InDrive Driver Accused of Aiding Robbers Denies Allegations, Shares His Side of Story

An InDrive driver, James Ogunsonwo, has denied allegations that he worked with robbers to attack his passengers during a trip, after a viral post accused him of pretending that his car broke down so his supposed gang could rob customers.

The viral post, shared by an X user identified as @Big_Itohan, displayed the driver’s face, name, and vehicle details with a warning: “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.” The post quickly spread on X and WhatsApp, prompting public fear and debate.

Reacting in a video shared online on Thursday, Ogunsonwo, who has reportedly been suspended by InDrive, denied the allegations and narrated his side of the story.

He said the incident occurred on Sunday night when he was driving passengers from Surulere to Mafoluku, Oshodi. According to him, the car suddenly went off along Ikorodu Road near the Onipanu pedestrian bridge.

“I noticed the car went off and all the dashboard lights went out. I panicked and told the passengers something was wrong. They advised me to pull over, and I managed to steer to the service lane where I found a well-lit area near a gate guarded by a mallam. I stopped there to check the car,” he explained.

While trying to fix the issue, Ogunsonwo said the passengers insisted on stepping out despite his advice to remain inside. He called his mechanic, who instructed him to check the car battery. He found that one of three wires had cut off, reconnected it, and the car came back on.

He said two men later approached and began demanding money, asking for as much as ₦20,000. “I told them ₦20,000 was too much, that if I had that money I wouldn’t be out that night,” he said. According to him, the passengers then started negotiating with the men and eventually transferred ₦8,000 to them before he continued the trip.

“When we reached the lady’s house, she offered to pay for the ride and transferred ₦4,000 to me,” he said, adding that neither of the passengers was assaulted or threatened during the incident.

Ogunsonwo accused InDrive of suspending him without proper investigation. “Everything being said is a lie. InDrive didn’t ask detailed questions. I told them the car broke down, I fixed it, and completed the trip. Next thing, I was blocked,” he said.

He maintained that he has a clean record with other ride-hailing platforms, saying, “Uber and Bolt both rated me five stars. If anyone claims they were robbed in my car, let them come out and face me.”

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The viral post has divided opinions online. While some users urged caution, others accused the passenger of spreading false information and tarnishing the driver’s image without proof.

The Lagos State Police Command confirmed awareness of the case and invited both parties to come forward. “The Command is aware of the widely circulated post and is inviting the concerned parties to reach out via 09055390070,” said SP Abimbola Adebisi, the Command’s spokesperson, on X.

InDrive also responded to the viral post, saying, “We’ve reviewed the case and found no inconsistencies in the driver’s version. The review continues as we’re still trying to reach the passenger. We remain committed to ensuring fairness and safety for everyone.”