The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Typist held for ‘stealing’ employer’s N520,000

    An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday granted N500,000 bail to Joshua Daniel, a typist who allegedly forged his employer’s signature to withdraw N520,000 from a bank.

    Daniel, 19, was said to have committed the offence barely 25 days after his employment.

    He allegedly committed the offence between November 27 and December 17 at First Bank, Ifako Branch in Gbagada, Lagos.

    According to Prosecuting Sergeant Ihiehie Lucky, the complainant, Mr Gabriel Akhigbe, reported the incident at Ifako Police Station.

    The prosecutor said Akhigbe claimed that he employed the accused on November 2 to work in his law office as a typist.

    “After a while, he took the accused to First Bank, Ifako, Gbagada, where he operates an account and introduced him to his account officer as his staff,” he said.

    Ihiehie said the complainant had sent the accused once to the bank to withdraw money for him and there was no problem with the transaction.

    Ihiehie said: “After some time, the complainant started receiving several alerts debiting his account almost on daily basis. The complainant being a very elderly man kept wondering what was happening to his account and demanded a statement of account from the bank.

    “He realised that it was the accused, who had been withdrawing money from his account without his consent.

    “During an investigation by the bank, it was discovered that between November 27 and December 17, the accused had withdrawn a total of N520, 000 from the account.”

    Daniel, a resident of Jossy Castro Street, Bariga, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of forgery and stealing to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate O. Sule Amzat granted him bail with two sureties in the sum of N500,000 each.

    One of the sureties, she said, must be a clergyman; the other, the defendant’s father.

    Magistrate Amzat said the sureties should show evidence of gainful employment, adding that their addresses should be verified by the court.

    The case was adjourned to January 25.

    The offences contravene Sections 285 and 363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

  • Passengers injured as train hits truck

    Passengers injured as train hits truck

    Scores of passengers were injured yesterday when an overcrowded Lagos-bound train from Ogun State collided with a refuse truck at the Shogunle Railway Crossing around 8a.m.

    The truck had tried to rush through the railway crossing before the train got there.

    Seeing that the track was partially blocked by the truck, the train driver reduced his speed, thereby reducing the collision’s impact.

    But, the train hit the rear of the truck, which was still on the track, injuring some passengers.

    The truck rammed into the crossing barrier, which also hit a nearby electric pole.

    Many quickly rushed down to assist the injured.

    The passengers hailed the driver for preventing the train from derailing, as it continued to the Shogunle Station where some of them alighted and others on boarded.

    Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Director of Operation Mr Niyi Alli, later told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the truck has been impounded and taken to the corporation’s headquarters at Ebute Meta Junction.

    “The owner of the vehicle too is liable for the cost of damage, although, we are yet to ascertain the cost of damage,’’ Alli said.

    NAN learnt that a Lagos-bound train from Ijoko in Ogun derailed at Iju Station last Friday.

    The derailment disrupted services for the day as hundreds of passengers were stranded at the Iddo terminus in Lagos.

  • Lagos to ensure execution of capital projects

    Lagos to ensure execution of capital projects

    The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment towards ensuring the execution of all projects by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in compliance with Pre-Payment Inspection (PPI).

    Economic Planning and Budget Commissioner Mr Akinyemi Ashade made this known at a Stakeholders Interactive Session on Project Implementation Challenges in Alausa.

    According to him, all capital projects valued at N500, 000 and above executed by MDAs require PPI to be issued by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget to ensure that they are implemented in accordance with the contracts’ terms and conditions.

    The commissioner explained that the PPI would also be used to ascertain that the amount presented for payment certification was correct to ensure due-process and value-for-money.

    “Unlike what used to be the practice of abandoned projects, with PPI, it’s almost impossible as it ensures project payments grouping into; Progress/Stage Payment, Final Payment and Retention Payment.

    “In addition to the aforementioned criteria for final payment, strategic pictures are taken before, during and after the execution and effective supervision of projects by relevant professionals,” he said.

    Some of the requirements for PPI, he said, were Pre-Payment Certificate in approved format, letter of Contract Award, letter of variation of contract sum, BOQ /BEME Specification and compliance to extant circular on the amount of Advance Payment received, vis-à-vis the minimum percentage of Project completion required to qualify for processing of Interim certificate.

    The commissioner explained that if contractors are given 20 percent of the mobilisation fee, government expects 30 percent work value on the project, if 40 percent, 55 percent work value is expected and if 70 percent, 100 percent work value is expected.

  • Consultant allegedly rapes colleague twice in office

    Consultant allegedly rapes colleague twice in office

    •Banker ‘rapes’ niece

    A consultant and a banker were yesterday arraigned before two magistrates’ courts’ in Ikeja, Lagos, for alleged rape.

    The consultant, Ayodele Agboola, 27, and the 33-year-old banker, Cyril Eze, were charged before Magistrate Y. R. Pinheiro and Magistrate Tajudeen Elias.

    Agboola was accused of raping his colleague, Victoria, 21, twice inside their office, Afolabi Aina Street off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Eze was charged with raping his 15-year-old niece in Dopemu, Lagos.

    Prosecuting Police Inspector Uche Simon told Magistrate Pinheiro that Agboola deliberately kept Victoria behind after the close of work to rape her. The prosecutor said the accused committed the act in his office when others had closed.

    “Immediately the complainant entered, he bolted the door behind her and pushed her on the ground. The complainant struggled with him, but the accused overpowered her, she shouted but no one could help as all the workers had gone home. He tore her pant and inserted his manhood inside her and forcefully had sex with her,” Simon said.

    Simon told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 20.

    Simon said the complainant concealed the incident because of shame and stigmatisation until the accused raped her again.

    “The complainant did not report the accused to the management because she does not want it to be made public, but when the incident repeated itself, she cried out,” he said.

    The offence, Simon said, contravened Section 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    Agboola denied committing the offence and was granted N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Magistrate Pinheiro adjourned the case till January 15.

    In Eze’s case, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Corporal Abibat Sulaiman, told Magistrate Elias yesterday that the accused committed the offence on December 4 at his home on Shomorin Street, Dopemu.

    According to her, the victim, who stays with the accused, ran outside the house after the incident.

    “She took to her heels but was rescued by some ‘Good Samaritans’ who brought her to the police station and the accused was apprehended,” she said.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Elias granted him N250,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    He adjourned the case to January 6.

  • Community laments 15 years blackout

    Community laments 15 years blackout

    •Residents claim generator fume killed family of five

    For 15 years, they have been in darkness. Yesterday, the Ifesowapo community in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State cried out to the government on their plight.

    Ifesowapo Community Development Association (CDA) chairman Mr Oluwayinka Satide said residents had been groaning under darkness for 15 years.

    “Our community is situated on 4,000 hectares of land with residential houses occupied by a fast growing population of both adults and children of various ages. The absence of electricity in the community all these years has exposed its people to serious hardship”, he said, adding: “The cost of living has also risen uncontrollably as people need to constantly refill their generators in addition to repairs and maintenance almost on a daily basis.”

    Satide recalled that due to regular use of generators, a resident, Jimoh, his wife and three children were killed on September 13, 2014, by generator fumes.

    He said: “Crimes that need not to be, are successfully carried out under the cover of darkness. Non-availability of electricity is a problem to us because we are totally disconnected from information through media since we cannot view television and other media. No power for artisans and small-scale businesses in our community, thereby making it difficult for our people to improve their standard of living. Poverty is the order of the day.”

    To push the government to act, “Members of the community have embarked on temporary grading of the access roads into the community coupled with purchase and erection of some power poles, to ease the provision of electricity for them by the government. In addition, a space has been reserved at an agreed point in the community to mount the required 500 KVA transformer.”

    Nothing, he said, had so far come out of their efforts, adding that they have written to the Ministries of Rural Development and Local Government and Community Affairs.

    Satide appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to come to their rescue saying: “Nobody can deny the fact that electricity enhances growth and development. Apart from the comfort it provides, the availability of electricity also promotes commerce by encouraging small-scale businesses which play a major role in the expansion of communities. Governor Ambode should come and rescue us; give us transformers.

    “If granted and approved, this appeal will, to a great extent, uplift the social and commercial out-look of the community and also serve as a form of security for lives and property, and we pray this new government would put smile on the faces of the people in this community by the grace of God so that they can benefit from the dividends of democracy.”

  • Akiolu blames govt, Dangote for Lekki crisis

    Akiolu blames govt, Dangote for Lekki crisis

    Who should be blamed for the October 12, 2015 Lekki crisis which claimed the life of Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) Managing Director Tajudeen Disu?

    It is the government, Lekki Investment Worldwide (LIW) and Dangote Investment management, says Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos.

    Oba Akiolu, who was testifying before the tribunal set up by the government to probe the crisis, said the government’s “insincerity” caused the problem.

    The monarch also regretted recommending Disu for appointment.

    “I was instrumental to the coming of the late Disu to assist the state government. If I had known that he would meet his untimely death, I wouldn’t have allowed him to come,” he said.

    “I came to the tribunal when I heard about the matter in the media.

    “What happened at Lekki is insincerity on the part of government and investors. These (villagers) are native people but have been dispossessed of their land which they use for survival.  So, the government has fault there”.

    According to him, there should have been public enlightenment on what government wants for the villagers.

    He said the government claimed that those who had been paid came back to request for more money, adding that it was not being emphasised that the $100million Dangote gave as compensation was inadequate.

    The monarch also blamed the community for taking laws into its hands.

    “The people are uneducated and were doing the right thing in a wrong way. Majority of the landowners in the whole of Lekki don’t want to work, they only want to sell land,” he said.

    Oba Akiolu urged the government and investors to make the people shareholders in their companies.

    “Any company that comes to take land must ensure that at least five percent shares of the company are reserved for landowners while their children should be sent to school,” he advised.

    The monarch urged the government to prevail on Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote to talk to the people, stressing that they should be renumerated for their crops.

    Besides, he said, well known people should be engaged when compensation is to be given to the community.

  • Printer electrocuted on football pitch

    Printer electrocuted on football pitch

    He woke up hale and hearty last Sunday, but he died a few hours later on a football pitch.

    Habeeb Sanni was electrocuted while trying to fix a canopy which he and his fellow players removed before their football game on a field in Ogba, Lagos.

    Seven others suffered burns.

    Sanni, popularly called Alfa, was confirmed dead at the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre (LASAEC) in Ikeja, where they were rushed to.

    Sanni, a printer, was 28.

    He was electrocuted when the canopy’s edge touched a high-tension wire as they were trying to mount it.

    Solomon Ason, who played with the late Sanni, said members of a church rushed them to LASAEC.

    He said: “When we got to the centre, he was confirmed dead. We have been playing on this pitch for over eight years and we haven’t witnessed this kind of incident. It is really painful. Alfa was very jovial. I don’t know when next we will be on the pitch because of this incident.”

    His mother, Mrs Foluke Sanni, said the last time she spoke with him was on Saturday around 9pm.

    She said he told her he would visit her on Sunday with his wife and child to celebrate his sister’s birthday.

    “He said he had bought a cake for his sister because she must celebrate her birthday. That was the last discussion we had. It is still like a dream because since his father’s death, he has been my helper. He is young but he did so many things for us. He takes care of my mother, his sisters and their children.

    “He always listened to me. It is still like a dream to me because we planned so many things together. He was my joy. Whenever my friends saw him, they were always amazed and kept asking if I trained him in Agege. He doesn’t smoke or drink. He didn’t have all the money in the world but we were content with whatever he gave us. I don’t even know what’s next. I didn’t even have any feeling. I still called his line that morning to ask him not to come late but there was no response.”

    His wife, Nurat, said when he returned from the mosque that morning, he left for the field and promised to be back soon.

    The 24-year-old mother of one said: “When it was 8.30am and he was yet to return, I became worried. I waited till 10am still I didn’t see him. I dialled his number several times but there was no response until my mother-in-law called me and said he was gone.

    “We got married at a young age and were fond of each other. He hardly got angry. He promised to get a shop for me next year so that I will have something to do. I need help to start a business and cater for my daughter’s education and wellbeing. How long will I continue to be a burden on his mother? I miss my humble best friend. He wanted to achieve so many things so as to take care of his family. It is so unfortunate.”

    The late Sanni’s close friend, Jamiu Onasanya, said they spoke on Saturday around 10pm, adding that they attended the same high school and have been like brothers since then.

  • Lagos launches pilgrims depository scheme

    Lagos launches pilgrims depository scheme

    LAGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday launched a contributory scheme for Hajj and Jerusalem pilgrimage.

    The scheme, Ambode said, was to make everyone participate in the holy pilgrimage irrespective of the financial status and class.

    Speaking after the launch of the scheme tagged Pay Small Small, Ambode said petty traders and other low income earners can now fulfil their religious obligations in a more convenient way.

    The Governor, who described the scheme as one of his administration’s strategies to create an enabling environment for Lagosians, promised that more things are underway to make life better for the citizens irrespective of tribe, religion and other differences.

    He said that the scheme would put an end to unnecessary artificial scarcity of forms and other fraudulent activities.

    Represented by Home Affairs Commissioner Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, Ambode said: “It is a contributory scheme for all pilgrimages. Whether it for Jerusalem or Mecca. The police is meant to carry along even the less privileged in the society to ensure that even with N50,000, you can begin to pay for your pilgrimage to Mecca, Medina, Rome and Jerusalem.

    “We have partnered with a micro finance firm that will allow people to choose either three or two years payment depending on the ability of such person. In fact, there is a package of N1,500 daily contribution scheme for the pilgrimage. The government wants to ensure that people are carried along and they are able to discharge their religious duties without stress. So, to the ordinary trader, it is avenue to fulfil their obligations. One way of alleviating poverty is to carried the people along and assure them of place in the heart of government.”

    AbdulLateef later told newsmen that the forms would be made available in the five divisions of the state and to religious leaders.

    He said that the governor had been proactive as he gave the ministry and its staff an avenue to open new frontiers.

    Medview Airline Managing Director Alhaji Muneer Bankole, who was honoured at the event, hailed the government for the initiative.

    Bankole said: “For the government to think of this scheme, it must have considered the plight of the downtrodden. They struggle to partake in the pilgrimage yearly; some of them contribute to fulfil the religious obligations. For government to have designed a safe window to keep their money from their small scale businesses, it will afford them the opportunities to actualise their dreams.”

  • Man ‘kills’ co-tenant over N5,000 electricity bill

    Man ‘kills’ co-tenant over N5,000 electricity bill

    A man, Chukwuebuka Okeke, who allegedly beat Nwabunike Ezeike, a co-tenant to death over N5,000 electricity bill, was yesterday remanded in prison.

    An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court which gave the ruling, said the accused should be remanded at Ikoyi Prisons pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The accused, 28, who lives at Tokosi Street, Orile-Iganmu, is being tried for murder.

    Prosecuting Corporal Iyobosa Onaiwu told the court that the offence was committed on December 1.

    Onaiwu said Ezeike’s death was caused by the blows he received on his head from Okeke following an argument over payment of electricity bills.

    He said the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    Chief Magistrate B.O. Ope-Agbe adjourned the case to February 1.

  • Ambode to make Ebute-Meta tourist haven

    Ambode to make Ebute-Meta tourist haven

    •‘We’ll turn Alimoso to VI’

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday unveiled plans to build a recreation park in Ebute-Meta in order to make it a tourist haven. The park will be built on a land overlooking the lagoon, adjacent to the Adekunle axis of the Third Mainland Bridge.

    Ambode, who spoke during the commissioning of Ipaja-Ayobo and Ikotun-Ejigbo Roads and tour of on-going projects across the state, lamented that the proposed park site was an eye sore from the bridge.

    He gave the auto mechanics under the bridge seven days to quit and remove all abandoned vehicles for the project to take off.

    The governor promised to complete the project before the end of May next year when the state will turn 50.

    He said: “Three months ago, you will all recall that we came to this particular road and we promised the people of Mosan-Okunola that we will deliver the Ipaja -Ayobo Road before Christmas, and it is on the strength of that promise that we are here today. Thank God, we have seen to the completion of this road; it has street lights beginning from Ipaja roundabout to the end.

    “As much as we have kept our promise and delivered even before the projected day, the residents should also maintain good use of this road and cooperate with the government as we extend development to this neighbourhood. I just want to assure the people of Alimoso axis that this government is right behind you and we would do everything possible to turn Alimosho to Victoria Island.”

    At the commissioning of Ejigbo Road, Ambode pledged that streetlight would be installed on the road from Ikotun roundabout to the Isolo campus of Lagos Polytechnic within three months.

    He said work on Brown Street in Oshodi, which began about six weeks ago, is now over 40 percent completed, expressing optimism that the residents would enjoy the new road when completed.

    After being briefed by Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area Executive Secretary Dawood Olajobi on the challenges of the adjoining Igbehin-Adun and Inasa streets, the governor ordered the Public Works Corporation (PWC) to rehabilitate the streets within seven days.

    At the Oshodi Resettlement Market, Ambode also ordered the PWC to resurface its car park for the reopening.

    He urged the developer to consider a rent-to-own modality for shops’ acquisition, saying a monthly payment plan would prevent the shops from being hijacked by businessmen.