Train accident: Court remands BRT driver for manslaughter

The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday, May 2, remanded the driver of a BRT bus, Oluwaseun Osibanjo, for allegedly running into a moving train, causing grievous harm and involuntary manslaughter to the passengers.

Osibanjo was arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on involuntary manslaughter and grievous harm.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, had prayed the court for a trial date as well as for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional facility.

Martins told the court that the defendant committed the offences on March 9 at about 7:00 a.m. on Shogunle Level Crossing, Ikeja.

He stated that the defendant ignored warning signals and ran into an oncoming train and negligently killed one Oreoluwa Aina, Tolulope Emmanuel, Olayinka Rokosu, Ganiyat Salaudeen, Lasisi Isah, and Victoria Dada.

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

Others, he said, were Ayuib Arowoye, Rilwan Abdulazeez, and Shiyanbola Murtala.

According to him, the alleged offences contravened the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015

The defence counsel, Lekan Egberongbe, however, prayed the court to remand the defendant in a police custody, due to his health reasons.

“The defendant was brought from the Federal Medical Centre Ebute-metta this morning my lord. I plead with the court while we await the trial date to allow him be remanded with the police.

The presiding judge, Justice Oyindamola Ogala, however, said the court did not have the medical report of the defendant.

“The court does not have the power to remand the defendant in police custody.

“If the custodial centre is served with the necessary medical report of the defendant, he should be given proper medical attention,” Justice Ogala said.

The judge ordered that Osibanjo be remanded at the appropriate custodial centre, pending the filing and hearing of his bail application.

Justice Ogala, therefore, adjourned the case until May 26, 2023, for the commencement of trial.

The Star