Alleged Involuntary Manslaughter Of LASTMA Official: Dangote Identifies Driver, Company’s Terms And Conditions

The Group General Manager, Human Resources Department at Dangote Cement Plc., Mr Ahmed Gobir, has identified Elijah Shokoya as part of a pool of employees who could be assigned to drive senior staff, either Nigerians or expatriates.

Gobir stated this while testifying before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, in the case of Shokoya who is being charged with causing the death of a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer, Mr Olawale Akinmade.

The Dangote Cement Group General Manager also identified a copy of the company’s terms and conditions.

It would be recalled that the Dangote Cement driver was alleged to have run over Akinmade with a Lagos-registered AAA 74 GG Opel car, leading to the LASTMA official's death.

While being questioned by Mr Ebunola Ewonowu, the counsel for the defence, Gobir, insisted that the firm never engaged any driver without a valid driving licence, adding that there was no record of any accident involving the defendant, at least to his knowledge.

When asked by the counsel for the Lagos State Government (LASG), Mr Ola Azeez, whether he was present at the scene of the incident, Gobir who responded in the negative, also confirmed to the judge that he did not have any knowledge of what happened at the scene of the incident.

Shokoya is who being charged with involuntary manslaughter was said to have committed the alleged offence on January 26, 2021, at 7:20 p.m., at Demurin Junction on Ikorodu Road in Ketu, Lagos State.

The first charge against Shokoya was instituted on June 23, 2021.

Meanwhile, Justice Ogala has adjourned until Feb. 1, 2024, for the adoption of final written addresses for the Shokoya case.

The judge also fixed December 20, 2023, and January 20, 2024, respectively, to allow both defence and prosecution counsel to file and serve their respective final written addresses.

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