- Safiu Kehinde
A Nigerian human rights activist, Balogun Adewale, has disclosed alleged plot by the Lagos State Chapter’s Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Adekunle Mustapha, popularly known as Sego, to manipulate the case of the union’s member, Shamusideen Oladiti, who was accused of killing a commerical tricycle (Marwa) passenger and brutalizing a dispatch rider.
NPO Reported the arrest of Shamusideen, popularly known as Shamelon, last week following the death of one Ramon.
The deceased was reported to have died of the injuries he sustained from Shamelon’s brutal assault on him while trying to intervene between the NURTW official and the operator of the tricycle he boarded in Lagos Island.
Video from the incident which occurred in August showed moment the late Ramon was dragged from the Marwa by Shamelon to a spot where he repeatedly punched in the face with a metallic ring.
The Marwa passenger tragically succumbed to the injury on the 17th of September, the day same Shamelon was captured in a video brutalising a dispatch rider who would be rushed to a hospital and placed on oxygen as a result of the assault.
Ramon’s death had sparked outrage with residents taking to the street and burning two motorcycles belonging to Shamelon before his arrest by the Lagos State Police Command.
The Police had since detained the hoodlum with its spokesperson assuring that he will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
Meanwhile, the NURTW Chairman, Sego, had in reaction to the incident distance himself from Shamelon’s actions.
Sego, in a statement issued last week Friday, called for thorough investigation and justice as he condemned the act, stressing that it does not define what the union stands for.
However, the Lagos NURTW Chairman was accused by Mustapha of plot to manipulate the case.
The activist in a post on his Facebook handle on Tuesday alleged that Sego is working alongside the police to vindicate Shamelon by doctoring the autopsy of the late Ramon to favour the suspect.
Mustapha however warned the Lagos NURTW Chairman against manipulating the case.
“Adekunle Mustapha Sego, the Lagos State NURTW boss, is reportedly working tirelessly behind the scenes with the police to manipulate the murder case involving Shamusideen Adio Oladiti, popularly known as SHAMELON, by pushing for a doctored autopsy report that favours the killer.
“Sego, it is said that no one warns a child against contracting leprosy if the child is bold enough to live alone in the forest — “Wọn kii sọ fún ọmọde kí ó má d’ẹtẹ tí ó bá ti lè dàgbé inú igbó.” Try it, since you boast of being the “king of boys” who can do and undo. Go ahead — and you will surely know how far.” He wrote.