Dangote, Police Found Culpable For Deadly Multiple Accident – Coroner

The Lagos state Coroner, has confirmed that the Dangote Sugar refinery truck was the cause of the accident that killed over 40 people on the Otedola bridge estate, along the Lagos Ibadan expressway in 2010.

Also found culpable was the Nigeria Police Force, which was accused of setting up a roadblock along the expressway being a contributory cause.

The Coroner, Tajudeen Elias who was inquiring into the cause of the ghastly accident that occurred on August 15, 2010 around the Otedola bridge estate, along the Lagos Ibadan expressway ruled that the accident was caused by the crashing of the Dangote Sugar refinery truck with failed brakes into a long line of stationary vehicles held up on the bridge by a police checkpoint.

The accident led to the loss of several lives.

Magistrate Elias therefore recommended that the management of Dangote Sugar refinery should tender a public apology to the victims and their families which must be published within 3months of the coroner’s findings.

The management of Dangote Sugar is also to locate the driver that drove the truck which caused the accident and hand him over to the police for prosecution.

Magistrate Elias also asked Dangote Sugar to see to the compensation of the victims of the road accident.

For the police, the coroner recommended a dismantling of all roadblocks where they still exist, especially where it obstructs the free flow of vehicular movement.

The use of road signs and speed limits at strategic portions of the road to alert users also formed part of the recommendations of the coroner as well as a strict enforcement and regular road surveillance by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).