Amateur driver accused of murder

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday granted bail to the drunk driver, who allegedly killed Timothy Adeosun, a sales representative of the Nations Newspaper, on New Year day.

The accused, Kunle Adepoju, was arraigned before Safiyat Oyediran on a seven-count charge of reckless driving, murder, damage of property worth millions of naira, among others.

According to the charge sheet, the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections of Oyo State laws.

Mr. Adepoju, who was believed to be an amateur driver, drove a brown Acura Legend car in a reckless manner and caused the death of Mr. Adeosun, who, together with other colleagues on a motorcycle, was coming from a New Year cross over church service.

A ThisDay newspaper representative in Ibadan, Juwon Babalola, was also severely injured in the incident which occurred along Salvation Army Road, Oke Padre, Ibadan, few minutes to 2 a.m. on January 1.

The police charge sheet reads that “Kunle Adepoju ‘M’ on the 1st day of January, 2014 at about 03:00am at Salvation Army Oke-Paadi Ibadan Magisterial District being the driver in charge of Accura saloon car with registration number FKJ 894 BB did drive same on the public highway in a dangerous and reckless manner which is dangerous to the public , having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including the nature, condition and use of the highway, and the amount of traffic which actually at the time, or which might reasonably be expected to be, on the highway, caused the death of one Timothy Adeosun ‘M’ aged 27 years and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 27 of Road Traffic Act. Cap 548 part VII, laws of Oyo State of Nigeria.”

A police prosecutor, Asimiyu Oyelowo, arraigned the accused person on behalf of the state.

Mr. Adepoju, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him.

While reacting to the bail application filed on behalf of the accused, the presiding Magistrate granted him bail of N250,000 and two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties, according to her, must be a level six civil servant, while the other must be a blood relation.

The case has been adjourned to February 5.