Police Arraign Okada Riders

Twelve commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders) arrested by the police at the Bar Beach Division, Victoria Island, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have been arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on a three-count charge of felony, to wit, invading the Bar Beach Police Station with kegs of petrol to set it ablaze.

The accused were remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons on the orders of the magistrate when they could not fulfil their bail conditions.

The police charge sheet revealed that the Okada riders invaded the Bar Beach Police Station and attempted to burn it down over false information that a police patrol van had crushed one of them to death.

Investigations revealed that the Okada rider they were referring to did not die but was injured when he attempted to beat the traffic light at IMB Bus Stop, Bar Beach and rammed into a waiting police patrol van at the junction.

Police report confirmed that the rider did not die because he was rushed to the hospital where he is being treated.

The police alleged that the accused acted on a wrong information and attempted to burn down a police station.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Inspector Benedict Unawunwa, are punishable under Sections 409, 249(D) and 451 of the Criminal Code of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Count 1 and 3 read: “That you, Iliya Papka, Solomon Tari, Bala Drambi, Haruna Hamidu, Sani Lawal, Ademola Ayodele, Bavozi Audu, Abass Hassan, Yakubu Zara, Tumbi Markus, Monday Zira and Saminu Buba and others now at large on 4 December, 2011 at about 1 p.m. along Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, did conspire to wilfully and unlawfully destroyed or damaged police sign post, threw stones, poured fuel at policemen and the station to set it ablaze.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. A. O. Adebayo, admitted them on bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like sum.

The magistrate also directed that the sureties must deposit N5,000 with the court registrar and adjourned the matter till 11 January, 2011 for mention.

— Paul Iyoghojie