A 28-year-old driver has been remanded in a correctional facility for allegedly crushing a final-year student of the Department of Foreign Languages, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Esu Ema, to death.
Ema was crushed to death in front of the OAU gate on her way to school to submit her final project in August 2024.
The driver, Lasisi Sodiq, was charged to court on a five-count of driving against traffic laws, reckless driving, driving without a licence, manslaughter and driving without a certificate of insurance.
The police prosecutor, ASP Jaco Akintunde, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on August 22nd 2024 at 10:30 AM opposite OAU main campus, under the pedestrian bridge along Ife/Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife.
He explained that Sodiq 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 the Esu Ema, a student of OAU, Ile-Ife.
Akintunde also said that the defendant drove dangerously and without a certificate of insurance.
The prosecutor added 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.
The offences also contravene Sections 21(b), 27, 139 and 142 of the Road Traffic Act, Cap 548, Laws of Nigeria, 2015.
Meanwhile, Sodiq pleaded not guilty to the alleged offences as his counsel, Mr Leke Dada made an oral bail application on the most liberal term.
Meanwhile, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs Abosede Sarumi, ordered that the defendant be remanded at a correctional centre while ordering the defendant’s counsel to file a formal bail application
Sarumi adjourned the case until October 2nd 2024 for mention.