The police in Osun State have dragged three persons before an Osogbo Magistrate’s court for allegedly assaulting a male traffic warden, Oladele Femi, who had attempted to arrest them after breaching traffic rules.
The accused persons included a 31-year-old driver, Abioye Olufemi, and his two friends, Aremu Abiola, 29, and 34-year-old Bamigboye Adeola.
Police prosecutor, Sergeant Sunday Ajayi, informed the court that the accused persons attacked and assaulted the traffic warden on August 18, 2016 at about 5:00pm at WEMA Bank Plc, Station road, Osogbo. He said Olufemi, while driving his car, had failed to obey traffic rule before the warden stopped and attempted to arrest him.
But the driver, according to the prosecutor resisted arrest, alighted from his car along with his two friends and pounced on the traffic warden, beating him seriously.
Ajayi argued that the accused persons stoned the traffic warden and injured him on his left hand, adding that the three friends tore his uniform while raining blows on him.
Count three of the five charges brought against the accused persons reads, “That you (accused persons), did seriously assault one Traffic Warden GII Oladele Femi, while performing his lawful duty.”
The fourth count reads, “That you (accused persons) at the same time and place, conducted yourselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by stoning Femi and tearing his uniform while performing his lawful duty.”
The prosecutor stated that the offences contravened Sections 516 A(1), 356(2), 249(D), 355 and 197 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the five count charges. Their counsel, Najite Okobe, prayed the court to grant them bail, stressing that the offence was bailable. The presiding Magistrate ,Olubukola Olowolagba, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum. She ruled that the sureties should submit their passport photographs, tax clearance certificates and affidavit of means that would be verified by the prosecutor. The case was adjourned to October 7, 2016 for hearing.
