Lawori, a well-known actor in Nigeria, has accused Ganiyu Oyedepo, also known as Koko Zaria, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, of attacking him with a bottle, resulting in a head injury.
The Nigeria Police Force has announced that they will investigate this incident, as confirmed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Lawori shared a video detailing the events that occurred at the 2024 Idimu Day event, where he was struck on the head with a bottle of alcohol.
He displayed the stitched wound on his head and appealed for justice, recounting how he was called on stage by an unknown individual claiming that the NURTW chief wanted to see him.
Lawori narrated, “As I went to meet Koko Zaria to greet him, he asked if I didn’t see them here. Then I apologised and said I would do the needful when I returned to the stage.
“I then heard somebody ask if I was Lawori, thinking that he (the person) didn’t know me and was meeting me for the first time. It was later confirmed to him that I’m Lawori.
“While I was talking with Koko Zaria and I turned, the man took a bottle of Martell (in front of Koko Zaria and his guys) and broke it on my head.”
The actor mentioned that he was covered in his own blood when he passed out from the attack. He remembered feeling the pain as his head was being stitched up at the hospital.
“Nigerians, please help me. It was Koko Zaria who sent someone to call me,” he said, adding that he doesn’t remember how he landed at the hospital.
“Save me from Koko Zaria, I don’t know my offence to him,” he pleaded.
On Monday, the NURTW chief, under the handle #kokozaria_americaboy, refuted the accusation on his Instagram page.
“Lawori has never offended me. We’re very close. I saw a video where he said I was the one who ordered the attack on him. What did he do to me?” he queried.
Oyedepo added, “Lawori, I don’t have anything to curse you (sic) but I want you to swear by all you have and your ambition that I ordered the attack.”
The NURTW boss added that while at the event, which had a large crowd in attendance, he contacted the star to meet him and apologized for not showing up for a job the actor had called him to.
Oyedepo claimed that when Lawori came to the stage, roughly two persons fought him because he (Lawori) had halted the music they were enjoying.
He noted that he didn’t go to the event with his boys, saying, “As you were coming from the stage, I saw that people were hitting bottles on your head. I took you to the hospital and you were treated. I stayed with you and paid your medical bill. I even gave you a wad of money. All these happened on Tuesday.”
He stated that he left the hospital with Lawori about 1 a.m., and that he was the one to notify the actor’s wife about the occurrence.
Oyedepo further stated that the actor contacted him on Wednesday and prayed for him to express appreciation.
“I know everything that’s happening. I know those who sent you. I hand you over to God,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PPRO, reacting to the video on X.com on Monday, wrote, “This will be investigated, and justice will be served. Many people have called me on this case. @BenHundeyin, @FCID_ANNEX, @LagosPoliceNG, @PoliceNG.”
