Okada riders allegedly beat police officers, damage patrol van

Two commercial motorcyclists, Jimoh Lasisi and Femi Ajayi, were on Wednesday brought before an Ejigbo Magistrates' Court in Lagos State, for allegedly beating up two police officers and damaging two police patrol vans. Lasisi, 43, and Ajayi, 35, are standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, assault and breach of public peace.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecutor, Insp Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendants and other commercial motorcyclists at large committed the offences on Nov. 22 and Nov 25, at Jakande Estate Gate at Ejigbo. He said that the defendants conspired and inflicted injuries on the police officers on duty.

According to the prosecutor, the officers included Insp Alulu Tunde and Wasiu Isiaka from Ejigbo Police Station. Aigbokhan said the defendant also damaged two police patrol vans. He said the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace by obstructing free flow of traffic on a busy road.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 44, 170(3), 250 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The Magistrate, Mr E. O. Ogunkanmi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500, 000 each, with two sureties each in like sum. He ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government. He adjourned the case until Jan. 19, 2022 for mention.