By Abdulwahab Abdulah

LAGOS — A 25-year-old suspected textile thief, Friday Onochie, yesterday escaped from a transit cell at the premises of the Ikeja High Court, Laogos.

Onochie, who was caught before he could make good his escape by joint efforts of policemen, prisons officials and members of the public, was said to have been arraigned for stealing before a magistrate, Mrs. Margaret Dan-Oni, early in the day.

However, while he was being moved to the transit detention camp located within the premises of the high court, he disengaged himself from the police who accompanied him and bolted.

The suspect, who allegedly stole clothing materials valued at millions of Naira, had pleaded not guilty to the one count charge.

Although he was granted bail by Magistrate Dan-Oni while the matter was adjourned till September 29, 2014, the magistrate had also ordered that he be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Eye witnesses said as the Police prosecutor was formalising the transfer of the suspect to prison officials at the transit cell,the suspect saw an opportunity of the on-going exchange of formalities and took to his heels.

He ran out of the court premises into Oba Akinjobi Way towards Police College in Ikeja G.R.A. but policemen, prison officials and some members of the public gave him a hot chase.

The development forced one of the policemen attached to the cell to fire a  warning shot which only made him to run faster.

The gun shot, however, attracted the attention of the policemen at the gate of the Police College who assisted in capturing the escapee. He was then handcuffed. Efforts to return him to the cell was also met with resistance as he kept shouting: “I have not done anything. I am a cloth seller. I have not eaten for three days.”