CITIZENS COMPASS–A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of one of the leaders of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Ganiyu Oyedepo, popularly known as Koko Zaria.
The NURTW leader is facing charges of assault on a Yoruba actor, Ibrahim Bello Sanya, popularly known as Baba Lawori.
The charges have been classified as a danger to the life of the actor.
Lawori had cried out for help on social media following the alleged attack by the NURTW leader.
Chief Magistrate B. Sonuga, on Thursday, August 5 2024, ordered the remand of Koko Zaria after he
was arraigned on allegations of conspiracy, assault causing harm, and conduct likely to disturb public peace.
The prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, a legal officer at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon, in a charge marked B/40/2024, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 5, 2024, at Idimu, by conspiring with some of his ‘boys’ to assault Adele.
In July 2024, the actor cried out via his Instagram Handle that he was assaulted by the NURTW leader while he was performing his duty as a compere of an event.
According to him, the incident occurred on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at the 2024 Idimu Day event.
He called on well-meaning Nigerians to come to his aide following the injuries sustained as a result of the assault especially when the boys of the NURTW leader attacked him with broken bottles.
The Magistrate told the court that the offences committed by the defendant, contravened sections 411; 173 and and 168 (l)(d) of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State and punishable under section 168 (2) of the same laws.
The charges read, “That you Ganiyu Oyedepo on or about June 25, 2024 at Idimu, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, Lagos conspired to commit Felony wit: Assault Occasioning Harm and committed an Offence contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State
“That you Oyedepo on the said date unlawfully procured one of
your boys (now at large) who unlawfully broke bottles and inflicted injuries on the head of one Alhaji Ade Adele and committed an Offence contrary to Section 173 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Oyedepo denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyers, S. Bello with S. O. Ajetumobi, moved for bail application, saying the charge against their client was bailable. Chief Magistrate Sonuga after hearing counsels’ submissions granted Oyedepo bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties, according to the Chief Magistrate, must be of of unquestionable character, with evidence of means of livelihood and must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction.
The Chief Magistrate also ordered the sureties to present to court evidence of three years tax, and have their addresses verified.
Chief Magistrate Sonuga, while adjourning the matter to October 29, for mention, however, remanded the defendant in the
Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS) custody, pending the perfection of the bail terms.
