Prison warder arraigned for aiding inmates’ escape

A prison warder, Joseph Fatunbi, alleged to have aided the escape of some inmates, was on Wednesday arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, Lagos State.

He was, however, granted bail by Magistrate Linda Balogun.

Fatunbi was arraigned on one count of aiding the escape of two prison inmates, Mohammed Aliyu and Adewale Ismail, from lawful custody.

The other defendants were arraigned on four counts of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and escape from custody.

The police prosecutor from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti with the court prosecutor, Chekwube Okeh, told the court that Ismail and Aliyu were arrested with firearms, and were remanded alongside the third defendant, Ada Monday, before their escape.

They prayed the court to remand them pending the outcome of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

Fatunbi’s charge read, “That you, Joseph Fatunbi, on April 6, 2023, at Ikeja, Lagos in the Ikeja Judicial Division did aid the escape of Mohammed Aliyu and Ismail Adewale from lawful custody and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 107 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

The charge was read to him and he pleaded not guilty while the other three defendants’ pleas were not taken.

The magistrate admitted Fatunbi to bail in the sum of N500,000 and one surety, while she remanded the other three defendants to the Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending the DPP’s advice.

She adjourned the case till October 4, 2023.

Fatunbi allegedly collected bribes to free the Kirikiri Custodial Centre inmates while he reported that they escaped while he was taking them back to prison after their court sitting at Ikeja.

He reportedly claimed that he was waylaid by a gang that freed two of the suspects.