The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Police arrest ‘fake’ army major, ‘land grabber’

    Police arrest ‘fake’ army major, ‘land grabber’

    DETECTIVES from Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos have arrested a ‘land grabber’ and a suspected fake army major for allegedly defying court orders and sacking a community.

    ‘Major’ Dapo Adeoye and the ‘land grabber’ simply identified as Owoeye were arrested for allegedly illegally sacking the Isiwu community in Ikorodu in defiance of court orders.

    According to detectives from the Zonal X-Squad, a suspect, simply identified as Mr. Somebody was arrested with a general purpose pump action gun with over eight rounds of ammunition.

    Upon interrogation, Mr. Somebody said he and others at large were sent to unleash mayhem on Isiwu community to forcefully sack the inhabitants and take over the land said to belong to the Onofonyin family.

    The police arrested Owoeye following Mr Somebody’s statement. Owoeye led the police to arrest Adeoye, who the police later found to be a ‘fake’ army major.

    Although the police claimed he is a fake soldier, they said they have written to the army to ascertain his identity.

    Adeoye is alleged to have unleashed mayhem on Isiwu community under the guise of being a major.

    Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 2 Bala Hassan said his men would unravel the source of the weapon and restore peace to Isiwu.

    “We have written to the army authorities to ascertain the true identity of this Dapo Adeoye and we want Owoeye to tell us how he got the gun and the several rounds of ammunition. He has to produce all the others now at large. We want to ensure that court orders are obeyed. Peace would soon return to Isiwu as we are working to right all the wrongs in line with all the court judgments,” Hassan said.

    Secretary of Onofonyin Family Prince Olatunde Awolusi-Kulaton said he narrowly escaped being killed by a thug, who brandished an axe to chop off his head.

    “I managed to escape by the grace of God”, he told detectives in Zone 2, lamenting the wanton destruction of his property and household equipment.

  • Synagogue: Contractors’ arraignment stalled as process is challenged

    Synagogue: Contractors’ arraignment stalled as process is challenged

    Contractors indicted by a Lagos coroner for the collapse of a six-storey guest house at Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun have challenged the  legality of the court processes served on them by the state government.

    At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, their counsel,  E. L. Akpofure (SAN) and Mrs Akinlawon (SAN), filed an application, arguing that the prosecution erred in law by pasting the processes at the entrance of the house of their clients, Oladele Ogundele and Akinbola Fatiregun, a day before the proceedings as against three days stipulated by law.

    Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Ikeja High Court had last December, ordered the government to serve the defendants through substituted means after several attempts to serve them failed.

    But their counsel contended that the service of the processes did not conform with provisions of the law.

    “The manner of service by way of substitution is spelt out by the law. So carrying out such service in the manner they did is a nullity, “Akpofure said.

    Mrs Akinlawon insisted that the provisions of the law for serving court processes be followed to the letter.

    Efforts by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs E.I Alakija, to get the defendants arraigned, failed. The court directed the prosecution to file its response to the defendants’ application.

    Justice Akapo adjourned the matter till January 27.

    The coroner inquest presided over by Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, last August 7, held that the Synagogue Church and the engineers that constructed the collapsed building were negligent.

    The coroner ordered that Synagogue church be investigated for not having a building permit and the engineers tried for criminal negligence.

    The government brought 111-count charge against the church and the engineers following their failure to stop their trial at a Federal High Court.

  • UNILAG shuts postgraduate students’ hostels

    UNILAG shuts postgraduate students’ hostels

    RESIDENTS of Henry Carr Hall at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) were on Monday barred from entering their hostel.

    Electricity was cut off around 11am and water supply stopped at 4pm. The hall has three blocks of rooms and houses Masters and Doctorate degree students.

    The students were served with a quit notice on January 12, effective from January 14. When the notice was served, many of the students had not returned from holidays. The hall executives met with the hostel officers and the exit date was extended to end of the month.

    But when a new notice was served, the date had changed.

    The notice reads: “Following the memorandum received from the Dean of Students Affairs (a photo copy is hereby attached) today concerning the notice of evacuation from the Hall of Residence, we, members of the Hall Management Committee (HMC), wish to formally appeal to you and all the students to please obey the directive of the Dean. You will assist us to be instrumental to its obedience because it has to be obeyed immediately. The directive has been given since Monday, January 11, 2016. Administratively, we expect everyone to have evacuated the Hall latest on Monday, January 18, 2016.”

    The statement infuriated the students whose one-year payment will elapse in March.

    The students were asked to evacuate their rooms because the school will be hosting some ECOWAS students.

    The students expressed anger, saying they could not imagine why the authority acted in such manner.

    They later met with some university officials, including hall executives and hostel officers.

    A student, who did not want to be named, said the executives were still trying to come to an agreement that would favour everyone.

    “The students were told to vacate the hostel but the session is not over. Some of us are not through with our exams and some of us come from long distances. We want the school authority to allow us stay till January ending. I believe they were in a tight corner yesterday because of the ECOWAS students’ arrival. We would be having a congress tonight (Tuesday) to discuss our options”, he said.

    A female student, who is yet to begin her exams, wondered how she is going to cope.

    “Where do I start looking for accommodation now when my exams are close by and how do I combine searching for accommodation and reading for exams? I don’t really know what to do,” she said.

  • Suspected 43-year-old fake doctor arrested in LUTH

    Suspected 43-year-old fake doctor arrested in LUTH

    The police yesterday arrested a suspected fake doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Mushin, Lagos.

    Adesina Opeyemi, 43, was said to have been practising for three years with forged medical certificates.

    The suspect, a resident of 1, Alowolodu Street, Alapere, Ketu, was said to have claimed to be a consultant gynaecologist.

    His arrest, The Nation gathered, followed a petition sent to the police by the hospital’s management.

    It was gathered that after investigation, Alakara Police Station under the supervision of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Adebisi Lateef arrested the suspect.

    Police spokesperson Oladapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said seven forged documents were recovered from the suspect, adding that he would be charged with alleged impersonation.

  • Residents beg to perfect titles of demolished houses

    Residents beg to perfect titles of demolished houses

    Mosafejo Community residents yesterday – the day after the demolition of their houses – appealed to the Lagos State government to allow them perfect their titles.

    Many of them were seen sitting dejectedly outside their homes yesterday.

    The main buildings were still standing, but the attached structures and shops have been pulled down.

    Those, who did not want to be named, said the task force was sent to demolish structures not in the original plan of the buildings.

    Reliving the incident, Mrs Bose Adegbola, said the task force officials came in early Sunday around 3.30am, asking them why they had not moved.

    “They asked us to leave. They arrested some young men. Another group of task force men returned later that afternoon and asked why we were still around, saying in Yoruba, E nfi Ijoba sere abi? meaning, you are toying with the government,” she said.

    Another resident said: “They were asked to come and remove illegal structures, why are they now asking us to vacate our homes?”

    Mosafejo community leader Pastor Otolorin Ogunlana said when some of them went to the Town Planning office, they were told that the department did not send anybody to demolish houses.

    Ogunlana said: “Although a few people were able to salvage their properties, most were unable to. This is because, as the seven-day ultimatum given to the residents drew to a close, miscreants had a field day, wreaking havoc on the community, claiming to be the new landlords, as government had asked the original landlords to leave. The area boys moved into homes, and shops; vandalising them with ruthless abandon. They could be seen boldly taking off with peoples freezers, electronics, and household items. What is more, they proceeded to uproot/chisel out doors, windows, and burglar proof frames of homes, this is responsible for the desolate look of the houses in the area, as the houses lack doors, windows, burglar proofs and the like. The miscreants made brisk sales of our properties while we watched helplessly. All the while, the policemen looked on, not saying a word.

    “When former Governor Babatunde Fashola visited us, he promised to partner with us. We are pleading with the government to grant us approval to submit our drawings, and make the necessary renovations to our properties so as to make a transformation that befits a mega city.”

    A resident, Innocent Alike, who was beaten by policemen, said he gained consciousness in hospital.

    Alike said: “I was on my way home around 5.30pm when policemen accosted me and asked where I was going to. They said I didn’t have a house again and asked me to wait. I pleaded with them to allow me to pack some things. As I was packing, a sergeant from Mosafejo Police Station rough handled me and locked me up. We have been living here for decades they should please help us.”

    A trader, Ibrahim, who sells curtains said: “They said they don’t want illegal street trading and most of the people had to start selling here after former Governor Fashola sent them away from the railway; so, they sent us quit notice. We were given a week’s notice to leave the market and we took our goods out of the market. It was on Sunday when everybody had left the market that the area boys came to remove the gates. It is not going to be easy for us to start all over again because there is no capital for us to do so. Where do we go from here? The government should at least, give us some compensation.”

    He said the Plaza and the Access Bank in the same road were also served quit notice, adding that activities were still going on there. In the Plaza, many shops were bustling with activities; others were locked.

    A trader said the notice did not affect activities in the market because their issue had been resolved.

    “We were served a two-day notice and a seven-day notice. But we have presented our papers to them and we have no more issue with them”, he said.

  • Prophet sets member ablaze in church

    Prophet sets member ablaze in church

    •‘God asked me to do it’

    There was confusion on Sunday at Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) on Unity Street in Abule-Egba, Lagos, when a prophet set a member ablaze during service.

    The victim, simply identified as Madam Bosede, is lying critically ill in hospital.

    It was gathered that the prophet in his sermon claimed he got a revelation that there was God in their midst, adding that if the woman was set ablaze she would not suffer burns.

    Madam Bosede, who joined the church a month ago told The Nation yesterday: “Our prophet said the spirit of God whispered to him that I would not burn if he sets me on fire. When I came out, they poured kerosene on my body and set me ablaze. But, unfortunately, I was burnt beyond recognition and before the other church members could get water, the deed had already been done.”

    The cleric told The Nation that he clearly heard a voice instructing him to set a member on fire to prove and confirm that God was in their midst.

    “I heard the voice clearly, but I don’t know what happened after we set fire on her. God has been speaking to me since and it has been working, so I wonder why now,” he said.

    Some members, however, left the church, doubting their prophet’s credibility, adding: “We cannot worship here again, who knows who the spirit will ask him to burn next.”

    A resident, Irene Ohekina said: “I don’t pity her; she was the one who allowed herself to be deceived by the prophet. Why did the prophet not try the fire on himself or any of his family member?”

    Another resident, Nkechi said for the prophet to have given such instruction, it must have come from God, adding “I believe it’s the sins of the victim that made her burn, the prophet of God could not have lied.”

    Daniel Ayodele, who also witnessed the incident said: “This whole thing is funny, when the pastor said the woman should be set on fire, why did she not refuse or was she scared to disobey the prophet. Now, she is writhing in pains on the hospital bed and I am sure the prophet is elsewhere enjoying himself.”

     

  • Synagogue: Trustees seek to quash coroner’s verdict

    Synagogue: Trustees seek to quash coroner’s verdict

    Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) registered trustees have sued a Lagos State Coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe and the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice over the indictment of the church for its September 12, 2014 collapsed guest house.

    One hundred and sixteen persons reportedly died in the collapsed building within the church premises at Ikotun in Lagos.

    In a motion on notice brought pursuant to Order 40 Rule 3(1) and (2) of the High court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure Rule) 2012, the trustees are seeking an order of certiorari quashing the coroner’s verdict on the ground that the court exceeded its statutory jurisdiction.

    In its verdict on the inquest into the collapsed guest house, the coroner indicted the church and the two engineers that constructed the building.

    The court ordered that the church be investigated and prosecuted for not possessing building permit.

    The government late last year filed a 111-count criminal charge against the trustees and the engineers after they failed to stop their trial at the Federal High Court.

    The matter is slated for hearing today (Tuesday) before Justice Lateef Lawal- Akapo.

    In the motion seeking to quash the coroners’ verdict filed before Justice Kazeem Alogba, the church is contending that the “Coroner’s Court of Lagos State, Alimosho District”, which presided over and delivered the verdict is unknown to Coroner’s Court of Lagos State, 2007 and Coroner’s System Law (Subsidiary Legislation) which established Coroner’s Court in Lagos State.

    The church contended that the Lagos Coroner’s System Law, 2007 only established Lagos, Ikeja, Yaba and Apapa districts.

    It emphasised that Alimosho Coroner’s district which presided over the Synagogue building collapse inquest was not a creation of the law.

    The church also urged that any finding, recommendation and or verdict delivered or rendered by the “Coroner’s Court, Alimosho District” is a nullity and liable to be quashed.

    When the matter came up yesterday, Magistrate Komolafe was absent in court and he was not represented by any lawyer.

    1. O Idowu who represented the Attorney General of Lagos State pleaded with the court for time to file a response to the suit.

    The matter has been adjourned till February 4.

  • Two charged with shaving woman’s hair

    Two charged with shaving woman’s hair

    Two persons, who allegedly beat a woman and forcefully shaved her hair with a razor blade, yesterday appeared before an Apapa Senior Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Ihuoma Ikechukwu, 27 and Angela Tony, 52, who live in Ajegunle, Lagos are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and assault.

    Prosecuting police Inspector Friday Inedu told the court that the accused committed the offence last November 23, on 66, Mosafejo Street, Amukoko, Lagos.

    Inedu said the accused conspired with others at large and unlawfully assaulted Udoka Ashijuru by using a razor blade to forcefully cut her hair during a fight.

    He said the complainant had complained about her missing phone, worth N25, 000, which she kept in her shop.

    “The complainant said the accused entered her shop before the phone got missing, so she decided to confront them.

    “Ashijuru said immediately she confronted them, the accused just started assaulting her, to the extent that they used a razor blade to shave her hair,” Inedu said.

    According to him, the offence contravened Sections 172, 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Senior Magistrate M.A. Etti granted the accused N50,000 bail each with two sureties each in the like sum.

    The magistrate adjourned further hearing till February 19.

     

    Two persons, who allegedly beat a woman and forcefully shaved her hair with a razor blade, yesterday appeared before an Apapa Senior Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Ihuoma Ikechukwu, 27 and Angela Tony, 52, who live in Ajegunle, Lagos are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and assault.

    Prosecuting police Inspector Friday Inedu told the court that the accused committed the offence last November 23, on 66, Mosafejo Street, Amukoko, Lagos.

    Inedu said the accused conspired with others at large and unlawfully assaulted Udoka Ashijuru by using a razor blade to forcefully cut her hair during a fight.

    He said the complainant had complained about her missing phone, worth N25, 000, which she kept in her shop.

    “The complainant said the accused entered her shop before the phone got missing, so she decided to confront them.

    “Ashijuru said immediately she confronted them, the accused just started assaulting her, to the extent that they used a razor blade to shave her hair,” Inedu said.

    According to him, the offence contravened Sections 172, 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Senior Magistrate M.A. Etti granted the accused N50,000 bail each with two sureties each in the like sum.

    The magistrate adjourned further hearing till February 19.

     

     

  • Police rescue suspected rice, noodles thief from mob

    Police rescue suspected rice, noodles thief from mob

    But for the intervention of policemen in Ogombo, angry residents of Ikota, Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area of Lagos, would have lynched a suspected thief.

    The suspect, Stephen Effiong, was stripped naked and beaten to a pulp, after he was allegedly caught stealing rice and other food items from people’s homes.

    A police source yesterday confirmed to The Nation that the incident occurred at the Ikota Second Gate, on the Lekki – Epe Expressway, last Wednesday.

    According to him, Effiong has been severally warned by residents to stop stealing their food stuffs and money.

    He said the suspect at about 5am that fateful day, was caught removing items such as rice, noodles and vegetable oil from different homes.

    Effiong was said to have cut the mosquito net on the doors of the homes he invaded to enter their stores while the owners were asleep.

    The suspect was allegedly caught by one Uche, who observed a movement at the back of his house and decided to follow the suspect to the place he stored his loot.

    Uche, it was learnt, raised the alarm and attracted other victims, who forced the suspect to return the stolen items to their homes.

    According to a resident simply identified as Festus, the suspect had been warned on several occasions to stop, wondering what he does with the foodstuff.

    “He has been doing this thing for some time. Most times people will catch him and warn him to stop but he doesn’t listen. The mob would have lynched him if the police had not arrived on time.

    “They dragged him to the road, removed his clothes and beat him thoroughly. People were passing and cursing him. Fortunately, policemen were passing by and stopped on the scene. That was how he was saved from jungle justice,” he said.

    A senior police officer told The Nation that the suspect has been charged to court.

  • Lagos Assembly probes alleged maternal death

    Lagos Assembly probes alleged maternal death

    Lagos State House of Assembly has launched a probe into how Mrs Omowunmi Shonuga died last October at General Hospital, Igando. She was said to have died from alleged negligence by medical personnel of the Lagos State Government.

    Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Olusegun Olulade yesterday led other members of the Committee and the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFEMAA) to the Rauf Aregbesola Primary Health Centre, from where she was said to have been transferred to Igando.

    The committee also inspected facilities at the health centre as part of its ongoing tour of the general hospitals in the state.

    The investigation followed a petition sent to the Assembly by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), alleging that Mrs Shonuga’s death could have been avoided if the medical staff of the hospital had been diligent enough.

    The Ward Health Committee Chairman, Mr Lawal Adeshina speaking for Rauf Aregbesola PHC, opened another angle to the case of the late Shonuga which require further adequate investigation.

    However, Olulade reiterated the committee’s resolve to probe the case to a logical conclusion because of some “contradictory disclosures” made at the hospital.

    He said: “Since some new contradictions have emerged, we would dig further and get to the root of the matter.”

    The committee also made enquiries at Alimosho General Hospital, while HEFEMAA assessed its facilities.