A Magistrates’ Court in Araromi Obu, Odigbo Local Area of Ondo State, has remanded a commercial bus driver, Blessing Ovie, in a correctional facility for killing a Federal Road Safety Commission official, FRSC.
The defendant, who was remanded at the Okitipupa Correctional Centre, allegedly drove recklessly along the Lagos/Benin expressway at Ajebamidele, Araromi Obu axis on May 1, 2022, driving over an FRSC official and another person.
While driving a Toyota Hiace bus with the number plate Bayelsa NEV 618 AA, Ovie was charged with three counts of crime.
The accused’s irresponsible driving, according to the police prosecutor, resulted in the deaths of two FRSC officials Jimoh Albukarim Abiola and Tunde Thomas.
The Federal Highway Act (Cap F 13 Vol. VI Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004) is reportedly breached under sections 6, 18(1), and 39(3).
The defense attorney, Uche Abangu, requested that the court grant his client bail on the most lenient terms conceivable, promising to furnish solid surety.
He asked for a postponement and a settlement between the deceased’s relatives and the defendant.
Sgt. Muideen, the prosecutor who opposed the bail request, stated that the defendant’s negligence caused the deaths of two persons.
Magistrate O. F Akinlolu refused the defense counsel’s bail request in his judgement.
As a result, he ordered the defendant’s remand at the Okitipupa penitentiary center and delayed the case until May 26, 2022.
