By Joseph Ahmedu
Two boat operators; Musa Dangana and Yakubu Dangana, have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court for conspiracy, leading to a boat mishap which claimed the lives of 19 out of 60 passengers on their boat on Nov. 29, 2024.
The boat mishap occured on River Nigeria in the night of the fateful day
The accused persons who are both residents of Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State were charged with the offence by the state police command.
Arraigning them before the court on Tuesday, the police accused the defendants, who jointly owned a commercial wooden boat of transporting 60 passengers from the Cupa area of Lokoja Local Government to Katchia Market in Niger State without providing life jackets or considering the weather condition.
They were alleged to have failed to exercise due vigilance in spite of several warnings against night journey and traveling without life jackets, which allegedly led to the lives loss.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Ubana Ibi, told the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Musa-Mopa, that investigation into the case had been concluded by the police.
Ibi said said that the prosecution would need a date for it to properly beging trial.
“My Lord, we have concluded our investigation into the matter.
“We shall be asking for a date to enable us come properly before you for hearing of the case, ” he pleaded.
The defence Counsel, Mr Zakari Useni, did not object to the application for adjournment.
“My Lord, although we are not objecting to the application made by the prosecution, we have not been served with the materials that could guide us on the matter on the adjourned date.
“We need to have the necessary materials to enable us file our defence on the matter properly, ” he said.
Chief Magistrate Musa-Mopa ordered the prosecution to make every necessary material on the case available to the defence so that they could come properly on the next adjourned date.
He then adjourned the case until May 26 for hearing. (vitalnewsngr.com)
