Court session suspended after ex-NURTW boss slumps during trial in Oyo

By Adejayan Gbenga –

Proceedings at the Oyo State High Court, sitting at Ring Road, Ibadan, were abruptly halted on Tuesday following the sudden collapse of a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as Auxiliary.

The incident occurred during the hearing of a criminal case marked Suit No: I/74c/2024 — The State vs. Mukaila Lamidi (Auxiliary). The defendant, seated in the courtroom awaiting the call of the matter, suddenly slumped.

The unexpected development caused panic among lawyers, court officials, and other attendees. Security personnel and court staff quickly attended to the defendant.

As a result, the presiding judge, Justice Bayo Taiwo, was unable to continue with the day’s proceedings, leading to the suspension of the court session. Auxiliary was immediately evacuated from the courtroom and returned to the clinic at the Agodi Correctional Centre, where he is currently held, for urgent medical attention.

The former NURTW chairman is standing trial on a 17-count charge, including armed robbery, murder, attempted murder, and unlawful possession of firearms.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences involve the possession and use of an AK-47 rifle and two submachine guns (SMGs), along with their accompanying magazines.

The charges are said to be connected to incidents that reportedly occurred on May 29, 2023, at about 2:00 p.m., near the Ikolaba residence of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan.

At the time of filing this report, details of the defendant’s medical condition and the court’s next steps remained unclear.