The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • NGO reaches out to the indigent in Ajegunle

    A non-governmental organisation, the Charity Ball, has donated foodstuff, clothes and other materials to indigent people in Ajegunle, Lagos.

    The organisation also gave out writing materials, toothpaste, toothbrush, hygiene packs and school sandals to women and children on Oyegunle Street.

    The convener, Olorunfunmi Adebanjo, said the gesture was borne out of her zeal to help the less privileged.

    “I had an idea about reaching out to the poor and I thought why not make Christmas/New Year happy for the less privileged? So I selected a street in Ajegunle called Oyegunle Street and we distributed as much food that can conveniently feed a family of four about four times. The event was mostly for women and children. I am especially grateful to my friends, Okechuku Ofili, author of How Stupidity Saved My Life; Eric Obuh, founder of Ghetto Love Project, and the President’s photographer, Bayo Omoboriowo for their immense support,” she said.

    The philanthropist said she got support from friends and on social media to raise funds for the project.

    She said: “I have been doing charity for a while now but this is the major step I have taken ever since I started and as from next year, I am thinking of having a proper structure and platform, where people can give out to less privileged. I believe that each person should start from little he can do, it is not compulsory to start big. It only gets big if you start from somewhere. I didn’t start big and I don’t think I am big yet. This was possible because there were others who were willing to help.”

    Omoboriowo said he supports the project because of the impact it can make to help the less privileged.

    “This is a very good initiative that if well supported would go big My advice to the people out there is that when you have, give the little you have out,” he said.

    A beneficiary, Mary Michael, said the programme indeed brought succour to the residents.

    “They have helped a lot of people today; because most of us have not eaten since last night. When I heard about the programme from my friends, I came immediately to this place just to make it in time to collect the food they were sharing. We will be able to eat for about four days. I pray that the person organising the programme will never lack in their endeavours,” she said.

    Folashade Saka, another benefactor said: “I feel good today because they have satisfied our needs. Most of us don’t even have the money to buy books or pen to take to school. We have the necessary equipment now because of the charity programme that was held here. I am so happy and thankful to the organiser.”

  • Three arrested as fire guts water firm

    Three arrested as fire guts water firm

    A two-storey building went up in flames yesterday on Ayuba Daudu in Ilasamaja in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, 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.

    Some residents said the fire started few minutes past 2pm from an apartment.

    A resident said: “I learnt somebody was cooking with gas in one of the apartments, the gas exploded and it caught fire,” he said.

    A worker in the water firm was said to have run out of the toilet on sighting the raging fire.

    “He couldn’t wait to clean himself up before storming out of the toilet. He did not even wear his trousers; it was somebody that gave him trousers after his escape from the fire,” the resident said amid laughter by sympathisers.

    The Ojuelegba unit of the Federal Fire Service raced to the scene to quell the fire.

    Occupants of houses on both sides of the building seen rushed out in fear.

    Some assisted other sympathisers to put out the fire before the fire fighters’ arrival.

    A woman threw packs of sachet water to them to fight the fire.

    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, who came to the scene with Mushin Local Government Executive Secretary,” he said.

    Another eyewitness, Miftau Otaru told The Nation that occupants of his building rushed out to assist in putting out the fire.

    According to Otaru, a Laboratory Scientist, “There was no electricity as at the time it started, so you can’t say its electrical surge. We just hear fire! Fire!! Fire!!! And we all ran out. The boys in this area really tried to ensure no casualty; they assist in getting the people in one of the apartments behind out of danger,” he said.

    Aloysius Ukwuani, Head Officer of Federal Fire Service praised the residents for clearing the way for their vehicles to reach the building.

    “They called. We responded very quickly because the person that informed us came with a bike and we followed them immediately. We were able to contain the fire.

    We have no idea what the cause may be. The crowd was very cooperative. People should be fire conscious. Assuming they had the right equipment, they would have quenched it,” he said.

    Igbehin-Adun Community Development Association (CDA) chairman Chief Oladele Dasaolu said some residents came out to put  out the fire when it started.

    He said: “The only unfortunate thing was the boys that came to steal. The policemen have taken the three of them away.  We tell residents from time to time to be wary of things that can lead to fire. Also, those who park their vehicles on the streets are ought to be careful because of situations like this so as to have a thorough fare for the fire fighters’ vehicles. That is the problem we have to address.”

    Mushin Local Government Execuitive Secretary Jide Bello urged residents to always check home appliances before going out.

    “As the council boss, I am always on ground and my people are always around me which is part of my responsibilities. I wouldn’t know the cause. I called both the federal and state fire services. Their responses were prompt. Residents did their best to put out the fire. Even if you look at the back, there is a woman who was bringing out sachet water packs; she gave them to people to quench the fire. People should be fire conscious. They should always check their electrical appliances before they leave their houses,” he said.

  • ‘Why we shower baby of the year with gifts’

    ‘Why we shower baby of the year with gifts’

    Mattress giant Vitafoam Nigeria Plc has said it showered the first baby of the year with gifts because of its value for life.

    Its Managing Director, Taiwo Ayodele Adeniyi, spoke after presenting gifts to the Island Maternity first, second and third babies of the year on Lagos Island last Friday.

    The first baby of the year, a boy, who was delivered to Mr and Mrs Oluwakemi Okunnowo, was received by the Vitafoam team.

    Mrs Omobolanle Okunnowo was delivered of her baby at 12:01am. The child weighed 3.2kg.

    Baby cot, baby mattress, pillows and baby changing mat, among others, were presented to the baby.

    The hospital also got mattresses, pillows, baby solid chairs and trendy mats.

    Vitafoam also gave gifts to the hospital’s outstanding principal officers and workers last year.

    Presenting the gifts to Island Maternity Medical Director Dr Donald Imosemi, Adeniyi noted his firm’s relationship with Lagos Island Maternity Hospital.

    He said while the hospital continues to “manufacture” babies, Vitafoam would continue to produce products that would add value to the babies’ lives.

    He said Vitafoam baby cot mattress is made from medium density flexible foam covered with non-absorbent fabrics. It is an ideal mattress for a child’s comfort and pleasure.

    He said: “This is a gesture that has become the tradition of the company for over a decade now. It has been the tradition of the company to shower gifts on first babies, the hospital management as well as its outstanding staff. As part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, Vitafoam is dedicated to giving the babies comfort from conception till old age and to assure them that the world is a comfortable place with the belief that their proper growth will impact on the nation as a whole. Products ranging from baby cots, baby mattresses, walker, changing mats, breastfeeding kits, pillows, among other products of the company, were presented to not only the first baby, but also extended to the second and third babies of the year delivered at the hospital.”

    Dr Imosemi hailed Vitafoam for coming to celebrate the new babies, adding: “Because the hospital is here to serve humanity, the support that Vitafoam has come to give indicates that yours is a company that has the interest of humanity at heart.”

    He promised that the hospital would use the items donated judiciously while praying for God’s blessings on the company and its staff.

    Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, hailed Vitafoam Nigeria Plc and others for their continual supports towards encouraging the baby of the year programme.

  • Housekeeper ‘steals’ employer’s N3m jewellery for boyfriend

    A 20-year-old housekeeper, Elizabeth Igwe, was yesterday arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing her employer’s jewellery worth N3 million.

    The court granted her N500, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The prosecution said the accused unlawfully entered her employer’s room to steal the jewellery.

    Police Inspector Francisca Okere told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 17 on Kazeem Street, Chevy View Estate in Lekki, Lagos.

    “Igwe packed all the jewellery and gave them to her boyfriend at Alpha Beach. Before she was apprehended, the accused had planned to leave for her village for Christmas and had no plans of coming back to work for her boss,” he said.

    The offence contravened Sections 285 (7), 306 and 509 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Igwe pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate L. A. Owolabi adjourned the case till February 4.

  • Mob torches building over printer’s death

    Mob torches building over printer’s death

    THE year ended on a sad note yesterday for residents of House 38 Solanke Street in Akoka, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, which was torched by a mob.

    The bungalow, which also house three shops, was burnt following the killing of a printer, Rilwan Lawal, 25, by some hoodlums led by a man whose family owned the building.

    The man, according to some residents, does not live in the building, but stays there whenever he was around.

    Lawal was shot dead on Tuesday night on Ibukunoluwa Street, Akoka, while returning home.

    Some students and shop owners were trying to salvage some of their belongings when The Nation visited the scene yesterday.

    A mob prevented fire fighters from entering the street, locking the two gates leading there.

    A resident said he did not know why Lawal was killed, describing him as “easy going”.

    “It was the hoodlums’ leader that killed him and I am sure that boy didn’t do anything because he doesn’t mingle with touts. Some residents, who were angry, put petrol in the building which belongs to the Oyedeles and burnt it down,” he said.

    A trader, Yahaya Dauda, said the gang’s leader returned from prison in March where he spent 13 years.

    He said: “He was sentenced to prison then because of murder and now it is the same thing. He hasn’t learnt his lessons. He disturbs the neighbourhood and flees afterwards.

    “I don’t know why people like him should be released. He believes his father, would always save him. Since the incident happened, we haven’t seen him or any family member. Most of the residents have been left homeless. This is too painful to start the year with.”

    A resident, Chris Uzor, said the late Rilwan worked as a printer with El-holar Nigeria Enterprises on the street he was killed.

    “He was an easy going man. I got to this area over five years ago and I met him here. His death is painful because he was a determined man and jovial. He never took things hard. If he was arrogant, people would have ignored him but he wasn’t. Immediately he was shot, policemen from Bariga Division carried his body. His colleagues have not opened their office because of the incident. Nobody can open their store because we don’t know what the gang will do again. This matter needs to be looked into,” he said.

    Dada Salau, whose shop was affected, said he received a call around 8am that his shop was on fire.

    “I live in Ikorodu but yesterday, I decided to stay in Bariga. I was able to save few things but some tenants couldn’t save anything because most of them had gone out. Students who occupied the building couldn’t save their books and appliances,” he said.

    A resident said he learnt that some people were planning to set the house ablaze on Tuesday night and alerted the police in Bariga.

    “The police came immediately that night and left around 7am. Shortly after, the mob appeared and set the house ablaze,” he said.

  • NDLEA arrests Facebook-recruited trafficker

    NDLEA arrests Facebook-recruited trafficker

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 37-year-old woman, Uju Gloria Ezeabata, with 1.325kg of methamphetamine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Ezeabata, who was recruited on facebook, was taking the drug to Malaysia. Drug trafficking carries death penalty in Malaysia.

    She was lured into the business with a marriage proposal, NDLEA said.

    The cartel’s suspected leader, Philip Maduabuchi Akpaka, 39, was also arrested.

    NDLEA Lagos Airport Commander Ahmadu Garba said Ezeabata was arrested following the discovery of methamphetamine in her luggage.

    Garba said: “Gloria was arrested during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian airline flight on her way to Malaysia at the departure hall. Substances that tested positive for methamphetamine weighing 1.325kg were detected in her luggage. The drug was concealed in 26 packs of Indomie noodles in a bag of foodstuff containing plantain, pepper, melon and other spices.

    “Further investigation led to the arrest of Akpaka, who allegedly coordinated the travel arrangement for Gloria and gave her the bag containing the drugs”.

    NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Mrs Roli Bode-George urged the public to be wary of drug cartels that have invaded facebook and other social media platforms to recruit drug mules.

    Mrs Bode-George said: “Members of the public should be wary of these antics, ascertain a wholesome relationship and report suspicious cases to the agency. Some of the tricks to watch out for include marriage proposals to unsuspecting female victims, unsolicited generosity like cash and other gift items as well as offering all-expense paid trip to Asia, Europe, America and South Africa.

    “The mode of recruitment is also instructive because of its mass appeal to youths. I expect lovers of social media to learn from this arrest.”

    Ezeabata who works with an accounting firm in Lagos, admitted having a Facebook relationship that got her involved in drug trafficking.

    She said: “I met a man on facebook some months ago who lives in Malaysia. He told me while chatting online that he is from my state, Anambra. After some months, he proposed to marry me and I requested that he comes to Nigeria to meet my parents as our custom demands. He promised to fulfil every marriage rite. Months later, he invited me to Malaysia, promising to pay all the travel expenses. After several appeals, I decided to visit him. The day I was to travel, he told me to take along a bag of foodstuff sent by his mother from the village. I was given the bag at the airport but in the process of checking it, drug was discovered inside packs of noodles in the bag and I was arrested.”

    Akpaka admitted preparing Ezeabata’s travel papers at the instance of his Malaysia-based friend.

    “I am a transporter. My friend in Malaysia asked me to prepare travel documents for Ezeabata. He also asked me to give her a bag to take to Malaysia,” he said.

  • Ketu killings: Hotel manager at large, say police

    Ketu killings: Hotel manager at large, say police

    THE Manager of the hotel where the Oyesunle twins and their friend were killed last Saturday is on the run, the police said yesterday.

    Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle and their friend Goke, popularly known as Jeje, were shot dead by Police Sergeant Stephen James at Paulson Hotel in Ketu, Lagos.

    The sergeant also killed himself.

    The Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Mr Abiodun Odude, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that nobody had been arrested over the incident.

    Odude said: “We are yet to arrest anybody from the hotel. The manager is on the run. We have not been able to effect arrest of any management staff. The Homicide Unit is investigating the case. We are looking for the manager and other management staff that run the hotel.”

    The hotel has been deserted since the incident as it was vandalised by some irate youths on the faithful day.

    The twins’ family is calling on the police to ensure that justice is done.

    Mr Segun Sodunke, husband of the twins elder sister, Olufunke, urged the police not to sweep the matter under the carpet, saying no amount of compensation could bring the dead back.

    “No amount of money could compensate for the lives of Kehinde and Taiwo Oyesunle,” he said, describing their death as a calamity.

    Sodunke noted that nothing is being done to check careless killings by police.

    The police, he said, had wanted all the bodies buried in the same place, but the family and the Navy refused, hence, Jeje was buried in Ikorodu on Sunday by his sister.

    “The Lagos Commissioner of Police was at Ketu Police Station on Sunday where he addressed the families. He advised them to bury the dead bodies instead of punishing them more by keeping them in the mortuary. But he did not visit the mother of the twins or any member of the family to commiserate with them,” he said.

    Also yesterday, a non-governmental organisation, Twins Action Aid International, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni to visit the victims’ families and compensate them accordingly.

    Its coordinators, Taiwo and Kehinde Oluwafunso, in a statement, said: “It is saddening and heart cracking that a police officer trained with the taxpayer’s money with sole responsibility of protecting Nigerians could turn around and pump bullets into defenceless and helpless citizens.

    “It is so barbaric that Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle could be killed just like that at this time in the 21st century after holocaust suffered by twins in the old Calabar.

    “This act of senseless killing is becoming a trend that has to be checked and also a bold step has to be taken by the police to compel recruits to undergo psychiatric test and again a panel of inquiry has to look into the immediate cause of the barbaric killing and failure to compensate the families of the victims would make TAA International to sue the police.”

  • Justice ministry to probe student’s death

    Justice ministry to probe student’s death

    •We had a scuffle, says boyfriend
    •’She didn’t die in our hospital’

    Lagos State Ministry of Justice has intervened in the death of a student, Funke Balogun, in a hotel at Oshodi last Sunday.

    A member of her family told The Nation that officials of the ministry had called to get details of the incident.

    She said it was likely the officials were from the Office of Public Defender (OPD), an arm of the ministry.

    The relative said: “Some of Abolade’s family came to our house to apologise. But, will an apology bring our daughter back? They told us he pushed her by mistake and she died. Is that love? I know it could happen to anyone but no family should come and think an apology will change everything. I pray justice prevails as Abolade has been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).”

    Funke was allegedly electrocuted in her boyfriend’s mother’s newly opened hotel on the day she turned 24.

    The boyfriend, Abolade Adetunji has reportedly told the police that they had a scuffle before she died.

    Adetunji made a statement at the station after he was discharged from Geo Medical Centre. He is reportedly being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

    The hospital proprietor, Dr Adetomiwa George, said yesterday that Funke did not die in his hospital.

    “She was brought in dead,” he said, adding: “She was brought around 8:44am on Sunday and we tried to revive her but she didn’t survive. She wasn’t alive or gasping for breath when she was brought in”

  • ‘It’s easier to rob in Ghana than Nigeria’

    ‘It’s easier to rob in Ghana than Nigeria’

    It is easier for robbers to operate in Ghana than in Nigeria, an ex-convict, Wasami Dennis, 32, has said.

    Dennis, a cross-border robbery suspect, from Abraka in Delta State, said Ghanians were not as security conscious as Nigerians.

    Dennis was arrested last weekend in his hideout in Agbole Orile, Lagos.

    He was released about a year ago from Kirikiri prison after he was convicted for robbery in Festac, Lagos.

    “I was just released from prison about a year ago. I was caught with a stolen laptop from Ghana along with three machetes in my hideout,” he said.

    The suspect said he operated more in Ghana than Nigeria, stressing that Ghanaians never challenged him in any of his operations.

    He said: “I am an expert in break-in-robbery; I break into people’s houses and cart away their properties and personal effects like mobile phones, laptops and jewelry. I used to bring the stolen items to Nigeria to sell. I have a ready market for them in Lome and Lagos.”

    According to him, the two machetes found in his apartment belong to hoodlums operating in a garage nearby.

    He said: “They kept them there for whenever there is crisis among them. These boys are called Spartacus. They are trouble makers. They are always at the junction. I don’t know anything about it and I never knew they were there.

    “For now, I work on Lagos Island where I help connect people who want to buy children clothing to sellers. I earn commission from this and that is how I earn my livelihood”, he said.

    He named those he sell the items to as “Qudus, I.K, Hapier, Stanley and Kelvin”.

    Davies went on: “My last operation was in Festac. It was the one that led to my arrest and consequently my imprisonment at Kirikiri. Since I came back, I have never gone into breaking in and stealing”.

    Police have begun a manhunt for the stolen goods buyers.

    The suspect is helping the police to get his accomplices.

    Police spokesman Joe Offor reiterated the police commitment to reduce crime.

  • Adebule: we won’t toy with teachers’ welfare

    Adebule: we won’t toy with teachers’ welfare

    Lagos State government will commit more resources to upgrade public schools and teachers to work harder, Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule said yesterday.

    Mrs Adebule spoke at the end of the year party organised by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for its director and primary schools’ head teachers.

    The government, she said, was not unaware of the decay of some public schools infrastructure, adding that steps have been taken to repair them in 2016.

    According to her, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has mandated the Ministry of Education and its agencies to ensure that the state records excellence in all external examinations from next year.

    The deputy governor said she was not pleased with the infrastructure in some public schools, adding that the governor has approved that they be upgraded to ensure quality learning.

    On her unscheduled visits to some schools, Mrs Adebule said her intention was not to harass anybody, but to ensure that people are committed to their job.

    She said there would be more of such visits in future, warning head teachers and schools administrators to always be on top of their job. Government, she said, is not ready to take excuses for non-compliance with standard guidelines.

    SUBEB Chairman Dr Ganiyu Oluremi Sopeyin said under his leadership the board would ensure that prompt attention is given to teachers’ needs. The board, he added, will continue to push for teachers’ welfare to make their job easier and make life more meaningful for them.