The Kaduna State Magistrate Court 1 on Thursday freed two out of the three occupants of Kia Sorento vehicle that killed celebrated first female combat chopper, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile at NAF base Kaduna.
But, driver of the vehicle, Nehemiah Adejor, who sent the Officer to the Hanger earlier, was to be charged for culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy in the State High Court though not to be punished with death according to a court document.
Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile was badly hit and later confirmed clinically dead by a vehicle driven by Nehemiah Adejor on July 14, 2020, while the two other occupants; Folorunsho Igbekele Faith and Gbayegun Deji were passengers in the said vehicle allegedly belonging to the elder brother of Adejor.
The prosecuting Counsel, DSP Martins D. Leo, prayed the Court to discharge the two passengers who were referred to as 2nd and 3rd suspects, as their investigation did not find them wanting.
Ruling on the motion, Magistrate Benjamin Hassan, discharged 2nd and 3rd suspects, Folorunsho Igbekele Faith and Gbayegun Deji, based on the Police investigation, which did not find them wanting and the legal advice from the state’s Director of Public Prosecution Bayero Dari Esq, that they have no case to answer.
The legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution read in the open court clarified that there was no premeditation in the death of the Flying Officer Arotile, but there was sufficient evidence to prosecute the 1st suspect, Nehemiah Adejor for culpable homicide not punishable with death.
The legal advice read in part “on the 14 days of July 2020′ the suspect all male of Auta Alkali Farin Gida, Mando Kaduna inside a Kia Sorento with Registration. No AZ 478 MKA Kaduna being driven by the 1st suspect sited the deceased (NAF/4512F Flying officer Tolulope Arotile) at NAF Base Kawo, Kaduna, whom they identified as their school mate at Air force Secondary school, Kaduna.
“The 1st suspect, full of enthusiasm, recklessly reversed the car in order to meet the deceased and in the process ran over her consequent upon which the deceased lay unconsciously on the ground. The deceased was rushed to NAFX64 Base Hospitàl-for- medical attention but was later pronounced dead by the medical doctors at the Hospital.
“The suspects were arrested and taken to 461 NAF Hospital Kaduna for toxicology test and results were all negative. They were later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Kaduna on the 24th day of July 2020 for further discreet investigation.
“Police investigation reveals that all the suspects attended the same secondary school with the deceased and upon sighting her the 1st suspect recklessly reversed the car and eventually ran over the deceased which led to her untimely death.
“The 1st suspect admitted in his cautionary statement that on the 14th day of July 2020 he was together with the two other suspects in a car KIA Sorento he was driving, when he saw the deceased walking along the roadside of the Air force Base.
