It was a nasty experience for Police officers attached to the Osun State Command after two suspected criminals were arrested and detained at the cell but they dislodged officers on duty and escaped with handcuffs.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 2nd March, 2023, at about 11:00pm at Gbonmi Area, Oke-Baale, Osogbo of State capital, where the suspects were detained for alleged criminal offences.
According to Police sources, the two suspects were arrested and detained in the cell but at night, they escaped to the embarrassment of the senior Police officers on duty including the rank and file.
The officers began manhunt for the suspects and eventually arrested one of them.
The 22-year-old Akanni Ridwan, who was later arrested, was in handcuffs with another suspect before both of them bolted away to an unknown destination, where they allegedly destroyed the handcuffs.
To avoid further embarrassment, Ridwan was charged before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court on a four-count charge for conspiracy, escaping from lawful custody and being in possessing of 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 defendant pleaded not guilty.
His counsel, Suleiman Akano, applied for the defendant’s bail and promised that he would be available to stand his trial.
However, the 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.
Presiding 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 16th May, 2023, for hearing.