Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, has said that the state has begun investigations into the ownership of the truck involved in a tragic accident that claimed many lives in the state.
Ajulo made this known in a statement in Lagos on Friday.
The attorney general, who expressed outrage over the fatal incident, said that the state will prosecute the truck driver and his employers once unveiled.
“In the controversy over ownership of the truck, what is inhuman is that the owner should have at least commiserated with families of the dead but chose to be silent,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that an auto crash that occurred in the Akungba-Akoko area of the state on Wednesday claimed the lives of 10 people, including a pregnant woman.
The crash involved a truck that allegedly lost control and rammed into some shops along the Owo-Akungba-Ikare Akoko expressway, killing the victims on the spot.
The attorney general said the investigation is aimed at identifying the owner of the truck before prosecution can commence.
“This is due to the controversy surrounding ownership of the truck, with many media houses initially reporting that it was owned by the Dangote Group.
“Whoever owned the truck will be fished out and will be joined in the prosecution,” he said.
He expressed anger over the alarming rise in fatal accidents involving trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles across Nigeria and in Ondo state.
“These tragic incidents have claimed the lives of innocent citizens, including this recent devastating crash that took the lives of a pregnant woman, her child, and others,” he said.
Ajulo condemned the reckless driving displayed by heavy truck drivers, declaring that such behaviour is utterly unacceptable and must be confronted immediately.
He reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to safeguard Ondo state residents on the roads.
“Enough is enough. The loss of lives due to criminal negligence can no longer go unchecked. From this moment forward, both the drivers involved in these horrific incidents and the company itself will be held vicariously liable. We will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law for this criminal negligence,” he said.
The attorney general called for an urgent and thorough review of operational protocols of truck owners, including compliance with safety regulations and the training provided to truck drivers nationwide.
He urged the public to be vigilant and report any reckless driving incidents involving heavy-duty trucks, assuring that the state government remained committed to taking all necessary measures to enforce road safety and protect lives.
“The lives of our people are paramount. We will not allow profit to take precedence over safety.
“As the community grapples with its grief, the clamour for stricter regulations and accountability among commercial transport operators grows louder, demanding that such senseless tragedies be prevented in the future,” he said.
He commiserated with the families of the deceased, assuring them that they would get justice.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Group on Thursday refuted the allegations linking it to the truck involved in the Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo state road accident.
“The company wishes to make it clear that the truck involved in the unfortunate incident does not belong to Dangote Group or any of its subsidiaries.
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”Verified vehicle registration details confirm that the truck with Plate No. JJJ 365 XB is owned and operated by an independent logistics company with no affiliation to Dangote Group,” the statement read.
NAN