A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday, remanded one Ibrahim Muntari, 35, in the Ilesa Correctional Centre for allegedly causing the death of commuters in a road accident that occurred along the Ife-Ibadan Motorway.
Chronicle NG reported that five students of Osun State University, Osogbo, alongside other passengers, lost their lives in the accident that occurred last Sunday in Ikire, involving a bus that the defendant drove, heading towards the Ife end of the dual carriageway, and an 18-passenger bus, conveying the deceased going towards the Ibadan end.
The Osun varsity students killed in the road disaster were Olagbemide Olaoluwadotun, Funmilola Mary Olawuyi, Ogundare Oluwapelumi Rhoda, Ogundare Ayomide, and Farooq Suleiman.
The offender was charged before Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara on eight charges of reckless driving resulting in death, traffic rule violations, and driving without legal vehicle documents.
The offences were said to be contradictory to and punishable under Section 27 of RTA CAP 584 Laws of Nigeria, Section 18 (b) of CAP 115 Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, and Section 18 of Cap 146 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
The defendant, Muntari, pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by the police.
The prosecutor, Jacob Akintunde, stated that Muntari drove a bus with the registration number LAGOS EPE 796 VH on the public highway in a dangerous manner, resulting in the deaths of six people and injuries to four others.
However, the defence counsel, Shaibu Gomina, who had previously announced Mu’s appearance, disputed this.
