The two brothers detained over the death of Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, have been arraigned.

The Cable reports that Nehemiah and David Adejo, were arraigned on Wednesday, August 12, before a magistrate court in Kaduna on a four-count charge.

Legit reports, gathers that 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.

His brother, David, was charged with negligent conduct while causing danger to person and property.

Brothers detained over death of Tolulope Arotile arraigned in court, granted bail. Photo credit: The Cable

The two of them, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Against the argument of the prosecuting counsel, the defendants' counsel requested for bail, saying his clients are first-time offenders and had already spent more than four weeks in detention.

The presiding judge, Benjamin Hassan, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N1 million with two sureties who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned till August 24 and 25 for hearing.

Arotile died on Tuesday, July 14, after she sustained head injuries when she was knocked down by a car driven by Nehemiah, her old classmate, at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna.

She died barely eight months after she was winged and conferred with special recognition.

A statement by NAF spokesman revealed: “Flying Officer Arotile died on 14 July 2020 at the age of 24, when she was inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force Secondary School classmate while trying to greet her.”

Before her untimely death, Flying Officer Arotile made significant and outstanding contributions to the war against terrorism, armed banditry and other forms of criminality in the country, flying several combat missions.

Reacting, Governor Yahaya Bello described the death of Arotile as shocking, devastating and a national tragedy.

In a condolence message signed by his spokesman, Onogwu Muhammed, Governor Bello described Arotile as not only a combat pilot but a fantastic aviator who reached the sky in her professional calling at a very tender age of 24.