Lagos arraigns man for assaulting firefighter

The Lagos State Fire Service has said it had begun legal actions against one Waheed Balogun for assaulting an officer of the agency who was on duty in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.

The Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ololade Agboola, disclosed this in a statement made available to PUNCH on Tuesday.

Agboola stated that the suspect was arraigned before Magistrate A.A. Adesanya of a Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting in the Oshodi area of the state.

Agboola said, “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has formally taken legal action against one Waheed Balogun, aged 40, for an alleged assault on a Firefighter during official duties on Monday, October 1, 2023, at 167 Egbe Road, Cele Egbe, Ikotun, Lagos.

“Balogun contends that the Firefighters obstructed his tricycle/motorcycle park operations with their Fire truck. Subsequently, he was apprehended by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force last Thursday and is now facing charges at the Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court, Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos.”

She stated further that upon arraignment, Magistrate Adesanya granted the defendant bail to the tune of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. The case was adjourned till December 19 for further hearing.

“The presiding Magistrate A. A. Adesanya has granted Balogun bail under specific conditions, requiring the offender to pay a bail amount of 200,000 Naira with two sureties in like some meeting the following criteria: Lagos residency, public servants or clergymen, two years of tax payment receipts, LASSRA card, and National Identification Number (NIN). The court has adjourned the hearing until the 19th day of December 2023, allowing all involved parties to perfect their matters,” Agboola said.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service restated the decision to prosecute the accused in a statement posted on its X page on Sunday.

The statement partly read, “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is set to prosecute a male adult at the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Court, Safety Arena, Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos on Monday, November 20, 2023, for assaulting firefighters engaged in statutory duty.

“The incident occurred on Monday, October 1, 2023, at 167 Egbe Road, Cele Egbe, Ikotun, Lagos, where the accused allegedly attacked firefighters responding to a fire incident.

“The accused claimed the firefighters obstructed his tricycle/motorcycle park operations, leading to a confrontation.

“Following the altercation, State Task Force officials pursued and apprehended the accused last Thursday, and he is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow.”