25-Year-Old Driver In Trouble For Allegedly Stripping Female Passenger In Lagos

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A 25-year-old driver, Sodiq Olowolagba who allegedly beat up a woman and tore her hijab, was on Wednesday arraigned before a magistrates’ court in Ikeja, Lagos. Olowolagba, a resident of 37, Abarin Street, Meiran, Lagos, is answering charges bordering on breach of the peace, conspiracy and assault. The prosecutor, Inspector Clement Okuoimose, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 30, at Alakuko Bus Stop, Lagos. He said the accused and one other person, still at large, conspired to beat up and strip one Mrs Kafayat Rabiu.

Ikuoimose said the complainant boarded the vehicle of the accused and along the road, the accused stopped, saying he was no longer going to the complainant’s destination after collecting the fare. “The accused conveyed the complainant from Ikeja to Toll Gate and on getting to Alakuko, the accused with his conductor asked the complainant to come down; that they could not get to the last bus stop. “The complainant asked the accused to either return her money or put her in another bus. She insisted she would not alight from the bus until she collected her money back,” he said.

The prosecutor said further that the accused and his conductor applied force to push the complainant out of the vehicle. “The accused dragged the complainant from his vehicle and beat her up. Not satisfied with the beating, he tore her Muslim clothes into pieces, exposing her body to the public,” he said.

The offences, Ikuoimose said, contravened Sections 166, 171 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Section 171 prescribes a three-year jail term as penalty for offenders.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mrs Y. Okusanya, adjourned the case till April 24.

Source: Tribune