The Lagos State Government Wednesday filed a fresh charge against a female banker, Mrs. Yinka Johnson, for alleged reckless driving before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court
Initially, Yinka was alleged
The old charge which was based on the state Road Traffic Law 2003 was replaced with the new Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012.
The new charge read: “That you Yinka Johnson ‘on August 10, at about 8:30am at Mega Chicken, Ikota Ajah expressway Lekki, Lagos did drive your Land Rover Jeep with registration No- CY 276 LSD on the highway recklessly by driving your vehicle against oncoming and without reasonable consideration for other road users and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 7(b) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012.”
But, defence counsel, led by Mr. Emeka Okpoko, reminded the court that various publications in national newspapers gave the impression that the law was yet to take effect as government planned to carry out public enlightenments on the said law.
However, the trial Magistrate, Mr. Jacob Adegun, ruled that the prosecution has the right to substitute the charge under the law.
Shortly after the charge was substituted, the prosecutor informed the court that the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has called for the case file and urged the court to adjourn the matter until a new directive is given on the matter.
When her plea was taken, she pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against her.
Adegun granted her bail on the earlier conditions and adjourned the matter till September 28, 2012 for mention.
Johnson, an employee of Stanbic IBTC, was alleged to have driven her Range Rover Jeep with Lagos number plate CY 276 LSD against the traffic at Mega City, Ikota, along Lekki-Epe Expressway.
It was gathered that the LASMA official who collected her car key was about to cross-over to the other side of the road when he was crushed by a fast moving car.
When asked about the difference between the new charge and the old charge, the defence lawyer, Okpoko said the charges are the same but that the new charge is under section 7b of the new law. He added that the other charge was drafted under the 2003 Traffic Law.
