Commercial Driver Remanded Over Death Of Final Year Student

 

Adeyemi Raheem, Tolulope Babatunde

A commercial driver, Sarafa Adepoju, has been remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre by an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly causing the death of a final year student, Emmanuel Aderoju in Osogbo.

Adepoju, a driver of a MAZDA Bus with Registration number: OSUN RLG  684 XA was accused of driving in a dangerous manner which led to the killing of Aderoju, a resident of Ofatedo Area, Osogbo.

The defendant was also accused of injuring one Mustapha Fatai of Ile Aloge’s Compound, Osogbo in the process. 

According to the charge sheet, the accused person committed the offence on September 28, 2022 at about 09:30hrs at Lameco roundbout, Osogbo.

The offence, according to the police, contravened Section 18 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002 and Section 27 of RTA, Cap 548, Laws of Nigeria.

But the defendant pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge bordering on dangerous driving and manslaughter levelled against him.

Defence counsel, Babatunde Akinwunmi, prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail on a liberal term, noting that he would provide reliable surety if granted bail.

Objecting the bail application, police prosecutor, Inspector Jacob Akintunde, stated that the accused person would jump bail since the case involves death of a human being.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, E.O. Aluko, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre.

He directed the defence counsel to file a formal bail application, while he adjourned the case till October 13, 2022 for mention.