Multiple Accident: Coroner Indicts Dangote Coy, Police

The Magistrate, Mr. Tajudeen
Elias who conducted the
coroner’s inquest into the
August 15, 2010 multiple
accident that occurred along
Lagos-Ibadan expressway, has
indicted Dangote Sugar
Refinery, the Nigerian police,
and medical doctors for their
negligence.
The multiple accident which led
to the loss of some 40 lives
and caused injuries to others
was alleged to have been
caused by a truck belonging
to the Dangote Sugar
Refinery which rammed into
other vehicles.
Mr. Elias said that the findings
of the inquest which lasted
for more than one- and-half
years showed that the driver
of the Dangote Truck was
over speeding and that the
brakes were faulty.
The coroner said that the
management of the Sugar
company did not show any
sympathy to the victims and
did not produce the truck
driver. He therefore ordered
the company to within three
months publish an apology to
the families of the victims as
well as compensate them.
“It is rather appalling that the
Dangote Sugar Refinery kept
mute. The company should
have been responsive in as
much as its truck was
involved”.
He also ordered that the
truck driver be produced by
the company to the police for
prosecution.
Mr. Elias was unequivocal in his
condemnation of the police as
evidence showed that they
mounted a roadblock on the
road which also led to the
accident.
The coroner said the victims
were rushed to the hospital
but doctors were on strike.
He said many lives could have
been saved if an emergency
system had been put in place
during the strike.
The presiding magistrate also
blamed the accident on the
nature of the road which was
sloping and said that road
signs ought to have been
placed on the road.

Source: Leadership Newspaper