Boat Accident: Lagos Re-arraigns Helmsman For Manslaughter

Lagos State Government has re-arraigned a helmsman, Happiness Elebiju , before an Ikeja High Court over charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Elebiju was re-arraigned on Thursday before Justice Josephine Oyefeso over the boat accident which claimed the lives of 13 persons at around Kirikiri, Lagos.

Elebiju is facing 10- counts bordering on involuntary manslaughter and operating of a boat without a license.

But he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The Director, Public Prosecutions, Mrs Yinka Adeyemi, who led the prosecution told the court the offences against the defendant, involuntary manslaughter, was contrary to Section 224 and punishable under Section 229 of the Criminal Law Ch C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

According to him, operating a boat without a licence is also contrary to Section 311 (1) of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

The prosecutor told the court that Elebiju allegedly caused the death of 13 passengers as his boat capsized on the Lagos State Inland Waterways along Kirikiri after taking off from an illegal loading site with 20 passengers.

Upon capsizing, she said the rescue team of Lagos State Waterways Authority, Marine Police and other boat operators rescued five passengers while the defendant, Captain of the boat, and his deck hand boy survived.

The DPP presented two witnesses before the court who gave evidence against the defendant.

Justice Oyefeso however, adjourned the matter to September 17.

Recall that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, had paraded the helsman and alleged that he caused the death of 12 persons while three persons were kissing as his boat capsized because he turned off the engine.

The CP said, “On July 29, 2020, around 5.45pm, our marine policemen received a distress call that a commercial boat with the inscription: ‘Mount Zion Transport’, fitted with 150HP Yamaha outboard engine, which was conveying 20 passengers from Kirikiri to Badagry, drifted towards a stationary barge and capsized along the Kirikiri waterfront.

“Five passengers were rescued, while 12 corpses were recovered. Three people are still missing. The boatman, Bimbo Elebiju, jumped off the boat and swam to safety.

” Investigation revealed that the accident was deliberately caused by his act . There was an argument between the deckhand and the passengers as to the transport fare.

“Bimbo insisted on N1,500 per passenger and the passengers said they would only pay N1,200 each. Because of the N300 difference, the suspect turned off the engine on a turbulent waterfront.

” A big ship passed and stirred the water, creating a wave that made the boat to drift towards the stationary barge. The suspect was trailed to his hideout and arrested after the survivors of the accident gave the true account of what happened.”