The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • PDP urges Army, Police, DSS on abduction of party chair

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the hierarchy of the Army, Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to speak out on the abduction of its Okene Local Government Chairman, Musa Adelabu, by gunmen reportedly clad in military camouflage.

    The party expressed grave concerned about the whereabouts of Adelabu, who was abducted in his home last Saturday, with his abductors allegedly telling his family that they were acting on “orders from above”.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it was unacceptable that the security agencies had kept mum over the abduction, even as his party and family had continued to demand his release.

    The statement alleged: “This situation has heightened apprehension of high-level partisan conspiracy to use some compromised security operatives against the opposition in Kogi State, in a desperate bid to foist the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the failed Governor Yahaya Bello on the people of Kogi State.

    Read Also: Fayemi seeks citizens’ support for Army to tackle kidnapping, others

    “Already, there is an ominous tension in Kogi State following intelligence reports filtering into the public domain that our local government chairman is being tortured by his captors in a secret facility where his life is now in great danger.

    “Such provocative situation is capable of sparking off serious crisis in Kogi State, which location as gateway and convergence state means a lot of dire consequences for our nation, in the event of any disturbance in the area.

    “It is, therefore, unacceptable that the security high command is not forthcoming with concrete statement or decisive action to secure his release despite calls by our party and the people of Kogi State.

    “The PDP, therefore, calls on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces to address his parade and ensure the release of our Kogi PDP leader.”

  • Kidnapped officer freed after payment of N3m ransom

    A Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Delta State allegedly kidnapped last weekend, has regained freedom.

    The victim, simply identified as Mr. Okoro, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), headed the Galilee Police Station, Ute-Ogbeje community, in Ika North East Local Government.

    The Nation learnt that the victim was freed after a ransom of N3million was paid.

    The police officer was kidnapped between Onicha-Ugbo and Issele-Uku along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway by gunmen, who shot sporadically before taking him to an unknown destination.

    Read Also: Kidnapped monarch, wife regain freedom

    It was gathered that the victim was freed on Sunday after the ransom was dropped at a location.

    But Police Commissioner Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke denied the incident and subsequent payment of ransom.

    He said it was the DPO’s friend that was abducted.

    Adeleke said the police would not encourage the payment of ransom.

  • Table tennis star Quadri lifts less-privileged

    A table tennis star, Aruna Quadri, has taken his kind gesture to a Lagos-based children’s hospice.

    Just like he did last year, Quadri yesterday lifted the less-privileged.

    The table tennis champion, accompanied by his wife, Ganiyat, donated food items and other materials to support the Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice.

    An official of the home based in Surulere, Lagos, Mr. Samuel Ilori, described Quadri’s gesture as commendable, saying the 2019 ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open champion would be the second athlete to have visited the home this year.

    He said Super Eagles player Henry Onyekuru visited early this year.

    Read Also: 2019 All Africa Games: Aruna Quadri shifts focus to Morocco

    “We are very grateful to the Aruna family for remembering this home. This is a private hospice that relies on individual and group donations to sustain itself. With this gesture of Quadri, he has given lives to others in need,” the social worker said.

    During the visit, Quadri met some of the children who are chronically ill.

    He said the gesture was part of his appreciation to God for His mercy and goodness.

    “I’m very happy to have continued what we started last year. I give thanks to God for giving me the opportunity and touching my heart to show love to the less-privileged. I’m also very happy for what God has done for me so far this year. This is a way of showing appreciation to God for His blessings on me and my family. By His grace, I will continue to do this and I pray to God to give me strength and everything that will be needed to keep doing this year after year,” Quadri said.

    He added: “I love making people happy and giving back as a sacrifice because I believe so much in God. Whatever He has blessed us with, it is very important that we give part of it back to the society so that He can bless us more. This is one of the reasons I’m doing this.”

    The Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice was established on October 2, 2003 in response to a steadily increasing number of abandoned, orphaned and sick children suffering from a vast range of congenital abnormalities.

  • Court remands applicant for ‘defiling’ girl, 12

    An Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State has ordered that a 37-year-old applicant, Hoya Abraham, who allegedly defiled a 12-year-old girl, be remanded in prison, pending legal advice.

    Chief Magistrate F. A. Azeez, who did not take Abraham’s plea, ordered the police to duplicate the case file and send it to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

    Azeez adjourned the case till August 19.

    Prosecuting Sergeant John Iberedem alleged that the defendant committed the offence on July 14 on Orosun Road, Mowo Kekere, Elepe in Ikorodu.

    He alleged that the defendant unlawfully had carnal knowledge of the child.

    Read Also: Court remands teenager charged with armed robbery

    Iberedem said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The police in Lagos have arraigned a 17-year-old pupil at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.

    The pupil, whose address was not provided, is charged with rape.

    Prosecuting Inspector Christopher John said the defendant committed the offence on July 23, at Yaba, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant lured the girl to his house where he raped her.

    John said the girl’s parents reported the case to the police and the defendant was arrested.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate P. E. Nwaka admitted the defendant to N50,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    He adjourned the case till September 9.

  • Lagos to introduce bus corridors to boost transportation

    The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) says efforts have been intensified to introduce quality bus corridor in the metropolis to tackle transport challenges.

    An Assistant Director of LAMATA, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the government was aware of the need for improved transport service, as a direct consequence of migration to the state.

    “In Lagos State, we have the issue of bus routing.

    “When you look at the number of buses we have, you will discover that they are not enough to service the population,” he said.

    Ojelabi said the state had a population of more than 20 million people.

    “The past government brought in about 880 buses in a bid to improve the transport system.

    “These buses are being redeployed by an agency of the government called the Lagos Bus Services Ltd., who is also in-charge of asset management,” he said.

    Ojelabi said road development is being taken gradually for effective management and spread.

    He said the government was, therefore, working on quality bus corridors, which would spread to more parts of the metropolis.

    Read Also: New bus scheme to disrupt Lagos transport landscape

    According to him, this will take effect before the end of the year.

    He noted that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services had not got to every part of the state; hence, the need for creation of the corridors.

    Ojelabi said where the BRT services were not available, the government would provide new medium-sized buses to service people’s transportation needs.

    He said: “These will come with bus terminuses and shelters to ensure easy access.”

    The LAMATA assistant director told NAN that the government had intensified efforts to speed up implementation of its Blue Line rail project from Okokomaiko to Marina.

    “There is a lot of work ongoing on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    “The essence is to fast-track the progress of work from the Lagos end here to at least Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.

    “By the time this is completed, we will designate BRT buses there, while we will also carry out testing on the rail project.

    “We could have begun the testing, but we want to ensure that we take it up to Marina,” he said.

    Ojelabi said completion of the road and rail projects would discourage residents of the area from driving their cars to Lagos Island, as they would prefer using train or BRT.

    “Once this is done, it will also reduce cases of attacks by hoodlums on commuters, who will have the opportunity of riding in BRT or train.

    “It is a gradual process, but we will surely achieve these.

    “I can assure you that work has been intensified to realise this, as the government is working to ensure the completion of the project and beginning of operations before the end of this administration,” he added.

  • Two men in court over alleged house breaking, theft

    Two men in court over alleged house breaking, theft

    Two men, Emeka Okoro, 29, and Peter James, 25, were on Wednesday arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged house breaking and stealing.

    The accused persons, of unknown address, were facing a two-count charge of house breaking and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Insp Bamikole Olasunkanmi, told the court that they committed the offences on June 4 in Ado-Ekiti.

    Olasunkanmi alleged that the accused broke into the house of one Apanisile Olanike.

    He also alleged that they stole a home theatre, washing machine, detergent soap, one female golden pulse, one palm slippers, one plasma television, and a toasting machine.

    “Other items stolen are champagne light, three curtains, one shoe and jewelries all valued at N1.7 million, belonging to the complainant,” he said.

    According to him, the offences contravened Sections 322 and 322 (b) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2021.

    The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

    Their Counsel, Mr Olawumi Olowolafe, urged the court to grant his clients bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Michael Faola, granted bail to them in the sum of N100,000 with one surety each in like sum.

    He adjourned the case until July 20 for hearing.

    (NAN)

  • Police nab suspected killer of tricyclist

    The police in Lagos have arrested a motorist, Christian Innocent, for allegedly killing a commercial tricyclist over the right of way.

    The incident allegedly occurred in Surulere.

    Innocent, who lives at 28, James Robertson Street, Surulere, was alleged to have hit the victim, Aniete Bassey, with a wheel spanner twice on the head during an argument on Sunday night, at Akerele Street, Surulere.

    It was gathered that the duo disagreed on who had the right of way, a situation that degenerated to an argument.

    Angered, the suspect was said to have gone to his car, brought out the wheel spanner, used it to break the tricyclist’s head and fled.

    Read Also: Police nab 100 robbery suspects

    Eyewitnesses were said to have taken the victim to hospital, but he was confirmed dead on arrival, having lost much blood.

    Confirming his arrest yesterday, the police said he was nabbed by detectives on Monday, adding that the suspect admitted to have fought with the tricyclist.

    A statement by spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said: “The Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) driver escaped to an unknown destination after the incident. After a thorough and painstaking examination of available traces, the suspect was identified as Christian Innocent, 39, of 28, James Robertson Street, Surulere and was arrested by detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Surulere, CSP Jimoh Jabaje, on August 12.

    “He confessed to have engaged the deceased in a fight over the right of way. He said there was an abuse between him and the tricyclist over who had the right of way, as they both accused one another of reckless driving.

    “He said there was no crash between the SUV and the tricycle. The suspect will be arraigned.”

  • Obaseki is my brother, ‘rift’ created by people for their own interest – Oshiomhole

    National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has blamed the Nigerian media for the alleged rift between himself and Gov. Godwin Obaseki, describing his successor as his brother.

    Oshiomhole spoke when he received Obaseki, who led members of his cabinet to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festival with his former boss, at his Iyamoh residence in Estako West Local Government Government Area of Edo.

    Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting which lasted for about an hour, Oshiomhole said the meeting was not unusual as he was in constant touch with  Obaseki.

    According to Oshiomhole, “from time to time, we have always been meeting. It is not an unusual visit, the meeting afforded me the opportunity to meet with my brother and with people I have worked with.”

    Oshiomhole described the seeming rift as the unfortunate creation of people with personal interest and the media, whom he  said liked creating factions for their own gain.

    Read Also: No rift with Oshiomhole, says Obaseki

    On his part, Obaseki noted that the visit to his predecessor was not unusual, saying that he decided to celebrate Sallah with his former boss.

    He said the visit was to celebrate Edo leaders just as the former APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was celebrated by the state earlier in the day.

    “There is nothing unusual about this meeting; today is Sallah and we have just finished celebrating with the former APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in Benin City.

    “And we decided to come here to celebrate Sallah with my predecessor,” the governor said.

    He added that people who think there was a rift between him and his predecessor should stop thinking like that.

    ( NAN)

  • Robbery Cases: UI imposes partial curfew

    The University of Ibadan on Tuesday imposed a partial curfew on its campus following cases of robbery recorded in halls of residence.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the curfew imposition was contained in a release signed by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof.  Idowu Olayinka.

    The partial curfew, which takes effect from Wednesday, would last between 12 midnight and 5am.

    According to the release, the decision was taken at a meeting of the  university’s Security Committee which reviewed the current security situation at the institution.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Robbers attack UI New Hall hostel

    Olayinka stated that all students and members of staff must have means of identification when asked by security operatives.

    According to the Vice Chancellor, all male visitors to the three female hostels–Awolowo Hall, Queen Idia Hall and Queen Elizabeth II Hall –are to be received outside the halls while female guests will be screened.

    He added that any male visitor seen loitering around female halls beyond 8:30pm would be considered as a suspect.

    NAN reports that two female hostels had recently been the targets of attacks by armed robbers.

    (NAN)

  • Police rescue businessman from abductors

    The police have rescued a 61 –year- old man, who is a Nigerian Brewery Distributor Mr. John Akombo from the hands of kidnappers in Gboko Benue state.

    An eye witness Jimin Ayo told our correspondent that Joint Taskforce (JTF) comprising The Police and Army from A division, Area command in Gboko chased the kidnappers and rescued the businessman around Mbaamandev, Mkar- Ameladu road, Gboko.

    Speaking with The Nation, the rescued victim, Akombo said: “The well -armed abductors numbering four came in a tinted ash  color Honda Pilot Jeep, approached me in my office and forced me into their vehicle.

    “My son picked my car, followed us behind closely and alerted the police officers on patrol who trailed, opened fire on the abductors vehicle’s tyre.

    Read Also: Police rescue seven kidnap victims

    “They overpowered them around Mbaamandev Mkar – Ameladu road and I was rescued.”

    His wife, Mrs. Rebecca Akombo, who shed tears of joy, thanked God for the safe return of her husband from the hands of abductors.

    It was learnt the kidnappers escaped with bullets wounds around   Mkar hills.

    They also abandoned their bullet Honda pilot jeep.