KINGSLEY EBERE
The Commissioner of Police Tactical Squad team, Gbagada, Lagos led by CSP Fagade Mutiu, had a nasty experience after his team arrested a suspect, Derick Joseph and he dislodged his officers and escaped from cell.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 23rd February, 2026, at the Police station where the 26-year old Joseph was detained.
The escape caused a lot of confusion at the station and the Commander, CSP Mutiu, gave the officers on duty order to get him or they will be reprimanded for misconduct.
Thus, the officers began manhunt for Joseph, eventually arrested, brought him back to the station and detained him for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
The suspect was arrested at Adabale Street, Oworo, Lagos for alleged unlawful assembly to put fear into people in the neighborhood on reasonable ground to disturb public peace.
He was detained in the Police cell but he jumped out of the cell and escaped to an undisclosed place. He was later rearrested and detained at the station.
He was consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and escape from lawful custody under the Criminal Law of the State.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Derick Joseph ‘M’ with others at large on the 23rd day of February, 2026, at about 12:30pm at Adabale Street, Oworo, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did unlawfully assemble yourselves in a manner likely to cause fear to people’s lives in the neighborhood on reasonable ground to disturb public peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 44 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Derick Joseph ‘M’ on the 26th day of February, 2026, at about 2:00pm at Command Tactical Squad cell, Gbagada, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did escape from lawful custody by jumping from the Police cell and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 106 (A) (B) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions