Court remands truck driver over attempted murder of VIO personnel

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Terriory (FCT) Grade 1, Area Court at Karu satellite town has remanded a driver beverage-ladden truck, Wilson Aniete at the Suleja Correctional Centre over attempted murder of an official of FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) otherwise known as Vehicles Inspection Office (VIO).

Our correspondent reports that the remand order was issued by the Presiding Judge of the court, Inuwa Maiwada, at the weekend.

It will be recall that Aniete, who  is the driver of the Mitsubishi truck with a Lagos registration number AAA -477 XB  had on Friday, June 11, knocked down and badly injured the VIO personnel at Karu bridge, along Nyanya-Keffi road, while attempting to escape after being stopped.

Earlier, at the commencement of trial the prosecutor,  Bar. Adeyanju Ayotunde brought four charges against the accused, ranging from criminal force without provocation, voluntarily causing injuries to deter public servant from discharging his lawful duties, resistance to lawful arrest to reckless driving.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read, and made an application to be granted bail.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor opposed to the bail application of the defendant on ground that offences which defendant was charged were  not ordinarily, noting that the health of the victim remains in a critical condition at intensive care unit of the Asokoro Distrct Hospital.

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

Reacting to the development, Chairman, FCT Ministerial Traffic Management Team, Comrade Ikharo Attah, commended the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and the FCT Commissioner of Police,  Bala Ciroma, for taken the matter seriously and gave 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 the trial which was being spearheaded by the Nigerian Police was a morale booster not only for men of the DRTS, but also for Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel, police traffic wardens and the staff of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).

The chairman also added that the trial was a motivation for all the personnel working with the traffic management team on road to ensure free flow of traffic and safety of commuters in the FCT.

“ From last week, those who monitored activities on the Abuja-Keffi road will no doubt be shocked to see the renewed vigour of the traffic officers particularly the VIO personnel.

According to him: “This is full unconnected with the seriousness with which this case is being handled. The Permanent Secretary of FCTA,  Olusade Adesola in 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 Usunobun Otaigbe Santos  gets back on his feet soonest”.

Attah disclosed that the legal team of the DRTS, headed by Barrister Obiora was planning to close ranks with the police prosecutors and lawyers handling the suit.