If you remember the trailer that fell off Ojuelegba bridge late last year precisely September 2, 2015 you will recall that three lives were lost in the black car that was crushed under the container that was believed to be carrying bags of cement. The driver of the white car miraculously survived.
The unlatched 40 feet container had disengaged from the trailer and fallen on some vehicles moving on the road.
The families of those killed by the trailer have filed a suit against the Federal Government and others.
The families of the victims have through their lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), approached the Federal High Court seeking damages in the sum of N10bn.
The applicants – Usman Sulaiman, Ismaila Maikkankan, Umar Wahab and Umaru Umaru – sued for themselves and on behalf of the families of Abubakar Sule, Umaru Sulaiman and Kamilu Umaru, who died in the accident.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the Lagos State Government, its Attorney-General, the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and the Lagos Public Works Corporation.
The other respondents are Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, the Federal Government, Attorney-General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Road Maintenance Agency and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
The court has granted the applicants the leave to serve the court papers on the defendants that were outside the jurisdiction.
The applicants are urging the court to declare that the respondents failed in their lawful duty of installing, maintaining and enforcing adequate safeguards to ensure the right to life, personal and human dignity, good health and family harmony.
They are also seeking a declaration that “the circumstances of the fatal accident resulting in the deceased persons’ death were such that the respondents’ negligence can be presumed under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur.”
They argued that the respondents had breached the fundamental rights of the victims enshrined in the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
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