LAGOS, Nigeria – A Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, driver, Osibanjo Oluwaseun, was arraigned in court on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, charged with involuntary manslaughter and grievous harm after crashing into a moving train in Ikeja, Lagos State, leading to the tragic death of six people on March 9, 2023.
The Lagos State Government brought the case against Oluwaseun before Justice Oyindamola Ogala at an Ikeja High Court. The driver is now facing 16 counts in relation to the fatal accident.
Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions, stated that Oluwaseun had negligently caused the deaths by ignoring warning signals and colliding with the oncoming train. “The BRT driver negligently killed the victims by ignoring warning signals and ran into an oncoming train,” said Martins.
In addition to the six fatalities, the defendant is accused of negligently inflicting grievous harm on 10 other passengers aboard the bus.
Oluwaseun pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts. The court has adjourned the case until May 26, with further hearings scheduled for June 16 and June 28, 2023, when the trial is set to commence.
