Attempted Murder Of VIO: Court Remands Truck Driver At Suleja Correctional Centre

The Presiding Judge of a Grade One, Area Court in Karu satellite town of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Inuwa Maiwada, at the weekend, remanded a driver of Guinness-owned truck, Wilson Aniete at Suleja Correctional Centre over the attempted murder of Vehicles Inspection Officer (VIO), Mr Udunobun Otaigbe, in Abuja.

It will be recalled that the driver of the Guinness-owned Mitsubishi truck with a Lagos number plate AAA 477 XB, had on Friday, June 11, rammed into Mr Otaigbe, while on official duty at Karu bridge on Nyanya-Keffi road. He was trying to evade arrest after being stopped by the VIO personnel.

He was, however, charged with four count charges of criminal force without provocation, voluntarily causing injuries to deter public servant from discharging his lawful duties, resistance to a lawful arrest and reckless driving.

• Related Story: VIO Official Hit By Truck On Karu Bridge, Battles For Life In Hospital (Graphic)

The accused then pleaded not guilty when the charges were read and applied to be granted bail.

The prosecutor, Barrister Adeyanju Ayotunde, who opposed the bail application on the ground that the offences which the defendant was charged were not ordinary, pointed out that the health of the victim was in critical condition at the intensive care unit of the Asokoro District Hospital.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Maiwada upheld the applications of the prosecutor and ordered the defendant to be remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre till tomorrow, Monday, June 21, so as to enable the prosecutor to update the court on the health condition of the victim which would determine his decision whether to grant the bail or not.

Reacting to the trial, Chairman, FCT Ministerial Traffic Management Team, Mr Ikharo Attah, commended the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, and the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Bala Ciroma, for taking the matter seriously and gave a strong directive that the driver who attempted to kill the traffic officer should be made to face the full weight of the law.

Attah said that the trial which was being spearheaded by the Nigeria Police was a morale booster not only for men of the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) but also for Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel, police traffic wardens and the staff of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).

“This is full unconnected with the seriousness with which this case is being handled. The Permanent Secretary of FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola in the company of the Director of DRTS, Mr Wadata Bodinga, had visited the badly injured traffic officer at the hospital.

“They directed that comprehensive and the best treatment should be given to the officer. They assured his family that the administration would do all in its powers to see the officer, Mr Otaigbe gets back on his feet soonest,” he assured.

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