HAZEEM GBOLARUMI, JAFETOE CENTER STEP IN AS MAN ARRAIGNED IN IBADAN COURT FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING PHONE, DESTROYING N30,000 POT OF STEW

By Seyifunmi Odunuga 

​A touch of compassion has entered the corridors of justice in Oyo State as a prominent political figure, His Excellency, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, alongside the Jafetoe Center for Human Rights, has intervened in the case of a man arraigned before an Ibadan Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing a mobile phone and destroying a vendor's pot of stew.

​The defendant, Olabisi Matthew, was brought before the Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Omi-Adio, presided over by Magistrate M.O. Adebowale (Mrs.), on a two-count charge bordering on stealing and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

​According to the charge sheet signed by the Divisional Police Officer of Apata, Ibadan, CSP Yemisi Olawoyin, the defendant allegedly committed the offense on June 6, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m. at Boye Hotel, Apata-Ibadan.

 Matthew was accused of stealing a Tuffi smartphone valued at N165,000, property of one Ayeobasan Hanniah, an offense punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap. 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

​In the second count, the police alleged that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by jumping on a pot of stew valued at N30,000, belonging to one Iyabo Kayode, contrary to and punishable under Section 249 of the same Criminal Code.

​The situation took a dramatic turn following reports that the defendant had no family members available to secure his freedom and that there was no concrete evidence initially presented to link him directly to the alleged theft. Moved by the suspect's plight, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi stepped forward in a compassionate gesture to offer assistance.

​Fulfilling the politician's promise to ensure justice and fair hearing, the Jafetoe Center for Human Rights immediately took up the matter. The legal team, comprising Barrister Olawale Ojoge Daniel and Barrister Mrs. Bola Ojoge Daniel, has officially entered the case to defend Matthew and facilitate his release.

 During the court proceedings, the presiding magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum. As part of the bail conditions, the surety must be a blood relation residing within Ibadan, possess a valid means of identification, and provide passport photographs.

​With the legal intervention of the Jafetoe Center and Gbolarumi's platform, efforts are currently underway to meet the bail requirements before the next adjourned date. The matter has been adjourned to June 25, 2026, for further hearing, while the Investigating Police Officer, PC Iyayi Rhoda of the Apata Police Station, continues tracking the case.