The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Five arraigned for stealing rifles

    Five arraigned for stealing rifles

    Our Reporter

     

    FIVE men have been arraigned at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly taking part in a riot and stealing rifles and a motorcycle at a police station.

    The police charged Bayo Adedapo, 40, Richard Sule, 28, Amanze Nwabueze, 33, Akeem Azeez, 30 and Ugochukwu Obindebo, 22, with  conspiracy, stealing, unlawful possession and breach of the peace. They pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecution counsel Inspector Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the defendants committed the offence on October 20, 2020, on the premises of Makinde Police Station in Oshodi, Lagos Mainland. He alleged that the defendants, during the riot, entered the police station and stole rifles and a motorcycle worth N10 million.

    Chief Magistrate O. G. Oghre adjourned the case till March 9.

     

  • More millionaires recognised in promo

    More millionaires recognised in promo

    Our Reporter

     

    MORE millionaires have been recognised in the ‘Trophy Honourable To’ Gba’yi Promo’ which started some weeks back.

    Olashinle Adeleke, a Lagos resident, Abdul Okunade (Ijebu Ode), Chidozie Anyanwu and Endurance Ukanwa, both of Abuja, are the next set of millionaires in the campaign.

    Oluwatobi John (29), a photographer, was the first winner of N1 million.

    Sharing their excitement at the cheque presentation, the winners expressed their delight at their luck. Adeleke, a bus driver, said he was sceptical at first but his scepticism gave way to excitement when he realised his entry had earned him a million naira.

    ICT Expert Chidozie Anyanwu (40) and Endurance Ukanwa (32), who runs a youth empowerment organisation, also expressed their joy they when they got a call from Trophy Ambassador and Nigerian Football Legend, Joseph Yobo, of their win.

    Read Also: Barca boss eyes UCL trophy glory

    Marketing Manager, Trophy, Bamise Oyegbami said five more millionaires are still expected from the promo. “We have the reached the half-way mark and we are thrilled that so far, we have been able to fulfil our promise of rewarding our loyal customers and putting a smile on their faces. People from different walks of life are participating and winning in the campaign, and we hope to do more as we look forward to welcoming more people into the millionaire club,” he said.

    The ‘Trophy Honourable To’ Gba’yi promo’, which started in November 2020, will end in January. It is only open to individuals who are 18 years and above.

  • Falana condemns non-payment of Magistrates’ salary

     Adebisi Onanuga

     

    ACTIVIST lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has described the non-payment of Magistrates’ in Cross River State as callous and unconstitutional.

    Magistrates in the state said Governor Ben Ayade owes them 24 months’ salary.

    But the governor said he did not approve their appointment.

    Falana said the governor’s position was unconstitutional. He argued that ‘by virtue of the constitution, the power to appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over Magistrates in Cross River State is vested exclusively in the state’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and not in the governor’.

    Read Also: Let’s meet in ICC, Falana dares petitioner

    According to him, the Office of the Governor is a creation of the constitution, and whoever occupies the Office cannot act contrary to the provisions of the same Constitution.

    He said: “The 1999 Constitution, as amended, does not give any role to the governor in the appointment of Magistrates. Part II, Paragraph C(6)(c) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution provides that the State Judicial Service Commission shall ‘appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over the Chief Registrar and Deputy Chief Registrar of the High Court, Chief Registrars of the Sharia Court of Appeal, and Customary Court of Appeal, Magistrates, Judges and members of Area Courts and Customary Courts, and all other members of the staff of the judicial service of the state not otherwise specified in this Constitution’”.

  • ‘Why real estate thrives in a pandemic’

    ‘Why real estate thrives in a pandemic’

    Our Reporter

     

    THE real estate business thrives despite the COVID-19 pandemic because housing is a basic need, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Photizo Properties Limited, Dr Patrick Oriyomi, has said.

    He said 2020 witnessed a high peak in the housing sector, adding that opportunities were created for more people to own their homes.

    He spoke during a briefing on his firm’s plan to deliver 50 units of two-bedroom bungalows in Epe this year.

    Among the features of the bungalows are portable water, good drainage system, interlocked road network, Fibre optic cabling, top-notch security and electricity.

    Oriyomi said the housing scheme is expected to be ready from June.

    Read Also: How COVID-19 is killing people, by LUTH CMD

    Speaking on the choice of Epe, he said: “For business, it very very lucrative. The properties are sitting in Epe town. It is the new Banana Island in Lagos due to its serenity.

    “At the moment, houses are in short supply. There is a scarcity of accommodation in the town.

    “Two years ago, the rental value of two-bedroom apartments in Epe was below N200,000 per annum. As at today, rental value is between N400,000 and N500,000 depending on the quality of the house.

    “We are giving the best quality ever to be seen in the town and in Lagos. It’s been our aim to create affordable homes to all Lagosians just as the Lagos State Govt has envisioned. We are starting with Epe people.”

  • Lagos targets N60.31billion monthly IGR

    Lagos targets N60.31billion monthly IGR

    By Tajudeen Adebanjo

     

    LAGOS State Government on Thursday said it has put the necessary machinery in place to achieve a monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N60.31 billion for 2021.

    Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube, who said this while giving the 2021 budget breakdown,  added that the state also earmarked N15 billion for the Rebuilding Lagos Project/Trust Fund, in the aftermath of #EndSARS destruction of Lagos last October.

    He said a significant percentage of the projected total IGR of N512 billion is expected to be contributed by Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).

    “We shall achieve this by expanding the tax net by simplifying the tax process, improving our transaction taxes and the appropriate use of technology in addition to improving the work environment, training and tools of our tax administration personnel. This will improve the efficiency in operations of all revenue generating agencies.

    Read Also: Lagos and the defining moments of 2020

    “We believe that there are huge revenue generating opportunities in the state, including real estates, transportation sectors and our markets generally etc. We will continue to use data and intelligence to unravel revenue opportunities and leakages,” he said.

    Egube said the government would continue to maintain a relative conservative posture in its projection for Federal Transfers/Receipts compared to annual run rate in 2020 in view of the production challenges within the Oil Sector by keeping our expectation at N175 billion.

    He said the deficit of ?192.494bn is projected to be funded by a combination of internal and external loans.

    On Science and Technology, Egube said the sum of ?23.502bn had been budgeted for building and upgrading of IT Infrastructure Statewide, e-GIS Land automation system, Single Billing system and ease of tax payment, Levies and other Revenue enhancement initiatives.

     

  • Kidnappers abduct businessman

    Kidnappers abduct businessman

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    GUNMEN suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a yet-to-be identified businessman on Ise-Isua-Akoko road in Ondo State.

    It was learnt that the driver of the businessman was shot and left to die inside the car.

    Police Area Commander in charge of Ikare Akoko, ACP Razak Rauf, who confirmed the incident, said the remains of the driver had been deposited at the mortuary of the State Specialist Hospital in Ikare Akoko.

    Read Also: Bandits kill policeman, abduct five others in Niger

    The Nation gathered that the kidnappers have begun negotiation with the victim’s family for ransom.

    ACP Rauf said the police would comb the forest to rescue the victim and arrest the criminals.

    The Chief Medical Director of Ikare Specialist Hospital, Dr. Ayodele Ogunlade, confirmed to reporters that the police brought a body to the hospital.

     

  • Church holds annual prayer

    Church holds annual prayer

    Our Reporter

     

    THE ninth annual prayer of the Ark of Covenant Zion Peniel Church, Ajelanwa, Atan-Ota, Ogun State, begins on Sunday.

    It will include fasting and praying, counselling, seminars and services for seven days. There will be a special prayer session for expectant mothers, traders and civil servants. The programme will end on January 17.

    The minister-in-charge, Prophet   Michael Ajisafe, said: ’’God  is waiting  to perfect  His  work in the lives  of attendees  again. He has never disappointed us. I enjoin everyone to come with their faith fasting. We shall pray for our country too and we are confident He will answer our prayer on the economy.‘’

     

  • Oyetola hails ex-labour leader Sunmonu at 80

    Oyetola hails ex-labour leader Sunmonu at 80

    Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

     

    OSUN State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on Thursday felicitated with the former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alhaji Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu, on his 80th birthday.

    He saluted Sunmonu who served as NLC president between 1978 and 1984 for his courageous and selfless service to the nation, saying: “He relentlessly fought for the rights and welfare of workers when he served as the leader and even after leaving office.”

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Osun State Governor, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, said: “On behalf of the government and people of Osun State, I am delighted to join family, friends, associates and the labour community to celebrate a foremost unionist and labour leader, Alhaji Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. I thank Allah Almighty for blessing and allowing him to reach this milestone age.

     

     

  • Lagos deputy governor mourns younger brother

    Lagos deputy governor mourns younger brother

    Agency Reporter

     

    LAGOS State Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has mourned his younger brother, Dr. Haroun Hamzat.

    Hamzat, who made the announcement through his Instagram page (drobafemihamzat), however, urged the public to be conscious of the volatility of COVID-19 pandemic.

    He implored everyone to obey COVlD-19 rules.

    “There is urgent need for us as people to be conscious of the volatility of COVID-19 pandemic.

    “We should not only do this for ourselves, but for everyone we come in contact with.

    “Stay safe, use your masks, sanitise or wash your hands regularly and maintain social distancing,” the deputy governor said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased died on Tuesday at the age of 37.

    Until his death, he was a doctor at one of the public health centres in Orile Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State.

    Read Also: Kadri Obafemi Hamzat: Bibiire @ 56

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Solomon Adeola, on Thursday commiserated with Dr. Hamzat on the death of his younger brother.

    Adeola, in a condolence message to Hamzat, said the death was not just a loss to the entire Hamzat family, but also to the nation.

    According to him, Haroun’s death is painful, especially as Nigeria is in need of frontline personnel to fight COVID-19.

    “It is a sad development that we have lost such a skilled young man at a time his services to the people are needed,” Adeola said.

    He prayed for the repose of his soul and prayed that God would grant the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss.

     

  • Abiodun hails NULGE over choice of president

    Abiodun hails NULGE over choice of president

    Our Reporter

     

    OGUN State Governor Dapo Abiodun has congratulated Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji on his election as the president of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

    In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the governor said the victory is an attestation of the popularity of Ambali, who incidentally is an indigene.

    “It is so glad that one of our own has been chosen to lead a sensitive union such as NULGE. We have no doubt that Ambali will surpass our expectations as shown in his exemplary attitude when he was the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chairman in Ogun State,” Prince Abiodun said.

    He thanked local government workers across the federation for what he called “a well-thought-out choice” of leadership.

    The governor solicited for their support to ensure a successful tenure of office for Comrade Olatunji