Female ‘learner’ driver arraigned for killing corps member

Abeokuta-  The police in Ogun State on Thursday arraigned a 52-year-old woman, Kehinde Olubanke, before an Abeokuta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly crushing a 28-year-old youth corps member, Egbe Ogbu, with her car.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Anabel Emmanuel, told the court that the accused committed the alleged offence on January 8 while driving along the Ogun Secretariat Complex Road, Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta.

The prosecutor said the accused, who was driving in a Nissan Almera car, sped dangerously and caused the death of the youth corps member serving in the state.

The prosecutor added that though the accused drove the car as a “learner” with a permit, she failed to do so in company with a licensed driver beside her as stipulated by the law.

The prosecutor therefore opposed the accused person’s application for bail, arguing that she should rather be charged for murder because the alleged offence was contrary to and punishable under sections 325 and 18 Vol 4 and 19 (12) (iii) Road Traffic Regulations Vol 4 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.

But the accused, Olubanke, who was not represented by a counsel pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter preferred against her.

She said the incident occurred because the late corps member who was so engrossed in the usage of his BlackBerry phone while crossing the road forgot himself completely and suddenly strayed in front of her moving car.

“Ogbu was busy pinging on the road; I did not know when he got in front of my car. I have been driving for over eight months now and I have been very careful,” she said.

The Magistrate, Matins Akinyemi, in his ruling said though the case was pathetic, it would still be treated as manslaughter and not murder because there was no motive behind the offence.

“It is a very sad thing, particularly for the family of the boy who would cease being a corps member in a couple of months,” the magistrate said.

The court therefore granted bail to the accused in the sum of N 200,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned further hearing till March 7.