The Lagos High Court in Ikeja sentenced commercial bus driver Elijah Shokoya to 12 years in prison for the manslaughter of Olawale Akinmade, an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA). Justice Oyindamola Ogala ruled that the Lagos State Government had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Shokoya’s actions led to Akinmade’s death on January 27, 2012.
Justice Ogala stated, “The prosecution has established that the deceased died due to the unlawful acts of the defendant, and that these acts were done with the knowledge that injury or grievous bodily harm was the probable consequence.” Shokoya was accused of knocking down Akinmade with a blue and black Opel space bus, license plate AAA 74 GG, while the officer was directing traffic. Akinmade sustained fatal head and body injuries from the incident, which occurred at the Demurin Street junction towards the Mile 12 area of Lagos.
The charges were brought under Section 224 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 229. Shokoya, who was arraigned on June 23, 2021, pleaded not guilty to the charge. In her judgment, Justice Ogala emphasized that the prosecution bears the burden of proof in criminal cases, which must be beyond a reasonable doubt.
Aderonke Malik, the first prosecution witness, testified that she saw Shokoya push Akinmade in front of his vehicle. Despite her pleas for Shokoya to stop, he did not, and Akinmade was knocked down. The Investigating Police Officer also provided direct evidence of her observations and findings, which the court found credible and reliable.
Justice Ogala noted, “Proof beyond reasonable doubt is not proof beyond every shadow of doubt. The degree of proof amounting to reasonable doubt need not reach certainty, but it will carry a high degree of probability.” She concluded that the evidence presented by the prosecution successfully proved the charge of involuntary manslaughter. “The Honourable Court, therefore, finds the Defendant Guilty of the One Count charge of Involuntary Manslaughter he stands faced with and is accordingly convicted,” she declared, sentencing Shokoya to 12 years imprisonment from the day of judgment.