A suspect facing multiple criminal charges briefly escaped custody at the Ilorin Area Court on Wednesday, causing significant disruption before being recaptured.
Segun Samuel, who has four active criminal cases before the court, freed himself from leg chains using a broomstick concealed in his clothing, according to witnesses. The escape occurred minutes before his scheduled arraignment in one of the cases.
Samuel requested to use the restroom, a routine allowance. Once out of sight of security personnel, he sprinted towards the court’s perimeter fence, scaled it, and fled into the neighboring area.
A court staff member indicated Samuel appeared to time his request to exploit a lapse in vigilance. “He waited until just before his case was called. Then he asked to go to the toilet. That’s when he removed his cuffs and ran,” the staff member noted.
The escape triggered immediate panic within the court premises, disrupting ongoing proceedings and sending police and Nigeria Correctional Service officials scrambling in pursuit.
Samuel was subsequently rearrested at a building in the Oke-Suna area, approximately one kilometer from the court. Local residents assisted security personnel in locating him. He was returned to custody, allowing normal court operations to resume.
Authorities confirmed that the attempted escape will now be added to the charges against Samuel.
Prosecuting Officer, ASP Samuel Mayowa, provided details of Samuel’s current legal situation: “He has four active cases before this court.
He was sentenced to one year in prison on Monday in one of them, and to six months of community service in another. He was scheduled to appear today for the third case when he made the escape.”
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