeleye, Abiola Olarewaju, Esther Ekundayo, Samuel Fagbola and Ismail Bakare.

Others who he claimed suffered various degrees of injuries during the incident are Ayuib Arowoye, Rilwan Abdulazeez and Shiyanbola Murtala.

Martins said the alleged offences contravened sections 244 and 245 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, who allegedly committed the offences on March 9 at 7.00 a.m. on Shogunle Level Crossing, Ikeja, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The defence lawyer, Lekan Egberongbe, urged the court to remand his client in police custody, due to his health condition, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

In a short ruling, the judge noted that the court does not have the medical report of the defendant and does not have the power to remand him in police custody.