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Lagos state government files manslaughter charges against driver who crashed BRT into train

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A Lagos state high court sitting in Ikeja has remanded Osibanjo Oluwaseun, the driver of the BRT bus that collided with a train.

On Tuesday, the Lagos government arraigned Oluwaseun on a 16-count charge bordering on involuntary manslaughter and grievous harm.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

BACKGROUND

On March 9, a train collided with a Lagos state staff bus conveying workers in the Shogunle area of Oshodi, Lagos.

Witnesses at the scene said the bus was attempting to cross the rail track when an oncoming train rammed into it and dragged the bus from Shogunle to the PWD area of Ikeja.

Two passengers died at the scene while four others were declared dead at the different hospitals.

Reacting to the accident, Fidet Okhiria, managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), said the driver is to be blamed for the accident.

However, the BRT driver said the vehicle had a mechanical fault while asking for forgiveness from the families of the victims

THE COURT CASE

During the trial on Tuesday, Babajide Martins, director of public prosecution, said the driver ignored warning signals.

Martins said the driver “negligently killed” Oreoluwa Aina, Tolulope Emmanuel, Olayinka Rokosu, and Ganiyat Salaudeen due to the collision with the train.

The prosecution counsel said the action of the driver inflicted bodily injuries on some passengers of the train.

He asked the court to remand the defendant to a correctional facility and prayed for a new date for trial.

The counsel added that the alleged offences committed by the BRT driver contravened the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

However, Lekan Egberongbe, the defence counsel, appealed to the court to remand the defendant in police custody due to 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,” counsel said.

In her ruling, Oyindamola Ogala, the trial judge, said the court did not have the medical report of the defendant, adding that it should be presented to prison officials.

“If the custodial centre is served with the necessary medical report of the defendant, he should be given proper medical attention,” the judge said.

The case was adjourned to May 26 for the commencement of trial.

Crime

Thieves cart away cows meant for church harvest celebration

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Suspected thieves have carted away two cows from the premises of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Testimony Parish in the Egbeda area of Oyo state.

In a post published on its Facebook page, the church said the stolen cows, bought at N1.9 million, were meant for its annual adult harvest thanksgiving celebration.

The incident happened on November 11 as the church prepared for the celebration slated for November 17.

After days of searching for the missing cows, the church solicited for financial contributions to buy new cows for the harvest celebration.

“Dear Celestians and The General public, This 2 Huge Cows was stolen where it was Tied in The Church Premises at CCC Testimony parish Elerumoke Area, Egbeda, Iyana Ajia and its meant for slaughter for the 9th adult harvest thanksgiving of the church coming up this Sunday 17th November 2024,” the church wrote on Facebook.

“We hereby solicit for your prayer for quick recovery of this harvest thanksgiving sacrificial materials.

“Anybody with useful information on how to recover these cows or any means of assistance to make the harvest thanksgiving a beautiful one should contact the parish shepherd.”

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Crime

NDLEA arrests businessman for smuggling cocaine through ingestion

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the arrest of a businessman caught with a large quantity of cocaine.

Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed the arrest on Sunday via his X account, accompanied by a video displaying the seized contraband.

The businessman, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly ingested a substantial quantity of cocaine in an attempt to avoid detection.

Babafemi wrote, “Detty December: Before you swallow those drugs, please remember that the new @ndlea_nigeria has the capacity and capability to catch you.

“The businessman who excreted this amount of cocaine will not only spend Christmas behind bars but also risks a life sentence at the end of his trial. Beware!”

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UK teenager risks 20 years in Dubai prison for sex with 17-year-old girl

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An 18-year-old British boy has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old girl in Dubai.

Detained in Dubai, a group of UAE legal experts, said the teenager was on holiday with his parents when he met the girl — who is now 18 — at the same hotel.

The teenagers who are both from London were said to have made plans to continue their romance when they returned to the UK.

The group, which campaigns to help people it says have suffered injustice in the UAE, said the young man was charged because the girl’s mother found their chats and pictures back in the UK.

It was gathered that the woman subsequently contacted police in Dubai and he was arrested.

The boy however claimed he was unaware that the girl was younger than him when they met. The teenager also disclosed that he was in police custody for three days and was unable to contact his parents.

“We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict,” he told Detained in Dubai.

“My parents knew about our relationship but she couldn’t tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.

“When she left, I couldn’t wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door. They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn’t tell me why. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.”

The teenager, it is understood, could face up to two decades in prison owing to Dubai’s strict laws regarding sex outside marriage.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of the campaign group, said Dubai recently legalised out-of-wedlock sex for tourists but “still hosts a strict Islamic legal system”.

“Sex outside marriage is legal for tourists but only if both parties are over 18. The girl was just a few months younger than Marcus and he didn’t know that at the time,” Stirling said.

“Since his arrest, she has turned 18. This is not something Dubai should be prosecuting.

“Parents will be scared to take their older teenagers on vacation with them where they could end up losing their lives over behaviour that’s completely legal in their own countries.”

The teenager and his family have called on foreign secretary David Lammy, their local MP, to intervene in the case.

The teenager is no longer being held in a police cell but is unable to leave the country, with his family facing bills of £2,000 for Airbnb accommodation until his case is resolved.

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