A 38-year-old man, Hussein Mohammed, yesterday defecated inside the dock at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court during his trial for alleged theft of a motorcycle valued at N65,000.
The accused was arraigned before Magistrate G. O. Anifowose.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused was panting in the dock and when his plea was to be taken, he defecated and urinated uncontrollably amid tears.
The court was forced to adjourn briefly following the development.
NAN also reports that the accused was immediately taken to the toilet to clean up.
Barely 20 minutes after, the court relocated to another room where his plea was taken.
The accused, who said he lives under the bridge at Iyana-Ipaja, pleaded not guilty.
The magistrate granted the accused N60,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.
Prosecuting police Inspector Racheal Williams said the offence was committed on January 13 at Aina George Junction in Ilupeju, Lagos.
Williams said the accused stopped the complainant, Mr Abdullahi Hassan, at the junction and asked him to give him a ride to the market area, claiming he is also a motorcyclist. The accused told the complainant that his motorcycle was faulty and that he was going to buy the part.
She said on their way, the accused offered to ride the motorcycle while the complainant took the passenger’s seat. “It was from their conversation that the accused got to know that the complainant just came to Lagos and that they are from the same state. When they were about getting to a police check point, the accused told the complainant that the police will arrest him for carrying a passenger and asked him come down. The accused told the complainant to meet him after the checkpoint. Shortly after passing the checkpoint, the accused sped off,” she said.
Williams said the accused was apprehended by the police.
The case has been adjourned to February 8.