Recklessness: Killer UBA bullion van driver has no driving licence - Police

Source: PUNCH - Nigeriafilms.com

The police say Abayomi Komolafe, the man who drove the bullion van that killed a 19-year-old carpentry apprentice, Gbenga Okesola, last Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State did not have a driving licence at the time of the incident.

The police on Monday told the Magistrate's Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta that the 31-year-old driver also drove the vehicle without possessing other necessary documents such as vehicle's licence, insurance and the Road Worthiness Certificate.

He was charged with reckless driving and manslaughter.

The police said he was hired by the United Bank for Africa to drive the bullion van when the incident happened.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Sunday Eigbejiale, said the accused, who drove a Mercedes Benz bullion van with number plate, PF 281 SPY, drove the vehicle in a reckless manner and caused the death of Okesola.

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He said, “The accused drove the vehicle without possessing the necessary documents such as driver's and vehicle licences, insurance papers and the Road Worthiness Certificate.”

He said the offences contravened sections 18, 7 (1) 14 (1), 25 (2) (b) (p) of the Road Traffic Law, Vol 4, Law of the Ogun State, 2006 and Section 31 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Third Party Insurance Act.

The accused, whose plea was not taken by the court, was represented by Isreal Shogbamu.

Shogbamu applied for the bail of the accused in liberal terms and assured the court that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Anthony Araba, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum and ordered that the bullion van be left on the court premises.

He adjourned the case till June 5, 2015.

Our correspondent, who was in the court, reported that no fewer than 10 other suspects, who were arrested at the scene of the incident by the police were also brought to court for breach of the peace.

Among them was the boss of the deceased, Saliu Aremu.

He was said to have rushed to the scene of the accident when the news of his apprentice's death got to him.

PUNCH Metro had reported that the bullion van hit Okesola, who was riding a motorcycle and he fell under it.

The vehicle reportedly dragged him on the road for about five kilometres, before it stopped.

He was said to have been dumped by the roadside by the policemen who escorted the vehicle.

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