Do you remember the fire incident in Baruwa Ipaja area in Ayobo-Ipaja local government area of Lagos State sometimes in 2020?
At least about seven people were reported dead, many were injured while some houses were destroyed by the inferno.
Well, the latest information is that an oil marketer, Alhaji Waidi Raheem Fasola, popularly known as Larafash who is the owner of Fash Oil has been charged to court by Lagos State Government over the incident.
The defendant whose gas plant gutted fire in 2020 killing some residents and which destroyed properties is now facing a-30-count criminal charge before an Ikeja High court.
The 64 years old businessman whose plea was taken before Justice Oyindamola Ogala was accused of an act of recklessness leading to the death of at least seven persons and destroyed several houses and shops in Baruwa Ipaja area in Ayobo-Ipaja local government area of Lagos State.
The defendant denied all 30-counts charges read to him in both English and Yoruba languages.
He was said to have unlawfully permitted the discharge of LPG (cooking gas) from the tanker to his gas dump without taken adequate security measures leading to the unfortunate incident that took lives of innocent neighbours and destroyed properties worth millions in the neighbourhood.
Part of the charge sheet reads that Fasola committed the offence on October 8, 2020 at about 5:45 a.m at No 61b, Cardoso road, Baruwa, Ipaja in Ikeja judicial division, when his loaded truck was discharging LPG into a pump located in his company.
It further stated that Fasola’s negligence and “unlawful permitting the discharge of LPG, (gas) into tank, “led to the deaths of Aderinsoye Olamilekan, Aderinsoye Mowa, Mohammed Abubakar, Abike Oluwasanmi, Evans Udom, Adebowale Aisha, Adeleke Olusola Amos and Adeleke Oluwadarasinmi.
The prosecution alleged that the unlawful act of “failure to take precautions against danger” also led to causing severe bodily harm to Adebisi Micheal, Adache Blessings, causing severe burnt to Bose Oyelumade, Nuru Nasir, Ayo Ademisoye, Emmanuel Evans Udom and bodily injuries to Omorieghe Josephine, severe burnt to one Usman Yakubu, Ronke Gbele, Mrs.Juwon Abiodun as well as inflicting head lacerations on one Sunday.
Besides, the deaths and bodily injuries done to the fire victims, the prosecution equally alleged that the failure of Fasola to take adequate precaution led to the burnt of houses, shops and destructions of some apartments in the vicinity of the ill fated fire incident.
According to the prosecution, more than five houses, seven shops gutted by the fire ignited by the gas explosion, while some of the properties were simply damaged.
The prosecution listed some of the houses burnt to include the one belonging to Alhaji Jelili Adebowale at No 21b, Cardoso, two houses belonging to Rev. Joseph Akinola Ogungbamigbe situated at 2 & 4 Ogungbamigbe street, the one belonging to Alhaji Waheed Bello at 63 of the same street, while the fire destroyed ceilings of the house of Apostle Dr. Femi Akinsola at No 1, Unity Street, destroying ceiling and windows of a house at 12 Morakinyo street belonging to Madam Arowoseso.
The destruction also affected four shops at 51, Cardoso street belonging to Alhaji K. A. Sanni and shop belonging to one Alhaja.
After his arraignment, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Abike Oluwasanmi, urged the court to oblige them a date to commence his trial.
Counsel to the defendant, Dele Adesina, SAN, did not oppose the trial.
He however pleaded to the court to release the defendant to him as legal practitioner, pending when his bail application will be formally heard by the court while promising to undertake and ensure his return to court whenever he is needed for trial.
In her ruling, Justice Ogala granted the request to release Alhaji Fasola on bail, while she adjourned the hearing of the bail application till April 14, 2022, and trial is to commence May 23, 2022.
