The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Lagos shuts ‘notorious’ market in Oshodi

    Lagos shuts ‘notorious’ market in Oshodi

    OWONIFARI market within the notorious Oshodi loop has been shut and traders relocated to the nearby Isopakodowo market at Bolade in the Lagos State government’s bid to sanitise the area.

    The government has also begun the fencing of the set-back on Agege Motor Road, stretching from Ilupeju end of Oshodi to PWD/Ikeja GRA.

    A statement yesterday by Information and Strategy Commissioner, Mr Steve Ayorinde said it was aimed at sanitising and beautifying Oshodi, adding that the government will also transform the Owonifari loop and the bus stop terminals, which have somewhat constituted a menace and an eyesore within the locality.

    According to Ayorinde, the Owonifari loop will be transformed into an ultra modern bus terminus with new bus shelters befitting of a structured park in a mega city.

    “The fencing-off of the long stretch of the set-back is being undertaken to assist the Federal Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation in particular with a view to beautifying it and safeguarding lives along the railway corridor by discouraging street trading and indiscriminate use of the space,” he said.

    Ayorinde said the ongoing fencing-off and beautification of the road set-back from Ilupeju bypass to PWD/Ikeja GRA would constitute the first phase of Oshodi’s transformation. The second phase, he added, would begin from PWD/Ikeja GRA and stretch to Agege/Pen cinema axis.

    Lagosians, he said, should expect a saner and safer Oshodi where traders and commuters can visit and trade.

    The commissioner said the moved traders have been allocated shops within the Isopakodowo, adding that the demolition of the loop is in the interest of the public that expects a world-class bus terminus there.

     

  • Job seeker ‘defiles’ neighbour’s daughters

    An unemployed man, Chuks Isaac, has been accused of defiling his neighbour’s two daughters.

    Isaac, who lives in the same compound with his victims on Shonola Street in Aguda, Ogba, Lagos defiled the girls, ages 8 and 11.

    “He usually calls them with the pretence of sending them on errands and then carries out his evil act. The victims’ mothers got to know after one of them fell sick and confessed. The accused was then apprehended,” prosecuting police Corporal Zainab Amedu told an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, yesterday, where the accused was arraigned.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Amedu said the offence was committed in October at the accused residence.

    She said the offence contravened Sections 137 and 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias ordered that the accused be remanded at Kirikiri Prisons, till February 3, pending the hearing of his bail application.

     

  • Man strips partner naked in hotel for ‘sleeping’ with wife

    Man strips partner naked in hotel for ‘sleeping’ with wife

    A 35-year-old man, Emeka Nwankwo, was yesterday arraigned in court for allegedly beating up his business partner and stripping him naked for having an affair with his wife.

    Nwankwo, the police said, accused Godstand Ogboi of sleeping with his wife in a hotel.

    He was said to have bought a tricycle from Ogboi, on hire purchase and entered a written agreement with him.

    “There was an agreement to pay for the tricycle in instalments, but a few months after the accused began to default.

    “His wife, identified as Esther, intervened to prevent Ogboi from ceasing the tricycle, promising to see to the regular payment of the agreed returns. In the course of a supposed business meeting between Nwankwo’s wife and Ogboi, he found them in a compromising position in hotel room.

    “Nwankwo accused Ogboi of adulterous relationship with his wife after which he beat him to a pulp. He stripped him naked and began to take nude pictures of the complainant.

    “Nwankwo, thereafter forced Ogboi to transfer the ownership of the tricycle to him in writing and a promise to pay N500,000 to him to prevent him from posting his nude pictures on social media,” Inspector Simon Imhonwa said.

    Police investigations revealed that it was an apparent “set up” by Nwankwo and his wife who were apprehended at a nearby fast food joint waiting to receive the N500,000 ransom for the nude photo.

    Imhonwa said the couple were also found with Ogboi’s personal belongings such as watch and wallet containing his ID cards, ATM cards and N5,000 cash.

    Nwankwo, who resides at 7 Pipeline Street in Ikotun, Lagos, was arraigned before an at Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged assault, stealing and conspiracy to rob.

    Imhonwa said the offence was committed last November 25 at Musfat Hotel at Ikotun.

    The police, he said, also seized Nwankwo’s mobile phone, where he had the nude pictures he had tagged ‘End Time Adulterer’.

    Nwankwo pleaded not guilty and was granted N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi ordered that the sureties must be employed in reputable companies and should show evidence of tax payment.

    Magistrate Osunsanmi adjourned the case till March 17 for trial.

     

  • Three brothers beat up expectant mother

    Three brothers beat up expectant mother

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday remanded three brothers for allegedly beating up an expectant mother.

    The accused are a tailor, Yusuf Oloyede, 25; an artisan, Ganiyu Oloyede, 18; and a designer, Riliwan Oloyede, 28.

    Magistrate A.O. Gbajumo, remanded the brothers in the police station and adjourned the case till today for mention.

    The trio, who reside on Church Street at Obawole in Ogba, Lagos, were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and assault.

    Prosecuting police Corporal Michael Unah said that the accused committed the offence on Saturday at their residence.

    He said the accused conspired to assault the expectant mother, Mrs Maria John.

    “The accused beat up their neighbour not minding her condition,” he said.

    Unah said the pregnant woman’s husband reported the case to the police.

    He said the complainant’s children were digging the ground to pack sand to fill the front of their house when the accused ordered them to stop.

    “The complainant’s children were digging sand to fill the front of their house and the accused asked them to stop but they refused.

    “The accused went to pick cutlasses and was chasing the complainant’s children to machete them following which the complainant rushed to the station to report the matter.

    “While at the station, he received a call from his daughter that the accused persons have descended on his pregnant wife and beaten her into coma.

    “He rushed home to meet his wife in coma, stained with blood all over her body, she was rushed to the hospital and she delivered on Monady through Caesarean section,” he said.

     

  • Fire raze brothel, hostel

    Fire raze brothel, hostel

    An overnight fire destroyed Goggis International Hotel at 76, Okunola Street, Egbeda in Lagos.

    It was gathered that the fire started around 9.40pm from one of the rooms.

    An eyewitness, Demi, said when the fire started from the room, they used an extinguisher but the fire overwhelmed them.

    He said: “I was sitting in front of the hotel when I saw a heavy smoke. I heard fire but I thought it was the usual joke. When we got there, it was still burning a room but the extinguisher wasn’t enough. Neighbours carried drums of water but the fire spread fast and people ran for their lives. They couldn’t salvage anything.

    “The community LCDA is behind where the incident happened but none of them has come to sympathise with them. They should show concern to residents.”

    The Nation learnt that the 20-room hotel was also used as a brothel.

    A resident, Chidubem Austin, said the hotel’s Director fell unconscious when the incident happened, adding: “He is responding to treatment as I speak but he hasn’t been able to talk. He just renovated the hotel two months ago and I doubt if he has gotten his turnover. I am glad most of the girls there weren’t around because it would have been a disaster. I saw N50,000 cash burnt; it is very unfortunate. People were still in the New Year mood. The fire fighters did well because they responded immediately. Neighbours thought they could do it alone but they couldn’t.”

    An occupant of the hotel, Sylvia, said she is squatting with a friend.

    “I was in my room when I heard fire. I ran out immediately. The little money I saved during the festive period has gone. My friend gave me her clothes to put on. I can’t think straight. I have been working here for a while and I don’t know how to start my life again,” she said.

    A regular patron of the hotel said she was still there till 9pm on Sunday and the activities were normal.

    She said: “So many things happen within seconds. I still joked with one of the girls before I left. It is very painful. All the electrical appliances went with the fire. I am just more shocked because the generator is still intact. What could now be the cause?.”

    Fire fighters from Ikotun and Ikeja responded to the fire.

    Also, fire razed a room on the third floor of Emirate Hostel, Akoka, Lagos Mainland yesterday.

    The incident started around 7am.

    It was gathered that occupants of the room forgot to put off their electrical appliances.

    A security guard said the room caught fire when light was restored and they were able to contain the fire.

  • Four killed in Mushin gang war

    Four killed in Mushin gang war

    Four persons have been killed in renewed cult clashes in Mushin, Lagos.

    The clashes were sparked by the killing of a security guard identified as Ja Rule on New Year eve.

    It was learnt that the age-long rivalry between the Aye and Eiye confraternities escalated after the death of Ja Rule, who allegedly was disembowelled by his killers.

    Three others have been killed since Saturday.

    According to sources around Olorunsola Street, where the incident occurred, the cultists shot Ja Rule but the bullet did not penetrate his body.

    “The cult groups have been fighting since New Year Day. More than four people have been killed already.

    “The fight started on New Year Eve after Ja Rule was butchered with knives like a goat around 11:55am.

    “Ja Rule works at Adesuwa Guest House on Olorunsola Street; that is where he stayed too. So, after work on Thursday, he was supposed to go to church but he stopped at a compound not far from the guest house where he ate and was discussing with his friends.

    “As they were outside, two men came and identified him. When they saw him, they shot him but the bullet did not enter. He ran and they chased him.

    “After a while, he came back to the compound. His friend was telling him that they should go to church but he refused and sat where they had earlier shot him.

    “After sometime, many boys came to the compound again and surrounded the place. When they carried their clothes up, we saw cutlasses that were hidden underneath and they attacked him with the weapons.

    “People ran for their lives because no one wanted to fall victim. Ja Rule ran towards the railway but I heard some of the gang members had laid siege to the area.

    “I also heard that those ones caught him and cut him into pieces. After killing him, they left his corpse near the railway,” one of the residents who refused to be named said.

    Angered by his death, his gang members were said to have taken to the streets hunting for his killers from Olorunsola to Challenge areas.

    Lagos State Command’s spokesman, Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), could not be reached on telephone for comment.

     

  • Police arraign security guard charged with theft

    Police arraign security guard charged with theft

    The police yesterday arraigned a 27-year-old construction site security guard, Phillip Adeleke in an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for stealing engineering equipment worth N820,000 from a store.

    Adeleke, who hails from Saki in Oyo State, is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on breaking and entering, and stealing.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Nicholas Akpene, told the court that the accused committed the offences on December 28, 2015 at a construction site at Ikate-Elegushi, Lagos.

    Akpene said the accused came to Lagos in 2008 and was employed as a guard at the construction site.

    The prosecutor said the accused broke into the store at the site and stole a 7.5KVA KIPOR generator, Steel Scaffold, Acro Props Pipes and a pumping machine all valued at N820,000, property of one Mr Charles Iwobho.

    He said that the offence contravened Sections 285(1) (7) and 307 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate F. M. Dalley granted him N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Dalley said the sureties must be gainfully employed and must provide evidence of tax payment.

    She then adjourned the case until January 19 for mention.

  • Prosecute fire thieves, residents tell police

    Prosecute fire thieves, residents tell police

    Residents of Igbehin-Adun in Ilasamaja in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State yesterday urged police authority to ensure three persons arrested during a fire incident are prosecuted.

    A two-storey building went up in flames on Sunday afternoon on Ayuba Daudu Street in the area, leaving four flats razed.

    Part of the building housed Lamee Ventures, maker of Skord bottle and sachet water.

    Residents of two of the flats could not salvage anything.

    In the melee, three persons were arrested for stealing from the building.

    An eyewitness, Adeola Olawale, said the hoodlums pretended to be helping to fight the fire.

    “They went into one of the rooms while many were trying to put out the fire to steal some items. Some of the things found on them include jewellery, wrist watch, handsets among others. Somebody raised the alarm before the mob pounced on them. They were handed over to policemen,” he said.

    Igbehin-Adun Community Development Association (CDA) chairman Chief Oladele Dasaolu described the boys’ action as saddening.

    “The only unfortunate thing was the boys that came to steal. The policemen have taken the three of them away,” he said.

    Some residents who spoke with The Nation yesterday urged the police to take them to court to serve as deterrent to others.

    “How can someone be stealing from the people in agony. It is height of heartlessness to pretend as a helper and added more woes to the person’s pain. Do they pray such incident happened to them? Police should not release them,” Akin Ashade said.

    Another resident, Wale Omole wondered how people could think of stealing in such circumstance.

    “They are lucky that policemen were around, else the mob would have beaten them to coma. We were striving to put out the fire to reduce the cost of destruction, some people striving to steal. I will be glad to see police take them to court,” he said.

    His friend, Kola said their conviction would serve as deterrent to others who nurse such inordinate ambition.

    Meanwhile, light work began yesterday at the water factory with production of plastic.

    While some of the workers were still packing some of the burnt items, few others were working in one of the offices.

    When The Nation visited the place, sympathisers came in one after another.

    The rubbles were being parked into a vehicle for onward disposal.

    The owner of the building and firm, Alhaji Kayode Lamina were seen receiving sympathisers at his office.

    Mushin Local Government Executive Secretary Babajide Bello yesterday appealed to parents and guidance to stop the habit of locking children in homes while they are away.

    According to him, many of the fire incidents that occurred recently were caused by parents and guidance, who locked their children in the room and left with the keys. “This is a dangerous habit which has caused several deaths. Several homes were burnt during the festive period as a result of this act,” he said.

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) yesterday also urged Lagos residents to take necessary precautionary measures to prevent avoidable fire outbreak could endanger lives and property.

    Its General Manager Michael Akindele, who gave the advice at a news briefing in Lagos, urged the people to be safety conscious on incidences that might lead to disaster.

    Akindele also reminded motorists to imbibe safety culture, especially during the harmattan, which may last till the end of February in the state.

    According to him, necessary precautionary measures should be taken to prevent avoidable fire outbreak, road accident and other emergency situations that could endanger lives and property.

    “The agency is committed to reducing emergency and disasters to the barest minimum through continuous Public Advocacy/Campaign programmes at the grassroots.

    “The agency plans to hold advocacy programmes with stakeholders on prevention, mitigation and rescue on emergencies.

    “It will be held at the Blue Roof LTV8 Agindingbi, Lagos this month.

    “The event will involve all first responders of emergency management with presentation on prevention and recovery during emergency,” Akindele said.

    He promised that the agency would continue to hold periodic stakeholders meeting with relevant stakeholders to assess the level of preparedness for emergency and identify the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the management of emergencies.The general manager explained that the Local Emergency Management Committee in all the 57 Local Government/Local Council Development Areas have been restructured while 750 Local Emergency Responders have been trained.

    He said that the steps would improve effectiveness and efficiency of the agency in the management of emergency and disaster in the state.

    Akindele urged relevant stakeholders to partner with the State Government in reducing the occurrences of emergency and disaster that are avoidable.

  • RRS arrests suspected traffic robbers

    RRS arrests suspected traffic robbers

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives caught two persons for alleged traffic robbery in Ajah, Lagos at the weekend.

    Mustapha Odunayo, 22, and Adedayo Akinjola, 22, were said to be members of a gang which uses motorcycle to terrorise motorists on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway.

    They were arrested after they snatched a mobile phone from their victim and fled.

    While fleeing on their motorcycle, patrolling RRS bikers chased and caught them.

    According to the police, the suspects admitted that was not their first operations.

    Odunayo, identified as the gang leader, claimed that financial difficulties lured him into robbery.

    “We were three that left home in search of victims. On getting to Ajah opposite a shopping mall, where traffic is usually hectic, we sighted a woman in a car holding a phone.

    “Then, I alighted from the motorcycle while my two other members stood by on the motorcycle. I forcefully collected the phone from her, mounted the motorcycle and we zoomed off.

    “While on the run, we sighted the RRS men chasing us with brand new power-bike, later, they outran us but one of us disembarked and escaped with the stolen phone before we were arrested”, he said.

    Odunayo, who is from Ogun State, blamed his plight on lack of education.

    He claimed he came to Lagos some years ago and started working as a cart pusher, adding that his meagre proceed couldn’t sustain him.

    “That is why I chose to be robbing innocent members of the public with Okada for easy manoeuvring after operation,” he said.

    “Our first operation was carried out by the three of us in Ajah. We collected one Techno phone from our victim. It was sold to one Mallam Hassan by Adedayo, and I was given N2,500.

    “The second operation was not successful and the third one was this one that led to our arrest,” he said.

    Akinjola said he was an apprentice at an aluminium workshop before he took to traffic robbery.

    According to him, the motorcycle belongs to the escapee third suspect.

    Narrating how the hoodlums were arrested, the police said they were attracted  by the victim’s scream.

    “We were able to intercept the fleeing robbers when their victim, a young lady, screamed that her mobile phone had been snatched. Immediately, we gave the fleeing suspects a chase which led to the arrest of two of them while the third suspect later identified as Lekan made away with the stolen phone”

    Lagos State Command’s spokesman, Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said efforts were on to arrest the third suspect.

  • Transport unions to establish health centres at parks

    Some transport unions in Lagos State have reiterated their plans to establish health centres in motor parks to ensure that their members are healthy.

    Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede and Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Lagos State Chairmen of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers’ Association (RTEAN) made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday.

    They said the decision to establish the centres was prompted by a report of the Lagos State Government in 2015 that most commercial drivers diagnosed, had high blood pressure and other related diseases.

    “We have always taken the health care of our members paramount and had been sensitising them on their health as well as inviting health personnel at some of our gatherings to check their health status.

    “We hope to build standard centres with qualified medical personnel to work in them,” Agbede said.

    He said that the health centres would also help passengers because there were instances when pregnant women put to bed at the parks.

    Mohammed, on his part, said that establishing the centres at motor parks was very `essential and important.’

    He said that most commercial bus drivers found it difficult to create time and check their health at hospitals, but instead, preferred to take herbs and concoctions.

    “RTEAN conducts routine health check on drivers; we hope to intensify regular check on drivers before they embark on journeys as this would help reduce accidents.

    “Most accidents occurred due to fatigue or high blood pressure triggered by the deplorable condition of roads or longer hours on the wheels.

    “The need for health centres is not only for our drivers, but also passengers; on many occasions, we attend to sick people or women going into labour at the park, so there is need for the centres,” Mohammed said.

    Lagos State government last Thursday disclosed that over 99 per cent of commercial bus drivers are hypertensive. A condition, it said, could partly be attributed to the traffic congestion in the state.

    Mr Dayo Mobereola, the State’s Commissioner for Transportation, who was represented at a forum by the Director of Transportation, Planning, Policy and Coordination, Dr Olufemi Salam, gave this indication.