Court to sentence artist for causing death of two

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State has reserved March 23 for sentencing of an artist, Olaotan Afuwape, who pleaded guilty to reckless driving and causing the death of two pedestrians.
The Magistrate, E. Kubeinje, remanded Afuwape, 43, in Kirikiri Prisons after he admitted that he committed the offence.
Afuwape, a resident of 1, Baba Ijesha Street, Abule-Egba, near Lagos, was arraigned on charges bordering on reckless driving and causing death.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Essien Ndarake, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 3 at U-Turn in Abule-Egba.
Ndarake said the accused drove his vehicle in a reckless manner and caused the death of two pedestrians, whose names and addresses were not yet unknown.
He said: “The accused drove his vehicle on a public high way in a dangerous way and caused accident that claimed the lives of two people.
“He also caused serious injuries to one Mrs. Titilayo Adekunle and Mr. Lukmon Tajudeen, who are still critically ill at hospital.”
Ndarake said the accused was on high speed as he was competing with a Bus Rapid Transit vehicle beside him.
He said: “The accused was driving fast because he does not want the BRT bus to overtake him.
“In the process, he lost control and knocked down two people who were standing at the culvert to board a bus.
“The victims died on the spot and others were rushed to the hospital.”
The offences, Ndarake said, contravened Sections 167 of the Road Traffic Act of Lagos State.
NAN.