The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • ‘My husband is an alcoholic’

    A 32-year-old woman, Oluchi Obinna, is seeking the dissolution of her six-year-old marriage to her husband, Emmanuel, at an Igando Customary Court in Lagos.

    She is accusing her husband of lack of care for her and their three children.

    “I don’t owe my husband a kobo. He only gets foodstuff when he is famished. Whenever he is drunk, he beats me mercilessly. The day I requested money from him to get drugs for our first son who was ill, he returned home drunk with his girlfriend. He slapped me, stripped me naked and asked her to beat me up. I was embarrassed in the presence of our neighbours,” she said.

    The petitioner, who lives at 9, Olabode Street, Ikotun in Lagos, added that her husband once left the house with their children.

    She said: “A neighbour phoned me and said they were at a motor park. On getting there, I saw him but since I couldn’t handle him alone, I called a policeman who stopped him for me.”

    Mrs Obinna said her husband once threatened to kill their children, adding that he once harassed her in church.

    “We were at a neighbour’s’ child dedication when my husband entered the compound with a bottle, threatening to kill our children before surrendering himself to the police. He carried my son and threw him as if he was pouring a bucket of water and chased all of us at the gathering with a bottle. I was sad because he couldn’t remember all he did the following day. Till today, our first son is scared of him.

    “As if that wasn’t enough, he came to the church half-nude with a bottle of beer and a cigarette and called me a witch and a prostitute. The ushers had to ask us to leave because he created a scene,” she said.

    The petitioner said she left the house with their children since he wasn’t ready to change.

    But, the 34-year-old dockworker said his wife nags a lot.

    “Whenever I try to correct her flaws, she quarrels with me. She disregards me a lot and each time I complain, she leaves the house with our children and this made me to take them to my mother’s place which she was also aware of,” he said.

    He denied embarrassing her in church, saying it was a prophetess in her church that offered him a bottle of beer and urged him to take things easy.

    “I earn N40,000 and I give her N10,000 for monthly allowance aside our children’s school fees. I have pleaded with her to return home with our children but she refused. I don’t want her anymore,” he said.

    The court’s President, Hakeem Oyekan, ordered the respondent to maintain peace and adjourned the matter till July 13.

  • Judge hailed over land verdict

    Residints of Gberigbe community in Ikorodu Lagos have praised Justice Michael Akin Savage for striking out a land suit brought by the Ladera Royal family.

    In his verdict, Justice Savage of the Ikorodu High Court, described the suit in which the Ladera family was laying claim to the entire Gberigbe land as an abuse of court process.

    He held that the same issue had been adjudicated upon by courts of competent jurisdiction in the past.

    A 2009 judgment in favour of the Ladera family over the land was upturned in 2014 by the Court of Appeal. The Ladera family filed a fresh suit before Justice Savage that same year.

    Responding to the ruling, the defendant’s lawyers, Olusegun Fabunmi and Richard Oguntade, said: “The implication of the ruling is that Gberigbe-Orelade family is the rightful owner of the land in question to the exclusion of other families that are laying claims.”

    Chief Kayode Sokelu Odubitan, Secretary of the Gberigbe-Orelade family, said: “The court has reaffirmed our ownership and we thank the judge for doing the right thing. We are now appealing to the government and law-enforcement agencies to help in safeguarding the lives and properties of the family and that of the entire community that had been under incessant harassment due to this protracted litigation.”

  • ‘Ladipo market not demolished, closed’

    ‘Ladipo market not demolished, closed’

    The Lagos State Government yesterday debunked the allegation that some parts of the popular Ladipo Market in the Mushin Local Government area had been demolished and put under lock and key.

    The Executive Secretary of the Council, Hon. Jide Bello, in a statement, said business activities went on unhindered at the market yesterday as traders were at their stalls carrying out their business transactions.

    He said the local government decided to redevelop the market which had become an eyesore due to the unwholesome activities of some of the traders and the degradation of the environment which did not fit into the mega city plans of the state.

    He said the council intended to undertake the development of the market in phases and because of that, had not collected any form of rent from the traders in the market since the beginning of 2015.

    Bello added that the council’s authorities convened several meetings with the leaders of the various associations in the market towards ensuring that a private developer commences the phased development, but it was evident from the body language of the leaders that they were buying time and trying to frustrate the redevelopment plan.

    He said there would be no going back on the decision of the council to redevelop the market to meet the mega city status of Lagos, assuring all traders in the market that Mushin remains a home for all of them.

    The council chief, however, said due process was followed in the council’s decision to redevelop the market, urging the traders to operate within the ambit of the law.

  • Two in court over ‘assault, malicious damage’

    Two men, Morufu Oyebola, 23, and Hammed Durojaiye, 25, yesterday appeared before a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly invading a market, assaulting traders and damaging valuables.

    Oyebola, who resides at 4, Anisi Street, Ijora-Badia and Durojaiye of 12, Bamgbose Street, Lagos Island, are facing a two-count charge of assault and malicious damage.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Ignatius Okeke, said the accused committed the offence at Ojuolopon Market Lagos Island, on June 30 at 12.12p.m.

    Okeke said Owolabi Shitta-Bay and Popoola Kamilu, who are traders, on the same date, reported to the police that the accused and 11 others at large invaded the market and disrupted trading.

    He alleged that the accused assaulted Shitta- Bay during the invasion.

    The prosecutor said the accused also damaged Popoola’s tricycle and stole some valuables at the market during the attack.

    Okeke said the offences contravened Sections 409 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Mr L.A. Owolabi granted the accused N50, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum. He adjourned the case till July 20 for mention.

  • Gardener, four others charged with murder

    Gardener, four others charged with murder

    Five persons were yesterday arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate Court in Lagos for the alleged murder of a 32-year-old driver, Sonye Chukwudi Bosco.

    They are Anthony Toms, 20, a gardener; Godwin Francis, Michael Inyang, Evidence David and Etuk Tony.

    Prosecuting Police Inspector Emmanuel Ajayi said they conspired to murder and rob Bosco of 4,750 cash.

    Toms said he took revenge on the deceased who he claimed was owing him N6000 balance from a flour sale.

    Toms invited the late Bosco, who operated around GRA, Ikeja, to Ransome Kuti Gardens in Anthony Village, under the pretence of meeting with a businesswoman that supplies flour.

    The defendants, it was learnt, thought the late Bosco was rich because he used a Mercedes Benz 320 saloon car.

    Tony, one of the defendants, described Toms as their leader, saying:  “Anthony is the ring leader who told us that the driver is rich and that if we robbed him, we could sell the car for N2 million. And I told him I would do it as long as money is involved.”

    But Toms said:”I did it to revenge what he (driver) did to me. The driver is a gay; he slept with me several times and paid me only N1,500. He bought flour from me but refused to pay me N6,000″.

    The defendants allegedly tortured the late driver at the Ransome Kuti Gardens and demanded money from him.

    They were said to have bound the deceased’s hands, mouth and legs and hit him on the head till he died.

    They were said to have covered his body with empty bags of flour before taking away his Mercedes Benz car.

    One of the defendants, who is a driver, was said to have planned with the others to sell the car out of Lagos.

    However, the police intercepted and arrested them on the Gbagada Expressway with the car.

    Ajayi urged the court to remand the suspects in prison custody pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravened Sections 409, 295, 221 and 404 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

    The defence counsel, Spurgeon Ataene, applied that his clients be remanded for 30 days.

    Magistrate O.O. Olatunji ordered that they be remanded and adjourned the case till July 31.

  • Civil Defence promotes 152

    Civil Defence promotes 152

    No fewer than 152 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials have been promoted.

    The officers were yesterday in Lagos also honoured for their dedication to duty, punctuality and discipline.

    The event held at the Lagos Command in Ikeja, is the first in the corps history. Speaking on the occasion, NSCDC Commandant Gabriel Abafi said: “Hard work pays and it is more beneficial when one does it without being monitored or rewarded financially. I can feel the joy in them and with this spirit, they will make sure they defend the defenceless just like our motto.”

    He said 128 officials were promoted in the command, 14 and 10 from the liaison and zonal offices.

    Assistant Commandant-General in charge of Zone A Lugard Osemwegie said officials who had worked for three to five years took the promotion examination and were honoured immediately the results reached the command.

    “I am overwhelmed. Not that those promoted were too good but they deserve it and I urge them to continue the good work. Also, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, we intend to send 250 men for training. Since crime is dynamic, crime fighters have to be dynamic too,”Osemwegie said.

    Mrs G.R.A Akinsemoyin-Apata, Director Special Duties, Governor’s Office, who represented the governor, said the officials deserved to be rewarded since they are diligent.

    “I thank God for everything and also knowing I have been ranked Chief Superintendent gladdens my heart,” said Chika Chukwurah, one of the promoted officials.

    Another official James Omoniyi said he was overwhelmed by his promotion.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Man docked for ‘killing’

    A 22-year-old man, Benedict Ogheneorvo, who allegedly stabbed one Emmanuel Jacob to death with an iron from an umbrella, yesterday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.

    The accused is facing a charge of murder.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Maria Dauda, told the court that the offence was committed on May 18 along Deji Oworu Street, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos.

    Dauda said that the accused stabbed the deceased on the neck to death with an iron from an umbrella.

    She said that the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos

    The plea of the accused was not taken by the court.

    Chief Magistrate K.O. Ariyo ordered the accused to be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons pending the receipt of legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).

    The case was adjourned till July 31.

     

  • Lagosians lament police harassment, extortion

    Some residents in Lagos, particularly young men, yesterday complained of police harassment in some parts of the metropolis, under the guise of “stemming crime and criminality,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    They said the policemen go about in commercial buses with Lagos State colours, stopping them and frisking their bodies and checking their belongings.

    The complainants identified the areas where the officers carried out the acts to include: Costain roundabout, Amukoko, Ojuelegba, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Mushin, Ikeja and Okota roundabout.

    Such activities have also been reported at Ogba, Idimu roundabout, Iyana-Ipaja under bridge, Tinubu Square, Idumota, Adeniji Adele top of Bridge, Mile 2, Oshodi, CMS and Ojota bus stop, amongst others.

    One of the complainants, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some officers from ‘Area C’, stopped him at Pako area of Aguda, on his way from the bank and arrested him for allegedly being in possession of some money.

    “I went to the bank on February 15, to collect N50, 000 which my father sent to me from abroad, while returning home, some policemen in a patrol vehicle belonging to Area ‘C’ stopped me for a search.

    “They asked what I was doing for a living; I told them I am a student and I presented my school Identity Card to affirm that I was indeed a student.

    “They asked me where I got the money in my pocket from and I told them my father sent it to me and I showed them the papers I used to collect the money.

    “After checking my handset and the e-mails, they collected N30, 000 out of the money and asked me to go.

    “I had to allow it because they were armed and I could not challenge them,’’ the victim said.

    Mr Mike Ogunsanya, a trader, recalled that on February 9, when he was going to Lagos Island for a visa interview, he was stopped at Ojota bus stop for a check, only to end up at Area ‘H’, Ogudu, until his parents were contacted for his bail.

    A civil servant, who sought anonymity, told NAN that some policemen stopped him at Costain roundabout for a ‘routine check’, requested to look at his phone, and he protested and was allowed to go.

    “My brother was stopped with some other young men at Ogba for a search; it was only those with identity cards that were allowed to go.

    “Those without identity cards were asked to enter their bus. You have to bail yourself from the station before you are allowed to go,’’ the civil servant said.

    Sikiru Oriekun, a barber who resides at Ojuelegba, said on June 25 at Ojuelegba, he was stopped for a search by some policemen, using a commercial bus with number plate XL 616 GGE, at about noon.

    “They checked my phone and bag and took me along to their station and called a relation to come and bail him,’’ Oriekun said.

    He recalled that his relation negotiated with the policemen and they set him free after collecting N3,000 as bail.

    When contacted, Lagos command spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said police officers are empowered to stop suspected people believed to be in possession of incriminating items for routine checks.

    Nwosu added that no police officer was, however, permitted to scroll through any handset or laptop on the road, as these were personal items.

    “Police officers can stop people anywhere, anytime, when such persons are suspected to be in possession of incriminating things.

    “It is wrong for police officers and men to check your handset or laptop on the road. Any person could, however, be stopped by the police under stop and search operations.

    “The police can search your bag and pockets if you are suspected to be with incriminating things but not your private gadgets.

    “Any person who feels that his rights have been abused by any police officer, should report such officer to the authority with evidence, for investigation,’’ Nwosu said.

    Nwosu said that many criminals had been apprehended through stop and search activities.

    He, however, urged members of the public to always identify and submit themselves whenever they were stopped by police officers.

     

  • Hoteliers lament multiple taxations

    The Hotel and Personal Services Employers’ Association of Nigeria (HOPESEA) yesterday urged the Lagos State Government (LASG) to reduce the multiple taxation it usually levied operators in the hospitality sector.

    Its secretary Adeniyi Olokun said this would enhance improved service delivery in hotels.

    Olokun said subjecting hoteliers to multiple taxations had hindered them from improving the quality of their services.

    He alleged that some agencies of governmental were fond of initiating bills every month which could be streamlined and made convenient for hoteliers to pay.

    The scribe said government agencies were revenue-minded like the hotels, adding that both should, therefore, operate to enhance the survival of one another.

    Olokun said: “These hotels need to upgrade their facilities and services on a constant basis to stay relevant in business. They equally must break-even before thinking of upgrading their facilities and services. Hotel business is labour and capital intensive, they should be considered for tax relief by the government.”

     

     

  • Council chief pledges better administration

    Lagos State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC) chairman Comrade Obafemi Oyenubi has pledged to run a better regulated council and tie up loose ends.

    This, he said, will ensure a more committed executive and give proper direction.

    Oyenubi was re-elected as chairman, last Friday, to run the affairs of the JNC for another two years.

    Also re-elected along with him was M. A. Subair as the Vice-Chairman, while other officials in his executive were all returned to their former positions unopposed.

    Before the election, however, a candidate contesting the vice chairmanship position, Comrade A. Y. Sulaimon, wanted the election put on hold for reasons of clarification on the council’s constitution and electoral guidelines, saying he was not aware that there was an election committee in place.

    He was, however, overruled by the committee, which later accepted his withdrawal from the contest and abstinence from the election, after a heated debate and arguments that lasted for over one hour.