John Chikezie 
A 37-year-old defendant, Elijah Shokoya Monday told an Ikeja High Court, Lagos that he was assaulted by police officers who obtained his statement over the death of an officer of the Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), one Mr Olawale Akinmade.
Shokoya, a driver, is currently standing trial for allegedly causing the death of the LASTMA official on January 26, 2021 on the Ikorodu Expressway by Demurin Junction, Ketu, Lagos.
The defendant, who allegedly knocked down Akinmade with his Opel car with registration number AAA 74 GG, accused two police officers of assaulting him on January 27 in an attempt to force him sign a written statement at the station.
Shokoya made this accusation during a trial-within-trial to determine whether his police statement was obtained under duress.
Led in evidence by the defence counsel, Mrs Abiodun Kolawole, Shokoya testified in Yoruba language which was then interpreted into English.
He said that he gave his police statement in the morning of January 27, a day after he was apprehended by authorities.
