Two brothers detained over the death of Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Nehemiah and David Adejo, were on Wednesday arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Kaduna on a four-count charge.
While Nehemiah was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, driving without licence and driving without authorisation of the owner, David was charged with negligent conduct while causing danger to person and property.
But the two brothers pleaded not guilty.
Prosecution counsel, Martins Leo, argued that Nehemiah be remanded in prison on the basis of a pending investigation on culpable homicide against him.
But counsel to the accused, Ibrahim Omachi, said his clients were first-time offenders and had already spent more than four weeks in detention.
After listening to the arguments from both sides, Magistrate Benjamin Hassan, granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N1 million with two sureties, who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and possess bank verification numbers.
Magistrate Hassan then adjourned the case to August 24 and 25 for hearing.
Arotile died on July 14, 2020, after a car driven by Nehemiah, her old classmate at the Nigerian Air Force Secondary School, NAF Base in Kaduna, knocked her down while trying to exchange pleasantries with her.
She sustained a fatal head injury in the accident, resulting in her death.