Ride-hailing driver kicks as X user accuses him of collaborating with robbers to attack her

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James Oluwatosin Ogunsanwo, a ride-hailing driver accused of working with robbers to target passengers, has rejected the claims against him.

The controversy emerged on Wednesday after an X user identified as Itohan shared James’ profile online, warning others to avoid taking rides with him.

According to Itohan, during a trip on Sunday night, James deliberately stopped under a pedestrian bridge in Onipanu, Lagos, claiming his vehicle had broken down. She alleged that all the door handles inside the car, except the driver’s, were disabled, trapping her inside.

While James pretended to fix the car, Itohan said he was on a call with accomplices who soon arrived and demanded money.

“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.

“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.”

James, however, presented a different account in a video statement on X. He said 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.

He explained that he asked Itohan to stay inside the vehicle while he tried to fix the issue, but she insisted on leaving. James admitted the front passenger door handle was faulty but said he assisted her in opening it from the outside.

He also denied any connection to the men who approached, claiming they were “area boys” demanding money. According to James, Itohan herself interacted with them and ultimately gave 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, maintained her version and challenged James to take the matter to the police. She said he stayed inside the car while the men confronted her in Yoruba, forcing her 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 incident has sparked debate on social media, with opinions divided. While some users expressed concern for Itohan’s safety, others questioned inconsistencies in her account.

Watch him speak below…

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

#UberDriver

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