Court remands driver for allegedly crushing OAU student to death

An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun on Monday remanded a driver, Lasisi Sodiq, in a correctional facility, for allegedly causing the death of an Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student.

Sodiq, 28, was charged with driving against traffic law, reckless driving, driving without licence, manslaughter and driving without certificate of insurance.

In a bench ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Abosede Sarumi, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre, pending bail application.

She also ordered the defence counsel, Mr Leke Dada, to file a formal application for his client’s bail.

Sarumi adjourned the case until Oct. 2 for mention.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Akintunde Jacob, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Aug. 22, at 10.30 a.m., opposite OAU main campus, under pedestrian bridge Ife/Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife.

Jacob said that the defendant drove a Lexus Car with Registration No. ABJ 427 LQ on a public highway, without adherence to traffic laws.

He added that the defendant drove recklessly and caused the death of late Esu Ema, a student of OAU, Ile-Ife.

Jacob also said that the defendant drove dangerously and without certificate of insurance.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Section 18 Cap 146. Vol 2, Laws of Osun and Section 7 of the Road Traffic Law, Vol 6, Cap 115, Laws of Osun, 2002.

He said that the offences also contravened Sections 21(b), 27, 139 and 142 of Road Traffic Act, Cap 548, Laws of Nigeria, 2015.

The Defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.