BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Police in Osun State have said two suspects escaped one of its custodies in handcuffs.
The Force, however, disclosed that it later arrested a 22-year-old man, Akanni Ridwan, while the other suspect fled.
Ridwan, it was gathered, was in handcuffs with another suspect before both of them bolted away to an unknown destination where they allegedly destroyed the handcuffs.
The duo allegedly committed the acts on March 2, 2023 at about 11:00pm at Gbonmi Area, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, capital of the state.
However, Ridwan was arrested by the police after the alleged jail break but his co-suspect escaped and has since been at large. After completing investigation on the matter, Ridwan was dragged before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court.
The Police slammed the two suspects with a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, escaping from lawful custody and possessing Indian hemp.
The charge read, “That you Akanni Ridwan and one other at large, on the 2nd of March, 2023 at about 11:00pm at Gbonmi Area, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, in the Osogbo Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit escape/malicious damage and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“That you Akanni Ridwan and one other at large on the same day, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully be in the possession of dried weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 430 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“You did maliciously damage police handcuff valued N10,000, property of Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“That you Akanmu Ridwan and one other at large on the same date, time and place, did escape from lawful custody with handcuff, property of the Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 135(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the allegations. His counsel, Suleiman Akano, applied for the defendant’s bail and promised that he would be available to stand his trial.
But, police prosecutor, Rasaq Olayiwola, objected the bail application on the ground that the defendant had escaped police custody and had tendency of abusing bail privilege if granted.
Magistrate A. A. Adeyeba granted the accused person bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in the like amount. One of the sureties must be one businessman and a biological relation of the defendant. The matter was adjourned till May 16 for hearing.
