BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Police in Osun State have arraigned a resident of the state for allegedly riding a motorcycle without functional brake and also assaulting a police officer while on duty.
The 43-year-old motorcyclist, Olaoye Moses, was accused of assaulting one Sergeant Bankole Abiodun while performing his lawful duty at Ota-Efun market square in Osogbo, capital of the state.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Akintunde Jacob informed the court on Tuesday that the defendant almost caused breach of public peace by mobilising crowd of people against the cop at the market.
Some of the counts slammed against the defendant read partly, “That you Olaoye Moses, on May 23, 2023 at at about 10 am at Ota-Efun market square in Osogbo did assault one Sergeant Bankole Abiodun while performing his lawful duty.
“That you (defendant) did conduct yourself in a manner likely to breach public peace by inviting the attention of mammoth crowd on police officer while performing his lawful duty.”
According to the prosecutor, the okada man didn’t slowdown for police officers who were crossing the road through the pedestrian route. He further noted that Moses’ motorcycle didn’t have brake and that he was operating without a driving licence around the area.
Jacob said the defendant committed offences contrary and punishable to sections 516 and 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He was arraigned on two separate charges and before two different Magistrate’s Courts in Osogbo.
Before Magistrate A.O. Daramola where the defendant was arraigned for riding motorcycle in a dangerous manner on public highway and without driver’s licence, Moses was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in same amount. The surety is to be a blood relation of the defendant.
Daramola adjourned the matter till June 27 for mention.
Meanwhile, Magistrate A. A. Adeyeba of another court where Moses was docked for alleged assault on police sergeant, ordered that the accused person be remanded in Ile-Ife Correctional Centre.
The Magistrate asked the defence counsel, Kehinde Adepoju, who had pleaded with the court to grant his client bail, to approach the court on May 26 for consideration of bail for Moses.
