The Lagos State Government plans to arraign the driver of a container-laden truck and its owner today, over the death of Ms Chidinma Ajoku, 27, and Chima Nnaekpe, 29.
Ms Chidinma and her colleague, Nnaekpe, who both worked in the Commercial Department, Hajj & Cargo Terminal at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria died on July 26, 2020, when a truck with number plate SGM 715 XA loaded with a 20ft container fell on a commercial bus they were on.
They were both returning from work and their danfo had stopped briefly to discharge some passengers at the Isolo area when tragedy struck. The remains of the two had since been buried.
Chidinma’s mother, Mrs Chineze Ajoku, had vowed to get justice for her daughter and her colleague.
Mrs Ajoku, in a very touching video that went viral, decried the activities of container-laden trucks in the state while calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to check their operations and put in place necessary regulations to secure the lives of road users.
Chidinma’s brother, Mr Obinna Ajoku, disclosed that the truck driver and the owner who both were initially at large had been apprehended by the police.
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He said they would be prosecuted on Tuesday before Justice Okiki-Olu Ighile of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.
Also, an official in the Office of the Public Defender, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, confirmed the development but refused to state the prosecution counts.
The official, who also did not want to be mentioned, said, “We represent the family and we support them. The arraignment is tomorrow.”
When contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, also confirmed the development but declined to give the details of the truck driver and the owner.
“The truck driver and the truck owner are with us. They are going to court tomorrow,” Elkana said tersely.
Chidinma, who had a phobia for truck-carrying trailers and cringed each time any of them moved by a vehicle she was on, had signed a petition in 2018 to restrict the movement of container-laden trucks in Lagos State to the hours of 11 PM and 5 AM.
(PUNCH)
