12th April, 2011
Two taxi drivers who are members of the Self Employed Commercial Drivers Association of Nigeria (SECDAN), have been convicted by an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria for theft and assault.
The convicts, Babatunde Lawal and Isiaka Adebayo, P.M.NEWS gathered, had been on trial since January 2006 on a 10-count charge.
They were accused of attacking three members of the Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association of Nigeria at the Iponri Taxi Park in a bid to take over the park and convert it to their association’s park.
The police also alleged that they stole items belonging to members of the association.
In his judgment, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. S. B. Lawal found them guilty of theft and assault and sentenced them accordingly.
The first accused, Babatunde Lawal, was sentenced to five months imprisonment and given option to pay N20,000 fines, while the second accused, Isiaka Adebayo, was sentenced to six months imprisonment or pay N50,000 fines.
The convicted men were later moved to Ikoyi Prisons when they could not pay the fines.