Kingsley Opara, a 43-year-old truck driver who allegedly drove dangerously and killed a man, was charged with manslaughter on Thursday in an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The defendant, who lives at No. 5, Samuel Otusile Street in the Iba Ojo region of Lagos State, is charged with two counts of hazardous driving and manslaughter.
Inspector Olatunde Kehinde, a police prosecutor, told the court that the defendant committed the crimes on September 16, 2023.
He stated that the incident occurred about 1:20pm along the Badagry Motorway, near Whitesand Field in Sari Iganmu, Lagos State.
Kehinde testified in court that Opara, the driver in charge of a Mack Truck with the licence plate T-13537LA, drove the vehicle on the public highway in an unsafe manner to other road users.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant damaged a Toyota Dyna micro truck with the registration number AKD 108XY, which was operated by Mukaila Aliyu.
Kehinde said in court that Opara drove the truck recklessly on the same day, killing Deputy Corps Road Marshall Abiodun Ajomole, 35.
Before his demise, he added, the corps was assigned to Road Safety Corp 2, Point 116 Costain Unit Command Lagos State.
According to the prosecution, the offences committed violated Sections 51 (i) and 52 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law and Regulations 2018.
The defendant, however, pled not guilty to the charge levelled against him.
As a result, the defendant was granted bail in the sum of N1m by the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Folashade Kayode, with two responsible sureties in like sum.
She stated that one of the sureties must be a public servant at the Grade Level 16 level, and the other a community leader.
The lawsuit was postponed until October 28, 2023, for further consideration.
