Police have arraigned the driver and owner of the vehicle that hit Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, which led to her death at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna state.
The country was thrown into a state of mourning on July 15 when the Nigerian Air Force announced that the country’s first female combat helicopter pilot died from a road traffic accident at the NAF base in Kaduna State.
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The suspects, Nehemiah Adejo and David Adejo, were arraigned before a Kaduna Magistrate Court on Wednesday, August 12.
The prosecution counsel charged Nehemiah with a four-count charge of causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care or attention, without drivers licence and without authorisation of the owner.
David was also charged with alleged negligent conduct while causing danger to person and property.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges but were however granted bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Benjamin, after hearing arguments from counsels of defendants, Nehemiah, David, and Prosecutor, DSP Martins Leo, granted them N1 million bail each.
The Magistrate, who adjourned the case to August 24 and 25, ordered both defendants to produce two sureties each who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and are engaged in legal businesses and present a Bank Verification Number (BVN) that corresponds with their information.
The prosecution counsel had prayed the court allowed Nehemiah to be remanded, arguing there is pending investigation of culpable homicide against him.
However, Aliyu Ibrahim Omachi, counsel to Nehemiah, argued for a bail on the basis that he is a first time offender and has spent more than 4 weeks in detention.
Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile was died in a road accident at the NAF Base in Kaduna state and three suspects were subsequently arrested.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in line with extant laws handed over the three suspects to the Nigeria Police, saying it is a civil case.
