Lagos State Police Command arrested a man, Gabriel Olayiwola, on Tuesday for allegedly releasing his German Shepherd on a police officer, as reported by local media.
According to Punch, the 30-year-old man was brought before Magistrate OY Adefope at the Yaba Magistrates’ Court on three counts of willful damage to property and threat to life. Olayiwola was accused of releasing the dog on the police officer at his residence on March 1, 2023, in an attempt to evade arrest after a dispute. The dispute reportedly led to damage to his roommate’s 2013 BMW X5 car valued at 3 million nairas.
Prosecutor Haruna Magaji informed the court that the offense contravened and was punishable under sections 351 (d) (1), 168 (d), and 245 of the Lagos State Criminal Law of Nigeria 2015.
“Gabriel Olayiwola, on the 1st day of March, 2023, at No. 18, Odogbolu Street, Off Princess Abiola Road, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos Magisterial District, did willfully set loose your German shepherd dog to bite one ASP. Oyagbola Jelili in a bid to evade arrest when he came to arrest you and thereby bit the said officer on his right shoulder, thereby inflicting serious injuries on him and committing an offense punishable under Section 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015,” Haruna Magaji stated in his requisition.
On his part, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. After deliberation, the judge granted him bail in the sum of 500,000 nairas and adjourned the case to September 22, 2023.
