The Kaduna State police has arraigned the driver and the owner of the vehicle that killed Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna.
The driver, Nehmiah Adejo, and the owner of the vehicle, David Adejo, were arraigned before a Kaduna State Magistrates’ Court.
Nehemiah was arraigned on four counts bordering on “causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, driving without drivers licence and driving without authorisation of the owner.”
David was charged with “negligent conduct while causing danger to person and property.”
Nehemiah and David pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N1m each.
The defendants were ordered by the court to produce two sureties each who must reside within its jurisdiction and engage in legal business and should present their Bank Verification Numbers.
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The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Benjamin, adjourned the case till August 24 and 25.
The prosecution counsel, Martins Leo, had earlier prayed that the court remanded Nehemiah, arguing that there was pending investigation of culpable homicide against him.
But Nehemiah’s counsel, Aliyu Omachi, argued for bail on the basis that his client was a first-time offender and had spent more than four weeks in detention.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had earlier disclosed that the case of late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile was handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
