Two Men Arraigned Over Alleged Unlawful Detention, Forgery Of Apapa LG Document

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Two men have been arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Lagos State, holden at Surulere, for alleged offences bordering on conspiracy, unlawful detention and forgery.

The defendants were Ademate Adebola, 40 years old, and Adeniran Dosomu, 61 years old. They were arraigned before Court 4, Surulere, presided over by Magistrate Ms. G. O. Tiamiyu, in Charge No. SLK/37/2026, Commissioner of Police Vs Ademate Adebola and Adeniran Dosomu.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Divisional Police Officer, Bode Thomas Division, CSP Arit Abang, the prosecution is being led by ASP Jimah Iseghede, while the Investigating Police Officer is ASP Olaoye R. Agoro of Bode Thomas Division.

The defendants are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to cause breach of the peace, unlawful detention and forgery.

Count one alleged that Ademate Adebola and others now at large, on the 23rd day of June, 2026, at about 1300hrs at Eric Moore Junction, Surulere, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit conduct likely to cause breach of the peace. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 411 and punishable under Section 412 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Count two alleged that Ademate Adebola and others now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, unlawfully captured and detained one Akintunde Johnson Ajiboye against his will. The prosecution stated that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 271 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Count three alleged that Adeniran Dosomu, on the 30th June, 2026, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, forged a written document of Apapa Local Government bearing date 30/06/2026, with the signatory of one Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim Olanrewaju, when he is not a staffer of Apapa Local Government Area. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 363 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(c) and punishable under Section 365 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The charges were read to the defendants in the open court by the prosecutor, ASP Jimah Iseghede, and they pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Following their not guilty plea, their counsel, C. I. Momah Esq., applied for bail on their behalf on liberal terms. The counsel urged the court to grant bail on the grounds that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and will not jump bail.

In her ruling, Magistrate Ms. G. O. Tiamiyu granted each defendant bail in the sum of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) with one surety each in like sum.

The court ordered that the sureties must be responsible persons with verifiable addresses and that the bail conditions should be verified by the court registrar.

The matter was adjourned to 14th October, 2026, for trial while the defendants were remanded in custody at the Correctional Center in Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending perfection of bail conditions.

At the trial, the prosecutor, ASP Jimah Iseghede, is expected to call witnesses, including the complainant, Akintunde Johnson Ajiboye, and tender exhibits to prove the charges against the defendants.

It is important to note that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. The charges against them are mere allegations and the prosecution has the burden to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, the offences of conspiracy, unlawful detention and forgery attract prescribed punishments upon conviction.