The Ebute Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered the remand of the leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Shamsideen Oladiti, popularly known as Shameleon, at a correctional facility pending legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Oladiti, 55, was arraigned on Tuesday on a three-count charge of assault and murder following investigations by the Lagos State Police Command. The court’s decision comes in the wake of mounting concerns over violent clashes and alleged lawlessness linked to some members of the transport workers’ union in Lagos.
According to the police, Oladiti was arrested after allegedly attacking a dispatch rider on Lagos Island. The suspect was said to have used his helmet and fists during the assault, inflicting serious bodily harm on the rider.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, the police disclosed that this was not the first time Oladiti had been reported for violent conduct. A separate complaint was earlier lodged against him in relation to an incident that occurred on August 28, 2025.
During that altercation, Oladiti allegedly used a metallic ring to repeatedly strike one Imam Ramon on the head and face, causing grievous injuries. Despite receiving medical treatment, Ramon succumbed to his injuries on September 17, 2025. His remains have since been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy as investigations continue.
Following his arrest, Oladiti was held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, where detectives compiled evidence before arraigning him in court. After hearing the charges, the Chief Magistrate ordered his remand and adjourned the matter to October 28, 2025. The case file is also to be duplicated and forwarded to the state DPP for legal advice, which will determine whether he is to stand trial before the High Court.
The death of Ramon has already sparked tension within Lagos Island. Reports indicated that sympathisers stormed the suspect’s office at the Sandgrouse Market in protest shortly after news of the victim’s passing broke. In the chaos, two motorcycles belonging to Oladiti were allegedly set ablaze, further heightening unrest in the area.
The incident has reignited public debate about the conduct of some NURTW leaders and members, many of whom have been accused of harassment, extortion, and the use of brute force in resolving disputes. Critics argue that such violent tendencies undermine law and order and endanger the lives of ordinary citizens.
Residents and traders in the affected area have since called on the Lagos State Government to clamp down on excesses within the union, warning that unchecked violence by its officials could escalate into wider security concerns. We cannot continue to live under constant fear of attacks from people who are supposed to serve commuters, one trader at Sandgrouse Market lamented.
Police authorities, on their part, have assured the public that the case will be pursued to its logical conclusion. No one is above the law, regardless of their position or influence. Justice will take its course, the police spokesperson added.
As the legal process unfolds, the remand of Shamsideen Oladiti has been seen by many as a test of the justice system’s resolve to hold powerful figures accountable. The case also highlights the urgent need for reforms within Nigeria’s road transport unions to curb the cycle of violence and restore public trust.