Driver, owner of vehicle that killed Flying Officer Arotile arraigned

By ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Kaduna

The Police have arraigned the driver and owner of the vehicle that killed Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, in a crash at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna.

The duo was arraigned before a Kaduna Magistrate Court on four count charges of causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, driving without drivers licence and driving without authorisation of the owner, and one count charged of negligent conduct while causing danger to person and property.

The suspects, Nehmiah Adejo and David Adejo, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, were however granted bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Benjamin, after hearing arguments from counsels of defendants, Nehmiah Adejo, David Adejo, and Prosecutor, DSP Martins Leo, granted a bail of N1 million to Nehemiah and David.

The Magistrate, who adjourned the case to 24 and 25 of August, ordered both defendants to produce two sureties each who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and are engaged in legal businesses and present a Bank Verification Number that corresponds with their information.

The prosecution counsel charged Nehemiah with a four- count charge of causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, driving without drivers licence and driving without authorisation of the owner.

He however pleaded not guilty.

Also David was charged with alleged negligent conduct while causing danger to person and property, an allegation he also denied.

The prosecution counsel had prayed the court allowed Nehemiah to be remanded, arguing there is pending investigation of culpable homicide against him.

However counsel to Nemiah, Aliyu Ibrahim Omachi, argued for a bail on the basis that he is a first time offender and has spent more than 4 weeks in detention.

Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile was killed in a road accident at the NAF Base in Kaduna and three suspects were subsequently arrested.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had in line with extant laws handed over the three suspects involved in the accident that led to the death of Flying Officer Arotile to the Nigeria Police, saying it is a civil case.

Kaduna State Police Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Muhammad Jalige, said the case of alleged culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy against the three occupants of the vehicle was still under investigation.

He however said that the suspects would be charged to court in that direction as soon as investigation was concluded. (The Nation)