TRANSPORT COMPANY BAGS 6 MONTHS JAIL TERM FOR NOT OPERATING WITH PASSENGER MANIFEST

For not operating with a passenger manifest on a night trip which resulted to the death of 46 persons at Idumebo- Irrua along the Benin-Auchi  highway, a Chief Magistrate court at Irrua in Edo State has sentenced a transport Company, E. Ekeson Brothers Nigeria Limited to 6 months imprisonment with an optional fine of N50, 000.

Before delivering her judgement, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Dorothy Adamagbo was told that on 15th May, 2009, a luxurious Bus with number XP251 ABC belonging to E . Ekeson Brothers Nigeria Limited , was heading to Port Harcourt from Sokoto when it rammed into a stationary Tanker trailer loaded with fuel at 5am which went up in flames, roasting its passengers to death at Idumebo-Irrua along Benin-Auchi expressway.

Further details indicate that 44 persons from the Bus, died on the spot while 2 others died later at Irrua Specialist hospital including the driver named Ikechukwu Ekwunife and his conductor. The 2 surviving passengers, Dan Shehu Mohammed and Audu Bello were discharged from the Irrua hospital and taken to Sokoto for further medical attention.

On the directives of the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Osita Chidoka, the Corps’ Transport Safety Office visited the scene of the road crash for further investigation where it was discovered that the Bus left Sokoto without a valid passenger manifest and was subsequently charged the case to court.

However, on 11 August,2010 the Special Assistant to the Managing Director and Chief Executive of E.Ekeson Brothers Nigeria Limited, Mr. Anthony Ogoh Magnus was arraigned before the court under Sections 51 and 115 of the National Road Traffic Regulations,2004 for operating without a valid passenger manifest and was jailed for 6 months with an option of N50,000.00 which was paid immediately.

Meanwhile, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Adamagbo expressed her displeasure at the amount paid by the defendant which according to her, was not commensurate with the gravity of the traffic offence which resulted to a monumental loss of 46 lives and property. She however, suggested for a review of the National Road Traffic Regulation to address the issue of penalty and fine awarded to traffic offenders.