BRT arson trial continues, Army granted leave to re-examine three witnesses

by Godwin Akanfe

The Lagos State Tribunal of Inquiry into the July 4 road accident and vandalism of some Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles has granted the Nigerian Army leave to recall three witnesses.

Thursday’s main testimony was made by Abiodun Apata, Project Manager, Mutual Model Transport, who said a tracking device was installed on Bus MO63, which was involved in the accident that led to the soldier’s death.

Apata, who carried out a demonstration before the tribunal, maintained that the bus broke down and was stationary as at the time of the incident.

He said that the record from the tracker corroborated the testimony of the driver, Zaccheus Folorunsho, that the soldier had rammed his motorcycle against the stationary bus.

However, the tribunal granted to the army to recall Wednesday’s three witnesses following a request made by the army legal team, led by Lt. Col. Hycinth Ande. Lt.Col Ande pointed out that the army was not legally represented when the witnesses gave their evidence due to administrative hiccups.

“As it stands now, we want to take a date to cross-examine all the witnesses and we will equally be asking for copies of all the documents that they tendered before the tribunal.

“We need time to go through the documents to enable us cross-examine the witnesses on them,” he said.

The witnesses – Razak Mustapha, Ikechukwu Umeaku and Dapo Adediran – are employees of Mutual Model Transport, sub-operators of LAGBUS.

They had earlier testified before the panel, chaired by retired Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, which was set up by the Lagos State Government to unravel the cause of the incident.

They had alleged that the mayhem was perpetrated by soldiers, who were reacting to the death of their comrade, alleged to have been crushed by a BRT bus at Palmgrove Bus Stop, Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

In granting the army’s request, Adebajo directed all parties of interest to henceforth produce sufficient copies of all documents they intended to tender before the tribunal.

Justice Adebajo also directed the army to provide information relating to the dead soldier, including the pathologist’s report, at the next hearing.

The tribunal adjourned sitting until Monday for further hearing.

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