Nehemiah Adejoh, the suspect who drove the car that killed Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile has said the accident was in error as he never intended to kill her.
The suspect told a Kaduna magistrates court on Thursday that he mistakenly ran over the deceased,
Adejoh was reported to be the one behind the steering of the vehicle that knocked down Arotile on July 11 before she was pronounced dead at the Nigerian Air Force hospital.
But he, however, denied having any premeditated plan to kill her in his cautionary statement.
He explained that on sighting the deceased walking along the roadside at the Air Force base, he started reversing the car in order to exchange pleasantries with her but mistakenly ran over her.
The police have charged the suspect with culpable homicide as the Chief Magistrate, Danjuma Hassan ordered the suspect to be remanded in prison custody until Oct. 3 for further hearing of the case.
Meanwhile, Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said the death of late Arotle was so huge that the nation cannot forget.
He said the young female pilot fought for the peace of the nation both on land and in the air and died at 24 which remained a huge inspiration for both men and women in the country and beyond.
Gov. Bello stated this at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja where the remains of the late Flying Officer was laid to rest.
Meanwhile, former President Goodluck Jonathan on his twitter page described late Arolite as a “brave patriot who pushed her self beyond limits to demonstrate her uncommon love for our dear nation.
The former President said that his administration allowed females into the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) to train as combatants so as to give equal opportunities in the armed forces.