P.M.EXPRESS reports that the inmates, Mohammed Aliyu and Adewale Ismail including Ada Monday, who escaped, were ordered to be remanded in custody at the correctional center pending the advice of the DPP for conspiracy and unlawful possession of arms under the Criminal law of the State.
However, while the inmates were being taken to prison custody at Kirikiri town for remand, they reportedly bribed Fatunbi and he aided their escape.
He then reported in their office that they escaped while he was taking them back to the prison after the Court session at Ikeja. He claimed that he was waylaid by a gang that freed two of the suspects.
The whole thing got exposed after the inmates, who escaped, were rearrested and they revealed how they bribed Fantunbi to facilitate their escape.
Thus, Fantunbi was handed over to the Police at SCID, Yaba, for investigation over his alleged conduct. After rounds of interrogation, he was found culpable and then charged before the Yaba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
The Police prosecutor from SCID Yaba with the Court prosecutor, Chekwube Okeh, told the Court that Ismail and Aliyu were arrested with firearms and were remanded alongside the third defendant, Ada Monday, before their escape aided by Fantunbi.
The prosecutors still prayed the Court to remand them pending the outcome of the legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
Then on Fatunbi, the charge read, “That you, Joseph Fatunbi, on April 6, 2023, at Ikeja, Lagos in the Ikeja Judicial Division did aid the escape of Mohammed Aliyu and Ismail Adewale from lawful custody and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 107 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015″.
He pleaded not guilty while the other three defendants’ pleas were not taken.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Linda Balogun, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.
The other three imates were arraigned on conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and escape from custody.
The matter was adjourned till 4th October 4, 2023, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody pending the availability of the DPP’s report while Fatunbi will face trial for aiding their escape from custody.