By Oluwatosin Maliki
On Thursday, security operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, arraigned Jerry Ironkwe, who allegedly crushed two female sweepers of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to death, namely; Folashade Odufuwa aged 65, and 60-year-old Ajoke Adefuye, in the Gbagada area of the state.
Quest Times gathered that the 45-year-old mechanic was charged to court to face trial as Magistrate L.Y. Balogun precided over the case at the Yaba Magistrate Court.
A three count charge was filed against the accused, bordering on reckless driving that led to the death of the two persons.
During the trial, police prosecutor, Chekwubeh Okeh, was holding a brief for Haruna Magaji; he told the court that the defendant committed the crime on November 13th, 2023, around 7.30 am at the Charley Boy Bus Stop, along Gbagada Expressway.
Furthermore, Okeh explained that the offences contravened and are punishable under Sections 18(1) and 20 of the Road Traffic Law, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2012.
Subsequently, the charges were read, “That you, Jerry Ironkwe, on November 13, 2023, around 7.30 am at Charley Boy Bus Stop, along the Gbagada Expressway, Lagos in the Yaba Magisterial District, being the driver in charge of one Honda Accord Saloon Car with Reg. No. EPE 984 DV, drove same in a dangerous manner to the public, without due care and attention, or reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(1) of the Road Traffic Law, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2012″.
“That you, Jerry Ironkwe, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, dangerously drove the same vehicle to the public and caused the death of one Folashade Odufuwa, aged 65 years old, drove the same vehicle to the public, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20 of the Road Traffic Law, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2012″.
“That you, Jerry Ironkwe, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, dangerously drove the same vehicle to the public and caused the death of one Ajoke Adefuye, aged 60 years old and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 20 of the Road Traffic Law, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2012.”
Afterwards, the defendant, Jerry, pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him.
Following his plea, the magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N1m alongside two responsible sureties in like sum.
However, she instructed the police to make a duplicate of the case file and send it to the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
Hence, magistrate, Balogun adjourned the case till December 13th, 2023, for DPP advice.
Recall, Quest Times reported on the two victims; Adefuye and Odufuwa who were hit by a car while carrying out their LAWMA duties and died on the spot.
Also, it was learnt in the court that the driver, Jerry, was not the original owner of the Honda Saloon which rammed into the innocent sweepers, but he was a mechanic paid to fix it.
Additionally, it was gathered that on the day of the accident, Jerry was being chased by criminals, and not by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), as the viral news had earlier reported.
The Ministry of Transportation had also released a statement on the same day stating that “No LASTMA officer was involved in the unfortunate incident,” while adding that anyone found guilty after the police investigation would be punished according to the law.