MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 40-year old truck driver, Mohammed Abubakar, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly hiting a LASTMA officer while performing lawful duty on the highway and his leg was amputated for him to survive.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 4th February 2025 at about 1400hrs, along Agidingbi Road by Omole Traffic Light, Ojodu Ikeja, Lagos, where the LASTMA Officer, Oguntimileyin Babatunde, was performing his lawful duty.
According to the Police, the victim was performing his lawful duty when the truck driver was coming and he stopped him over an undisclosed traffic offence on the highway.
However, instead of Abubakar to stop, he continued moving and crushed the LASTMA official’s leg and the motorcycle in the process injuring Babatunde seriously on his leg.
He was rushed to the hospital and the Doctor recommended that his leg should be cut off otherwise he would not survive because of the injury he sustained.
The matter was reported to the Police and the truck driver was arrested. After interrogation and being found culpable, he was charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charge read:
“That you, Mohammed Abubakar ‘M’ on 4th February, 2025, at about 1400hrs, along Agidingbi Road by Omole Traffic Light, Ojodu Ikeja in the Lagos Magisterial District, being driver of DAF 85 CF Long Truck with registration number KTG 33 ZZ, drove recklessly and dangerously on the highway and hit one Oguntimileyin Babatunde ‘M’ LASTMA officer/rider of Boxer unregistered Motorcycle. As a result, he sustained fracture on his right leg that led to amputation of same leg and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 51[1] Road Transport Section Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2018.”
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol J.Ikhyere, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 5th March, 2025, for hearing while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.