On September 5, a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court ordered the remand of Ganiyu Oyedepo, known as Koko Zaria, a leader in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in prison. Oyedepo is accused of assaulting actor Alhaji Ade Adele, also called Baba Lawori.
The court’s decision to remand Oyedepo followed his arraignment on charges of conspiracy, assault resulting in harm, and conduct that could lead to a breach of public peace. Chief Magistrate B. Sonuga issued the remand after Oyedepo entered a plea of not guilty. The charges were brought against him by the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID).
The prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, a legal officer with FCIID’s legal department at Alagbon, informed the court in case number B/40/2024 that the offenses took place on June 5, 2024, in Idimu. He alleged that Oyedepo conspired with some of his followers to assault Adele, resulting in a head injury from a bottle.
According to Animashaun, the charges against Oyedepo are in violation of sections 411, 173, and 168 (1)(d) of the Criminal Law Chapter C17, Volume 3, of the Lagos State Laws, with applicable penalties under section 168 (2).
The charges are “That you Ganiyu Oyedepo on or about the June 25, 2024 at Idimu, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, Lagos conspired to commit Felony wit: Assault Occasioning Harm and committed an Offence contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State
“That you Oyedepo on the said date unlawfully procured one of your boys (now at large) who unlawfully broke bottle and inflicted injuries on the head of one Alhaji Ade Adele and committed an Offence contrary to Section 173 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
“That you Oyedepo conducted yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace when you threatened and procured one of your boys (now at large) to break bottle on the head of Adele and committed an Offence contrary to Section 168 (l)(d) of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015 and punishable under Section 168 (2) of thé same Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos state 2015.”
Oyedepo pleaded not guilty to the charges, denying all allegations against him. His legal representatives, S. Bello and S. O. Ajetomobi, sought bail, arguing that the charges were eligible for bail and requesting the court to consider granting it under the most favorable terms.
Chief Magistrate Sonuga, after reviewing the submissions from the lawyers, granted Oyedepo bail in the amount of N2 million, requiring two sureties in a similar sum. The sureties, as mandated by the Chief Magistrate, must be individuals of reputable character, provide evidence of their means of livelihood, and reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
Furthermore, the court required the sureties to present proof of tax payments for the past three years and to have their addresses verified. The case was adjourned to October 29 for further mention. However, until Oyedepo meets the bail conditions, Chief Magistrate Sonuga ordered that he be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
