Kilani Ojo Adesanya, the owner of the truck, bearing the container which fell off Ojuelegba bridge and killed three people on September 2, has been arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Oyingbo, on a two-count charge including giving the truck to a driver without driver's license.
The 50-year-old man was alleged to have permitted one Wasiu Adeleke to drive his truck marked EPE 46 XK, without a valid driver's license supposed to be issued to him by the appropriate authority.
He was also alleged to have given the truck to the driver to drive on the highway without MOT test certificate, road worthiness certificate, and vehicle license issued in respect of the truck by the appropriate authority.
The offences are according to the prosecutors, Barrister Godwin O. Osuyi, and Inspector Chinalu Nwadiowe, are contrary to and punishable under sections 36(1 &2) of Road Traffic Laws of Lagos state, 2012.
The defendant however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Upon the plea of the defendant, his counsel, Mr. W. O. Toriola urged the court to admit him to bail on self recognition.
He hinged the bail application on the premise that Adesanya is a senior citizen of the country without any previous criminal record.
The prosecutors did not oppose the accused's bail application.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A. Folashade Botoku, queried the leading prosecutor, Barrister Osuyi, for not informing the court of the sister case, in which the driver of the truck was charged before the court, and for not asking for the consolidation of the two cases.
Consequently, the Chief Magistrate, adjourned the case till September 23, for ruling on the bail application.
While, she ordered Adesanya to be remanded in prison.
It would be recalled that the driver of truck, Wasiu Adeleke, was arraigned before the court last week Friday, on 11 count charges of multiple manslaughters.
The names of those that were killed by the container according to the police include; Abubakar Sule, 52; Umaru Sulaiman, 46; and Kamilu Umaru, 28.