The Lagos State Fire Service announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Waheed Balogun for attacking one of the agency’s officers who was working in the Ikotun neighborhood of Lagos State.
Ololade Agboola, the deputy director of public affairs for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, revealed this in a statement that was provided to PUNCH on Tuesday.
Agboola reported that the suspect was arraigned before Magistrate A.A. Adesanya of the state’s Oshodi Special Offenses (Mobile) Court.
According to Agboola, “Waheed Balogun, 40, has been officially charged by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service for allegedly assaulting a firefighter on Monday, October 1, 2023, at 167 Egbe Road, Cele Egbe, Ikotun, Lagos, while doing official duties.
“Balogun claims that the firefighters’ fire truck interfered with his tricycle/motorcycle park business. He was then taken into custody by the Lagos State Special Offenses and Environmental Task Force last Thursday, and he is currently being prosecuted at the Lagos State Special Offenses (Mobile) Court in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos.
She went on to say that after the defendant was arraigned, Magistrate Adesanya gave him bail in the amount of N200,000 along with two sureties in the same amount. The matter was postponed until December 19 in order to have another hearing. Balogun has been granted bail under particular circumstances by presiding Magistrate A. A. Adesanya. These restrictions include the offender’s payment of a bail amount of 200,000 Naira and the presence of two sureties who meet certain requirements.
Residence in Lagos, employment as a public official or clergyman, two years’ worth of tax payment receipts, LASSRA card, and National Identity Number (NIN) are required. All parties concerned will have additional time to complete their cases since the court has postponed the hearing to December 19, 2023, according to Agboola.
In a statement published on its X page on Sunday, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reiterated its determination to prosecute the accused.
The announcement said, in part, “On Monday, November 20, 2023, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service will prosecute a male adult at the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offenses Court, Safety Arena, Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, for attacking firemen performing their statutory duties.
“The accused allegedly attacked firefighters attending a fire incident on Monday, October 1, 2023, at 167 Egbe Road, Cele Egbe, Ikotun, Lagos.
The accused stated that a confrontation resulted from the firefighters interfering with his tricycle/motorcycle park business.
“State Task Force officers pursued and arrested the accused last Thursday after the altercation; he is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow.”