The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Policeman dies inside car

    Policeman dies inside car

    A Corporal Agi Elias, was yesterday morning found dead inside his car at the Police College in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The body of the Corporal, who completed a two-month promotion course on Monday, was found around 7:30am.

    His Volkswagen Passat car marked 489AY, was said to have been parked at the Highway Barracks gate.

    The command spokesman, Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the case had been referred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba.

    Offor said tablets and some poisonous substances were found beside the body.

    The Corporal, he said, was attached to the Safer Highways Patrol before he went for his promotion course.

    “Until his death, he was attached to Safer Highway Patrol Lagos but on Corporal to Sergeant promotion course in Police Training School (PTS), Ikeja.

    “The aforesaid course came to an end on November 9. Preliminary investigations carried out so far revealed that tablets and some poisonous substances littered around his corpse while still inside his car.

    “His body has been recovered and deposited at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) mortuary, while the investigation of the case has been taking over by the homicide section of SCID Yaba with a view to ascertaining the cause of death.”

     

  • Four men ‘rape’ two sisters

    Four men ‘rape’ two sisters

    Four men were yesterday paraded in Lagos by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly raping two daughters in Lagos of their colleague.

    NSCDC Lagos Commandant, Gabriel Abafi gave the abused sisters’ ages five and three.

    Abafi, who paraded the suspects at the command’s office in Alausa, Ikeja, said: “We received a distress call around 9.15pm on Sunday that some men sexually abused toddlers between ages 3 and 5. During our investigation, the girls themselves pointed at the suspects. What do they know? Why were they harassed by these men?

    “The government should come to our aid so cases like this do not escalate. We appreciate the human rights activist who informed us about this incident. The public also needs to sensitise us. If some parents are busy to take care of their children, they should take them to crèche. There are bruises on their private parts. They have been taken to Lagos State University Teaching hospital (LASUTH) for medical checkup but the results are not yet out. We will not rest until justice is done.”

    The suspects are Deji Adenekan, 39; Taiye Ojo, 32; Peter Arabu, 33 and John Mahason, 24.

    The victims’ father, Ayodele Ekundayo, a labourer, said he became aware of the incident five days ago when his second child kept shouting pepper.

    He said his children had been in his custody since the second child was eight months old.

    He said: “When I didn’t answer her, she removed her pants in tears and spread her legs for breeze to blow her private parts. That was when I became curious. I called her elder sister, who will clock five in two months what has been happening whenever I wasn’t around, then she pointed at Peter. I met them few months ago where they offloaded cement. Whenever we wanted to travel to deliver cement in other states, these colleagues advised me to leave my children behind since I was given a room. If I didn’t take them along, I leave them with the security guard.

    “My daughter told me that whenever I was behind the trailer offloading cement, the driver (Adenekan) was always fingering them. She also said after he does, Ojo enters the trailer and does the same. She also said that whenever I left them with the security guard (Mahason), he puts on the company’s generator, gives them a phone to watch a blue film and sleeps with them. She said Arabu fingered her and slept with her. When I asked my colleagues, they didn’t say anything. When Arabu came, he threatened to kill me if I said anything about it. . For two days, he threatened me and that was how people heard.”

    Adenekan, a driver, who’s married and has three children, said he didn’t do anything.

    He said: “I met the children through their father. Their father brought them to our yard. He told us that their mother left them and he didn’t have a place to keep them. It was Ojo that brought their father to our yard. I don’t know him before. I didn’t touch her. I was even at home on the day the father came to meet us in our yard. They should look for Segun that was the first name the girl mentioned. I will never help anyone again.”

    Ojo, 32, a native of Ondo State, said he only assisted their father, adding: “He said since his wife left him, he has been single-handedly taking care of them. He called me on Friday, saying some people did something to his children. I only assisted him; I don’t know anything about it. I also have my own child.”

    Mahason, a security guard at Kazmus Nigeria Enterprises, said the father usually left them severally whenever he went to work.

    He said: “There is no relationship between me and their father. He only came and said he had no place to stay.”

    Arabu also said he knew nothing about it, adding that the victims’ father was his best friend and he couldn’t have done such to his daughters.

     

  • ‘I will lose my mind if I keep talking’

    ‘I will lose my mind if I keep talking’

    •Policeman who lost four children to mudslide

    If I keep talking, I will lose my mind. Four out of nine children just went like that. I saw no sign.

    “These were the words of a distraught father, Godwin Odia, whose children, were killed when a mudslide hit his house in Orisha Community at Magodo-Isheri, Lagos on Saturday.

    Still in a daze, he told The Nation yesterday that he was yet to comprehend what happened.

    Odia, a mobile policeman, is crying for justice. He wants the government to invite the owner of the building which fence collapsed on his house.

    Odia said he had been living in his house for 10 years, stating that problem started when the owner of the collapsed fence started building behind his house.

    The mudslide occurred around 4.50am on Ottun Araromi Street, Magodo-Isheri, leading to the death of Odia’s four children while sleeping in their rooms.

    They were Isayo, 23; Desylva, 15; Clinton, 13 and Endurance, 8.

    Odia told The Nation yesterday that he reported the extension behind his house to Isheri Police Station four to five times, without any result.

    “Since I couldn’t build on the hilltop, I left them to avoid problems. I didn’t know they were going to harm me this way. The tank filled with water forcefully uprooted the fence and the step leading to the entrance of the room fell on my children’s room. Even on Saturday, occupants of that room escaped through the window because their step was no more. Since then, I haven’t seen them or heard anything from them. They caused the death of my children; they kept extending the building without a solid foundation. When I woke up this morning (yesterday), I saw someone removing the roof of the room.

    The residents were still mourning yesterday as all shops were locked.

    The Nation learnt that the street was marked recently for road construction.

    A trader, who gave her name as Mama Pemisire, said since the incident, she has not been able to sleep at night.

    She said she saw the late Clinton last Friday when he came to her shop to buy an exercise book.

    “It was indeed a tragic incident. I didn’t know that day was the last I was going to see him. He came with his younger brother Eddie, who is also my children’s friend.

    “We are not safe anymore. I have been in this area for over 10 years and we also have residents that have been living here for over 35 years. I didn’t meet the buildings on the hill. They met us here. They see themselves as literate but they all channelled their pipes to our area. They don’t have a drainage system which is bad. Since residents of Olaitan and Opeyemi streets passed their pipes to our street, we have had problems. They should know their building isn’t on a rock. It is a muddy area. Whenever we complained, they threatened us by saying they are government officials and that nothing is going to happen. Now that our buildings have been marked, we don’t know what to do. If we want to squat with people, with time they will get tired of us,” she said.The late Isayo’s friend, who identified himself as Femi Ajetunmobi, said he was with him till 8pm last Friday.

    He said the last thing they discussed was how they were going to make it in life.

    He said: “We bought biscuit that night and sat on a pavement in front of my house. He said he knew he wasn’t too sound and he was going to enrol in a driving school. I miss his sight and I miss everything about him. Since I moved into this community in 2013, he has been there for me. Even yesterday I had forgotten he was no more. I also heard the sound but I didn’t worry. It was until I heard his father’s voice I ran out of my room.”

    Baale of the Community, Chief Lukman Gbadamosi, described the incident as pathetic.

    He said he held several meetings with executive of the estate and land speculators concerning their drainage system, but they did nothing.

    “They keep saying we have no power over them. Whenever it rains, I personally try to create a way for the water to flow into the river. The erosion from the estate affects us. They even built a pit in front of our house. Maybe after this incident, the government will be able to talk to them since they claim they are government officials. When some government officials came to mark our street for a road construction, we were not against it. We even agreed to remove houses to the other side.”

    Executive Secretary, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Bamise Kazeem, enjoined the community to support the government.

    He promised to meet the Baale, land owners and land speculators to resolve the matter amicably.

    “Every house here is subject to risk. We need engineering solution to this issue, “ he said

     

  • ‘My husband is rich, handsome and kind. But refuses to sleep with me!’ (2)

    After my boss had talked for a while about the terms of the proposed marriage between us, I remained silent, too stunned to say anything. 

     

    ‘What kind of bizarre proposal is this?’ I thought, watching him as he continued to eat and drink as if everything was normal.

    But what was normal about a man asking you to marry him yet with so many strange terms attached to it, in a so- called contract? Back in my hotel room later that night, my mind mulled over his words.

    “After our wedding, we’ll live together like a normal couple, except for one thing: there will be no intimacy between us. We can’t have sex. We will stay in separate bedrooms. Also, we can’t have children. We can always adopt if you care so much about having children, but we can’t have kids of our own.” 

     He paused for a while before continuing. “This arrangement will initially last for seven years. If at the end of that period, you choose to end the marriage, you will be paid a substantial amount of money that will set you up for life. If you choose to stay with me for life, then you will be my sole heir. You will inherit all my money, properties and other assets.” Then looking keenly at me, he added: “Another thing, though we can’t sleep together, that doesn’t mean you can keep lovers outside our marriage. If I find out you are having affairs, I will immediately terminate the contract, throw you out and you will be left with nothing.”

     

     My initial reaction was to say; “Hell, no! No way will I marry you on those terms!” But as if reading my mind, he quickly stated:

     “I won’t blame you if you run away now and never want to see me again. But, Amanda, think of the bright side of things. If you accept this proposal, you will benefit immensely. All my wealth and resources will be at your disposal. You will live a life of immense luxury beyond your dreams and never lack for anything. Designer clothes, expensive jewelry, holidays anywhere in the world, just name it. All these and more will be yours. I will also take very good care of your family and they will never lack for anything. Think about it…”

     

     So, that night, I sat for a long time thinking. In all my 28 years on earth, I had heard a lot of strange things but this must be the weirdest of all. What kind of union would that be if the couple involved can’t sleep together, have children and other things that come with marriage? Besides, what kind of man was my boss that he would make such a proposal? Was he in a cult or what? There were tales of some men who join cults or some secret societies who had to abstain from certain things. Was my boss involved in a cult? Was that the source of his wealth at such a relatively young age?

     

     And why me? With all the ladies out there, many of whom threw themselves at him, why did he pick me? He couldn’t be in love with me as he said he did not believe in such things. And how did I feel about him? I liked my boss and if circumstances had been different, he was the kind of man I could love and cherish. But he did not want my love. All he needed was a wife in name only. It was as simple as that. Was I ready to commit myself to such a cold-blooded arrangement? How would I cope in a marriage without love and affection from my husband?

     Without intimacy?

     It took me all of two weeks to reach a decision. It was solely made by me as I did not confide in any one including my mother. I knew she would not approve of such a marriage despite all the perks that came with it.

     But watching her one evening at home as she struggled to get up from her bed, to use the bathroom, I knew I had to do something. The sickness had made my mother become lean and weak. The once vibrant woman who was so hardworking and full of life was gone. In its place was a weak, pitiable figure I could barely recognize. It was obvious she needed very good medical care which I could not provide with my wages alone. My beloved mother who had sacrificed so much for me and my younger brother was fading away before my eyes. I couldn’t just watch her die.

     

     “You’ve made the right decision, Amanda. You will not regret the step you have taken today,” my boss stated when I told him later that week I would marry him. 

     “I will take good care of you and ensure you lack nothing,” he assured me. It was closing time and most of the workers had left. We were alone in his office.

    “If you say so, sir,” I stated quietly.

    “Just call me Bennie. We will soon be husband and wife so don’t you think it sounds silly for you to be calling me, sir?” he said in a teasing tone.

     I smiled and called his name for the first time…

     

     Meeting Max

    After our wedding, Bennie kept to his promise about taking care of me. It was like he could not do enough for me. He showered me with all sorts of expensive gifts and ensured I lacked nothing. He also took care of my mother’s health. When the doctors he consulted advised she should be taken abroad for treatment, Bennie made all the arrangements and had her flown to a foreign hospital. My younger brother, Johnnie went with her so she could have a familiar face around her. 

     I had to resign from my job after we got married as my husband didn’t want me to continue working.

     

      “I don’t like the idea of my wife working in the same office with me,” he stated. 

     I needed something to do to keep busy as I hated staying idle. So I told him about having a boutique where I could sell top quality clothing items for women. He agreed and gave me the money to start off the project. Everything went well and in a few months, I was the proud owner of a classy boutique and store in a choice part of town. It quickly became popular among the chic, sophisticated ladies in town due to the kinds of goods I stocked. Money rolled in and I couldn’t be happier. 

     Though Bennie provided well for me and gave me lots of money even without my asking, I felt a certain satisfaction in having my own income.

     Life was good and at this stage, I had no regrets about marrying Bennie. Okay, there were certain things lacking in our marriage. There was no romance, passion or sex. But I convinced myself that there was more to life than all that. Afterall, I had gained so much from the union so if not having a love life was the sacrifice I had to make for all the material blessings that had come my way, then so be it. I bet you must be thinking at this stage that I was one cold-hearted woman. 

     

     Don’t get me wrong. As a young, healthy lady, I had normal desires and needs but I was also a pragmatist who liked to face the realities of life. Having struggled so much in life, it would have been stupid of me to give everything up for the sake of love and romance. At this stage, I had convinced myself I could live like a nun as long as my mother was well and alive and I had all the comfort I needed.

     

    That was what I told myself and things would have continued this way if fate had not intervened in the form of Max. He had come to the store one afternoon. Some of my shop assistants had gone out to eat as it was their break time. I was standing at the shoe section, taking stock of the items there when a voice spoke behind me.

    “Please, could you tell me the colour of shoe that will match this bag?” He held up a brown leather bag. It was an expensive designer one, the type I usually reserved for my well-heeled customers.

    I studied the bag for a minute then glanced at the stack of shoes on the racks.

    Picking up a high-heeled pair, I gave it to him.

    “I think this will go well with the bag,” I stated.

    He thanked me and left. After he had paid at the cashier, he came over to where I was arranging some clothes on a rack. He thanked me again for helping him make the right choice.

    “It’s a birthday give for my younger sister. And you women can be so fussy over the right colors that match and so on.”

    “I’m sure she will like the gift,” I stated, smiling at him.

    Then he asked:

    “Are you a sales girl here?”

    I looked at him coolly for a while before telling him I owned the place.

    “Is that so? You look rather young to have such a big, classy place like this. Your parents must be rich,” he noted. I laughed at that.

    “Actually, it’s my husband who is rich,” I told him.

    “Husband?” he stated, a look of disappointment in his eyes…

    For Archive, Visit Patience Saduwa

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”category” link_target=”_blank” category=”82112″ orderby=”random” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Three suspected in-traffic robbers held

    Three suspected in-traffic robbers held

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have apprehended three persons described as members of a robbery syndicate terrorising commuters and motorists around Bourdillion in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Joseph Edem, 24, Jamiu Musa, 29 and Gambo Yunusa, 30, were arrested over the weekend while allegedly perfecting plans for an operation.

    RRS Commander Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) said: “Following the complaints from members of the public of incessant in-traffic robbery attacks around the axis; our men laid an ambush for them which led to the arrest of the suspects while others escaped. When the policemen combed the area, different weapons were recovered from their hideouts.”

    Disu said RRS’ bid to reduce crime in the state would continue until the criminals are routed.

    He said:”Policemen are complementing and re-launching a massive aggression to all criminal hideouts in the state. And these operations have since yielded positive results as many in-traffic robbers have been rounded up. We will continue this onslaught until zero level of crime rates within the metropolis is attained.”

    Some of the weapons recovered included four cutlasses, axes and iron rod.

    Confessing, Musa, who hails from Jigawa State, said he was not one of the robbers, but he knows Edem as a member of the syndicate operating in the area.

    “I and Yunusa are innocent. We only sell second-hand goods under the bridge before government dislodged us. In the evening, we relax under a tree in the field. But every evening, this boy (Edem) and his gang, numbering about 15 usually converge here to meet. Some of them will even come with travellers’ and school bags but I don’t know the content.  We just look at them from afar,” he said.

    Yunusa also denied membership of the notorious gang snatching handsets, bags and other valuables from motorists and passers-by, saying they were just  victims of circumstance.

  • How to prevent fires, by fire chief

    How to prevent fires, by fire chief

    A fire chief has given the public tips on how to prevent fires.

    Lagos State Fire Service Director Rasak Fadipe said fires could be prevented if the people were more careful in their handling of combustible items.

    He spoke at a workshop with theme: Strategic fire control, organised to curb incessant fires in the state.

    Fadipe described the theme as timely and in line with the policy thrust of the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration on safety.

    Fire, he said, remained one of man’s longest tools and friends because its presence is felt in homes and industrial productions.

    Fadipe said contrary to belief, fires and related incidents are not divine but primarily caused by human factors.

    He listed such factors as carelessness, recklessness, negligence and negative behaviours towards safety.

    The state, Fadipe said, has accorded priority to fire prevention and disaster management, adding: “The directorate of fire service is undergoing aggressive transformation through human capacity building and acquisition of a number of modern firefighting equipment that enables them to respond swiftly to distress calls. Safety doesn’t go on holiday, my men respond to distress calls at all time. As fire fighters, we work round the clock to prevent loss of lives and properties. Lagosians should not hesitate to call any of our area offices to report any trace of spark,” he said.

    The fire service chief lamented the rising fire outbreaks which has become a source of concern to the government.

    “As a result of this, we have embarked on sensitisation campaigns at parks/garages, market places, hospitals and local government areas to educate them on how to prevent and manage fire outbreak. Lagosians should assist our men while performing their duties and ensure that basic rules guiding the use of electrical appliances are strictly adhered to and checking of same after days’ work to prevent power surge which can lead to fire,” he said.

     

  • Hotels, night clubs, event centres get ultimatum

    LAGOS State Safety Commission (LSSC) has given hospitality businesses owners a week ultimatum to show evidence of their compliance with safety regulations or risk sanctions.

    Those who fail to comply with the directive would be barred from operating during the Yuletide, the commission’s Director-General, Fuad Oki, said, pointing out that the directive became imperative to avert disasters.

    He said it had become compulsory for managers of hospitality business, especially those in highbrow areas, to come up with their safety emergency plans for assessment of their compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) regulations.

    Warning that the era of business as usual was over, Oki said erring operators would be prosecuted and their business premises shut.

    According to him, school and event centre operators have also been given a January deadline to comply with the OSH regulations. The government, he said, would not compromise on its commitment to ensure safety standards in public institutions.

    His words: “Let me make it very clear that LSSC will not be shy in its use of the General Duty Clause (GDC) even in cases where a standard exists but an employer could have provided more protections to its employees.

    “The night clubs on Victoria Island and in Ikeja are under watch for gross non-compliance with emergency preparedness, lack of correct occupancy requirement, egress identification and among others. These establishments are given one week to comply with all safety extant regulations.”

    Failure to display LSSC safety certificate by any operator within the business premises would be deemed as flouting the OSH regulations, he said, reminding the operators that the commission has been empowered by the LSSC Law No. 6 of 2011 to enforce OSH.

    He said: “Our event centres, entertainment halls and amusement parks are enjoined to apply for safety compliance certificates as they will not be permitted to operate during the Yuletide without appropriate safety compliance certificates.”

    Oki said the commission’s scheduled tours of premises were not yielding results, accusing business managers of organising make-shift OSH compliance whenever they have a foreknowledge of the visits. They slide back to their non-compliant status after the LSSC inspectors’ exit, he added.

    According to him, the new unscheduled strategy has paid off as stop work orders were issued to some managers who were caught unawares. Some premises were sealed outright,” Oki said, adding:  “So far, a total of 20 factories have been inspected and 10 of them were sealed off for various infractions and substantial violations of OSH laws.

    “In the same vein, 120 residential dwellings found to be very distressed and on the verge of collapse or for very unsanitary and unhygienic reasons have been sealed.”

    He, however, informed that 78 of such premises have since been reopened after complying with the OSH laws and extant regulations.

    “It is pertinent to state that the intention of the commission is not to punish but to correct. Hence, when any company is sealed off, the objective is to ensure that such company makes the necessary correction, the order to reopen is issued,” the LSSC director said.

     

  • LASTMA set to recruit

    To strengthen its 2,300 workforce, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will soon embark on recruitment, the governor’s Speical Adviser on Transportation, Mr Olanrewaju Elegushi, has said.

    Elegushi told reporters in Lagos that LASTMA has 2,300 personnel manning over 9,000 roads.

    “We are working on that and very soon, we will boost the workforce and you will see more reliable LASTMA officials on our roads,’’ Elegushi said.

    He promised that the government would also improve the working conditions of LASTMA personnel.

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the government would ensure that transportation is  safe, reliable, accessible and comfortable.

    “When you have reliable and efficient buses, you will find out that people will prefer to use them rather than the yellow and black commercial vehicles, the danfos and molues,’’ he said.

    He said the plan was not to make the commercial bus operators jobless, but to incorporate them into the system through good training and technical know-how.

    The commissioner said the government was ready to make Lagos an efficient city that is liveable with good mobility.

    “That is our primary aim and to do this, we have to develop our public transportation system very well.

    “We need to develop water transportation routes, mass transportation system with good buses and efficient rail system.

    “All of them complementing each other will make a liveable city,’’ Mobereola said.

    On the activities of touts, Mobereola said the government would come up with a mechanism to eradicate the growing menace.

    “The first thing we do not want is touts or union members collecting dues on the roads; it is a violation of the laws of the state,’’ he said.

  • Man jailed 20 years for cocaine trafficking

    Man jailed 20 years for cocaine trafficking

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced a man, Ifenna Emmanuel, to 20 years imprisonment for attempting to export 1.2 kilogrammes of cocaine to China.

    Justice John Tsoho convicted him on a one-count charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    The convict was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja (MMIA) on July 1, 2012, during outward clearance of passengers to China.

    He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on December 18, 2012, and was granted bail.

    However, he jumped bail, and failed to attend trial for about a year until he was re-arrested in Port Harcourt through the help of his brother who stood surety for him.

    His offence, according to NDLEA prosecutor Oigoga Ichakpa, violated Section 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act of 2004.

    Justice Tsoho ordered that the $1,000 recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government should there be no appeal against the judgment within 90 days.

    He further directed that Emmanuel’s passport be withdrawn, and that all drugs recovered from him must be destroyed if the judgment is not appealed against.

    Justice Tsoho faulted a medical report that was tendered by the defence counsel to show that the convict was seriously ill and was suffering from severe abdominal pain.

    According to the judge, he had ordered the prison authorities to produce a medical report on Emmanuel’s health condition in June, but the order was not obeyed.

    “The prison has not complied with that order as to the medical reports,” he said, adding that it was curious for the same prison to issue a medical report to the defence at the point of judgment.

    The judge said the fact that the convict jumped bail, and was paid in dollars for cocaine trafficking, showed that he deserved no mercy despite claims that he has “a long standing history of severe upper abdominal pain.”

    He, therefore, sentenced Emmanuel to 20 years jail term, which he said would take effect from the day he was re-arrested.

    The judgment is coming a day after a 38-year-old man, Chibueze Onedigbo, was jailed for 10 years for drug trafficking by Justice Musa Kurya of the same court.

  • Building collapse injured two

    Building collapse injured two

    Two men sustained injuries yesterday following the collapse of a storey building in Badagry, a Lagos suburb.

    The incident occurred at Olagunju Street, at the ancient town, while the victims were working on the site.

    Situated beside Saint Triumph Primary School, off Magbon Bus Stop, the building was said to have caved during school hours.

    It was learnt that the building had been under construction, marked for integrity test by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA).

    But, despite the “stop work” seal pasted on the uncompleted building, the owner was said to have ordered construction workers to continue.

    Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Micheal Akindele said only two workers sustained minor injuries.

    He said that they were treated by state health officials attached to the Lagos State Ambulance Service.

    According to him, the collapsed building did not affect the school, just as he disclosed that the relevant agencies will conduct investigation to ascertain the cause of the collapse.