James Oluwatosin Ogunsanwo, the ride-hailing driver accused
of conspiring with robbers to attack passengers, has denied the allegation.
The controversy began on Wednesday when an X user identified
as Itohan shared James’ profile online with a warning to other passengers.
She claimed that during a trip on Sunday night, James
deliberately parked under a pedestrian bridge in Onipanu, Lagos, pretending his
car had developed a fault.
According to Itohan, all door handles inside the vehicle —
except the driver’s — were broken, trapping her inside.
She alleged that while James pretended to fix the car, he
was on a call with accomplices who soon arrived and demanded money from her.
“If you order a ride and you see him, please cancel. He’ll
pretend something is wrong with his car and park so his gang can rob you,” she
wrote.
If you order a ride and you see him, please cancel. He’ll pretend something is wrong with his car and park so his gang can rob you pic.twitter.com/0EDQjoj6Tx
— Nevermind (@Big_Itohan) October 15, 2025
“All of his door handles except the driver’s side are
broken. You can’t get out. I literally had to climb out through the driver’s
side while he was pretending to fix the light and was on a call.”
However, in a video statement shared on X, James offered a
different account. He explained that his car’s dashboard lights suddenly went
off near the Onipanu bridge, causing him to panic and pull over. He insisted
the breakdown was “genuine”.
James said he asked Itohan to remain inside the car while he
fixed the issue, but she insisted on getting out.
He admitted the front passenger door handle was faulty but
said he helped her open it from the outside.
He also denied knowing the men who approached them, claiming
they were “area boys” who demanded money.
Hear the truth before you judge.
An honest driver deserves justice, not defamation.Public clarification on the viral claim against an inDrive driver.
Get the facts, not the fiction.@instablog9ja @yabaleftonline @dammiedammie35 #JusticeForTheDriver#LetTheTruthBeHeard https://t.co/tS79pG8PJv pic.twitter.com/CmHH4fu5Dk— OCB𓃵 (@420prodigee) October 16, 2025
According to James, Itohan herself intervened and negotiated
with them, eventually giving them N5,000.
“The incident happened on Sunday night. She ordered the ride
from Surulere to Mafoluku, Oshodi. The trip was supposed to end by 8:59 pm, but
while we were going through Ikorodu, right at the pedestrian bridge in Onipanu,
I noticed that all the lights on the dashboard went off and I started
panicking,” he said.
“I told her, and she asked me to park properly, so I parked
in front of a gate where I saw a man.
“I told the man I wanted to fix the car and asked her to sit
inside, but she said she wanted to get down. The front door handle is broken
but can be opened from outside, so I helped her open the door.
“I didn’t plan to rob anyone. My car broke down, and some
area boys came to me asking for money. I told them I didn’t have any. The lady
then asked how much they wanted, and that’s how they turned to her, started
discussing and negotiating, and she eventually gave them ₦5,000.
“They didn’t do anything to her or beat her. I didn’t ask
her to give them money, and I don’t know where they came from.
“The repair took about 20 minutes. When the car started
working, the boys insisted on getting money before leaving. After she paid
them, I took her home, and she didn’t say anything to me. I don’t know those
boys at all.”
Itohan, however, countered his version, challenging James to
report the incident to the police.
She maintained that he remained in his car while the men
confronted her in Yoruba, giving her the option to “make a transfer or get
robbed”.
“Can we both settle this at the station since I’m lying?
Three guys came and asked me to choose between making a transfer or getting
robbed in Yoruba. You sat in your car the whole time. Even after they were
done, I was literally begging you to start the ride,” she said.
“Your car didn’t break down. You said the headlight had
issues in the middle of our conversation, and almost immediately, you parked. I
told you we should move to a brighter area, but you still parked. I tried to
get out, but there were no inside door handles in three places, except yours.
“I quickly got down through your side. I tried opening my
friend’s door from outside, but it didn’t open. So, if you’re not an
accomplice, I think we both know the right place to tell our stories.
“You sat comfortably in your car while those guys were
asking me to choose between getting robbed or making a transfer.”
The conflicting accounts have stirred debate on social
media, with users divided over who is telling the truth. While many expressed
concern for Itohan’s safety, others questioned inconsistencies in her story.
No formal statement has been issued by the police regarding
the incident as of the time of this report.
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