Metro

Court Remands NURTW Official In Correctional Centre Over Tricyclist’s Death

Published

2 months ago

October 1, 2025

A Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ebute Meta yesterday ordered the remand of a National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) official, Samsideen Oladiti, also known as Shamelon, at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre over the death of a tricyclist in Lagos. Oladiti was arraigned before the court on a three-count charge for the first time since his arrest by the Lagos State Police Command.

The 55-year-old NURTW official allegedly attacked a dispatch rider, Omale Samuel, on September 17, 2025, at about 3:00 p.m. on Lagos Island, using a helmet and his fists to inflict serious injuries. The victim was rushed to hospital, placed on oxygen, and is still receiving treatment.

The following day, at about 11:00 a.m., police said another complaint was lodged against Oladiti in connection with an incident on August 28, 2025. During the altercation, the suspect allegedly used a metallic ring to repeatedly strike one Imam Ramon on the head and face, leaving him with severe injuries. Despite medical intervention, Ramon was confirmed dead by a doctor on September 17. His body has since been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.

Oladiti appeared before Chief Magistrate A. O. Akinde at Court 2, Ebute Meta, wearing a hooded black top and trousers, a face mask, and holding Islamic prayer beads. He stood in the dock as the three-count charge was read to him in English. He was called into the dock at 10:38 a.m. and exited at 10:53 a.m. after the magistrate ordered his remand at the correctional centre until October 28, 2025.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Shamusideen Oladiti, on August 27, 2025, at about 10:00 a.m., at Lewis Street, Lagos Island, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did unlawfully beat Imam Ramon with fist blows all over his body, causing him harm. He was rushed to Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina, Lagos, where he later died, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. ”

Second-in-Command, Legal, Lagos State Police Command, Anthony Iyeye, said: “The case is a capital offence. Since he could not take a plea, the file will be duplicated and taken to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.”

When asked about the accomplices seen in a video of the incident, he said: “We have only been able to apprehend the one we charged, but the police are still looking for others.”

Also speaking, Uthman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Human Rights Committee said: “We were briefed by the family of the deceased to watch their brief. The court reviewed the file and determined that a prima facie case has been established against the defendant.”

Speaking at the court premises, the assaulted dispatch rider, Omale Samuel, said: “I was on the other side of the road to carry goods and I climbed on my bike to leave when he came to me saying that I was blocking the road and that dispatch riders are stubborn. He dragged my helmet and started using it to hit me. Others came and said, ‘Don’t you know Shamelon?’ And they started beating me.

They pushed me down and called the police to arrest me.

“I was taken to the police station and they realised that they could not keep me there because of my condition. I woke up three hours later and a police officer told me that I was placed on oxygen. I was told to return to the station the next day. I got there and saw a crowd of people and I was told he had been arrested.

“I haven’t been able to work since September 14, 2024, and I have been living off people. I want justice. I want the court to give me justice.”

Metro

Sowore Arraigned Over Alleged Cybercrime

Published

49 minutes ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned politician and online publisher Omoyele Sowore before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime offences.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate, faced a five-count charge accusing him of defaming President Bola Tinubu by calling him a criminal in posts on X and Facebook. The DSS claims that his actions violate the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as the Criminal Code Act.

At the hearing, Justice Mohammed Umar granted Sowore bail on self-recognition. However, the court imposed strict conditions, barring him from making any statements capable of inciting the public or undermining national security. The judge warned that any violation of these conditions would lead to immediate revocation of his bail.

Justice Umar noted that Sowore, who previously contested for the presidency, was already under bail conditions with his international passport held by the court. He said these factors justified granting him bail without a monetary surety.

The arraignment on Tuesday came after two earlier attempts were unsuccessful. DSS counsel, Akinolu Kehinde (SAN), attributed the delays to legal obstacles introduced by Sowore’s defence team.

Sowore pleaded not guilty to all charges. His lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, also filed a fresh bail application during the proceedings, which the court considered before ruling.

Two other defendants — X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Inc. — are listed in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025. The DSS claims that these companies aided Sowore in publishing the posts allegedly containing defamatory statements against the president.

The case is the latest in a series of legal battles involving Sowore, who has in the past faced arrests and charges over his activism and online publications.

The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, under which Sowore was charged, criminalises the online publication of false statements that can harm individuals or public institutions. The law also empowers the government to hold social media companies accountable if they facilitate the spread of such content.

Sowore’s arraignment has drawn reactions on social media, with supporters describing the charges as politically motivated, while others argue that public figures must exercise caution in their statements online.

Metro

Alleged Cybercrime: Court Grants Sowore Bail

Published

1 hour ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Abuja Federal High Court, on Tuesday, granted former presidential candidate and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, bail on self-recognition, cautioning him to refrain from making any utterances that could incite the public against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sowore’s bail followed his arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS) before the court on a five-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime.

In the five-count charge, Sowore is accused of allegedly making derogatory remarks about President Tinubu on his social media handles.

Sowore, who is the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to him.

Earlier in the proceedings, his counsel, Marshall Abubakar, had raised a motion challenging the competence of the suit, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction.

The prosecution objected, stating they had only just been served with the processes and needed time to respond.

In a short ruling, Justice Umar held that the objection on jurisdiction was not ready for hearing because the prosecution was served that morning, adding that the defendant needed to give them adequate time to file a counter-affidavit.

He then directed that the charges be read to the defendant.

When the charge was read, Sowore pleaded not guilty; his counsel applied for bail on self-recognition. The prosecution, however, opposed the application, arguing that Sowore posed a flight risk.

Justice Umar, in ruling on the bail request, granted Sowore bail on self-recognition and adjourned the matter to January 19, 2026, for trial.

Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019, was accused of contravening the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Criminal Code Act by calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal

The two other defendants listed in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, are X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp.

Metro

Delta: Suspected Kidnapper Killed In Gun Battle With Police

Published

7 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

A suspected kidnapper has been killed during a gun battle with operatives of the Delta State Police Command in collaboration with Community Volunteers in Obiaruku Forest.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer,SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.

“Operatives of the Command State Anti-Cult Unit (SACU), in collaboration with community volunteers, were on intensive patrol when they received credible intelligence that suspected kidnappers were mobilising within the Obiaruku forest to carry out an attack.

“Acting swiftly on the information, the operatives advanced towards the location to forestall the planned criminal activity,” the statement said.

According to Edafe, on approaching the area, the suspects opened fire from multiple directions in a bid to repel the team.

“The operatives responded with superior firepower, leading to the death of one suspect, while others escaped into the forest with various degrees of injuries.

“One AK-47 rifle with forty-two rounds of live ammunition, nine mobile phones, and charms were recovered,” the statement added.