Category: City Beats

Residents of Magodo in Lagos have said there is no going back on the ban of commercial motorcyclists in the estate.

The Magodo Residents Association (MRA) said the Okada Riders Association Magodo Unit (ORAMU) have been quarrelling over the issue.

 ORAMU is insisting that its members have spent about 25 years co-existing with Magodo residents, and aiding the transportation challenges in the estate. It added that its members have also contributed financially and otherwise to the development of the estate, including providing security. This, it said, has made the riders more significant to the residents.

It was gathered that there have been talks of a transition from the okada mode of transportation to bus shuttle services.

Trouble started after MRA set up a committee comprising residents from the 21 zones to deliberate on what mode of transportation to adopt.

The committee, according to Mr Kunle Fashogbon, MRA Chairman, came out with a report that over 80 percent of residents preferred shuttle buses to okada .

In February, Fashogbon issued an ultimatum to ORAMU, that the okada uniform given to its members would be withdrawn by the end of March 2015.

But ORAMU chairman, Mr Abiodun Seyingbo, who met with Fashogbon towards the end of March, denied being aware of the ultimatum. He said he thought it was a rumour and pleaded on behalf of the okada riders for an extension. Fashogbon extended it till June 30,  when Oramu was banned from the estate. Okada transportation was then replaced with shuttle buses.

Seyingbo told our reporter: ‘’Rumours of transition from the okada mode of transportation to bus shuttle services had been on debate. After it came to our notice, we pleaded with MRA to give us six months but they said the deadline of our operation on the estate was 30th June, 2015. ORAMU has about 1000 members and these members have wives and children in schools.

“Although some residents might be complaining about okada, we can’t deny the fact that Okada is essential in this estate because not everyone owns a car. Even the residents patronise us when their cars become faulty.”

However, Fashogbon said the ORAMU chairman  was economical with the truth.

He said: “The decision of the house is that okada must be banned. We told them we would withdraw their uniform by March ending but the chairman pleaded for an extension and I voluntarily extended it. Okada riders want to take over the estate, gradually converting it into a haven for motorcyclists from the north. The worry of some residents is the risk the cyclists pose to the residents.

“Yesterday, I was telling one of the MRA executives that I’ve been praying that nothing happens to me because the okada riders have been mentioning my name all over Magodo that it was Fashogbon that banned them, not knowing that it was the decision of the residents.’’

He continued: “The okada has been replaced with shuttle buses and we have over 15 shuttle buses now and more are coming and people are very happy about it.”

Comrade Obinna Worgu, a Magodo resident and human rights activist, said: “The okada ban in Magodo GRA phase 2 can only be described as a show of power and overzealousness as everyone can see. I want to remind the MRA executives that we did not elect them into office to become lords over us, rather to serve us with respect and dignity.’’

An okada rider, Habeeb Musa, said: “We are not happy riding okada. It is because of the harsh economic condition. We are just doing it to survive so that we can meet our needs.’’

Another rider, who did not want his name mentioned, said: “The rich men in Magodo don’t want to see us; where do they want us to go? Don’t they know that we have wives and children like they do?”

One of the four Lekki bank robbery suspects has taken the police to court, asking for N1million damages for alleged unlawful detention.

In a suit at the Ikeja High Court in Lagos, Ebi Tosan prayed that the police be directed to release him on bail.

Respondents in the suit are Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Ikeja.

Tosan,  20, was paraded by the police with Duke Odogbo, 38, Lawrence Kingsley, 31, and Ekelemo Kuete, 30, in connection with the March 12 robbery of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in Lekki, Lagos.

The applicant, who was arrested on April 5,  claimed that it was unlawful for the police to keep him in detention without bail.

The matter could not be heard  yesterday when  it came before Justice Lateefa Okunnu because the police did not bring the applicant to court.

But  his counsel, Chief S.W. Baidi, complained that his continued detention without bail was an “infringement and curtailment of the applicant’s constitutional right to personal liberty, freedom of movement and presumption of innocence.”

He prayed the court to declare that Tosan’s arrest, torture and continued detention violated the applicant’s rights under Sections 34(1)(a), 35(1)(4) and 41 of the 1999 constitution.

In a 26-paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summons, Tamuno Amos, who claimed to be the applicant’s uncle, said his nephew’s continued detention was a deliberate act by the police to “extract a confessional statement from him on the alleged offence.”

Amos averred that he had not been allowed to see his nephew since his arrest on April 5.

The deponent said: “The applicant is suffering on daily basis without access to food, bath and other conveniences and he may die in custody unless granted bail.”

Last July 9, Justice Okunnu directed the police to produce the applicant in court yesterday. But, he was not brought, thereby stalling the hearing of his application .

Justice Okunnu has ordered that  Lagos State Attorney-General be joined in the suit.

She adjourned the matter till October 22.

The judge said if there was any urgency, the applicant could appear before October 22 before another judge who will be sitting during the court’s yearly vacation, which begins next week.