Witness Recounts Horrific Ordeal of BRT/Train Collision

In the ongoing trial of Oluwaseun Osibanjo, the BRT driver involved in a tragic collision with a train on March 9, a prosecution witness, Oluwajani Fayokemi, offered a harrowing firsthand account of the fateful incident.

The trial unfolded in an Ikeja high court, where Osibanjo is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and causing grievous harm.

Fayokemi, who herself was a victim of the collision, provided a detailed and emotional narrative of the events that transpired on that ill-fated day. Her testimony paints a vivid picture of the chaos and suffering that unfolded as the collision occurred.

A regular passenger on BRT 33, a Lagos State Government staff bus driven by Osibanjo since 2018, Fayokemi described the usual routine of her daily commute. However, March 9 would turn this routine into a nightmare.

As the bus embarked on its journey from Jakande Gate to Alausa Secretariat, the passengers’ lives would soon be thrown into disarray. When the vehicle approached the PWD Junction along the train track, the piercing horn of an approaching train filled the air, sending shockwaves of panic through the bus’s occupants.

In those critical moments, passengers frantically called out to the driver, affectionately known as ‘Oluomo,’ but before they could react, a deafening impact shook them. The train had collided with the bus, causing it to be pushed along the tracks. The witness described how she lost consciousness during the violent collision and remained disoriented for several minutes.

The horrifying incident left passengers in shock and despair. Passers-by, including local residents and Good Samaritans, rushed to the scene, risking their safety to help injured passengers.

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In her testimony, Fayokemi also recounted the tragic fate of fellow passengers. She mentioned a woman named Olayinka, who suffered a severe head injury, with blood streaming from her wound caused by a stone. Sadly, Olayinka would later succumb to her injuries at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). Another passenger, referred to as Alhaja, also lost her life in the accident. Fayokemi conveyed that six victims of the collision had tragically passed away at LASUTH by the following day.

Under cross-examination by the defense counsel, Mr. Lekan Egberongbe, Fayokemi was questioned about her police statement made after regaining consciousness. When asked about the specific detail in her statement regarding passengers’ attempts to alert the driver upon hearing the train horn, Fayokemi asserted that this particular information was not included in her written statement.

The proceedings were adjourned until November 8, and Osibanjo, who pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges related to the accident, has been in custody at the Kirikiri facility since May.