Impact Stories
Tijani is an indigene of Oyo State, he came to
Lagos in 2007, while Samson is an indigene of Ogun State and
moved to Lagos in 2017. Both came to Lagos to work as drivers in order to take
care of themselves as well as their respective families back home. Getting to
Lagos, Samson stays with his boss named Tyson somewhere in Mushin.
Around 8:00 pm on the 2nd day of May 2019, Tijani
and his conductor after the day's work, parked their bus around Ap Bustop,
while Samson too decided to park his bus at Oando filling station; both
along Agege Motor Road, Mushin to eat after a stressful day like
they usually do sometimes. After eating, Tijani and Samson at their various
bustops, decided to rest and fell asleep afterwards.
Around 10:00pm, Tijani and Samson were woken up by some police
officers who were pointing torch at them and asking what they were doing. Both
tried explaining that they were tired at the day's job and wanted to rest a bit
before going home but fell asleep in the process, but to their dismay, they were
asked to get into the police vehicle, and driven to the police station.
On getting to the Police station at Olosan, Tijani and Samson
noticed many others who were also victims of the unprofessional and illegal
raiding. Tijani had the sum of N25,000
with him, and he opted to bail himself and his conductor with the money, but they
were told that they could not because the DPO has ordered them not to. They
were locked up in the police
cell, but the police released Tijani's conductor.
Tijani noting that his conductor was allowed to go freely, told
him to talk to their boss of his arrest so he could come to the station to bail
him. However, the next day, Tijani and Samson were charged to court for `Wandering
and Breach of Peace'.
On arraignment on the 3rd day of May, 2019, the Court admitted them
to bail in the sum of N 100,000 each
with other bail conditions, and remanded them in custody until they could
perfect their bail.
On the 16th of March 2021, Tijani and Samson met
one of the Lawyers at Headfort Foundation stationed at the Ogba Magistrate
Court (one of the Mobile Offices of our “Lawyers
Without Border” Project) and briefed her, the lawyer took their and
conducted due diligence on the case in the court to ascertain that the
information given by them both were correct. The lawyer ensure that a date was
given to hear the matter after the Judiciary's strike was suspended.
Upon the due diligence conducted by our lawyer, it
was discovered that the matter had suffered several adjournments because the
prosecution witness(es) was not in court and/or the Correctional Centers not
producing Tijani and Samson.
On the 13th day of July 2021, our lawyer upon realizing again that the prosecution's witness was not in court, even though witness summons was served on them, made an application for the striking out of the charges against Tijani and Samson. The Court granted that application, and they we
