5 Abia Traffic Agency Officials Arraigned For Pushing 7-Year-Old Girl Out From Moving Vehicle

Five officials of Traffic and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State (TIMAAS) have appeared before the state Magistrate Court, sitting in Aba North Magisterial district over allegations bordering on acts occasioning harm.

The officials were alleged to have pushed 17-year-old Miss Kelly down from a moving vehicle around Brass Junction in Aba.

The case with the suit number MAE/78/2022, is between the state Commisisoner of Police, CP Janet Agbede and Onwuhara Victor and four others.

The teenage girl who sustained serious bodily injuries as a result of the incident and was admitted at the police clinic, Aba where she received medical attention for one week.

She was later transferred to a local orthopedic hospital where she is presently being treated for bone fracture as a result of the unguarded actions of the overzealous TIMAAS officials.

When the charges were read on the first hearing date, the officials pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, S. E. Elekeson granted the five accused persons bail in the sun of N2.5m with one Surety, which is the GM of TIMAAS, Bright Chinedum Ikeokwu who the court ordered to deposit two of his passport photographs.

In granting the bail, Elekeson said he was guided by what the defence counsel told the court that on or before the next adjourned date, his client, Ikeokwu promised to take care of the expenses incurred by the parents of the victim.

The Magistrate warned that bail may be revoked if the said Surety failed to fulfill his promise to take care of the said expenses made so far by the parents of the 1st nominal complainant.

However, on the adjourned date, yesterday for report of out of court settlement, the second nominal complainant, Joyce Egbusinwa, who is the mother of the victim, told the court the matter was not settled out of court.

She said she was not approached by the accused persons or their counsel for any out of court settlement.

In his ruling, the Magistrate frowned at the attitude of the accused persons over the out of court settlement agreement and reminded them they were granted bail in the first place because of the agreement.

The Magistrate gave parties to the matter one week to settle out of court, warning that failure, the court would proceed with the matter proper.

He adjourned the case to July 27, for report of the out of court settlement and ordered that the agency’s vehicle impounded by the police, should remain in their custody until the next adjourned date.