Lagos State government today, arraigned Oluwaseun Osibanjo, the driver of the Lagos Staff bus that crashed into railway, before an Ikeja High Court, allegedly causing grievous harm and involuntary manslaughter to the passengers.
He was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Oyindamola Ogala, on a 16-count-charge bordering on involuntary manslaughter and grievous harm.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravened Sections 244 and 245 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under the same laws.
Osibanjo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his not guilty plea, Justice Ogala ordered that he be remanded at the appropriate custodial centre pending the filing and hearing of his bail application.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until May 26 for the commencement of trial.
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, thereafter prayed the court for a trial date and the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility.
Dr. Martins had told the court that the defendant committed the offences on March 9 at 7.00 a.m. on Shogunle LevelCrossing, Ikeja.
He also told the court that the defendant ignored warning signals and ran into an incoming train and negligently killed OreOluwa Aina, Tolulope Emmanuel, Olayinka Rokosu, Ganiyat Salaudeen, Lasisi Isah and Victoria Dada.
Dr. Martins also told the court that the defendant inflicted grievous harm on Bolanle Ogunbunmi, Ayomide Shobowale, Sarah Adeleye, Abiola Olarewaju, Esther Ekundayo, Samuel Fagbola, Ismail Bakare, Ayuib Arowoye, Rilwan Abdulazeez and Shiyanbola Murtala.
But counsel to the driver, Mr Lekan Egberongbe, however prayed the court to remand the defendant in a police custody, due to his health reasons.
“The defendant was brought from 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.”
However, the judge in response to the counsel’s request, said the court did not have the medical report of the defendant. Adding that the court did not have the power to remand the defendant at the police custody.
“If the custodial centre is served with the necessary medical report of the defendant, he should be given proper medical attention,” Ogala said.
