The Lagos State Government has revealed the identity of the victims of the Ojuelegba truck accident and ordered the immediate prosecution of the owner and driver of the truck involved in the accident that claimed the lives of nine persons.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the identity of the victims revealed are Miss Blessing Isioma “F”, Abdurahman Okoya Sunday “M”, Felix John Ifeanyi “M” 40 years and Olatokunbo Basirat King “F’ 49 years.
However, the identity of the other five victims also involved in the accident was not confirmed.
According to a statement released by Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information & Strategy, the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered the prosecution of the owner and driver of the truck after receiving an interim report of the incident.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, according to the statement, directed the police to speed up their investigation of the matter.
“Besides, he has given the following directives: the driver of the truck and the owner, who are in police custody, must be prosecuted; ministry of Transportation and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) should meet urgently to find a lasting solution to the menace of falling trucks; and all the laws governing the operations of trucks and related vehicles must be enforced with more vigour and diligence,” the statement reads.
According to the statement, the incident of 29th January, 2023, is one too many and that it shows the irresponsibility of owners and drivers of such articulated vehicles who under the law should care for other road users.
“The Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for large containers that fall off trucks and injure or kill citizens, who are going about their lawful businesses.
“The driver (Sodiq Okanlawon) and the owner (Wasiu Lekan) of a container which killed three (3) people on the 26th July, 2020, on Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Ilasamaja, were prosecuted and convicted on the 28th February, 2022, and sentenced to life imprisonment by Hon. Justice Okikiolu Ighile.
“The State Government will, in a similar manner, ensure that the driver and the owner of the truck involved in the January 29th incident are put on trial for the needless death of our dear citizens.
“This, we hope, will send a strong message to all those who have no regard for other people’s lives that Lagos will not condone their recklessness. They must be stopped, with the strong backing of our laws, because their actions offend our avowed commitment to safety and decency,” it added.
