BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—A Lagos State High Court has sentenced Okpara Kingsley Onyekachi, a truck driver, to life imprisonment for the death of a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer during duty.
The officer, Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant Ajomale, was on duty when a container-laden truck, driven by Onyekachi at excessive speed, collided with a stationary mini truck flagged down for inspection.
Investigations established that the driver failed to exercise due care, causing a collision that fatally injured Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant Ajomale.
The court found the actions of the driver to be reckless, negligent, and unlawful. It rejected any claim of an accident and convicted him of involuntary manslaughter, sentencing him to life imprisonment under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,” Mohammed said.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the judgement as a strong warning to reckless drivers, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles.
He stressed that the ruling serves as a strong warning to all motorists, especially operators of heavy-duty vehicles, that reckless driving and negligence will no longer be tolerated on Nigerian roads.
“Whenever a life is lost due to gross negligence, particularly that of an officer performing lawful duties, the law will be enforced without compromise,” Mohammed said.
