Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court, has struck out the criminal charge against owner of Fash Oil, Alhaji Waidi Raheem Fashola, popularly known as Larafash.
The charge was struck out following the death of the defendant.
However, CASEFILE gathered from an impeccable source that he died of Diabetes.
Recall that the Lagos State Government dragged him to court following the explosion incident at his gas plant leading to the death of at least seven persons, which destroyed several houses and shops in the Baruwa Ipaja area, Ayobo-Ipaja local government area of Lagos State.
At the scheduled date for trial in the matter on Monday, Mr. Ademola Adeshina, announced appearance for the defendant informing the judge of the death of the defendant, via a letter communicated to the court, CASEFILE gathered.
Justice Ogala while perusing some documents before her, asked the lawyer, “What happened to him?”
He replied, “We wrote a letter and we even attached pictures and other documents” he said.
The judge said, “We send our condolences.”
State Counsel, Abike Oluwasanmi, acknowledged service of the letter and expressed condolence too.
“In the circumstance, we apply that the case be struck out, Mr. Adeshina told the court.
The judge in response said, “Honestly, we extend our condolences too and she gave this order, ” The case is struck out.”
CASEFILE had reported that the 64-year- old businessman gas plant gutted fire in 2020 killing where some residents were killed and properties destroyed.
He was facing a-30-count criminal charge and had earlier been granted bail over 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.
He was about being prosecuted 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, 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.
