Driver, 30, Arraigned In Ogba Court For Overloading Company Truck, Causing N60m Damage

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE 

A 30-year-old truck driver, Havilah Manasseh, has been arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting at Ogba in the Ikeja Magisterial District of Lagos State over alleged wilful overloading of company truck which resulted in overturning and damage valued at N60 million.

Manasseh was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on wilful damage and reckless and negligent act causing damage to property by the police.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Commissioner of Police Vs Havilah Manasseh ‘M’ aged 30 years, the defendant on the 27th day of July, 2026 at KM 469 Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Abule-Egba, Lagos, being a driver employed by Fafem Haulage Company and entrusted with custody and operation of the company’s truck with registration No: AKM 736 XG for the purpose of conveying goods belonging to its client from Lagos to Ado-Ekiti did wilfully and unlawfully load the said truck with unauthorized additional goods beyond the permitted capacity of the truck without the authority of his employer and thereby caused the truck to overturn resulting in substantial damage to the truck and the goods belonging to the company client valued at approximately N60,000,000.00, Sixty Million Naira only.

The charge stated that the alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

Count II stated that the defendant on the same date and place while in charge of a truck with registration No: AKM 736 XG belonging to Fafem Haulage Company and conveying goods belonging to its client did recklessly and negligently overload the said truck by introducing unauthorized goods without the knowledge of his employer knowing or having reason to know that such conduct was likely to endanger the safe operation of the vehicle and his said reckless and negligent act resulted in the truck overturning and the consequent damage to the truck and the client’s goods valued at approximately N60,000,000.00 Sixty Million Naira only.

The prosecution stated that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 251(g) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The matter was brought before the Magistrate Court sitting at Ogba where the Ikeja Magisterial District holds its sittings. The case was presided over by Magistrate Mrs. O. Kasunmu for arraignment and bail application.

The prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji, told the court that the defendant was arrested by officers of Oke-Odo Division following a report lodged by Fafem Haulage Company through CSP Ajayi Adebayo and Inspector Onen Dorcas, that their driver had overloaded the company truck with unauthorized goods leading to accident and huge loss at Abule-Egba.

He said the overturned truck with registration number AKM 736 XG was recovered at KM 469 Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Abule-Egba with extensive damage to both the vehicle and the client goods estimated at N60 million.

When the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts.

SP Ademigbuji asked the court to remand the defendant in correctional facility pending trial and for the matter to proceed for hearing.

Counsel to the defendant, however, applied for his bail in liberal terms, assuring the court that he would not jump bail and would provide reliable sureties.

In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs. O. Kasunmu granted the defendant bail with two sureties who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.

She said the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court and must present verifiable addresses and documents.

The Magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Correctional Center at Kirikiri town pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.

The case was adjourned to a later date for mention and trial.

However, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the Court of competent jurisdiction.