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.

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.

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.

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.