The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Moneychanger charged with fraud

    The police yesterday arraigned a 41-year-old Bureau De Change operator, Ibrahim Kabiru, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged fraud.

    The prosecutor, Raymond Odion, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the accused, on January 14, with an accomplice who is at large, obtained N900, 000 from one of his business associates, Kabiru Yakubu, under pretext of giving him the dollar equivalent.

    The prosecutor alleged that under investigation, it was discovered that the accused fraudulently obtained $33, 000 (N6.5million) from an unsuspecting victim through the internet.

    The three-count charge of conspiracy and fraud contravenes Sections 1 (3) and 7 (2) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Oher Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation 2006.

    Justice Mohammed Idris ordered that Kabiru, who pleaded not guilty, be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application

    The defence lawyer, Mr Chuma Mepe-Olisa, sought an adjournment to enable him prepare the bail application.

    Justice Idris adjourned to October 12.

  • I still love my wife, says Emeka Ike

    I still love my wife, says Emeka Ike

    •’I’m no longer interested in him’

    Ace Actor Emeka Ike yesterday prayed the Lagos Island Customary Court not to dissolved his marriage, saying he still loves his wife, Emma.

    Emma had gone to court, seeking dissolution of their 12-year-old marriage.

    Emeka, represented by his counsel, Abdul’Hakeem Labi-Lawal, said his client has not appeared in court because he is ill.

    “My client is ill but I will try my best possible he comes on the next adjourned date. We indulge the court to give us six months from this day to see if there is possibility of settlement between the couple,” he said.

    But Mrs Ike said six months was too long adding that the respondent had two years to reconcile with her but he didn’t.

    She said: “The last time I wanted to speak with our children, it was my mother-in-law who

    picked the call and asked if I had read Exodus 21 which says that if I go, I shouldn’t return.”

    The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, said the court could only grant two weeks.

    He said: “I am expecting Emeka Ike in this court if he really wants settlement.”

    Awosola adjourned the matter till August 12 for further hearing.

    After the court rose, Mrs Ike told The Nation that she wasn’t ready to return to her husband. “Over two years since I left the house, he never taught of reconciliation. He had every opportunity to ask me to return but he didn’t. So why now?”she asked.

    Mrs Ike said her husband took her last two children from her when she was going for her mother’s burial in February.

    “He promised to bring them to me immediately I returned from my mother’s burial but he didn’t. Even when he didn’t allow me access to see our children, I spoke with them on several occasions but now, he doesn’t allow me anymore. My children are now against me, she said.

    Mrs Ike said she left her matrimonial home because she could no longer bear being tortured anymore.

    “If I was still with him, I may not survive. I was 19-year old when I met him and he was the one who deflowered me. I see no reason I shouldn’t be treated with utmost respect.

    “Due to physical torture, my health has been affected. There was even a time I thought I had breast cancer because I felt a lump on one part of my breast.” Mrs Ike said.

    She said things became worse last Sunday when she called her husband to speak with their children.

    In tears, Mrs Ike said:”I almost went mad when my first son told me on phone that if I truly loved them, I wouldn’t have abandoned them. Even my seven-year-old son whose day wouldn’t be complete without seeing me said he doesn’t love me. I love my children. I miss my children. I never abandoned them. I am in pain. They don’t have any other mother. I really need my children. I am a good woman; I endured so many things as his wife.”

    The union produced four children between ages 4 and 13.

  • Juvenile home rejects boy

    A 17-year-old theft suspect, was returned to the Ikorodu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos  following his rejection at the Special Correctional Centre for Boys in Oregun. The Centre’s officials, it was learnt, felt he was older than his age.

    The suspect, who was arraigned on Tuesday with three other juvenile on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony and stealing, was ordered remanded at the centre by Mrs. A.B. Olagbegi-Adelabu. The other boys were admitted to the Centre, formerly known as the ‘Boys Remand Home’.

    The magistrate had earlier on Tuesday granted them bail provided they were able to provide two responsible sureties, one of whom must be a blood relative, with proof of identification.

    “They said I was not 17,” the suspect, who had tattoos on his forehead, cheeks and arms, told The Nation yesterday.

    His counsel, O.M. Folami said efforts were underway to contact the suspect’s mother for his birth certificate. “He is now in police custody, but we’re optimistic that by tomorrow or Friday, his bail conditions will be met,” she added.

    The suspect and the other street kids were arrested on June 15, while sleeping at “a place near some Mallams”on Sagamu Road, by police officers from men of the Sagamu Road Police Station in Ikorodu.

    They were caught with N3000, a Nokia 110 phone with an Etisalat line valued at N5,000, belonging to the complainant, Yusuf Kazeem.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    The offences contravened Sections 409 and 278(b) of the Criminal Law.

  • Police Corporal jailed six years for manslaughter

    Police Corporal jailed six years for manslaughter

    A Trigger-happy policeman, Corporal Abang Okon, was yesterday sentenced to six years imprisonment by an Ikeja High Court in Lagos.

    Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya found Okon guilty for the unlawful killing of Olalekan Ajayi.

    Okon was convicted after he pleaded guilty to the one-count charge.

    Okon was arraign before Justice Ogunsanya on April 1 for firing the shot that killed Olalekan.

    The incident, according to the prosecutor, Adebayo Haroun, occured at the Ladega area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

    The defendant, who initially pleaded not guilty, changed it to guilty following a plea bargain with the prosecution.

    yesterday, Haroun told the court that the defendant has changed his plea.

    He urged the court to approve the guilt plea as involuntary manslaughter.

    In his judgment, Justice Ogunsanya adopted a part of the plea bargain, saying:

    “The defendant having shown remorse for his actions on August 28, 2013 along Ladega Junction, Ikorodu, Lagos by negligently firing a bullet at one Olalekan Ajayi which resulted in his death hereby pleads guilty to the offence of involuntary manslaughter contrary to section 222 of the criminal law.

    “The defendant is hereby sentenced to six years imprisonment to take effect from the date of his remand in prison custody.”

    The judge turned down other parts of the plea bargain which recommended that the defendant should serve a six-hour community service thruough environmental sanitation as part of his punishment.

    Justice Ogunsanya also turned down the part which recommended that the defendant should be responsible for paying the tuition fees of one of the deceased’s children from primary to secondary school.

  • Cynthia: Court threatens to revoke defendant’s bail

    Cynthia: Court threatens to revoke defendant’s bail

    Justice Olabisi Akinlade of the Lagos High Court yesterday threatened to revoke the bail of one of those being tried for Cynthia Osokogu’s murder over his lawyer’s antics.

    Justice Akinlade accused Mr C.J Ajakona, lawyer to Nonso Ezike, the fourth defendant, of “deliberately frustrating the trial by not coming to court”.

    She vowed to revoke Ezike’s bail if his lawyer failed to file his ‘no case submission’ application before the next adjourned date.

    Ezike, brother to the second defendant, Olisaeloka Ezike, is being tried for selling the late Osokogu’s BlackBerry Phone.

    Justice Akinlade said: “I tell you at the next adjourned date if nothing is filed, I will revoke your bail and send you back to prison. Then your lawyer will know what to do.

    “It is because you have been on bail that is why your lawyer is wasting the time of the court. It is a deliberate act.

    “The court is already on vacation but I left the comfort of my home, thinking that the case will go on today, only for my time to be wasted.”

    According to Ezike, he was informed his counsel had an accident when he called his telephone on Monday.

    The defendant also told the court that he has a feeling his lawyer was not serious with the matter, recalling how Ajakona told him he had forgotten about the matter when he called him before the last adjournment.

    He notified the court of his intention to appoint Chris Obiaka counsel to the third defendant, Osita Orji (a pharmacist) to take over his case.

    Adjourning the case to October 26 for the adoption of ‘no case submission’ of the third and fourth defendants, Justice Akinlade held that Ezike’s lawyer must have file and served his application for ruling by them.

    Osokogu, 25, was drugged, assaulted and murdered on July 22, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel in Lake View Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

    The primary suspects, Okwumo Nwabuifo, 34 and Olisaeloka Ezike, 25, were said to have picked her from the airport on her arrival from Abuja, after meeting on Facebook.

     

  • Two held for APC chieftain’s death

    Two held for APC chieftain’s death

    The Homicide Section of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested two persons for the killing of an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Salawe Daramola.

    Police spokesman Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), confirmed the arrest yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Nwosu said the suspects were arrested during the Eid-EL-Fitr celebration in different parts of the state.

    The suspects, he said, had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for investigation.

    NAN reports that two gunmen riding on a motorcycle last Thursday evening shot dead Daramola, a chieftain of APC in Ward B in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area.

    It was learnt that the assailants stormed the deceased’s residence at K Close, 3rd Avenue, Festac Town and shot him at close range three times.

    The suspects arrived in the place around 5.30pm.

    Nwosu said the suspects were first interrogated by the Area E Commander, ACP Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police before being taken to SCID.

     

  • Three servants held for stealing master’s N7m watch

    Three domestic servants, who allegedly stole their employer’s money and other items worth N8.1 million, were yesterday arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The accused – Grace Akpan, 36; Houeze Vincent, 33; and Sambo Akpan, 42 – are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Prosecuting police Inspector Ingobo Emby told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 17 at a house on Raymond Njoku Street off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Inspector Emby said the accused stole $2, 000 cash, two gold rings valued at N684, 000 and a gold watch valued at N7 million, all valued at N8.1 million, belonging to their employer.

    He said the offence contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    The defence counsel, Mr J. J. Ozemhoya, urged the court to grant the accused bail in “liberal terms”.

    Magistrate H. O. Amos granted the accused N200, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    He said one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and must produce evidence of tax payment.

    The case was adjourned till August 24 for mention.

  • Ambode orders recovery of 250- acre land from grabbers

    Ambode orders recovery of 250- acre land from grabbers

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday ordered the State Task Force on Environment and Special Offences to recover 250 acres of land in Gberigbe near Ikorodu.

    Our correspondent learnt that the land was given to an agricultural firm in the early 80’s by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative to encourage farming and boost food production in the state.

    It was learnt that the land was taken over by one Lamina popularly called Sir Kay. He is accused of selling the land and pulling down over 12,000 palm trees on the farm.

    Confirming the governor’s directive, the task force Chairman, Mr. Akeem Adedeji, said the government would not condone illegal eviction of rightful land owners from their properties.

    The era of land grabbing, he said, was over, warning those involved to desist from the act.

    Adedeji said the agency would storm the land and serve quit notices on illegal occupants.

    “Sequel to his passion to make life easy for every citizen, the governor has told us to follow due process in our enforcement. So, we will go to the land to serve quit notice on whoever is occupying the land. The occupants will be served papers, the structures found on the land will be marked, after which we will recover the land. The essence is to enable them present their documents, if indeed they have any.

    “They will be notified, but the land will be recovered back to the government in accordance with the Governor’s directive,” Adedeji added.

    A representative of Shoreman Agro, the owners of the land, who did not want his name mentioned, said its workers were forcefully sent away from the farm by Lamina, who claimed to be working for some land grabbers.

    “We got that land between 1982 and 1983, we got the necessary document and approval from the state government and the families who also claimed ownership of the land. The land was a jungle when we started developing it for agricultural purposes. Our farm won the best farmer of the Year in 1989, both in the state and federal.

    “The land grabbers led by Lamina, known as Sir Kay, invaded and destroyed our farms, tractors and other facilities. About 12, 000 palm trees were also destroyed while our workers were chased away by thugs.”

    He added that the trouble started in 2005 when one of the lawyers, who was a signatory to the land acquisition, died.

     

  • Two die in Lagos protest

    Two die in Lagos protest

    Two persons were yesterday killed in the Temidire area of Alagbado in Lagos when a peaceful protest turned bloody.

    The late Ganiu Adebayo aka Oludegun, described as a youth leader, and the late Tunji Olaniyi (aka Tunji Alaso), described as a land speculator, were attacked by a mob for taking protesters’ photograph.

    The protest was organised by landlords to protest the forcible invasion of their property and harassment by Olaniyi and his thugs.

    The placard-carrying landlords and community leaders trooped out about 1.a.m, chanting solidarity songs to condemn what they called “undue violent attacks” by Olaniyi and his boys.

    The protesters urged the Lagos State government and law enforcement agents to save them from the hands of Olaniyi.

    Men of Alagbado Police Station, who came in two patrol vans, maintained law and order.

    The protest became violent when Olaniyi and some of his boys were sighted in a black space bus taking the protesters photograph.

    About 11.05 am, some angry youths, who barricaded Moshalashi and Ibari roads, stopped Olaniyi’s vehicle and challenged him for taking photographs during a protest against him.

    Our reporter watched as Olaniyi’s vehicle was smashed by the mob.

    He left and returned with more of his boys.

    The late Adebayo was hit during sporadic gunshots by the hoodlums.

    The mob was said to have descended on Olaniyi and his men with machete.

    He died before he could reach a nearby hospital where he was rushed to.

    Speaking with our reporter before the protest turned violent, Baale of Temidire, Chief Nojeem Abioye alleged that Olaniyi and his men had been terrorising house owners.

    He said: “Many house owners moved into this community more than 40 years ago without any disturbance until a few years ago when some land speculators decided to make life unbearable for them in their own houses.

    “We faulted his claim that he was representing a fictitious Ota community who he claimed are the original land owners because Ota is in Ogun State while our community is in Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    “I have told him several times to desist from harassing or attacking innocent landlords in this community but he would not listen to me. Yesterday, he beat up an elderly landlord in this community and the man is now on admission in a hospital. He has annexed so many buildings using his thugs to unleash terror on hapless landlords and residents.”

    A community leader, Chief Olanrewaju Ololade, said: We are protesting today because we have more than 5,000 people living in this community. Many of us bought our property from Fred Williams family over 40 years ago.

    “In 1984, some members of Ibari family in Ota, Ogun State came here to harass us and we took them to court. We got a judgement in 1988, wherein the Ibarri family’s claim to our property was overruled by the court. But lately, Olaniyi has been terrorising us claiming to represent an unknown Ota community as land owners. We told him that we have a valid court judgement which validated our ownership of the property but he resorted to violence, beating and harassing landlords and residents. We are, therefore, using this protest to call on Lagos State to save us from the activities of his boys.”

    Temidire Joint Community Development Association chairman Chief Apanishile Ale said Olaniyi had been using thugs to attack those opposed to his reign of terror.  A source, who didn’t give his name, told our reporters that Olaniyi’s boys were already planning to avenge their boss’ death.

    Policemen from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Alagbado Division were seen patrolling the community at press time.

    Police spokesman Kenneth Nwosu, a deputy superintendent (DSP) said he received a distress call around 11.45 am  that one Tunji Rasak ‘M’, who was attacked and injured during the protest, died in the hospital he was rushed to. He added that another unidentified person was injured and is responding to treatment. Nwosu said investigation was on going.

     

  • Lions Club to build eye centre

    Lions Club to build eye centre

    The International Association of Lions Club District 404B-1 will hold a fund raising on Sunday  for the building of an eye centre in Badagry, Lagos, It will also equip the centre.

    It opted to build the centre after its needs assessment of some communities in the Badagry area. Its District Governor, Mrs Idowu Anobili, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that the centre would handle general eye care diseases.