Reckless driving: Truck driver in court for crushing a tricyclist to death in Lagos

by Rachel Ogbu

justice is served

A commercial tricycle driver who was killed after being crushed by a truck driver, Ahmed Fatai in Lagos state has been named as Kasheem Tijani.

Fatai, 28, and a resident of Majiduralami Street, Ikorodu was arraigned at the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court, Igbosere, facing two counts of reckless driving and causing the death of Tijani but he pleaded not guilty to the charges .

The charge read in part, “That you, Ahmed Fatai ‘m’ on June 29, 2013 at about 4pm at Turnbull Road, Ikoyi, being the driver-in-charge of a Ford Truck with license number FP 303 JJJ drove on the public highway in a dangerous manner without having regard to all circumstance, nature and the amount of traffic which is expected to be on the highway at that time and caused the death of one tricycle driver, Kasheem Tijani ‘m’, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18, Lagos State Road Traffic Law, 2012.”

[READ: Horrible accident: Bicyclist clinging to life after driver mows him down in a bid to evade police]

Punch reports:

Fatai was apprehended by the police after his truck collided with Tijani’s tricycle and killed him on June 29, 2013.

The Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Godwin Onukwuo, told the court that his station was informed of the incident, via phone call, by a witness.

Fatai’s lawyer, Mr. Boyede Ogun, said, “The complainant, Abdulahi Muazu, a relative of the deceased, has requested not to pursue this case.”

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. C.J. Momoh, cautioned the defense lawyer. She said,  “Is that not supposed to be announced by the prosecutor?”

A prosecutor, Mr. C.L. Odii, held brief in the absence of the substantive prosecutor. Odii said, “I leave the request of not pursuing the case in court to the discretion of this honourable court. It is a case of fatal motor accident and they wish to settle out of court.”

But Momoh said the court would rather listen to the Director of Public Prosecution’s advice on the case.

She said, “We cannot address settlement out of court. A case of manslaughter is a serious crime that requires DPP’s advice.”

Momoh set bail at N200, 000 with a surety who had complete income tax record with Lagos State. She adjourned the case till August 15, 2013.

One comment

  1. PLEASE DRIVERS STOP KILLING US. MOST OF ACCIDENT IN NIGERIA IS AN INTENTIONAL.DRIVERS MOST ARE NOT QUALIFIED AND OUR ROAD AGENCIES ARE BUSY COLLECTING #50, ON THE ROADS THAN PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES.WE NEED ATTITUDINAL CHANGES NOW!

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