Yinka Johnson, a 35 year old banker who was alleged to have killed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Hameed Balogun while driving against traffic in Ajah area of the state, was on Tuesday arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate Court sitting in Lagos island.

However, Johnson was arraigned on a one-count charge of reckless driving and not manslaughter.

She pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Agoi Oluwagbemileke, told the court that Mrs. Johnson was arrested on the 10th of Aug at 8.30 am at Mega Chicken area of Ikota in Lekki, Lagos for recklessly driving against traffic.
The defendant (Johnson) was driving a range rover Jeep with registration number CY 276 LSD.

The prosecutor, said that she was caught driving on one way without reasonable consideration for other road users.
Oluwagbemileke argued that the offence is punishable under Section 29 (1) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2003.

He added “the accused refused to obey government officials who were trying to stop her from taking the road”.

But, defense counsel, led by Mr. Emeka Okpoko however urged the court to grant her bail arguing that traffic offence was a bail-able offence.

In applying for bail, Okpoko urged the court to grant her bail in liberal terms since the gravity of the offence was not severe.

He added that the defendant being a banker will not abandon her job adding that she is a nursing mother.

He further told the court that the defendant would always be available to attend to court proceedings.

Okpoko said contrary to newspaper publications, the charge before the court showed that the defendant was not the one that killed the LASTMA official.

The trial magistrate, Mr. Jacob Adegun, granted her bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

The case has been adjourned till September 5, 2012 for mention.

Johnson, who is an employee of Stanbic IBTC, was arrested by a traffic official for contravening the law.

It was gathered that the LASTMA official collected her car keys and was about to cross-over to the other side of the road when he was crushed by a fast moving car.