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Lagos Court Sentences Bus Driver to Five Years for Assaulting LASTMA Police Officer

The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has decisively convicted and sentenced commercial bus driver Sunday Okodo to five years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer attached to the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) David Zapania.

Justice Oyindamola Ogala delivered a firm judgment, convicting Okodo on three of the five charges filed by the Lagos State Government.

The court found him guilty on counts two, four, and five, while he was discharged and acquitted on the remaining counts.

The charges against Okodo were serious: he hit the police officer with his vehicle while attempting to evade arrest for driving against traffic (one-way), resisting arrest, reckless and dangerous driving, driving without a valid driver’s license, assaulting a police officer, and attempted murder.

Arraigned on November 10, 2021, Okodo pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Dr Babajide Martins, the State Director of Public Prosecutions, called for the maximum sentence, stressing the case’s significance to public safety.

Also Read: Alleged manslaughter: Incident Leading to Charge of Involuntary Manslaughter Tragic, Dangote tells Court

Conversely, the defence counsel, Mr Ohemu, requested leniency, pointing out that Okodo is a first-time offender with an elderly mother.

Before handing down the sentence, Justice Ogala asked Okodo if he had anything to say. He simply replied, “I am sorry, ma.”

In her ruling, Justice Ogala made it clear, stating, “Sentencing is within the court’s discretion. The objectives of sentencing include retribution, deterrence, and the protection of society. In determining the sentence, we must consider the interests of the victim, the convict, and society as a whole.”

Regarding the specifics of the sentence, Justice Ogala ordered Okodo to serve four years for causing grievous bodily harm, with the time he spent in custody between February 2021 and November 2021 accounted for.

Additionally, he received a one-year sentence for count four and was fined 20,000 Naira for count five. The sentences are to be served concurrently, sending a strong message about the consequences of such reckless behaviour.

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Akinlade I. WAHAB is a dedicated journalist and the proprietor of I-WAHAB Media. He embarked on his career at Murhi International TV (MiTV) and subsequently joined Radio Nigeria as a Judicial Correspondent.With a profound interest in legal reporting, he currently holds the positions of Chairman at the National Association of Judicial Correspondents (NAJUC), Ikeja Branch, and Chairman at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Radio Nigeria Chapel.As the owner of I-WAHAB Media, he has successfully established Top Court News, a platform renowned for providing comprehensive coverage of court cases and legal developments, with the aim of promoting transparency within the judicial system.Akinlade's diligent work and unwavering commitment to ethical reporting have earned him immense respect within the Nigerian journalism community.

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