The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Ogun begins recruitment of doctors, health workers

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has approved the immediate recruitment of resident doctors for the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH).

    This is in line with the interim recommendations submitted by the Administrative Panel he set up to look into the remote and immediate causes of the challenges facing the institution.

    Also to be recruited are nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and all other categories and cadres of healthcare professionals.

    Read Also: Abiodun expresses worry over scourge of depression

    Abiodun ordered that advertisement should be immediately rolled out in all departments where manpower shortage exists, adding that that recruitment should take immediate effect.

    In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin the nine-man committee chaired by Dr. Yemi Onabowale, the Chief Medical Director of Reddington Hospital, advised the government to recruit competent medical doctors to fill all the manpower shortage at the teaching hospital.

    The governor had frowned at the infrastructural and staff deficits facing the hospital during his visit in June. He had also promised to return the tertiary healthcare facility to its past glory.

    Inaugurating the committee, he had urged members to assess the operational modalities of the hospital and to suggest how to improve the standard in tandem with acceptable universal standard for medical training, research and tertiary health care services.

  • Court slams N.5m damages on ExxonMobil worker

    An Uyo High Court in Akwa Ibom State, presided over by Justice Margaret-Mary Udoma, has ordered Ms Mfon Abia to pay N500,000 to Mrs. Regina Udobong, the former manager, Public and Government Affairs, Joint Venture Operations of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, (MPNU),  as damages for libel.

    Justice Udoma, delivering judgment in Suit No: HU/375/2018 between Udobong and Abia, also ordered Ms Abia to write and publish a written apology to Mrs. Udobong in the same social media, the LinkedIn Online Professional Platform.

    The judge asked Ms Abia to pay N50,000 as cost of action.

    Read Also: Diezani paid $865,300 cash for jewellery, EFCC tells Court

    She said: “In the interest of justice pursuant to Order 20 Rules 1 and 9 of the High Civil Procedure Rule 2009 of Akwa Ibom State and the Supreme Court decision in the case of Banna Vs Telepower Nig Ltd (2007,144 LRCN pg.440 at 455 ratio), the instant motion on notice of 13/6/2019 is granted.”

    The judge ruled that the defendant (Abia) was guilty of falsely and maliciously publishing libellous materials concerning Udobong on social media in the LinkedIn Online Professional Platform to the entire world, read by numerous persons within and outside Nigeria.

    Udobong had sued Abia (a separated employee of the company in 2016) for allegedly denigrating her person and character, through sundry social media attacks between October 26, 2018 and November 4, 2018.

  • APP national chair arraigned for alleged forgery

    The National Chairman of the Action Alliance Party (APP), Kenneth Udeze, was on Monday arraigned at a Magistrates’ Court in Osogbo, Osun State, for alleged conspiracy and forgery.

    The accused was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, alteration and forgery.

    The police prosecutor from the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General, AIG Zone X1, Mr. James Famuyini, told the court that the accused conspired with others at large to forge documents of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and thereby committed an offence.

    The accused was also alleged to have altered the INEC document and presented same to the commission during the governorship primary election in Osun State last year.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Court remands AA Nat’l chairman, Udeze in prison

    Defence counsel Wemimo Animasahun urged the court to grant his client bail in self recognition, noting that he is a lawyer of 15 years at the bar.

    He prayed the court to grant the accused bail in the most liberal term, promising that he would not jump bail.

    The police prosecution opposed the bail for the accused person, saying he has been evading arrest for more than one year.

    Ruling, Magistrate Rofiyat Olayemi, who noted that the offences are bailable, said bail is a constitutional right of the accused.

    She granted the accused N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Olayemi said one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below level 5 and must be resident in Osun State.

    She added that the second surety must be an indigene of Imo State where the accused hailed from and must live in Osun State.

    The judge adjourned the case till November 5.

  • Three rape suspects remanded

    Three students of the Ondo State College of Health Technology, Akure, who allegedly raped a female student of the institution, on Monday appeared at a Magistrates’ Court in Akure.

    The suspects, Adeboboye Damilola, Blessing Michael and Eyitayo Charles were arraigned by the police following their alleged involvement in the rape of the victim from the Environmental Health Technician department.

    The accused, who allegedly committed the crime last month at “Barristers Lodge,” Olofinlade Layout, Oda Road, Akure were arraigned on an eight-count charge, which borders on armed robbery, rape, cultism and illegal possession of firearms.

    Read Also: Suspected hoodlums rape 16-yr-old girl to death

    The suspects were also alleged to have before the incident, raped a student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and attempted to forcefully have carnal knowledge of another woman, Miss Oladele Damilola.

    Besides, the defendants were alleged to have robbed Israel Segun and Adedayo Foluso of their money, phones and laptops at gunpoint.

    Police prosecutor Mr. Abdulateef Suleiman, who sought the remand of the accused in prison custody, was countered by counsel to the second defendant as well as counsel to the first and third defendants, Messrs. Banjo Ayelakin and Olutoye Adeyanju, as they argued that they were served with the application a few hours before the court proceeding.

    They prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable them study the application properly.

    Ruling, Magistrate Mrs. Victoria Bob-Manuel admitted the prayer of the counsel and ordered the remand of the accused in police custody.

    She adjourned the case till September 5.

  • Police arrest suspect for ‘killing’ motorcyclist

    Ekiti Police Command has arrested a suspect who allegedly killed a middle-aged commercial motorcyclist, Mr. Sunday Olorunleke, in Ado-Ekiti.

    He was allegedly stabbed to death in his home at Aba, Ado-Ekiti, last weekend.

    Command spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu said the suspect was nabbed following a tip-off.

    Ikechukwu, who did not reveal the identity of the suspect, said he would be paraded after completion of investigation.

    “I can confirm that we have arrested a suspect over the killing of Mr. Olorunleke.

    Read Also: Police arraign hotelier for ‘killing’ motorcyclist

    “We got a report of the incident last weekend and swung into action. Through our intelligence, we apprehended the suspect who allegedly stabbed the man. He is in our custody, we will parade him any moment from now,” he said.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased was alone in the house when the incident happened, as his wife and children had travelled. They returned on Saturday morning to find him in a pool of blood.

    A source, who confirmed the killing, said the incident might have happened between Thursday night and Saturday morning, adding that the man was seen in the neighbourhood on Thursday morning.

    The source said: “The deceased’s wife called some of their neighbours on Thursday when she could not reach her husband on the phone and they told her that they saw him that day.

    “We were shocked after the wife arrived on Saturday morning and met the door closed. She sought the help of people to break the door and found his body on the floor in a pool of blood.”

  • One feared killed, others injured as groups clash on Lagos Island

    One person was on Sunday feared killed and others injured after hoodlums clashed on Lagos Island.

    The crisis, which was said to have disrupted the annual Egungun festival, was allegedly caused by rancour within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    It was gathered that warring factions of the NURTW got street gangs from Oke-Arin, Sura, Apongbon and Agarawu/Idumagbo to attack their opponents, forcing people to run for safety.

    The Nation gathered that there had been tension on Lagos Island since Friday night, with  violent attempts by the factions quelled by security operatives.

    It was learnt that another violence erupted on Sunday at Apongbon, leaving a man identified as Junior dead and at least two others injured.

    Not satisfied, the gangs were said to have continued the fight yesterday evening, forcing people to flee their shops and houses.

    A source said the violence continued on Monday evening at Oke-Arin, forcing traders and workers to flee.

    “There was crisis along Simpson, by Sura. It was between Okesuna and Patey boys. People ran in different directions.

    Read Also: Six killed as suspected cultists clash in Ikorodu

    “The Egungun festival started today, but there has been tension in the area since last weekend. This festival will last several weeks and only God knows how we will survive the violence.

    “Before this Oke-Arin fight this evening (yesterday), there were attempts to attack the Agarawu/Idumagbo group early in the morning, but security operatives prevented it.

    “But they continued at Apongbon and killed one Junior. They injured at least two people

    “Those responsible for this fight are the Idumota and Oke-Arin boys and they are led by factional members of the NURTW,” the source added.

    But the police denied that death was recorded in the attacks, insisting that they had no such record.

    Spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he was only aware of the two who sustained injuries during Sunday’s clash, adding that the victims were taken to hospital.

    “The information I have is that there were issues there last weekend and two people sustained injuries. We do not have record of death and the police did not see any corpse.

    “The clash is connected to the NURTW issue. The street gangs have links with the union and warring factions are using them.

    “Three suspects were arrested. There is increased patrol in the area. The Rapid Response Squad (RRS), task force and other operatives have been patrolling the area.

    “The area commander said there was no clash today. People might have been running as a result of panic. They had issues on Saturday and Sunday, but the area is peaceful today (Monday) because patrols have been intensified.

    “The patrol is still ongoing. We are working on some names. There are names given among those that participated in the clash. Our men are working on them and picking them up.”

  • Task force kills terrorists

    The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) said on Monday that several Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists were killed last Saturday and their weapons destroyed in parts of Borno, Chad and Niger Republic.

    It disclosed this in a statement by its spokesman Col. Timothy Antigha.

    The task force said the equipment destroyed included weapons, ammunition and logistics at Tumbum Rego, adding that plans by the terrorists to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at Layi Koura in Nguigmi, Niger Republic, were foiled.

    “Air interdictions conducted by MNJTF and national Air Task Forces successfully attacked and killed several fighters and knocked out equipment last Saturday, as they prepared to launch an offensive on troops’ location.

    Read Also: Troops neutralise two terrorists in Borno

    “Battle damage assessment has indicated that the air interdiction had a devastating impact, as pockets of ISWAP build up and logistics hidden under trees in Tumbum Rego have been ruined.

    “ISWAP assets in Mallam Zuberu and Alagarno were also targeted and neutralised. Similarly, IEDs planted by ISWAP operatives in Layi Koura area of Nguigmi in Niger Republic were discovered and defused by troops.

    “In the past couple of weeks, ISWAP suicide bombers have struck at Kaiga-Kindjiria, a rural community in the Republic of Chad, as well as Gubio in Borno State in an effort to revamp its dream of establishing a caliphate in parts of northern Nigeria and other areas of the Lake Chad Basin.

    “This blow by the MNJTF will further plunge the leadership and followership of ISWAP into more despair,” said Antigha.

  • Workers arraigned for ‘stealing’ employer’s N2m

    Two employees of a laboratory company, Clina-Lancet Nigeria Ltd, Ikechukwu Duru and Oluwole Olalekan, were on Sunday arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly stealing N2million from their employer.

    Duru, 33, of 1, Onasanya Mogaji Close, Agboyi, Ketu, Lagos and Olalekan, 33, of 36, Agbole Street, Sunrise Lagoon, Ijeshatedo, Lagos are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against them by the police before Magistrate Mrs. Are Temitope Bimbola.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ingobo Emby alleged that the defendants committed the offence on July 17.

    He said the incident occurred at 3A, Babatunde Jose Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Read Also: Nanny ‘steals’ employer’s foreign currency

    Emby alleged that the defendants collected N2million on behalf of their employer and converted the company’s money to their use.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Bimbola granted them N500,000 bail each, with two sureties each in the like sum.

    She said one of the sureties must be a relation, show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addressed verified.

    The case continues on September 27.

  • Court remands three for alleged robbery

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday remanded three men at the Kirikiri Prisons for alleged robbery and assault.

    The accused, Taye Onafowokan, 23, Ayomide Ayobami, 22 and Leke Adebanjo, 20, whose addresses were not provided, are being charged with attempted robbery, assault and armed robbery.

    Prosecuting Inspector Victor Eruada said the accused committed the offences on April 10, at Ikosi, Ketu bus stop, Lagos.

    He alleged that Onafowokan, Ayobami and Adebanjo, armed with guns, robbed Ndubuisi Aguiyi of a Sunny phone valued at N15, 000.

    Read Also: Suspects arrested for ‘one-chance robbery’

    Eruada alleged that the accused also collected a Nokia phone valued at N8,500, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, power bank valued at N4,500 and a bag valued at N4,200 from Aguyi.

    The prosecutor added that the three men had assaulted Stanley Aghanwa and robbed him of an Itel phone valued at N23,000 and N24,500 cash.

    He said the offences contravened sections 298, 173 and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Chief Magistrate Mrs. M. I. Dan-Oni remanded the accused in prison and ordered that the case file be sent to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

    She adjourned the case till September 30.

  • Two arraigned for ‘threatening to kill’

    Two men, Ismail Sanni, 35, and Goriola Junaid, 39, were on Monday arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly threatening to kill the Chairman of Ferry Side, Ejalonibu, Ebute-Ero car park, Alhaji Mutairu Oke.

    They were also alleged to have maliciously damaged his properties valued at N2million.

    The defendants, of no fixed address, are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, malicious damage, stealing, threatening to kill and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace before Magistrate Mrs. M. A. Agbaje.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Tope Adegsie told the court that the duo and others at large committed the offences on August 30.

    He said the incident occurred at about 5pm, at Ferry Side, Ejalonibu, Ebute-Ero, Lagos Island.

    Read Also: Lawyer, two others arraigned for allegedly defrauding woman

    Adegsie alleged that the defendants damaged the office apartment of the complainant valued at N2million.

    “The defendants stole N500,000 from the complainant’s three bank accounts through the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards. They also stole his tax clearance, voter’s card and driving licence.

    “The defendants stabbed Monsuru Fasasi, a car park attendant to the complainant, on his right hand, back and inflicted a deep cut on his body,” he alleged.

    The prosecutor said the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by threatening to kill the complainant.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Agbaje granted them N200,000 bail each with two sureties each in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must produce evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified.

    The case was adjourned till October 9.