A middle-aged driver of a lorry simply known as Johnson has been sentenced to six months jail term by a Mobile Court in Awka, Anambra State for overloading.
According to The PUNCH, the driver was arrested on Tuesday near the Awmabia flyover along the Awka-Onitsha expressway by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
The court presided over by a Chief Magistrate, I. Anyadiegbu, however gave the suspect an option of fine.
The state sector commander, Adeoye Irelewuyi, speaking with reporters in his office on Thursday, February 15, stated that the driver was promptly arraigned before the court upon apprehension.
He said, “The overloaded vehicle was impounded at our head office here in Awka and incidentally, the mobile court was sitting the same day.
“So, he was arraigned immediately in court and the chief magistrate presiding over the court handed him a six-month jail term with an option of fine.”
“Overloading is a practice that can increase the probability of fatality in a crash because when an overloaded vehicle crashes, the driver and the passengers may not have the chance of escaping from the crash, as the goods may fall on them and even cause more death than the crash itself.
“So, we appeal to road users to desist from overloading their vehicles either with goods or passengers.
“All these we are doing to drive down to the barest minimum, the rate of road traffic crashes in the state. All we are soliciting is the support and cooperation of the general public to make our roads safer and more peaceful,” he added.
