29th July, 2011
An Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Oyingbo, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria, has sentenced the former President of Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cabs Operators Association to six months imprisonment without an option of fine.
The former taxi drivers’ union president, Thomas Olatunji Oladipupo, of 14, Olorunsogo Street, Mushin, Lagos, has been standing trial before the court since 2010 on a four-count charge of unlawful seizure of the association’s corporate registration certificate, forgery, illegal possession of the association’s official documents and conducts likely to cause breach of the peace.
The offences, according to the prosecuting police officer, Mr. Ishaku Babaji, a police corporal, are punishable under Sections 440, 479, 249 and 88A (1)(B) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C. 17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
He had earlier pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was granted bail by the court.
Delivering judgement, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Joy Ugbomoiko, found him guilty on count two and sentenced him to six months in prison without an option of fine. She sentenced him to three months in prison with option of N20,000, fine on count four.
Mrs. Ugbomaiko struck out counts one and three because the prosecution did not prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.
—Paul Sanusi