The family of Egunbambi of Alagbado area of Lagos state was thrown into mourning when a car rammed into their compound, crushing their four-year-old boy, Segun, to death.
The Toyota Camry car, with the number plate, KTU 242 FC, was driven by one Adenowo Adeyiga, who was said to be returning home from Ijegun when his car had a brake failure and lost control.
Herald Nigeria gathered that the vehicle veered into Egunbambis’ compound located along Aduramigba street and knocked down the boy.
He sustained leg injuries and was rushed to a private hospital in the neighbourhood for treatment, but he died from the injuries some hours later.
Officers at the Alagbado Police Station waded in and Adeyiga was arrested. He was accused of reckless driving, and not having a driving licence.
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In his statement, he said “On May 4, 2019, around 12noon, I was returning home from Ijegun in my car. I wanted to turn at a junction, two streets to my house when I discovered that my car brakes had failed. Immediately the accident happened, I rushed the boy to Holyfield Hospital at Ile Epo (a neighbouring community).
“He was referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi and I went to the police station to make a report.”
Adeyiga was consequently brought before an Ikeja magistrates’ court sitting in Ogba by a police prosecutor, ASP Benson Emuerhi, on three counts bordering on reckless driving and manslaughter.
The charges read in part, “That you, Adenowo Adeyiga, on May 4, 2019, at around 12pm, along Aduragbemi Street, Casso Alagbado, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, being the driver in charge of a Toyota Camry, with the number plate, KTU 242 FC, drove same on the public road in a dangerous and reckless manner and caused the death of one Segun Egunbambi, aged four, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 20(1), Cap 172, Vol 45, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2012.
“That you, Adenowo Adeyiga, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, being the driver of the above mentioned vehicle, drove same on public road without a driving licence, which is against traffic rules and regulation, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 7(1) and punishable under Section 45, Cap 172, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.”
The accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him by the court registrar.
He was granted bail by the presiding magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in the like sum.
The case was adjourned till June 20, 2019.