A bus driver, Samsideen Kazeem, yesterday narrated how stoning an inspector with an empty ‘moin moin’ takeaway pack landed him in an Ikorodu Magistrate’s Court. Lagos.
“I’ve been begging him since I was arrested. I didn’t mean to stone the officer,”
“It was just an empty moin-moin takeaway pack. I even begged the DPO (Divisional Police Officer),” he said.
Kazeem, 33, a resident of Taiwo Olumoko Street, Owutu, Ikorodu, refused to stop when the commercial bus he was driving was flagged down by Traffic Warden Inspector Ohiafi Oboh on August 4, at AfriBank junction in Ikorodu.
The defendant said he got angry when the Inspector broke his side mirror with his baton while trying to forcibly stop his vehicle. It was in the ensuing altercation, that he aimed the empty pack at the officer.
When the matter was brought before Magistrate Adejumoke Olagbegi-Adelabu yesterday, a sober Kazeem, who was in handcuffs, was arraigned by the police on a one count charge of assault on the complainant, ‘who was performing his lawful duty.’
He pleaded not guilty and his lawyer, Obatayo Ebiwonjunmi, urged the court to consider community service for his client.
He argued that the matter was a simple one that should ordinarily be resolved out of court.
However, Mrs Olagbegi-Adelabu ruled that the defendant having pleaded not guilty, she could not foist community service on him. She added that assault on a police officer was a serious matter and the defendant would be allowed to defend his plea.
The defendant was admitted to bail in the sum of N50,000 and one surety in like sum. The case was adjourned to April 27.
