The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Akiolu backs Buhari’s anti-corruption war

    Akiolu backs Buhari’s anti-corruption war

    Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to relent in the war against corruption in order to sanitise the country.

    The monarch said steps must be taken to prevent anything that will lead to a break down of law and order.

    He spoke during the installation of Alhaji Tajudeen Adio Durosimi-Etti as the  Etti of Lagos at his Iga Iduganran palace in Lagos.

    With his installation, Chief Etti has joined the league of White Cap Chiefs in Lagos, bringing their number to 25.

    Oba Akiolu cautioned the new chief against using his title to undermine the traditional institution.

    He enjoined him to be passionate about the progress of the palace and the state.

    Responding, Duosimi-Etti assured the Oba of his adherence to the dictates of the traditional institution.

    He promised to consult the monarch regularly and also work with his fellow white cap chiefs.

  • How community media can aid growth, by Ambode’s aide

    How community media can aid growth, by Ambode’s aide

    Community media will drive grassroots development, if properly harnessed, Special Adviser to Lagos State on Communications Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan has said.

    Bamigbetan spoke at a workshop for community media practitioners at Ikeja.

    The event tagged Community media: Tool for vibrant democratic governance, was attended by practitioners of community journalism in the print, electronic and social media.

    It was held in collaboration with GEMS3, a tax consultancy firm.

    Bamigbetan said a vibrant community media could drive developmental programmes.

    According to him, it is the community media that really connect with the masses and masses’ expectation from government at the council level can easily be communicated.

    He urged community media practitioners to always monitor activities of local government administrators especially in the area of budget implementation.

    “Community media draw attention of people in governance to what is missing at the grassroots; they relay the opinion of people to governments and public institutions. They also create and mould the perception of the people in the community about corporate organisations and government. So, they are so important to development and our plan is to try and bring them back. Community media drove developmental projects during the colonial days,” he said.

    According to him, community media are germane to achieving the mega-city status.

    He said: “We need to bring back the community media to make our democracy vibrant and effective to the man on the street. Our role is to create the conducive environment for community media practitioners to do business.

    “Most importantly, we are talking of a system where people at the grassroots are carried along and understand their roles in achieving the Lagos of our dream.”

     

  • Police clear man of rape

    Police clear man of rape

    The Police yesterday cleared a 24-year-old man, Kunle Martins, of the allegation of raping Gbemisola Afolabi, 19.

    Gbemisola had accused Martins of blackmailing her after raping her.

    She said he threatened to release her nude photos if she refused to give him money.

    Gbemisola claimed that she met his demand twice, following which he allegedly demanded another N10, 000.

    She said she refused, alleging that the suspect then posted her nude photos on the Internet, including her phone number.

    The victim was said to have been called by some of her friends and family members who saw the pictures.

    The incident happened in Agiliti Estate in Ketu, Lagos.

    Martins denied the allegation, telling the police that he was in a relationship with Gbemisola.

    The nude photos, he said, were not circulated by him, adding Gbemisola originally sent the photos to him during their conversation on Whatsapp.

    He said: “We met a few weeks ago and we started chatting on Whatsapp. I asked her to send me some of her pictures when she travelled to Ondo, and she said, ‘Is it my breasts?’, and I said yes.

    “After that, I asked for the pictures of her private parts, and she sent them to me. I did a picsmix of the photos and jokingly sent it to her. I have since deleted the photos from my phone. The only regret I have is that I showed them to my friends.

    “The first time she visited me, we didn’t do anything. It was the second time she came that we made love. I have all our chats as evidence that she sent those pictures to me.

    “She came with her relatives to my house and damaged my laptop which I bought for over N90,000 and now, they are going to the press. I know my rights and if this is the way they want it, no problem.”

    Police spokesman Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said investigation revealed that the parties were adults, adding:

    “It further reveals that the duo have been in an intimate relationship and had sexual intercourse a couple of times before the very incident under investigation. Both parties agreed that the intercourse of that date was consensual and as such could not have amounted to rape.

    “Meanwhile, other aspects of the allegation are still under investigation. Once more, members of the public are by this release advised not to panic as detectives will soon crack the case. The police still remain your friend and helper.”

    The case, Offor said, has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, Yaba.

     

  • Suspected Lekki Free Zone MD killers to remain in prison

    Suspected Lekki Free Zone MD killers to remain in prison

    An ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday ordered four persons arrested in connection with the death of the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) Managing Director Mr Tajudeen Disu to remain prison custody.

    Dele Jaiye, 40, Tunde Ismaila, 27, Shakirat Agbaje, 40, and Olalekan Oshinowo, 30, are facing a 12-count charge of assault, murder, conspiracy, attempted murder and unlawful gathering.

    Magistrate Folashade Botoku ordered that they should remain in prison, pending legal advice from the Office of Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    She adjourned the case to February 15.

    Disu was allegedly killed on October 12, during a disagreement between LFZ’s management and indigenes of one of its host communities.

    Prosecuting Inspector Chinalu Uwadione alleged that the accused had on October 12 at Dangote Refinery Company, Lekki Free Zone, conspired to commit the offence.

    He said the offence contravened Sections 44, 45, 409 and 410 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

  • LASEPA seals 28 hotels

    LASEPA seals 28 hotels

    The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) yesterday said it has sealed more than 28 hotels due to non-compliance with the environmental laws of the state.

    Its General Manager Adebola Shabi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    “We just don’t go about sealing indiscriminately, we give warning and failure to comply, ends with a sealing of such property. We have standard laws on pollution – noise and air emissions are part of such pollution.’’

    He said the defaulters would be compelled to sign an undertaking or put in place an action plan to forestall a recurrence, before the facilities would be unsealed.

     

  • Govt, police join forces against sexual violence

    The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) is partnering the Police on the best strategies to adopt in handling crime.

    The DSVRT presented copies of sexual offences related laws, such as the Child’s Right law, 2007; Prevention Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007; and the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 to the Police.

    The presentation took place at the Lagos State Police Headquarters in Ikeja. It was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, some of his deputies other top level officers and DSVRT members.

    A statement by DSVRT Coordinator, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said the provision of the books was one of the initiatives adopted to improve the capacity of the police in responding to reports of rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse, maltreatment and neglect.

    Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi said the laws would serve as a most resourceful tool for investigation and prosecution.

    “The team informed the Commissioner of police that it would not relent in its campaign of ensuring that coordinated approach is adopted in handling sexual and gender-based violence crimes in the state,” she said.

    The training of police officers, which began last year would be done on a larger scale to ensure that the police are well equipped to engage the victims, especially when they are still in trauma.

    She said it was important for the police to devise means of improving the method of gathering and preserving evidence.

    Owoseni reaffirmed the police’s commitment towards eradicating sexual and gender-based violence and crimes.

  • Task Force officials protest over unpaid salaries

    Task Force officials protest over unpaid salaries

    Federal Task Force (FTF) under the Presidency has protested the non-payment of its members’ three years salaries and allowances.

    During the protest tagged Black Christmas Coffin at the Kuwait Field in Egbeda, Lagos, over the weekend, the officials, in black, urged the government to consider their plight. The men were hired by the defunct Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) to assist the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in protecting some infrastructure.

    Their fate became uncertain following the present administration’s scrapping of SURE-P, which was created by the Jonathan administration.

    Expressing solidarity with the 51,000 affected officials, a rights activist, Darlington Ajitemisan, put up a bizarre show when he emerged from a coffin.

    FTF National Commandant Moses Garuba said his men were recruited and trained in 2012, adding that they have yet to receive a kobo.

    “We are crying out to the world, to come to our aid. We were asked to go that we would be called back but till date, nothing has been done. We want our salaries, allowances and job continuity. We are ready to assist the Federal Government on high way traffic and emergency on waterways. I appeal with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; we are not a threat to him because we also want change,” he said.

    An officer, Edward Oriafoh, said 98 per cent of FTF officers are graduates, adding that they have the energy to serve the country.

    He said: “If one takes a look at the economy now, don’t be surprised to see a graduate working as a load carrier. It hasn’t been easy. We have to engage in menial jobs to cater for our family needs. We will have to sustain the home.”

    Another Officer, Nkem Chiekwe, said it hasn’t been easy for her, adding: “I have been recruited, trained and employed for three years but I haven’t received a kobo. I am a mother of four and it hasn’t been easy. Which child would understand that his/her parent is poor. If not for the grace of God, I don’t know where I would be. It’s not just me, many women are being humiliated. During the course of training, many lost their pregnancy. Many were thrown out of their matrimonial homes. Many lost their children.

    “A colleague of mine, during training, lost her 11 year old son and since then, she has been traumatised. There is no money to even pay her hospital bill. It has been pathetic.”

    Ajitemisan said: “The FTF officials are property of the government. They were duly employed and are being owed for three years. They shouldn’t be forced to join armed robber. This is a black Christmas for them. They are asking for their three years allowances. Will there really be change or a beginning of a revolution?”

  • 500,000 residents cry out over ‘looming epidemic’ in Iponri

    No fewer than 500,000 residents of Iponri Low-Cost Housing Estate in Surulere, Lagos Mainland, yesterday appealed to the government to save them from a “looming epidemic.”

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the sewage plant that drains dirty water from the soak-away of more than 400 housing units in the estate had been disconnected by Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) because of unpaid bills.

    The non-functioning of the plant, they said, had resulted into flooding of the estate by dirty water from the soakaway, causing stench.

    Iponri Housing Estate Residents’ Association, President Abdul-Rasak Osho told NAN that the plant constructed by the Lagos State Government is being maintained by the Ministry of the Environment.

    He said: “The residents noticed that the sewage plant stopped working about three months ago. We met the engineer-in-charge who told us that the power supply to the plant had been disconnected because the state government is owing EKEDC.

    “We bought diesel for them to power the plant but it was exhausted within just five hours. We have appealed to EKEDC to restore the power supply but it said it would not do so until the Lagos State Government pays its debt.

    “The sewage plant has been under the government care since we bought flats in this estate and government has not told us that it can no longer maintain it.

    “Presently, the dirty water has flooded everywhere in the estate. We cannot even pass some routes now because of the flood,” he said.

    Osho appealed to the government to offset the bill so that EKEDC would restore power supply to the sewage plant and safe the estate from impending epidemic.

    The association’s Secretary-General, Francis Odukoya, said the group had written several letters to the Ministry of the Environment over the matter.

    The government, he said, had not replied.

    He said: “We have written about four letters to the Commissioner for the Environment as I am speaking to you now. They built the sewage plant for the estate and they have been servicing it for us for more than 30 years now, they should not relent on their efforts.

    “They should come to our rescue before the residents of the estate start to contract diseases because this odour is terrible.”

    Mrs Alake Oshodi, a old widow, living in Flat 103, told NAN that one of her granddaughters took ill recently and was admitted in hospital. She blamed the illness on the dirty water and bad odour.

    NAN correspondent could not speak with the engineer in charge of the plant because the entrance was locked.

  • Vulcaniser held for ‘robbery and Indian hemp smoking’

    Vulcaniser held for ‘robbery and Indian hemp smoking’

    A vulcaniser has been arrested by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives for alleged robbery and Indian hemp smoking.

    The suspect was caught on Saturday, when he and his accomplice, who is at large, robbed a tricyclist popularly known as “Marwa”.

    He confessed to the robbery.

    The suspect said his friend used a knife to disposses the tricyclist, Okeke Chibuike, of his two mobile phones, money and other valuables.

    According to him, his friend dropped the stolen items when he spotted RRS operatives and ran away.

    The secondary school drop-out turned vulcaniser explained that he followed his friend to Iddo.

    “I was standing trying to take a tricycle to Oyingbo when I heard the shout of thief, thief. I saw my friend dropping handsets and a jack knife, I picked them up. That was how RRS operatives arrested me.” he said.

    “I have been learning vulcanising for over six years, and I am preparing for my freedom. It was my friend that robbed. He dropped the phone and the jack knife when he was being chased. I only picked them up to defend myself.

    “Abdullah is a street sweeper in Oyingbo. I know where he lives. He is the one that put me into this problem. I only followed him to Iddo”, he added.

    Also on Saturday, another vulcaniser Sola Adetona arrested behind Bobby Benson House in Onipanu, Lagos.

    Adetona, 28, said: “I was in a joint when I was arrested. I smoke weed to stimulate myself and to make myself work better.

    “I live in Mushin and I was arrested around 5pm. I want to plead for mercy. I am not married but I have impregnated a woman”.

  • How community media can aid growth, by Ambode’s aide

    Community media will drive grassroots development, if properly harnessed, Special Adviser to Lagos State on Communications Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan has said.

    Bamigbetan spoke at a workshop for community media practitioners at Ikeja.

    The event tagged Community media: Tool for vibrant democratic governance, was attended by practitioners of community journalism in the print, electronic and social media.

    It was held in collaboration with GEMS3, a tax consultancy firm.

    Bamigbetan said a vibrant community media could drive developmental programmes.

    According to him, it is the community media that really connect with the masses and masses’ expectation from government at the council level can easily be communicated.

    He urged community media practitioners to always monitor activities of local government administrators especially in the area of budget implementation.

    “Community media draw attention of people in governance to what is missing at the grassroots; they relay the opinion of people to governments and public institutions. They also create and mould the perception of the people in the community about corporate organisations and government. So, they are so important to development and our plan is to try and bring them back. Community media drove developmental projects during the colonial days,” he said.

    According to him, community media are germane to achieving the mega-city status.

    He said: “We need to bring back the community media to make our democracy vibrant and effective to the man on the street. Our role is to create the conducive environment for community media practitioners to do business.

    “Most importantly, we are talking of a system where people at the grassroots are carried along and understand their roles in achieving the Lagos of our dream.”