The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • NESREA seals firm for violating environmental laws

    NESREA seals firm for violating environmental laws

    The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) yesterday sealed off Nigerian Aluminium Extrusions (NIGALEX) Ltd at Oshodi, Lagos, for alleged violation of environmental laws.

    The company, established in 1973, has over the years emerged as the leading producer of high quality Aluminum products in West Africa.

    Head of NESREA’s enforcement, Mr Kolawole Gbenga, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the company was served violation and abatement notices before the exercise.

    He said the agency had discovered that some companies were producing without protecting the environment.

    Gbenga said: “Today, we have come to seal this company that is involved in the production of metallic products (iron rods). It has not been complying with some relevant environmental laws, such as the disposal of their waste and untreated effluents. We are expected to manage the environment and not to destroy it.

    “If we must site a company, we are expected to follow and comply with relevant laws put in place to protect the integrity of the environment. We have issued compliance notice thrice; also, we issued two abatement notices as warning, but the facility owners failed to comply and we have no option than to apply the law.’’

    He said the company was expected to correct the anomalies before the unsealing by the agency.

    Lagos State Coordinator of NESREA, Mr Nosa Aigbedion, said the warning notices were served on the company on June 11, 2014 after the agency’s first inspection.

    Aigbedion said the company was further instructed to install an effluents treatment plant which it has not installed.

    He said: “The company has failed to comply with environmental laws by not having an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate and non-submission of Environmental Audit Report (EAR) to NESREA. We have applied the carrot and it is time to apply the stick. We conducted the first inspection in 2014 and till date no action has been taken to mitigate the concerns and we have a duty to ensure the environment is clean and safe for all. There is a need for them to reach out to their community as a form of Corporate Social Responsibility.”

    An official of the company declined to speak on the matter.

  • Hoodlums invade PHCN Estate

    No fewer than eighty families have been rendered homeless at NEPA Estate, Egbin in Ijede Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu, Lagos after some hoodlums invaded the estate.

    The hoodlums’ attempt to forcefully evict the residents from their properties led to destruction of several buildings.

    The Nation learnt that the hoodlums looted many houses before vandalising more than 100 buildings within the estate.

    According to Ojo, one of the affected landlords, the hoodlums came in about five vehicles with two of them bearing Federal Government plate number. They also stormed the estate with scores of ladders with which they climbed the rooftops while vandalising the building.

    Some residents, mainly retired staffers of the defunct National Electrical Power Authority (NEPA) who tried to confront them, were beaten. A nonagenarian victim of the invasion, who was manhandled by the hoodlums, was rushed to a nearby hospital.

    Our correspondent, who visited the estate on Sunday afternoon, reported that many of the residents were seen trying to fix their vandalised buildings. While some were renovating damaged rooftops, others were replacing broken windows and ceilings.

    The Nation learnt that the landlords, through their association, reported the matter at the Ijede Police Station but were not attended to.

    “They told us to go to Court,” one of the landlords said.

    It was learnt that the police is yet to visit the scene of the attack as at press time.

  • Son remanded in prison for father’s death

    Son remanded in prison for father’s death

    A 35-year old man, Nelson Oamen, who allegedly stabbed his father to death, was yesterday remanded in Ikoyi Prison by an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.

    Chief Magistrate Folasade Botoku, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison pending the release of legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plea of the accused was not taken as the court lacked the jurisdiction to prosecute murder cases.

    The Prosecutor, Olagoke Akinlabi, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) had earlier told the court that the offence was committed on September 18, at Abesan Estate, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb.

    He alleged that the accused used a broken bottle to stab his 75-year old father, Sunday Oamen, severally all over his body while he was sleeping, claiming that he refused to take care of him.

    “He claimed that his father refused to give him money to purchase a bus and on the said day he went into his father’s room where he was sleeping and stabbed him with a broken bottle,” he said.

    Akinlabi said that the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The case has been adjourned to November 5 pending legal advice from the DPP.

  • Suspected scavenger-robber held at Ojota

    Suspected scavenger-robber held at Ojota

    A man, who disguises as a scavenger to rob people around Ojota in Lagos has been arrested by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives.

    Abdullai Umar (24) was arrested by a RRS patrol team around Abiola Garden in Ojota.

    Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is a member of a gang, which disguises as scavengers and hides arms in trucks to commit robbery.

    According to RRS, the suspect and other members of his gang threatened victims with weapons before robbing them of their valuables, such as phones, jewellery and cash

    Two of Umar’s victims accompanied him to the RRS Headquarters at Alausa, Ikeja, to narrate their ordeals to the police.

    Mr Dayo Zachariah, one of the victims, said he was attacked along the road leading to China Town while going to work.

    He said: “A guy jumped out from the bush and attacked me with a cutlass, and collected my phone and purse containing the sum of N1,700 and I.D card with bank teller and also a passport photograph.

    “My phone and purse were recovered from him by the police but the money inside the purse had vanished.”

    Another victim, Grace Akanna, told the police that the suspect also robbed him on that spot on the same day.

    “On that fateful morning, I was going through Abiola Garden, Ojota to board a bus to Maryland, a man came from nowhere and snatched my purse containing the sum of N2,000, Identification card, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and some documents,” Akanna said.

    RRS Commander, Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, said the patrol team saw Zachariah and Akanna crying for help.

    “Immediately, the policemen went after the suspect, who was nabbed while making an attempt to hide inside the flower in the area”.

    The suspect, who claims that he hails from Kawo Local Government Area of Kaduna State, said: “I disguised as scavenger to rob people. I work with Sunday, Stephen, Papa, John, Muscle and Akeem.

    “We operate around that area during day and night. My receiver is an Igbo man who owns a shop at Mile 2 in Lagos. I sold Nokia and Techno phones to him and any other stolen valuables including wrist-watches and jewellery. I am ready to cooperate with the Police to arrest other members of the gang”.

    Disu said his men would go after fleeing members of the syndicate.

  • ‘My granddaughter bled for eight days after being raped’

    ‘My granddaughter bled for eight days after being raped’

    •School proprietor: it’s just an allegation

    A four-year-old girl bled for eight days after she was allegedly raped by her school bus driver, her grandmother, Mrs. T. Ajose, has said.

    Mrs Ajose, a businesswoman, claimed the suspect, Yemi Adesina, committed the act within the school premises.

    The suspect, who has been detained at the Panti Police Station in Adekunle, Yaba, Lagos, allegedly had carnal knowledge of the Nursery II pupil in a classroom on September 17.

    Mrs Ajose told that The Nation she knew about the incident when she went to fetch her granddaughter after school.

    She said: “When I saw her at the school that afternoon, she looked very dull, so I became curious. I then asked her what the matter was three times. But she repeatedly said that she did not want to go back to the school again. When I asked her why, she said she just wanted to go home. So, at that point, I became worried.”

    Mrs Ajose said instead of going home, they went to church, adding: “When we got to church, she said she wanted to excrete. But before I could get a potty for her, she had, quite unusual of her, excreted on her body. I noticed that her excrement was mixed with blood. Ha!, fear gripped me! I thought it was probably Jedi jedi (pile). She was behaving strangely. She neither talked nor ate. She just sat in a corner within the church premises. About 20 minutes after, I tried to pet her because she was unusually quiet. But while I carried her on my laps, I noticed that her pant was soaked with blood. I almost passed out. I screamed for help out of fear and confusion.

    “When I persuaded her to tell me what happened, she said she had been warned not to tell anyone. I asked her who told her that and she said Uncle Yemi in her school.”

    Narrating what transpired between the victim and the suspect, Mrs Ajose quoted her granddaughter as saying: “He put me on a table, covered my mouth and my face with a piece of cloth and put something inside my bum. But he later cleaned it.“

    Ajose, who said she found it hard to believe that her granddaughter had been raped, stated that she rushed the girl to a hospital, where her fear was confirmed.

    “The following day, when I got to the school, I shouted on top of my voice. Though my daughter has been attending the school since she was 18 months old, the teachers pretended as if they didn’t know her. Some residents and passersby who heard my cry intervened and, in the process, destroyed some of the school’s property out of anger after listening to my story. Later, we reported the matter at Alagolo Police Station, Ipaja and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), followed us to the school. Then, my granddaughter showed us the particular classroom where the driver had committed the act. The DPO ordered all the male staff in the school to line up and asked the girl to point at the particular staff member who did that to her. She pointed at Yemi immediately. The DPO re-arranged them four times and she still pointed at the same person. That was how he was arrested and detained at Panti.”

    She, however, expressed shock that the school wrote to the Special Anti- robbery Squad (SARS), claiming that those who vandalised the school property caused the death of one of its teachers.

    Mrs Ajose said: “They wrote in the petition that when residents entered the school’s premises, the teacher fell on a pavement which led to her death. But I was told she slumped in her home on Sallah day while cooking. They never talked about my daughter’s health. They have turned it into a murder case.

    “It is really painful. She is the third child of her mother. She has been living with me since she was five months old. Her siblings also live me. I keep wondering what attracted him to my granddaughter. I take her to and from school every day. The man is married and has children. But I don’t know why he could not use any of them for money ritual or whatever he intended to do. The school authorities have also threatened to deal with us, if we don’t drop the case. Why my own granddaughter? I need justice. Good people of Nigeria should please intervene? Why should I lie about this? My granddaughter bled for eight days.”

    But, The Nation learnt that the late teacher slumped at her Abesan Estate home in Ipaja, Lagos.

    The school’s principal, whose identity could not be ascertained, said she was not authorised to speak on the matter.

    The proprietor, Rev. Michael Abodunrin, described the incident as “just an allegation”.

    In an interview with The Nation, he said: “I don’t think I will make any comment because it is just an allegation yet. The case is in court already. Our school was vandalised by some residents on September 18, between 7.30am and 8am in respect of the rape case. The law enforcement agency will do its job.”

  • Help! my daughter is dying

    Help! my daughter is dying

    •Girl needs N3m for heart surgery

    Eight months after her case went public, three-year-old Teniola Bashorun is yet to get the N3million required for her heart surgery in India.

    The girl is diagnosed with a hole in her heart.

    Her father, Kehinde Bashorun, said they have been nursing the ailment for three years and that help is yet to come.

    He also said the sickness has deprived his daughter from schooling and has also stopped her from mingling with her peers in the neighbourhood.

    “We have been taking her for medical check up for the past three years with the little money we got from people. But, the situation became worse two weeks ago when she began to excrete blood. I rushed her to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) because I thought I was going to lose her and since then, she has been feeding on drip,” he said.

    The primary school teacher also said he is now a debtor because he has been borrowing money to manage her sickness.

    He said: “So many times, she becomes unconscious. She urinates and excretes uncontrollable on her body. I have been with her since she has been admitted because my wife is nursing a set of twins.

    “I was told that if we don’t act fast, her heart may fail to pump blood,” he said.

    To save Teniola, an account has been opened at Ecobank with number: 2961198124 under the name: Bashorun Felix Kehinde. The Bashoruns can be reached on 08188275717 and 08028561402.

  • Why I rob in traffic, by suspect

    Why I rob in traffic, by suspect

    A 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly robbing in traffic.

    The suspect, Michael Ogedengbe, who was caught by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives in Surulere, Lagos Mainland, blamed his action on alcohol.

    According to the RRS, he had smashed the side screen of a motorist, robbed him of his handset, laptop and other valuables before he was arrested.

    One of his victims, Emmanuel Ugwunne, who was attacked inside his Honda Accord Saloon car with registration number, AGL 41 DC, attracted RRS operatives, when he shouted for help.

    RRS Commander, Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said: “The policemen while on patrol duty saw Ugwunne crying for assistance after the suspect had damaged the windscreen and side mirror of his car to steal the valuable items.”

    Ogedengbe confirmed damaging the windscreen and side mirror of the car and stealing Ugwunne’s handset and laptop.

    “I didn’t do it ordinarily. It was because I just took some bottles of alcoholic drinks and liquor. I beg for forgiveness. Devil pushed me into the act,” he said.

    Disu said Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was committed to a crime-free state.

    “The governor is giving the Police Command all necessary support, and the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has charged all the policemen in the state to ensure that Lagos is free from all forms of crime and robbery during and after ember months,” he said.

    The Suspect has been transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad for further investigation.

  • ‘How our member died’

    Leading Islamic sect, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria yesterday confirmed that two of its members died in last month’s Hajj stampede; one is missing.

    Chairman, ADSON Travels and Tours Limited, Dr Hassan Aladesawe said the dead pilgrims were a man, Imam Rasheed Ajao Quadri, and a woman.

    He said the woman’s name would be released after briefing her family.

    Dr Aladesawe said the late Imam Quadri told a fellow pilgrim that he lost his sandals while going for stoning.

    “He returned to where they were selling goods along the Jamrat area to buy another sandals and that was where he was trapped alongside others in the stampede. We pray Allah forgives him and those that lost their lives,” he said.

    Jamatul Islamiyyah Society of Nigeria National President Alhaji Taofeek Agbaje enjoined family and well-wishers of the dead pilgrims to thank Allah for them.

    “Anybody that completed the Arafat aspect of Hajj exercise has all the sins cleansed. He is like a new born baby that is free of sin. When Allah takes away such soul, Al-Jannah is already awaits that person. That’s why we should thank Allah for those that lost their lives in the stampede,” Alhaji Agbaje, an architect said.

  • Rotary International celebrates polio-free year

    Rotary International has scored itself high for its contributions to ensure that the country is free of polio. Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) pronounced Nigeria one year free of polio virus and removed it from list of endemic nations.

    At a briefing at the weekend in Lagos, the group’s Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee (NNPPC) Chairman, Dr Tunji Funsho, who described the feat as ‘’a milestone,’’ said it came about as result of many factors: its members’ contributions, donors and government’s cooperation.

    He said since 1996, Rotary has spent $207million on the disease’s eradication, its partners $8billion, adding that worldwide, the organisation spent over $1.9billion.

    He said while there were 12 cases in 2012, the figure came down to six in 2013 and last year, adding that since July 24, last year, there had been no case of the virus in the country.

    He said the achievements would have been recorded much earlier if not for the insurgency and the apathy towards the polio immunisation programme in the North.

    Funsho recalled that in 2000, in some states in the North, the immunisation programme was abandoned because some parents refused to cooperate with its officials, claiming that the drugs were anti-fertile.

    He said it took the intervention of the government and Rotary to solve the problem.

    But Funsho urged Nigerians not to rest on its oars to ensure that Nigeria is polio free by 2017 so that it can be given the certification status by WHO.

    He called for intensified routine immunisation; ensure children in insecurity-prone areas were reached, timely response to any outbreak and fortification of Nigeria’s borders against the importation of the disease.

    He called for more advocacy, funds, more awareness and volunteers.

    “Polio remains our focus. Until it is eradicated, we will not leave it. We are not yet polio free. So, all hands must be on deck,’’ he said.

    Rotary International District 9110 Governor  Bola Onabadejo also called more efforts to meet the 2017 target. He sought for peace in the conflict areas of the country to enable the immunisation officials reach them.

    “We have two more years of hard work to ensure that Nigeria is out of polio,’’ he added.

    Vice Chairman, NNPPC, Abayomi Adewunmi said Rotary was set to celebrate the World Polio Day on October 24. He said activities had been planned for a week to end on the Polio day.

  • Okunnu, cleric disagree with Sanusi on hajj rite

    Okunnu, cleric disagree with Sanusi on hajj rite

    Two renowned Islamic leaders, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu and Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’i have disagreed with Emir of Kano and Nigeria‘s Amirul Hajj Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II on skipping the devil stoning aspect of pilgrimage.

    Sanusi had advocated skipping the exercise because of overcrowding, which led to the stampede in which some pilgrims died on September 24.

    No fewer than 70 Nigerians are believed to have died in the stampede.

    Alhaji Sanusi told Sokoto pilgrims in the Holy Land that stoning of the devil was not worth the blood of any Muslim.

    He quoted the Qur’an and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad that refusal to even perform the stoning of devil rituals does not in any way invalidate one’s Hajj.

    His words: “During the era of Prophet Muhammad, he permitted pilgrims who came on camels to stay in Mecca after Arafat, instead of staying in Mina and sleeping at Muzdalifa.

    “So, if the Prophet could give such grace to some people, just to protect their animals, why didn’t our scholars educate our people properly to avoid this untoward hardship and death.

    “Therefore, it will be part of my recommendations to the Federal Government that, if we cannot get accommodation close to Jamrat where the Arabs reside in Mina, then this year may be the last time we will sleep in Mina and Muzdalifa because we want to stone the devil.

    “Besides that, if one deliberately refuses to even perform the stoning of the devil rituals, all he needs to do is to slaughter a ram. So, if this is the situation, why do we go and suffer and die instead of sacrificing a ram?”

    Yesterday, Okunnu, who was Nigeria‘s Amirul Hajj in 1973 said what the Emir Sanusi said was his personal opinion which is not binding on pilgrims.

    “The job of Nigeria’s Amirul Hajj is to recommend to the Federal Government and the stakeholders of which Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) is playing a leading role, would examine. We’ll discuss that recommendation when we get to NSCIA meeting. The emir’s suggestion is open-ended,” he said.

    Okunnu, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria president urged Saudi Arabia to probe the incident to arrest a recurrence, saying: “We know Allah gives life and causes death to whomever and wherever He pleases. The people that died at Jamrat were not exempted. He gave them lives and He has taken them. We can only pray that this be the last of such incident. May we never have this kind of experience again.”

    Also yesterday, Sheikh Shafi’i, Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), who hailed Emir Sanusi for delving into scholars’ area of expertise, noted that many monarchs have little knowledge about their religion.

    The renowned scholar said the issue of abstaining from devil stoning is not as straight forward as Sanusi observed.

    “That angle (Jamrat) is a whole topic under Islamic Jurisprudent (Fiqh); many internationally recognised scholars would have to issue a Fatwa (verdict) before any nation can say her pilgrims should abstain from Jamrat exercise,” he said.

    Besides, he said, moving African pilgrims tent in Mina closer to Jamrat is not a requisite to avoid stampede.

    “What about the other nations that had their tents closer to Jamrat and still lost some of their pilgrims? What should be done is proper investigation of how it happened and ensure a reoccurrence is avoided,” he said.

    According to him, the hadith (Prophetic sayings) quoted by Sanusi was misconstrued, adding that the Prophet never exempted anybody from stoning rather he (Prophet Muhammad) only permitted them to return to Mecca and come from there for the stoning.