Court remands driver over reckless driving, killing of FRSC official, one other in Ondo

A commercial bus driver, Blessing Ovie, has been remanded in a correctional facility by a Magistrates’ Court in Araromi Obu, Odigbo Local Area of Ondo State, for killing a Federal Road Safety Commission officer, FRSC.

On May 1, 2022, the defendant, who was remanded at the Okitipupa Correctional Centre, allegedly drove recklessly along the Lagos/Benin expressway at Ajebamidele, Araromi Obu axis, running over the FRSC official and another person.

Ovie was accused with three counts of offenses while driving a Toyota Hiace bus with the number plate Bayelsa NEV 618 AA.

According to the police prosecutor, Yekini Muideen, the accused’s reckless driving resulted in the deaths of FRSC official Jimoh Albukarim Abiola and one Tunde Thomas.

Sections 6, 18(1), and 39(3) of the Federal Highway Act (Cap F 13 Vol. VI Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004) are allegedly violated.

Uche Abangu, the defense attorney, asked the court to grant his client bail on the most liberal terms possible, offering to provide dependable surety.

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He requested an adjournment as well as a resolution between the deceased’s relatives and the defendant.

The prosecution, Sgt. Muideen, who opposed the bail motion, indicated that the defendant’s negligence resulted in the deaths of two people.

The defense counsel’s bail plea was denied by Magistrate O. F Akinlolu in his ruling.

As a result, he ordered the defendant’s remand at the Okitipupa correctional center, with the case adjourned until May 26, 2022.