Police Arraign TikToker Peller Over Coastal Road Confrontation
By Ranti Thomas
Popular TikTok content creator Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court alongside his associate, Bello Oladipo, over a confrontation with police officers along the Coastal Road in Lekki.
The duo pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, resisting public officers, obstructing police officers in the discharge of their duties and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
According to the police, the incident occurred on July 2 after officers stopped Peller’s vehicle for allegedly being driven without a registration number plate.
Police alleged that instead of complying with their directives, Peller and his associate obstructed officers carrying out their lawful duties and recorded the encounter, which later went viral on social media.
Peller had earlier claimed that he had only recently purchased the vehicle and therefore had not yet obtained a number plate. He also alleged that some officers became aggressive during the encounter.
The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiring to resist public officers, obstructing ASP Agbede Victor and three other officers while they were performing their official duties and engaging in conduct capable of causing a breach of public peace.
After taking their pleas, the court admitted both defendants to bail in the sum of ₦500,000 each with two sureties. One of the sureties must be a blood relative, while both are required to present valid tax clearance certificates covering the previous two years.
The magistrate subsequently adjourned the matter for the continuation of trial as both defendants remain on bail pending further court proceedings.