Madness: Driver in the dock for beating female passenger, stripping her of Hijab

A driver who beat up his female passenger and tore her clothes has been arraigned before a court in Lagos.

A 25-year-old commercial bus driver, Sodiq Olowolagba, has been docked at the Ikeja Magistrates' Court sitting in Lagos State, for allegedly beating and stripping his female passenger of her Hijab, the Islamic veil worn by some Muslim women to cover their heads and chests.

It was gathered that Olowolagba and his conductor, had conveyed the woman, Kafayat Rabiu, from Ikeja to the Toll Gate area along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway but on getting to Alakuko bus stop which is some kilometers from where Rabiu was going to, Olowolagba and his conductor told the woman who was the last passenger, that she should come down as they would not get to her bus stop.

But when she insisted that she would not get down as that was not the arrangement, the driver and his mate forced her down, beat her up and tore her veil.

According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Clement Okuoimose, the accused committed the offences on March 30.

“The accused conveyed the complainant from Ikeja to Toll Gate and on getting to Alakuko, the accused with his conductor asked the complainant to come down; that they could not get to the last bus stop.

The complainant asked the accused to either return her money or put her in another bus. She insisted she would not alight from the bus until she collected her money back.

The accused dragged the complainant from his vehicle and beat her up. Not satisfied with the beating, he tore her Muslim clothes into pieces, exposing her body to the public.”

Inspector Ikuoimose said the offences contravened Sections 166, 171 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, which prescribes a three-year jail term as penalty for offenders.

When the charges of breach of the peace, conspiracy and assault were read to him, Olowologba pleaded not guilty and the Magistrate, Mrs Y. Okusanya, granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum, while adjourning the case till April 24.