The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Ambode cautions new Perm Secs against compromise

    Ambode cautions new Perm Secs against compromise

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday swears in 19 new Permanent Secretaries, warned them against compromising standard of government in discharging their duties.

    The brief ceremony which held at the State House, Alausa Ikeja, was witnessed by large number of family members, friends and well wishers of the appointees.

    Ambode said the quality of service delivered by the government would be measured on daily basis, stressing that “any ministry where the quality of service is compromised, the Permanent Secretary, as Accounting Officer, would be held liable. I expect nothing but excellence in this centre of excellence.”

    He enjoined them to apply the best tenets of the civil service as accounting officers of their ministries, making service and the common good of all Lagosians their watchwords.

    He said their appointments, from a pool of equally competent and qualified substantive directors, were as a result of a careful selection based on merit, professionalism and proven track record.

    Ambode recalled that during his inaugural address, he promised to carry out public sector reforms, saying this phase had seen the merging and realignment of ministries and agencies as well as the creation of new ones.

    “We have established the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, the Overseas Affairs and Investment and the Office of Civic Engagement. These are in line with our campaign promises to run an inclusive government and create better opportunities for our people,” he said.

    According to him, this phase had also witnessed the realignment of parastatals/agencies reporting through their superintending ministries to the governor. In all, we must be committed to the principles of good governance, probity, transparency and accountability.

    Ambode disclosed that the next phase will be the constitution of cabinet to consolidate on the foundation that had been laid in the last 60 days.

    Speaking on behalf of others, Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, Permanent Secretary, Office of Civic Engagement pledged that she and her colleagues would work hard to deliver quality service to move Lagos to the next level while soliciting cooperation from all to effectively discharge their responsibilities.

    Other Permanent Secretaries and their portfolio ministries are: Folarin Adeyemi, Information and Strategy; Olabode Agoro, Lands Bureau; Ayodele Amosu, Teachers Establishment and Pension Office; Abiola Amidat Anifowoshe, Education District VI; Olabisi Ariyo, Education; Caster Bade-Adebowale, Office of the Chief of Staff; Boladele Dapo-Thomas, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Adebisi Kadiri, Economic Planning and Budget; Olorunfemi Mustapha, Science and Technology; Adesina Odeyemi, Public Service Office; Arinola  Odulana, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment; Adesola Odunlami, Justice; Olusola Odupitan, Audit Service Commission; Olanike Oduwole, Wealth Creation and Employment; Adesina Onisarotu, Environment and Dr Nuriat Sodeinde, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations.

  • Court remands three in LASU lecturer’s robbery

    Court remands three in LASU lecturer’s robbery

    An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday remanded three men in prison for allegedly breaking into the house of a lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU) staff quarters.

    Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi ordered that the men should remain behind bars pending an advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    “The case file should be duplicated and forwarded the DPP for advice,’’ she said.

    The accused – Adelaja Olalekan, 33, Ifeanyi Odimba 19 and Onouwari Daniel, 18 – all residents of LASU, Ojo, are facing a three-count charge on robbery.

    Earlier, Prosecuting Inspector Thomas Nurudeen told the court that the men had on June 22 burgled the home of Prof. Benjamin Aribisala at LASU staff quarters.

    Nurudeen said the accused, armed with some dangerous weapons, carted away cash and various items valued at N1.09 million.

    He said: “The accused were armed with knives and other weapons as they ransacked the home of Prof. Aribisala. They stole various electronic items such as an Apple iPad, Samsung tablet, an iPhone, four blackberry phones and three units of computer. They also stole 200 pounds and 200 dollars.’’

    Nurudeen said the offence contravened Sections 279, 285 and 295 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Osunsanmi adjourned the case to August 24.

  • Man arraigned for alleged impersonation

    The police yesterday arraigned one Blessing Edmond before an Isolo Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos for alleged impersonation as a lawyer.

    Prosecuting Officer Oluwasayo Ajayi said the accused last October at a fast food joint in Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos obtained the sum of N513,000 from one Onyinye  Eze pretending to be a legal practitioner with license to practice in Nigeria and other African countries.

    According to Ajayi, Edmond promised to help Eze bail her brother from Ghana Police custody.

    The prosecutor said the accused fraudulently obtained another N120,000 cash and also the sum of N513,000 worth of property with false pretence of been a lawyer, from the same victim.

    He is standing trial on a five-count charge.

    Ajayi said the offence contravened Sections 378, 312, 278 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate A.O Adebayo granted him N500,000 bail with two sureties.

    The case was adjourned to September 3.

  • Fashion Designer excretes 44 wraps of cocaine

    Fashion Designer excretes 44 wraps of cocaine

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a 29-year-old fashion designer, Okechukwu Kingsley Ajaero over unlawful importation and possession of forty-four (44) wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 850grammes.

    Ajaero was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during the inward screening of passengers on a Qatar Airline flight.

    NDLEA Airport commander Hamza Umar said he was coming from Sao Paulo with cocaine.

    The suspect, who hails from Abia State, Umar said, excreted 44 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 85 grammes.

    The suspect in a statement released by NDLEA blamed his arrest on operational mistake on the part of his business partner.

    He said: “I am a fashion designer by profession. I went to Brazil two years ago in search of better working conditions. This is my first time of trafficking in drugs and I got involved through friends.

    “I was expecting 30,000 Euros as my profit. My business partner was to collect the drug from me while on transit in Qatar but he failed to show-up. I was compelled to come to Nigeria with the drugs but I excreted 30 on board the aircraft.”

    NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency will continue to pay attention to passengers coming from Brazil, saying “Brazil is a source country for cocaine and we shall continue to beam our searchlight on this route. Those who seek to enrich themselves through drug trafficking shall be arrested and prosecuted”.

    Giade called on members of the public to assist the Agency in reporting suspected cases of drug trafficking, production and abuse for necessary action.

    The NDLEA boss added that it is risky to shield drug traffickers because their activities undermine public safety.

     

  • Lagos Deputy Governor denies social media financial appeal

    Lagos Deputy Governor denies social media financial appeal

    Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule last night alerted the public that some unscrupulous elements have been using her image on the social media (facebook) to dupe innocent members of the public.

    She urged the public and her associates to be wary of such cyber fraudsters so as not to fall victim of “this ungodly practice in her name.”

    One of such acts recently linked her with a deceptive ’Federal Government Empowerment Loan Scheme’ which was reported to be advertised on facebook account, using the details of the deputy governor.

    The Deputy Governor urged Nigerians to disregard any form of financial appeal via social media and advised members of the public who may come across such fraudulent messages to report the account or the site to the appropriate law enforcement agencies to ensure that those behind such notorious act are brought to book.

    She, however, suspended all her social media activities to stop the individuals from their fraudulent activities.

     

  • My wife is lazy, says divorce-seeking man

    A divorce-seeking retiree, Joe Ubigho, told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos yesterday that his wife of 19 years was too lazy and had left everything in the house to maids.

    “My wife is very lazy; she has left everything in the house for our maids to do, including cooking,” Ubigho, 57, alleged.

    He told the court that his wife, Rita, 45, could not do anything, and usually flare up and disappear from the house whenever she was queried.

    He said that it was owing to such laziness that he was forced to take their children to a boarding school for proper care.

    The petitioner accused his wife of financial recklessness, saying that she could not manage a business outfit he set up for her.

    “My wife mismanaged the business I established for her. Her shop is now empty and she keeps demanding for money every time,” he said.

    Ubigho said his wife packed out of the house four weeks ago, saying that he was no more ready to take her in.

    He begged the court to dissolve the union.

    Rebutting the allegations, Rita, a businesswoman, said that it was her husband that chased her away from the house threatening to bathe her with acid if she did not leave.

    “My husband threatened to bath me with acid if I refused to leave his house; so, I packed my belongings to stay with a woman whom he knows very well.

    “I pleaded with him to allow me stay in his house to care of my children,” she said.

    She accused her husband of vandalism, saying that he destroyed the car he bought for her.

    She said: “My husband damaged the car he bought for me, he stopped me on the road and demanded for the car key and declared that he was no longer interested in giving me the car.

    “I demanded for an explanation and he threatened to burn me with the car if I refused to comply, before I knew what was happening, he started destroying the windscreen”.

    The mother of three said that she did not mismanage the business her husband set up for her.

    According to her, it was her husband that ordered her to use the business money for new shops he was building, promising to pay her back.

    “Most time, he will come to my shop with strange people, remove some goods for them and promise to pay me— which he never did. Anytime I ask for the money, he will fight me,” she said.

    She promised to take good care of her husband and the children and urged the court not to dissolve the marriage as she was still in love.

    The president of the court, Mr Hakeem Oyekan, adjourned the case to August 17.

     

  • ‘How cultists dealt with me’

    A trader Adewale Olaonipekun yesterday narrated his ordeal in the hands of some alleged member of the Eiye Confraternity Cult who stormed his shop around Odogunyan area of Ikorodu, Lagos, with dangerous weapons.

    “They barged into my shop and woke me up from sleep that afternoon. They ordered me to give them money, saying that I must pay the cult; otherwise they would kill me now or return with more of their boys and kill me. Then, they stole the only money they could find, N1, 250, and ran away.” Olaonipekun told The Nation.

    One of the alleged culprits, Paul Vincent, 24 was yesterday arraigned by the police at an Ikorodu Magistrate’s Court on a three-count charge of threat to life, assault with dangerous weapons and stealing.

    The police from the Shagamu Police Division alleged that Vincent and his accomplice, who is at large, on August 1, attacked Olaonipekun with dangerous weapons.

    “They threatened to kill him with, and stole N1,250 from him. The offences are punishable under Sections 56, 41 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State,” the police said.

    When the accused, who had a swollen mouth and bruises all over his face, was led into the dock, dressed in a tattered red jersey tied across his shoulder and a dirty blue jeans, Magistrate Adejumoke Olagbegi-Adelabu warned the Investigative Police Officer (IPO), Corporal Ojesanya Akeem, on the need to ensure that defendants are brought to court in neat dresses and without being beaten up.

    Mr Sakiru Omolaja and Taiwo Bakare, announced their appearance for the defendant on a pro bono basis and urged the court to grant him bail on lenient terms. The prosecutor, Police Corporal Mary Ajiteru, did not object, but urged that the bail terms be made stringent.

    Olagbegi-Adelabu granted the accused N50,000 bail with two sureties who must be authority figures to the defendant and must also be gainfully employed. The matter was adjourned to August 20.

     

  • Housekeeper ‘steals’ employer’s $4,000

    Housekeeper, Toni Aripko yesterday appeared before a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for alleged theft of his employer’s 4,000 dollars.

    Aripko, 23, who was living with his employer at Kyalami Weadows Street, Victoria Island, is facing a charge of stealing.

    The prosecutor, Sergeant Andohemba Koti said the accused committed the offence at the residence of his employer, Mr Jasper Nwachukwu.

    Koti told the court that Aripko, while cleaning his employer’s master bedroom, opened his wardrobe and removed the money.

    “The accused later absconded to his village in Cross-River with the money after lying to his boss that his father died and that he needed to travel.

    “It was shortly after the accused‘s departure that the complainant discovered that the money had disappeared from his wardrobe,” he said.

    Koti told the court that the complainant alerted the accused’s guarantor, Etim Aku of Jakande Estate, Lekki, who lured him back to Lagos after all efforts to arrest him had failed.

    Aripko pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate L.A. Owolabi, granted him N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till August 31.

     

  • APC chieftain holds medical screening

    APC chieftain holds medical screening

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rahman Mogbolahan Dawodu has organised free medical screening for the people in Itire-Ikate area, Surulere, Lagos.

    Otherwise known as RMD, Dawodu said the gesture was part of his commitment towards community service.

    The chairmanship aspirant said it was a means of giving back to the society.

    “Our health is the greatest wealth we can possess. We all know that these days, there are lots of health challenges, many of which we do not really know them until they are fully developed. The best we can do is to screen ourselves regularly so as to check how healthy we are”.

     

  • Civil servant in court for ‘defiling’ girl, 5

    Civil servant in court for ‘defiling’ girl, 5

    A 22-year-old man, Adekunle Taiwo was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s five-year-old daughter.

    The accused, a civil servant, who lives at Atobaje Street, Agege, is facing a charge of defilement.

    Prosecuting police Inspector Racheal Williams, told the count that the offence was committed at about 10.30 p.m. at the residence of the accused on July 12.

    According to Williams, the victim’s mother went to buy food and left her child at the passage of the house.

    “The accused, who just returned from work, dragged the child to a corner and raped her.

    “The cry of the child alerted a neighbour who came outside his room and caught the accused in the act,” she said.

    The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Taiwo pleaded not guilty.

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

    He adjourned the case to August 12.