The Lagos State administration has decided to prosecute Oluwaseun Osinbajo, the driver of the tragic staff bus that struck a moving train, killing at least six people and injuring many more.
A prima facie case of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm has been set up against Osinbajo, according to the Director of Public Affairs in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Grace Alo, who provided an update on the tragic occurrence Friday evening.
In the early hours of 9 March, a government staff bus collided with a train at the PWD railway crossing at Ikeja, dragging the vehicle with its passengers along the tracks until it came to a stop at near Sogunle, a suburb of Ikeja, the state capital.
The horrific incident resulted in six fatalities with about 96 others with various degrees of injuries.
Osibanjo was apprehended and handed over to the Police for investigation and possible prosecution. At the end of the investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for further statutory actions.
According to Alo, “upon the receipt and review of the case file by the DPP (Director of Public Prosecution), a prima facie case of manslaughter, and grievous body harm was disclosed against the driver of the staff bus.
”Accordingly, he is to be charged with six counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of grievous body harm”.
The director explained that both offences are contrary to Sections 224 and 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
“The Office of the DPP will immediately file charges against the driver. However, his arraignment before the High Court of Lagos shall be delayed until he is fully fit to stand trial, having sustained serious injuries during the accident”, Alo stated.
