The driver of the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, that crashed into a moving train at Ladipo area of Lagos, Oluwaseun Osibanjo, had been remanded in Nigeria Correctional Service on Tuesday.
The driver was remanded by Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
Recall that the driver crashed into a moving train, causing grievous harm and involuntary manslaughter to the passengers.
Osibanjo is to be remanded pending the filing and hearing of his bail application.
Osibanjo was arraigned on a 16-count-charge bordering on involuntary manslaughter and grievous harm.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecution led by the Director of Department of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, prayed the court for a trial date.
Dr. Martins told the court that the defendant committed the offences on March 9, 2023 at 7:00 a.m on Shogunle Level crossing, Ikeja.
He submitted that the defendant ignored warning signals and ran into an incoming train and negligently killed one Oreoluwa Aina, Tolulope Emmanuel, Olayinka Rokosu, Ganiyat Salaudeen, Lasisi Isah and Victoria Dada.
The prosecution also said that the defendant inflicted grievous harm on Bolanle Ogunbunmi, Ayomide Shobowale, Sarah Adeleye.
Others were Abiola Olarewaju, Esther Ekundayo, Samuel Fagbola, Ismail Bakare.
Still others were Ayuib Arowoye, Rilwan Abdulazeez and Shiyanbola Murtala.
The Defence Counsel, 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 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 judge said the court did not have the medical report of the defendant.
“The court does 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.
The prosecution, however, applied that the defendant be remanded and if there was a need for him to get medical attention, the correctional service would provide same.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravened Sections 244 and 245 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Justice Ogala adjourned the case until May 26 for the commencement of trial.
