Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Eti-Osa has sentenced a boat captain, Elebiju Happiness, to life imprisonment for manslaughter.
Delivering judgement in the case instituted by the state against the boat driver, Justice Oyefeso found the convict guilty of 11-count charge preferred against him.
Elebiju committed the crime on the 29th of July, 2020 after loading passengers from Kirikiri heading to Badagry.
He was accused of negligence and abandonment leading to the boat to capsize.
The prosecution called five witnesses before the court who testified against the defendant.
The presiding judge, Justice Oyefeso, held that the prosecution has successfully proven the charge against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt and thereby convicted and sentenced him accordingly.
The convict drove a boat that capsized and killed 13 persons while operating in an illegal jetty without licence.
The incident happened on July 29, 2020 about 5.45p.m on the waterways, around Kirikiri, Lagos when his boat with 20 passengers capsized, killing 13 persons.
Elebiju is standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on involuntary manslaughter brought against him by the Lagos State Government in August, 2020.
The offence is contrary to Section 224 and punishable under Section 229 of the Criminal Law CH C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
