The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • UNILAG student electrocuted

    UNILAG student electrocuted

    University of Lagos (UNILAG) students took to the streets yesterday following Tuesday’s electrocution of their colleague.

    Miss Oluchi Anekwe, a 300-level Accounting student, was electrocuted when a high-tension cable fell on her at the entrance of New Hall, a female hostel.

    She was returning from a lecture.

    The late Oluchi was described as a brilliant student, who could graduate with a First Class, because of her high Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

    Eye witnesses said Oluchi died on the spot, because help did not come on time. The school’s fire fighters evacuated her body from the scene.

    The cable was said to have dropped from a pole close to the hostel and fallen on the late Oluchi, who was walking into the hostel at the time.

    The protesters, led by the Students Union Government (SUG) leaders, moved to the Administrative Building, demanding to see the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Rahamon Bello. But, he was not around.

    All efforts by top management officials to pacify the students failed as they insisted on seeing the VC.

    Convinced that the VC was not around, the students went to the office of Dean, Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Tunde Babawale, who pleaded with them to return to their hostels.

    [ad id=”403656″]The students accused the management of negligence, saying the cable had sparked severally in the last two weeks.

    Matthew Banjo, a student of Faculty of Science, said: “This shows how insensitive the management can be on issues affecting students’ wellbeing. Members of the management cannot claim they did not have knowledge of the electrical sparks in the last two weeks. Yet, nothing was done because students are living in the hostels. Now, see what their negligence has caused.”

    A 200-Level Mathematics student, Michael Osinuga, said all cables in the hostel and academic areas were run underground except those at the New Hall.

    “We want the school to ensure the cables are run underground,” he said.

    The students regrouped at the school main gate, barricading it to draw attention to the incident.

    Addressing them later at the Amphitheatre, Prof Bello described the incident as unfortunate, saying the management had commiserated with the bereaved family.

    According to the VC, the cable did not transmit electricity to the school hostel but served the nearby Onike.

    He said: “We have written letters to the management of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC) that owns those cables to run them underground, but they did not comply. Because of this unfortunate incident, we will not allow further power transmission power through the bad cables to prevent another tragedy.”

    The Public Relations Officer, Mr Goke Oke, in a statement, said the management had paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family.

    Oke said the management had instructed the electrical company to de-energise the cable immediately to prevent another tragedy.

  • Speculators grab ex-IMF chief’s land

    A 70-year-old former  International Monetary Fund (IMF) worker has begun a battle to recover his land from speculators in Lekki, Lagos.

    Mr Festus Osunsade, who represented IMF in Tanzania, Kenya and Liberia, bought the land in 1991.

    But the land has been reportedly sold by speculators who forged the property’s documents.

    Osunade told The Nation that the speculators placed an unauthorised caution on the title registered at the Lagos State Land Registry using a law firm.

    He said: “I bought this land with my hard-earned money as far back as 1991. I am not based in Nigeria as my engagements take me overseas on most occasions. I was with the IMF for many years representing the Fund in Tanzania, Kenya, and Liberia. I was shocked to return and find out that my 24-year-old property was under threat.”

    Osunsade insisted that he is the owner of the land, asking that the unauthorised caution placed on it be removed forthwith.

    He appealed to the police and the government to bring the suspects to book.

    His counsel, Jide Ologun said the government had directed that the unauthorised caution be removed.

    Ologun said all documents  had been obtained and updated with the Lands Bureau.

    The Nation observed that building materials have been deposited on the site.

  • Group hails ‘Ambode’s 100 days milestone’

    A civil society organisation has described the first 100 days in office of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as richly rewarding. It said the governor has exemplified excellence in governance.

    A statement by the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) chairman, Nelson Ekujumi, said Ambode like his predecessors, is “following the tradition of responsibility, responsiveness and focused administration in setting the pace for delivering on his campaign promises”.

    “Ever since he assumed office, Mr Ambode has left no one in doubt about his capability and competence as a tested and trusted administrator and technocrat in discharging his constitutional responsibility to the admiration of the good people of Lagos State who are delighted that they made the right choice at the polls on April 11,” the group said.

    CPPM said the governor has succeeded in repositioning the civil service by streamlining some ministries, departments and agencies, ensuring financial transparency and accountability through the operation of a Single  Treasury  Account (STA).

    The group said: “We are quite aware of how Mr Governor put smiles on the faces of state and local government retirees from ministries, parastatals and agencies early in August when he approved N11billion to offset arrears owed since 2010. This was a commendable development by a responsible government and this is a radical departure from our history of shabby treatment of retirees in the public service.

    “Also, the prompt responsiveness of Ambode’s government to disasters and emergencies is worthy of commendation. Worthy of note is the commitment of Ambode to security of life and property by unveiling plans to strengthen internal security of the state through the establishment of an integrated security and emergency control platform as well as strengthening the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    “Also commendable, is the acquisition by the government in the last 100 days, of modern security equipment, gadgets and vehicles to ensure a crime free state.”

     

  • How ‘developer’ duped us, by home seekers

    How ‘developer’ duped us, by home seekers

    Angry protesters stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday, condemning the activities of a self-styled developer, who allegedly duped them of millions of naira. They said the ‘developer’ duped them under the pretext of renting apartments and shops to them.

    They carried placards with inscriptions like: We are homeless, we need your help; We need our money; Fake landlord, developer, he must pay our money; He must pay our money; Save our souls, among others.

    Their spokesman, Pastor Godwin Madu said the ‘developer’, who collected between N120,000 and N900,000 from them for mini flats, two bedroom flats, three bedroom flats and shops in Agbotikuyo,  Agege Total, Iju and Fagba.

    The ‘developer’, he claimed, collected money from as many as five to 10 people for the same apartment.

    “Even when he agrees to refund money to some people he allegedly rented same apartments to, he issued them fake cheques”, Madu said.

    He said the police were able to arrest the ‘developer’ at Iyana-Ipaja last Tuesday.

    The suspect is being held at Area ‘G’ in Ogba, but the protesters are accusing the police of not handling the case well.

    “We want the House to help us compel the suspect to refund our money. The police are not doing anything about it, we went to human rights groups and we were advised to take the matter to the government,” the protesters said.

    Addressing the protesters on behalf of Speaker Mudasiru Obasa, Segun Olulade, a lawmaker, promised that the House would investigate the matter.

    He praised the protesters for their decorum.

    “I thank you for believing in your House. We will treat your petition and act on it as soon as we resume,” he said.

  • Mechanic ‘rapes’ girl , 15

    A 23-year-old auto mechanic, Wasiu Sarafa, was Tuesday arraigned in an Ikorodu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for alledgedly raping a 15-year-old girl.

    Sarafa, who resides at No. 21 Taiwo Hassan Street, Orego, Igbe, Ikorodu, is facing a single count rape charge.

    Prosecuting police Corporal Abosede Adegeshin said the accused committed the offence at the victim’s residence.

    She said: “On September 5,  at about 2pm in Ikorodu, the accused had unlawful sexual intercourse with the victim, who is 15 years old.”

    The prosecutor added that the offence contravened Section 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Sarafa’s lawyer, M. C. Bolowotan, told the court that there was medical evidence to show that there had been no sexual penetration by her client. She urged the court to grant Sarafa bail.

    Magistrate A. A. Oshoniyi granted the accused N150,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. One of the sureties, she said, must be a community or religious leader.

    The case was adjourned till October 15.

  • Man charged with impersonating Customs chief

    A 26-year-old man Alao Akojiime, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly impersonating a deputy comptroller-general of Customs.

    He is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and impersonation.

    The defendant was said to have presented himself as Peter Akande, a customs chief, on August 12, in order to defraud a job seeker, Samuel Eze.

    He was said to have obtained N33,300 from Eze under the pretence of getting him a job with the Nigerian Customs Service.

    Prosecuting police Inspector Haruna Ibrahim told Magistrate F.F. George that the defendant also advertises and auctions vehicles as a Customs agent to defraud people.

    The defendant, he said, also defrauded others under the guise of obtaining recruitment forms for them into customs.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty. He was granted N50,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The matter has been fixed for October 2.

  • Food firm, bank quarrel over N1.6b loan

    A confectionery company has gone to court to challenge the claim that it is owing United Bank of Africa (UBA) N1.6 billion.

    In a suit filed at the Lagos High Court, Food Concepts Plc faulted the bank’s claim, accusing it of breaching the terms of a N1.6 billion loan under the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS).

    It said it was shocked by the bank’s publication of its name as “a chronic debtor” in three newspapers when the facility would not expire until next year.

    In the suit filed by Mrs. Omohafe Opara of Rickey Tarfa and Co, Food Concepts is asking the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the bank or the firm’s agents from attaching any of the firm’s assets; restraining the bank from making further malicious publication against it; preventing the bank or its agents from any form of liquidation or receivership and directing the bank to render account of the N1.6billion loan.

    The firm also sought an order compelling UBA to reconcile its accounts in line with the CACS.

    Food Concepts sought the N1.6 billion loan under the CACS  provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to develop a Greenfield Poultry Farm in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as a backward integration initiative under the name of Free Range Farms Limited.

    It said it pledged specific assets as security for the loan (including but not limited to the farm’s assets), adding that as such, its exposure is limited to those specified assets.

    The claimant said it generally complained about delays in the disbursement of the loan, alleging that it discovered irregularities in its accounts with UBA which necessitated a reconciliation.

    It accused the bank of poor handling of the disbursement of the loan, adding that this affected the project’s outcome.

    The claimant said it secured the First City Monument Bank’s commitment to refinance the loan with CBN’s knowledge, claiming that this did not stop UBA from filing a winding up petition.

    “Despite the winding up petition, the bank still went ahead to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the claimant and FCMB in full liquidation of the outstanding reconciled debt”, Food Concepts alleged.

    It accused the bank of damaging its “credibility and reputation” by publishing its name as a “chronic debtor”, praying the court for N1 billion as general damages and N10 million as costs.

     

  • Four suspected kidnappers in court

    Four persons have been arraigned people before an Isolo Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly kidnapping Ebenezer Dare Owagbemi.

    Prosecuting police Inspector Abass Abayomi said Ramoni Shofodun, Marcus Awilo, Raphael Omoro, Solomon Omojowo and others at large committed the offence on July 2 at Imagbon in Ikorodu, Lagos.

    Abass said the quartet collected N3 million ransom for the release of Owagbemi.

    He added that the offence contravened Sections 409, 269(i) and 269(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Adeola Adebayo granted them N1 million bail with two sureties in the like sum each.

    The case was adjourned till September 27.

  • Ortom seeks compensation for victims of military attack

    Ortom seeks compensation for victims of military attack

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday asked for compensation for victims of military attack in a community in North Bank, Makurdi, the state capital.

    The governor spoke at the Government House in Makurdi when he hosted a delegation from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), led by its Executive Secretary, Profe Bem Angwe.

    Ortom said he had sent a protest letter with a comprehensive list of the destruction to President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said was displeased with the development and directed the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the matter and sanction those found culpable.

    The governor noted that although the commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME) apologised for the attack, the victim needed to be compensated, since most of them lost their means of livelihood.

    He said: “The only way to stop this kind of action, which is a crime against humanity and the people of the state, is to mete out sanctions to the perpetrators.

    “We appreciate the concern of the commission for responding promptly to the request to investigate the matter and the House of Representatives member, who reported the matter, for living up his responsibilities.”

    Prof Angwe said he brought experts from the commission to assess the destruction from the attack.

    The agency chief said NHRC was responding to a petition by member of the House of Representatives for Makurdi/Guma, Mr. Dickson Tarkighir.

    Prof Angwe added that the military command also assured him of support during investigation into the matter.

     

     

  • Midwives, highway sweepers protest non-payment of salaries

    Midwives, highway sweepers protest non-payment of salaries

    Scores of highway sweepers and midwives in Lagos State yesterday stormed the House of Assembly to protest the alleged non-payment of salary arrears.

    The protesters, in separate groups, lamented that life has been unbearable.

    The midwives claimed they were being owed more than a year’s salary; the sweepers alleged that they were owed between three and five months wages.

    A highway sweeper, Yemisi Oresanwo, said life had been difficult for her and her family since their transfer from Ministry of the Environment (MoE) to Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

    According to her, there are seven zones handling sweeping of highways in the state and each zone is owing salaries.

    It was gathered that the sweepers earn N12,000 monthly; their supervisors collect N20,000.

    They said they had complained to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, who promised to look into their demands.

    Oresanwo, a supervisor from Ikeja zone, said it had been difficult for them to survive, pointing out that they had complained to their bosses but nothing has been done.

    “Like for me as a supervisor, I’m being owed five months salaries. Others are being owed three or four months. So we want government to come to our aid.

    “Since the time we were transferred from MoE to LAWMA, the latter has been responsible for payment of our salaries until recently when they refused to pay us,” she said.

    Oresanwo added: “LAWMA has been paying their own workers but has neglected us”.

    The protesters said LAWMA management claimed that the said Ministry of the Environment is owing them; hence they cannot fulfil their obligation to the sweepers.

    Also speaking, Abidemi Najeem said they have been enduring the situation but could no longer do so as their children are expected to resume school soon.

    Najeem, who is representing Jibowu-Fadeyi zone, said they had been transferred since 2013 to LAWMA, adding: “We want the government to state categorically whether we are under LAWMA or MoE.”

    Najeem said: “Our children will soon resume school and we are expecting Ileya festival, how do they expect us to take care of ourselves and family members.”

    Speaking on behalf of Midwives Service Scheme (MSS), Beatrice Ajayi explained that they belong to an umbrella body for midwives in Nigeria.

    She said the Federal Government deployed them in Lagos State, adding that the former has been fulfilling its obligation, while the latter has done nothing.

    “This is not the first time we have protested, when we protested last year, they paid 2014 arrears but left 2013 unpaid. We find it difficult to go to work as we can’t afford the transport fares.

    “They have been promising us but we are tired of waiting. We borrow money to go to work,” she said.

    A lawmaker, Bisi Yusuff, who addressed the groups on behalf of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa appealed to them to remain calm.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, he said, does not owe salaries, promising that the matter would be addressed.

    Yusuff said the House would look into the matter when it resumes.