The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Driver

  • Driver accuses police, agency of extortion over ‘Lagos licence’

    Driver accuses police, agency of extortion over ‘Lagos licence’

    •‘We’re probing his allegation’

    An inter-state commercial bus driver has accused some policemen and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) of collecting N10,500 from him for not having a “Lagos State driver’s licence.”

    He claimed the incident occurred about 7am last Saturday around Cappa bus stop on the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.

    The driver’s 18-seater white Toyota commercial bus was heading for Benin, the Edo State capital, when he was allegedly arrested with his passengers.

    To operate in Lagos, commercial vehicle drivers are required to go through the drivers’ institute to obtain the driver permit.

    The owner will take the permit along with any other documents for the national driver’s licence.

    The driver, who simply identified himself as Chris, was arrested by the LASTMA officials led by a policeman identified simply as Friday with Force Number, 246623 and taken to Ilupeju Bypass where he was allegedly extorted.

    He said: “They demanded my Lagos State driver’s licence and I told them I did not have. I even told them that I had never heard about the existence of such, but they insisted, saying that if they should impound my bus and take it to their station, I would pay N100,000 before it would be released.

    “While the argument was going on, the passengers in my bus were complaining, advising me to settle them so that our journey to Edo State would not be delayed. I still did not want to comply but when the pressure from my passengers became so much, I had to negotiate with them and we finally agreed on N10,500.

    “It was the policeman that collected the money from me. I do not know when Lagos State introduced their own driver’s licence and which law says if a driver does not have it, he won’t ply Lagos roads. Governor Babatunde Fashola must address this issue”.

    LASTMA spokesperson, Bola Ajao said the allegation would be investigated, adding: “In LASTMA, we don’t condone indiscipline. We will act on this allegation.”

  • Driver, 34, docked for manslaughter

    The police on Friday arraigned a commercial driver, Alesanmi Olorunisola, 34, in a Magistrates’ Court in Okitipupa, Ondo State, for alleged dangerous driving and manslaughter.

    The accused, a resident of  No 6, Ademulegun Str., Ode Aye, Okitipupa, is standing trial on a two-count charge of dangerous driving and manslaughter.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused drove a Toyota Picnic vehicle marked Ondo BDR 51 AA dangerously on the Ore-Okitipupa highway.

    He said the alleged dangerous act  caused severe injuries to two women, Mrs Victoria Adelegan, 50, and Mrs Queen Olubolade, 42.

    Orogbemi said that the accused also killed two traders, Mrs Rebecca Omolomo, 50 and Mrs Dupe Ajao, 42, who were on their way to the  fish market in Igbokoda.

    The prosecutor added that the accused committed the offences on Jan. 20 at 4.30 a.m. on the Ore-Okitipupa highway.

    Orogbemi said that the offences committed contravened sections 5, 6 and 6 (2) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F13, Vol.VI, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,  2004.

    The Magistrate, Mr Olalekan Awodeyi, granted the accused bail in the sum of  N200,000  with two sureties in like sum.

    Awodeyi, who said the sureties must reside within the court’s  jurisdiction,  adjourned the case till April 23 for hearing.

  • Driver needs N5m to survive gun attack

    Driver needs N5m to survive gun attack

    When Babalola Mukaila, a commercial driver, left his house on the November 7 last year, he was bubbling with life. He bid his wife, children and family members farewell but did not know that he would not return hail and hearty that day.

    Mukaila used to ply his trade along Ilorin-Oyo-Ibadan road. On that same day he was unlucky to have run into a gang of armed robbers between Oyo and Ibadan, who shot at his vehicle. In the process the driver sustained extensive bullet wounds on the face.

    The victim, who is currently recuperating at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) requires a sum of N5 million for face surgery in an Indian Hospital.

    On the hospital bed he urged public-spirited Nigerians to rescue him from the claws of death, saying “please come to my aid. The agony and pains I’m going through are beyond what I can bear. My life is at stake as I urgently need God’s favour and kind assistance of well-meaning Nigerians to free me from this present precarious situation.”

    Recounting his ordeal, the 50 year old Mukaila said on the unfortunate day “I was shot in the face through the nose and mouth and lost consciousness for three months. I was getting better but with deformed face and mouth as all my upper teeth were badly affected. This made it difficult for me to feed myself without assistance of people.

    “I was subsequently referred from the UITH to an Indian Hospital where my face and teeth could be restored, that is why I am seeking financial assistance from well-meaning Nigerians to please sponsor my trip for proper medical attention.”

    Mukaila, who hails from Offa, Offa Local Government, lamented that he had expended about N2 million to bounce back to normal life but to no avail.

    He said “my family members have tried. The transport union members have been footing my bills at the UITH, UCH and other private hospitals.”

    The letter of referral signed by Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at UITH, Dr M. F. Adeyemo reads: “The above named patient was admitted on the 7th November, 2013 at the Accident and Emergency unit on account of gunshot injuries by armed robbers. He sustained multiple maxillofacial injuries which involved the nasoethmoidal complex, part of the lower eyelid, the philtrum of the upper lip, hard palate and the upper teeth sparing the soft palate.

    “Patient was fully conscious and alert at presentation, loss of blood could not be ascertained. Patient was however stabilized at presentation and explore under anesthesia via trachesotomy.

    “The exploration under general anesthesia involved complete debridement and excision of necrotic tissue of the entry point of the bullet (the right cheek), excision of the partially avulsed hard palate, nasal septum, part of the brain tissue and extraction of the upper right molar.

    “The entry wound on the right cheek was dressed and allowed to granulate, the palatal defect was packed with surfratulle for few days and finally restored with obuturator which was suspended with circum zygomatic wiring bilaterally.

    “However, patient’s facial appearance and feeding habit could not be restored with prosthesis.

    “We are hereby, referring the patient to you based on the request of the patient for further management.”

    In their response to the referral, authorities of the Fortis Hospitals, New Delhi, India said “Mr. Babalola Mukaila needs to come for facial reconstruction with flaps and bone grafts at our facility centre in India.”

    The hospitals in their reply signed by Senior Consultant, Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr Rashmi Taneja “said we have found most suitable treatment plan advised by the top and most renowned specialist in India for you, on very affordable price.

    “He will require to stay in the hospital for one week and one month in India. Hospital cost estimate for above treatment is likely to be between 10,000 and 12,000 US Dollars.

    “The above package cost includes hospital stay above, nursing care, surgeon fee, medicines and consumables, patient’s food and airport pick up etc.”

    Victim’s contact phone numbers are 08053047375 and 08036483048

    Account Name: Babalola Mukaila, Account number 0124438139, Bank’s name is GTB

  • A day in the life of a commercial driver

    An early riser, a typical commercial driver hits the road as from 5:00 am to latch on the early morning rush of passengers going to their offices, shops, pupils going to school as well as those traveling from one city to another.

    Tope Oladele, a commercial bus driver at Sango, Ibadan, who has been in the business for over 15 years, shares his own experience: ”I always wake up by 5am and sleep around 12pm. As a father of three and husband of one wife, I don’t mess around with other women unlike most of my colleagues. I love my wife and she loves me too. She is very submissive. But by the time I am leaving in the morning, my children are still sleeping and they are also already sleeping when I return from work in the evening because I return late. But my wife takes care of them while I work hard to keep the family going.”

    According to the 38-year old transporter, most of his colleagues have at least two to four wives, while majority of them are also keeping mistresses outside simply because they don’t have time to spend with their wives.

    “One of the reasons for marrying many wives by commercial drivers is because they earn daily income. Women love money and after impregnating them, most of these drivers do not take responsibility for the child. Instead, they will tell the mother to take care of the child while they look around to flirt and impregnate another woman,” Oladele said.

    He explained that 90 percent of the bus drivers do not own the vehicle.  Using his case as an example, Oladele said:” I am not the owner of this bus even though it is giving me mechanical problems daily. I still deliver at least N1,500 to the owner daily while the bus conductor will take N500 and most times I will have at least N1500 to myself also.”

    On how the union leaders administer the levies, Oladele said they give part of it to the police to prevent them from harassing them, adding that they also give a portion to the park cleaners while another percentage goes to the purse of the union and the leaders.

  • Driver arraigned for alleged theft of N12m goods

    A36-YEAR-OLD driver, Abayomi Omojowo, has been arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing goods worth N12 million.

    Omojowo of No. 10, Akinde Street, Igando, Lagos, is standing trial for conspiracy and robbery.

    The Prosecutor, Inspector Roman Unuigbe, told the court that the defendant and others at large, allegedly robbed a Mack truck with registration number, Lagos, XW 743 GGE, worth N4 million, property of Mr Wale Olayemi.

    He said the accused also stole 13 tons of 15mm iron rods worth N8 million.

    He said Omojovwo and the others committed the offence at 12.30 a.m on July 4, this year at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes, Section 295 and 409, Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    But, Omojowo pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Olufunke Hamzat, granted the accused bail of N200, 000, with two sureties.

    She adjourned the case till November 11, this year.

     

  • Driver to die for killing FRSC special marshall

    An Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, has confirmed an earlier Rivers State High Court’s ruling of July 15, 1999 sentencing a bus driver, Mr. Emeka Mbachu, to death for killing a Special Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Clifford Azubuike, while on patrol on November 3, 1995.

    FRSC in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by its Public Education Officer, Jonas Agwu, said Justice E. Eko in his lead judgment, dismissed the appeal filed by Mr. Mbachu against his earlier conviction and sentenced him to death.

    The statement said: “Justice Eko stated that ‘on the whole, there is no substance in the appeal. In my candid view, the appeal deserves to be, and it is hereby dismissed in its entirety

    “’The conviction and sentence of the appellant in the charge No.PHC/3C/96 for murder punishable with death on July 15, 1999 are hereby affirmed.

    “’In the same line, the other two justices in the panel, namely Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme (JCA) and Justice Stephen Jonah Adah (JCA) in entirety concurred with the reasoning and the conclusion of the lead judgment,’” he added.

    The statement recalled that on November 3, 1995 at 6:45pm at the 1st Artillery Junction, on Aba/Port Harcourt Highway, Port Harcourt, Mr. Clifford Azubuike (the deceased) was on a routine traffic control duty.

    “The deceased was checking vehicles and controlling the traffic with other special marshals.

    “The driver, Mr. Mbachu, drove his blue bus from Oyigbo (Aba) end of the highway to where the special marshalls were.

    “The deceased with other special marshals controlling the traffic at the road junction, noticed that the vehicle driven by the driver had only one headlamp.

    “The deceased, who was about to book the driver, drew his attention to the defective headlamp.

  • Outrage as policeman shoots bus driver

    DATELINE was Thursday April 2, 2013. A mob was in a hot chase for a thief who allegedly stole tires in Ile-Epo bus stop along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. In the middle of the pandemonium, a police inspector joined the mob but took a wrong approach toward apprehending the thief. In a fit of fury, he squeezed the trigger but the bullets allegedly missed the target and instead sent an innocent commuter bus driver, Ibrahim Fagbohun, to his early grave. He was shot while his fingers were still on the steering.

    The 29-year-old driver was rushed to the nearby Orile-Agege General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by doctors while the policeman is currently detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

    Recounting the incident, Ademola Alao, a colleague of the deceased bus driver, said:” The errant policeman, attached to Elere Police Station, Agege, was passing by with some colleagues in a patrol vehicle when he saw some people chasing a man accused of stealing tires. He then shot indiscriminately but his shots missed the thief and instead hit Ibrahim on the forehead.”

    It was gathered that the detained police inspector was on patrol with other policemen when they sighted some drivers who were trying to apprehend a man for allegedly stealing two tyres.

    Describing the incident as unfortunate, a colleague, Rahmon Okanlawon, said: “The killing of Ibrahim was rather sad. We were trying to apprehend the man who stole our tyres when a police patrol team came. The Inspector jumped down and started shooting indiscriminately into the air. The bullet hit one of our members, Ibrahim Fagbohun, on the forehead and he died immediately. When we rushed him to the hospital, he was confirmed dead. He is the breadwinner of his family and his wife was only three months ago delivered of a baby girl.

    “I was also arrested by the policemen from Elere and taken to the station where I was detained for several hours despite the fact that it was an officer from that station that killed our colleague.”

    A relative of the deceased, who spoke in confidence, explained that the late bus driver was on the first trip of the day when his life was gruesomely terminated.

    “He was just on the first trip of the day when he met his untimely death in the hands of the policeman. He had two kids, Rasheed, 4, and Nimota, three months old. There is need to prevent situations whereby innocent persons are killed by policemen who ordinarily should protect citizens. The police officer who killed him was irrational in the use of fire arms and should be penalised for his indiscretion.”

    Commenting on the murder, Lagos Police Command Spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the arrest of the Inspector, adding that he had been detained at the SCID for interrogation.

    “We have arrested the Inspector and he has been detained at the SCID. We are interrogating him and if he is found guilty, he will be prosecuted,”

  • Driver arraigned for allegedly abducting a police officer

    The police on Wednesday arraigned a 25-year-old driver, Dauda Salisu, in a Gwagwalada Upper Area Court in the FCT for allegedly abducting a police officer.

    The police prosecutor, Cpl. Iliya Maji, alleged that Salisu, of Sabon Toto in Nasarawa State, committed the offence on April 7.

    He said the matter was reported at the Area Command Police Station in Gwagwalada by one Akor Monday.

    Maji said the accused abducted the complainant in a green Golf car with Reg. No. AE 697 NSW and drove off to an unknown destination.

    “The incident happened when the accused contravened traffic rules on the Abaji-Toto road and he was arrested by the officer,’’ he said.

    The prosecutor said Salisu intentionally refused to follow the officer into the police station and sped off to an unknown destination.

    He said the accused was later pursued and apprehended, and that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 273 of the Penal Code.

    Section 273 stipulates that whoever kidnaps or abduct any person will be punished with imprisonment for a term which extends to 10 years and will also be liable to fine.

     

    Salisu, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence, and his counsel, Mr Ibrahim Husseini, urged the court to grant him bail.

    Husseini said the matter before the court was “a mere allegation and the accused remains innocent until the contrary was proven’’.

    He said the accused would not jump bail or tamper with police investigation, adding that he was prepared to produce a reasonable surety.

    “Salisu has no previous criminal record and I urge the court to grant him bail in liberal terms,’’ the counsel said.

    The presiding judge, Alhaji Babangida Hassan, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 and a surety in like sum.

    Hassan said the surety must be resident within the FCT and must be a civil servant or own a landed property.

    He said the surety’s passport should be attached to the bail bond and that the prosecutor should verify the address of the surety.

    Hassan added that if the accused failed to keep to the terms of the court, he should be remanded in prison.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hassan later adjourned the case to May 27 for further hearing.