The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Rep: I’ll work for LCDAs listing in constitution

    Member of the House of Representatives, James Owolabi, has promised to work for the listing of the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State in the constitution.

    Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu created the 37 LCDAs in 2004 and drew the ire of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who withheld the state’s allocation for years.

    The Supreme Court ordered the release of the funds.

    According to Owolabi, this is the time to work for the listing of the councils by the National Assembly.

    He spoke with reporters at the weekend during his victory party at Ifako-Ijaiye Mini Stadium.

    The lawmaker, who represents Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency, said Lagos with over 20 million population was more than qualified to have over 60 local governments.

    “It is not a gainsaying that Lagos State deserves more from the Federal Government. It is the economic hub of West Africa. More developmental projects need to be brought to the state if we truly want Nigeria to develop,” he said.

    The lawmaker lamented that erosion was a “serious problem” in his constituency.

    He said he had visited several areas, promising to do all within his power to address issues confronting his constituents.

    Read Also: I will continue to fight for 37 Lagos LCDAs, says Adeola

    “Erosion is hitting my constituency seriously. We have this challenge and I have started going round to see this. This is my first priority,” Owolabi said.

    He said he was determined to be very close to the people at the grassroots and be their voice.

    “I want to advise my people to calm down, I am going to deliver. I am close to the grassroots. I have been contesting for so many years now, since 1995. I know what they what, people should calm down, I am going to deliver,” he said.

    The lawmaker said he would constitute an advisory committee comprising critical stakeholders in his constituency on the peculiar needs and challenges of the people.

    The committee, he said, would comprise members of Community Development Committee, Community Development Association, transport unions, market women, among others.

    Owolabi said the nation’s security challenges would be best handled by state police.

    A party leader, Alhaja Fatimah Balogun appealed to the National Assembly to fast track the listing of the LCDAs.

    The council, she said, is the closest to the grassroots, hence the need to be expanded and well-funded.

  • OPD trains 102 policemen

    One hundred and two policemen attached to the Area F Command, Ikeja have concluded a three-day intensive training on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJ) 2015.

    The training, facilitated by the Area Commander, Olasoji Akinbayo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), was done by the Office of the Public Defender (OPD). It focused on the rights of defendants/suspects, crime victims and complainants.

    OPD Director Yinka Adeyemi, who led trainers from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, said the exercise would improve policemen’s handling child sexual abuse, domestic violence, child labour, trafficking and exploitation, among others.

    The training, she said, would also enable the police to do their jobs in line with global best practices.

    “OPD took interest in partnering the police because of the way the Area ‘F’ Commander has been handling cases on areas policemen have earlier received training.

    Read Also: Policewomen get training in peace, conflict resolution

    “We discovered that he does his job with so much passion and professionalism. He came to us and said: Since you have this knowledge, why not come and share it with us (police). Since then, I must say there is enough cooperation between us. “They (police) need to be abreast with world standards in handling such issues. He has so much passion to change policing style in his area of jurisdiction,” she said.

    Akinbayo said he approached OPD following advice by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu for commanders to embark on training and retraining of their subordinates to drive reforms in the police.

    “I approached the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu, who was happy with the idea and he didn’t waste a minute in approving the training. I know it will change their (policemen) mentality and performance and we intend to embark on more training,” he said.

    A participant Bode Adia, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP), said they learnt what would change their orientation for better policing.

    Inspector Aleburu Sunday said the training broadened his knowledge on how to handle human rights and domestic violence issues, particularly how to interview child suspects and present such cases in court.

  • ‘Dead’ UBER driver recounts ordeal in suspects’ hand

    An UBER driver, Ekwomi Charles, given up for dead by his attackers, has lived to tell his story.

    He told Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives that he was dumped in the bush by suspected robbers, who thought he had died after being attacked.

    The suspects, Charles said, made away with his Toyota Camry, 2006 model.

    In a statement yesterday, RRS said three of the suspects had been arrested.

    RRS said they were arrested on Thursday in Lekki, Lagos on their way to sell the car.

    Daniel Alagor, 28, Samuel Effiong, 25, Emeka Okoye, a.k.a Tallest and three other suspects, still at large, on Wednesday night requested for UBER through Alagor’s phone line.

    Supported by one Blessing (still at large), Alagor told Charles to take them to Abijo GRA from Jakande Estate, Lekki around 11pm .

    Midway into the trip, Blessing, according to Alagor, told the driver they were going to a birthday party in Shoprite, Sangotedo, and that they were going to pick two of their colleagues up in Abijo GRA, Ajah.

    Charles said: “I agreed to pick their friends and drop them at the venue of the party as we were already in Abijo GRA. I noticed that their friends were not at the bus stop.

    Read Also: Two suspected robbers mobbed to death in Delta

    “They called their friends and we agreed to move into the estate to meet them on their way. I drove about 100 meters and I didn’t encounter them. I insisted I was going no further.

    “They eventually came and immediately they entered the car, they tied a rope around my neck from the back. Then, all of them started punching me until I passed out. Thinking that I was dead, they took me into the bush and dropped my body near an uncompleted building. They left beside me a knife after tying me. Thank God, I woke up later. I reported at the closest police station and eventually, I learnt RRS men have arrested them.”

    After the incident, the suspects, RRS said, left one of them in Abijo GRA.

    Alagor, Blessing and another suspect, whose identity the RRS is working on, drove the car to Shoprite, Sangotedo to pick Samuel Effiong, who had negotiated with a buyer based in Fashola Estate, Lekki.

    According to Effiong, “Blessing some time ago told me that he wanted to sell a car. He called me on phone around midnight on Wednesday to take him to the person that wanted to buy the car. They picked me up in Shoprite, Sangotedo. I didn’t follow him to where they stole the vehicle.

    “We were close to Fashola Estate, when we ran into RRS patrol vehicle. They stopped us for a check. Blessing and his friend ran away while Alagor and I were arrested. They also arrested the Emeka Okoye, a.k.a Tallest, who wanted to link us to the buyer.”

    The suspects led RRS to where the UBER driver’s body was deposited.

    The officers recovered a kitchen knife, ropes and a cap, reportedly belonging to Blessing.

  • Three injured in Oshodi building collapse

    Three persons were injured yesterday in a one-storey building collapse at 35, Adesanya Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos.

    The Nation gathered that the house was being renovated when it fell at 8:15am.

    Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) have demolished the rest of the building.

    It was also learnt that the house was sealed off years ago before it was bought and people started living there last December.

    An eye witness, Mrs Mariam Saheed, said she heard the sound of a truck pouring sand and went outside only to see that the building had collapsed.

    “When we got outside we discovered that three people were trapped inside the building but they were all rescued around 9:25am by neighbours, including my husband.”

    She said Godfrey, one of the injured, had a broken leg.

    The two others, Mariam and Promise are sisters. One of them had difficulty in breathing and is still in the hospital; the other with bruised face, hands and legs had been discharged.

    The witness said the owner of the house and his wife had gone to church when the incident happened, noting that they returned.

    She said: “The building is over 40 years old. It is the first storey building in this area and has been abandoned for years before these people bought it.  We were told that the ground floor of the building was meant to be used for church so it was being renovated, while the family that bought the house lived upstairs. The man who bought it is a pastor.

    Read Also: Don links building collapse to use of substandard materials

    “I learnt the house had been abandoned for about seven years because when I came to this area three years ago, I met it abandoned. I learnt the family bought the house and I know they moved in last December and renovation began about two weeks ago. They had built four pillars. They stopped on Friday. The contractor was here this morning to continue work, only to meet the house collapsed. I learnt he has been arrested.

    “Today is the birthday of the Pastor, so, many of those in the house left for church early this morning (yesterday) if not, more people would have been trapped.

    “They usually put their generator upstairs and leave it on overnight, maybe it is part of what weakens the house.”

    The house, she noted, was a joint for boys in the area smoking Indian hemp before the family moved in last December.

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), via its Twitter page, said the building “suddenly came down with two people said to be trapped and rescued and taken to a nearby hospital by neighbours before the arrival of the Agency’s LASEMA Rescue Team (LRT).

    “The building was undergoing illegal renovation before it collapsed this morning. There is an urgent need for complete demolition of the building before it causes any further disaster,” it said.

  • We will perform better than eighth NASS — Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, on Sunday said Nigerians should expect better service delivery from the ninth National Assembly.

    Gbajabiamila gave the commitment in Lagos while speaking at a reception dinner organised for him by the state government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dinner was attended by prominent personalities including Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State.

    National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; and a former governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajumobi, were also among those present.

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, were with Gbajabiamila to receive guests at the dinner.

    The Speaker said though the eighth National Assembly did its best, Nigerians expected the ninth one to surpass the achievements of the last assembly.

    He promised that the new assembly would do better than the eighth assembly and would meet the expectations of Nigerians.

    The speaker said the new assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, would do things differently to get better results.

    Gbajabiamila assured Nigerians that the new House would make hard work and commitment its watchwords in order to meet the aspirations of Nigerians.

    ”There is so much work to be done but little time to do it.We are going to work hard, we are going to do things differently.

    ”We can’t do a thing over and over again and get a different result. The ninth assembly is going to do things differently for the good of Nigerians.

    ”The eighth assembly did its best, but we will do better. We will do our best in the service in the service of the country.

    ”We started with a slogan nation-building is a joint task, it cannot be done by one person. The ninth assembly would work for the good of the country.

    ”We will put into practical terms the meaning of leadership; we are not just going to talk the talk, but we are going to walk the talk,” he said.

    Read Also: 9th Assembly: Can Lawan, Gbajabiamila deliver ‘change’?

    Gbajabiamila promised to be the speaker of all and not that of any particular region or state.

    He thanked the people of Lagos for electing him for a record fifth term in the House of Representatives, saying he would not take their support for granted.

    The speaker also thanked his family members and his colleagues in the House of Representatives for their consistent support.

    He said he was indebted to Tinubu for inspiring him politically and helping to nurture his career.

    Gbajabiamila said without Tinubu, he would not have gotten to where he was.

    The speaker said he found the narrative before the House leadership election that a vote him was giving the Speakership to Tinubu very ridiculous.

    He said those peddling that were doing so out of ignorance, as Tinubu only wanted the good of the country.

    Gbajabiamila thanked the state government for the reception dinner, saying he felt really loved by the gesture.

    Speaking, Sanwo-Olu described Gbajabiamila as a very cerebral and competent lawmaker.

    He said the state was proud to see him emerge as the Speaker of the ninth House of Representatives.

    The governor, while congratulating Gbajabiamila, said people expected so much from him.

    He urged him to use his office to better the lot of the people.

    NAN reports that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Ahmed Wase; Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin and other members of the lower chamber spoke in turns, highlighting the leadership qualities of Gbajabiamila.

    NAN

  • Nigeria’s current challenges, signs of greatness — Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday said the current challenges facing Nigeria were signs that the country was bound for greatness.

    Osinbajo made the statement while addressing the congregation during service at a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Bronx, New York.

    The vice president, who is on a four-day visit to the United States, said greatness was impossible without a period of difficulties as currently being experienced by Nigeria.

    “Our country is bound for greatness. Whenever you hear that ‘oh, there are conflicts, oh there are difficulties’, just know that it is impossible to be great without difficulties.

    “Even from the foundations of the earth, when God created the heavens and the earth, the scripture says on that first day, according to Genesis 1, there was confusion, complete confusion.

    “The Bible says it was bleak and dark, and there was confusion on the surface of the earth, everything was void.

    “But despite the fact that everything was void, the spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

    “Then God spoke and said let there be light, and there was light. The scripture says he separated the light from the darkness, and saw that the light was good.

    Read Also: Osinbajo arrives in New York on 4-day visit

    “That is what is going to happen in our own country. All we hear is there is confusion here, confusion there, but the word of God is there also,” he said.

    According to him, the word and spirit of God are already hovering over the surface of Nigeria, and they would do something that would make the world to marvel.

    He urged members of the congregation and by extension all Nigerians to keep praying for the nation.

    “We should remain in prayers for our nation, because all of us, whether you live here or intend to live here, the truth of the matter is that it was no accident that you were born a Nigerian.

    “God makes no mistake. So, you have a stake in the success of your homeland, you have a stake in the success of your own nation, and as I said earlier, Nigeria is heading for greatness,” he added.

    Earlier in a sermon, Pastor Nathaniel Rotimi of RCCG, Abuja, said the key to greatness was total submission to the will and commandments of God.

    In the sermon titled “Total Obedience Key to Enjoying God’s Maximum” and taken from Gen. 12:1-3, Rotimi enjoined Christians to be obedient to God to access His plans and vision for them.

    He cited the case of Abraham, who by simple obedience to God, got rewarded with “generational blessings”.

    The host pastor, Pastor Daniel Ajayi-Adeniran, later led members of the congregation in prayers for the country and its leaders.

    With the vice president at the service was the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, retired Hon. Justice Sylvanus Nsofor; the Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Mr Benayaogha Okoyen, and other senior government officials.

    NAN

  • Teenager strangled to death in Delta

    An 18-year old girl, identified as Favour Ogheneyenrowho, has been reportedly strangled to death by suspected ritualists in Abraka, Ethiope-East council area of Delta State. The incident has thrown the community into serious tension.

    The Nation gathered that the victim’s pubic hairs were shaved off before, she was murdered and her remains kept in a “Ghana-must-Go” bag which was disposed at a dump site behind Ozoro park in the town. Witnesses said there were violent marks around her neck area, indicating that she was violently strangulated.

    Ogheneyenrowho hailed from Ughere in Abraka Community. Recounting the incident leading to the teenager’s demise, Maureen Sunday, her elder sister, told the police that Favour had received a call from a male at about 10 a.m, requesting that she met him at the Abraka Park.

    She, however, replied the caller that she was going to the market with her elder sister. Sunday added that on their way out of their residence located along Winners Road, a young man, whom she had never seen before (whom she believed was the same person that called her sister earlier), boarded a motorcycle that stopped at the junction and approached them.

    Read Also: DPO, girlfriend arrested over death of housemaid

    A short conversation ensued between them and her late sister, Favour, joined him on the bike and they rode off, even as she called after her to return early. Unfortunately, it was the shocking news of her sister, dead and tied with ropes in a sack that reached her the following day. When contacted, the Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke, explained that what had been discovered so far revealed that the killing of the victim was more of a murder case and not ritual killing.

    The police boss also revealed that the suspected killer, who is believed to be Favour’s boyfriend, has since been on the run, adding that the state police command was already on his trail. “The lady in question was with the sister and she had a call. When she wanted to leave, she told her sister that it’s her boyfriend that she wanted to go and see. After some time she disappeared, they did not see her.

    The next day they saw her body tied in a sack in a plantain/ banana plantation and her boyfriend runaway. So it is not a ritual, but a murder case. Signs on her body show that she was strangulated,” he explained.

  • Obaseki to Oshiomhole: You’re biased, hear from all sides before taking sides

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Saturday, rejected his indictment by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for the crisis in the State House of Assembly.

    Obaseki, who succeeded Oshiomhole as governor of the state, accused the APC chair of showing bias with his view that he (Obaseki) played a role in the emergence of the leadership of the State Assembly.

    The governor, in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said Oshiomhole “needs to hear from all parties in a matter before taking sides.”

    Osagie in the statement said: “We read with utter astonishment a statement credited to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, with respect to Governor Godwin Obaseki’s alleged role in the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly.

    “Apart from the fact that he based his conclusion on a totally false and baseless premise, we believe that he could have shown that he does not have a vested interest by simply inquiring from his friend, the governor directly, or any official of the State Working Committee of our party as to what actually transpired.”

    Osagie said Oshiomhole’s “failure to satisfy the basic tenets of natural justice, which makes fair hearing from all sides of a matter mandatory, has clearly exposed his bias in this issue.”

    Read Also: Archbishop Idahosa writes Obaseki, urges governor to shun detractors

    He added: “For the avoidance of doubt, all the decisions relating to the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly recently elected by the House were taken by the State Working Committee and leaders of the party from across the state.”

    He added: “In deference to the rule of party supremacy, which the National Chairman so eloquently professes, the governor and all party members are obliged to respect the party’s decision, as we expect the National Chairman to also do.”

    Oshiomhole had, on Friday in Abuja, described the circumstances which produced Mr. Frank Okiye as the State Speaker as a shame.

    “I am ashamed to talk about it but there is nothing to hide,” he said and wondered why ‘somebody’ wanted minority members of the House to pick the Speaker, while leaving out the majority. “In our own case we have 24/24 all of them APC but somebody wants a particular person as a Speaker, 19 out of 24 are opposed to this person,” he said.

    The Bauchi legislators had gone to brief him on how the PDP minority members of the State Assembly allegedly acting in concert with a few APC members and Governor Bala Muhammad met secretly and picked the Speaker of the House.

  • Insecurity: Army deploys drone in Ondo, Ekiti forests

    The 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army (NA) Owena Barracks, Akure, has deployed the use of technology to fight the scourges of kidnapping and banditry within the Ondo and Ekiti States axis.

    The Brigade Commander, Brig-Gen Zakari Logun Abubakar, disclosed this on saturday during the launching of a high tech drone device in the Osi community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State to combats the criminal activities in the vast forest of the two states which has become a den of kidnappers.

    Abubakar explained that the drone, a Phantom 5DGI, procured by the Army would assist the military formation of the Anti-kidnapping Squad in identifying the movement and activities of suspected bandits, kidnappers and other criminals.

    Read Also: ‘Insecurity can cause revolution if unchecked’

    According to him, the device which would also help the survey targeted areas in the two states is the latest technology in aerial surveillance and can cover up to seven kilometer radius with capabilities of recording and transmitting report back to the base.

    He said “There are thick forests in these states and that is the advantage some of the criminals are using because some of the places you cannot penetrate them easily. So in line with the Chief of army Staff directive to have a responsive Nigeria Army in the discharge of its constitutional role, we decided to use technology in addition to the Anti-kidnapping Squad. We have two of this drone, one for Ondo and the other one for Ekiti State which would easily help us to fight the issue of this kidnapping headlong.”

  • Kidnappers’ hideouts, arms discovered in Niger

    The Niger state Police Command has discovered some buildings that serve as hideouts for kidnappers in Minna, Niger state.

    The Nation confirmed that three of such buildings in Bosso area in Minna, discovered following tip off by some members of the community, have been sealed up by the Police as security operatives have been drafted to the area.

    The Nation learnt that when the police raided the houses, seven people were arrested while some AK47 rifles were recovered. Efforts made to get information from the Police have proved abortive.

    When The Nation called the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Muhammad, he said he was out of the town for a course but was able to confirm knowledge of the buildings.

    Read Also: Police arrest three suspected kidnappers, 119 others in Kano

    He, however, said any information given out now may jeopardize their investigation saying that investigation is ongoing. However, the police spokesman said once investigation is concluded, journalists would be called and adequately briefed.

    “We are already investigating the matter when we finish our investigation we will let you know the details”, he said. Efforts made to get to the houses were not possible as security men did not allow anyone to go close to the houses.

    The police commissioner, Adamu Usman, told some newsmen that they were tampering with their investigations warning them not to get close to the houses. However, residents around the vicinity where the houses were discovered confirmed the raid by police saying a number of persons were arrested but could not ascertain the number.