A truck driver with Dangote Cement Factory, Ibese, Ogun State, Umar Lawal, who allegedly crushed three persons to death has been arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrate Court.

The accused was dragged before the court on a one-count charge of causing death by dangerous driving, which contradicts Section 23 of Road Traffic Law.

The accused, who was in charge of Howo Truck with registration number BENUE XA 353 WDP was said to have on July 18 along Oyun Bridge, Old Jebba Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, in a manner which is dangerous to the public highway.

Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter stated that the accused had no regard to the nature, condition and amount to traffic which might reasonably be expected to be on the highway.

The FIR added further that: "as a result of your dangerous driving, you (accused) caused an accident to an unregistered Jincheng motorcycle ridden by one Wasiu Olokoto and two passengers, Saka Olokoto and Gani Olokoto all deceased of Olokototo Compound, Oke-Oyi via Ilorin, Kwara State.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Nasiru Yusuf objected to the bail of the accused and urged the court to remand them in prison custody until the next adjourned date so as to enable the police completed their investigation.

The defence counsel, Barrister A.A. Ayelabegan had prayed the court to admit the accused to bail on liberal terms pending the outcome of the police investigation.

He agued that the 1999 Constitution of the Federation of Nigeria as amended still presumed the accused innocent of the offence until contrary is proved.

The trial magistrate, Mr. I.A. Mohammed agreed with the submtion of the defence, as he admitted the accused to bail at the sum of N250,000 and two sureties in like sum.

The court adjourned the case to August 3 for further mention.