The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Freed robbery suspect rearrested

    Freed robbery suspect rearrested

    Four years after he was released from Kirikiri prison, a suspected armed robber has been rearrested by the police.

    He was arrested with another member of his three-man gang following a robbery in Abule Egba, Lagos.

    The arrest of Godwin Michael (32) followed that of Ibrahim Adeyemi (28), who was caught on the scene.

    Their colleague simply identified as Sunday is at large.

    A police source said the gang invaded a tenement builiding about 3am on April 1.

    “They entered the first room and collected money, phones and necklace. They later entered the second room and met another tenant with his expectant wife. They collected their money and phones, but when they entered the third room, the tenant who was robbed last year summoned the courage to challenge them.

    “The tenant gave them a surprise attack, pounced on Ibrahim who pointed gun at him. He grabbed him by the waist, while the other two turned him into a punch-bag with the futile intent to free their colleague. They then started using machete and kitchen knife on the tenant. They stabbed him all over his body,” said the source.

    His cry, it was learnt, attracted neighbours, forcing the other two to flee.

    The suspect could not escape because he was weakened by the head butt.

    The tenant was rushed to a nearby hospital. The suspect was taken to Meiran Police Station before he was later transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    Ibrahim, who hails from Molete, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said he was a bus driver and conductor, adding that he was living inside Gatankowa Market on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway because he was homeless.

    The suspect added: “There, I met one Sunday whom I earlier met at an Indian hemp bunk in Oshodi. He introduced me into armed robbery. We used to collect phones from an Hausa man who charges phones in the market. Sunday is a driver. I later joined their gang.

    “We got into a house at Ahmadiyya and robbed the first and second room successfully. When we entered the third room, a man grabbed me and my colleagues escaped. Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives later used me to arrest Godwin.”

    Michael, who is from Emododa Village in Ofuluku Local Government Area of Kogi State, said he was remanded in Kirikiri Prison in 2011 for armed robbery. “When I came out of prison, I started living in Gatankowa Market because I could not locate my brothers. Later, I started selling second-hand clothes. At times, when I bought N4,000 worth of clothes, I sold them for N5,000. I gained N1,000 every day. I stayed there with other bad boys who smoke Indian hemp in the market. I knew Ibrahim and one robber called Sunday. We went to rob at Ahmadiyya. Unfortunately, one of the tenants grabbed Ibrahim. Police later used him to arrest me, but they (the police) are still looking for Sunday,” he said.

  • Cannabis dealer convicted twice in two days

    Cannabis dealer convicted twice in two days

    A cannabis dealer in Lagos has been sentenced twice in two days by the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Mr. Afiz Isah, 30, a.k.a Agama, who resides at Iketuga Street, Meiran, a Lagos suburb, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half-year imprisonment.

    Justice C.J. Aneke sentenced him to 18months in jail on Monday for dealing in 29 kilogrammes of weeds that tested positive for cannabis. On Wednesday, Justice Okon Abang handed him seven years imprisonment for

    unlawful dealing in 3.9 kilogrammes of cannabis.

    National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) prosecutor Mr. Jeremiah Aernan told Justice Abang that the accused was not a first offender.

    “We confirmed that Afiz sold cannabis to a female drug trafficker, Toyin Raimi, before the police apprehended him at Atubaje Street Agege, Lagos and transferred him to NDLEA,” Aernan said.

    The convict pleaded guilty and begged for forgiveness. “I want the court to forgive me and have mercy on me. I am married with children and I want to be with my family. I have made up my mind not to sell cannabis again. If you forgive me, I will go back to my village in Kwara State to farm.”

    Justice Abang ruled that the convict did not deserve mercy, saying: “I have gone through the facts of the case and it is clear that the accused distributed cannabis to some dealers within the state. I will, therefore, put an end to his menace and save the society from further damage resulting from his criminal activities. He is hereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment.”

    Toyin Raimi who was arrested with 29 kilogrammes of cannabis by NDLEA officers in Lagos, had fingered Afiz Isah as her supplier.

    Coincidentally, police transferred Isah with 3.9 kilogrammes of cannabis to the agency.

    Afiz was charged separately with supplying Toyin cannabis and dealing unlawfully in the 3.9 kilogrammes of weeds found on him.

  • Lagos CJ frees Ikoyi prison inmates

    Lagos CJ frees Ikoyi prison inmates

    Lagos State Chief Judge Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade yesterday released 26 awaiting-trial suspects at Ikoyi Prisons.

    This brings to 47 the number of inmates freed from Kirikiri and Ikoyi prisons by Justice Atilade in two days. She had freed 21 inmates from Kirikiri on Wednesday.

    Justice Atilade explained that the inmates had been in custody for over two months.

    The inmates were freed as part of efforts to decongest the prisons.

    Justice Atilade was accompanied by Justices Oluwatoyin Ipaye; Aishat Opesanwo, Kudirat Jose, Lateef Lawal-Akapo and Sedoten Ogunsanya; the Chief Registrar, Emmanuel Ogundare, and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija.

    Executive members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branches in Ikeja, Lagos, Ikorodu and Badagry were also on her entourage.

    Sixteen inmates were present at the cermony, the others had earlier regained their freedom.

    She released them in exercise of her powers under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007 and the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    Justice Atilade counselled them to be of good behaviour, saying.

    “I release all you today (June 18) from custody pursuant to the powers conferred on me and admonish you to go and sin no more.”

    The Chief Judge urged the NBA to take up pro bono (free) cases on behalf of awaiting trials to avoid delays in justice administration.

    She appealed to non-governmental organisation (NGOs) and other stakeholders working with the prisons authority to ensure that those released are counselled before being reintegrated into the society.

    The Deputy Controller (DCP) in charge of Ikoyi Prisons,   Bamidele Emmanuel said 70 of the 116 inmates that wrote the last November/December General Certificate Examination (GCE) passed; 27 inmates who wrote the Computer Based Test of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)) scored between 170 and 240.

    Some of the inmates, he said, were now at the National Open University.

    Emmanuel said the inmates had been sufficiently trained and prepared for reintegration into the society.

    He said the reintegration of freed inmates back into the society is a collective responsibility, which should be of concern to all.

  • LUTH gets ultimatum to meet doctors’ demand

    LUTH gets ultimatum to meet doctors’ demand

    RESIDENT DOCTORS have given Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) up till June 29 to meet their demands or face a strike.

    The doctors gave the ultimatum yesterday after their three-day warning strike over unpaid May salary and skipping money from Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) 10 to 13.

    Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) President Dr Ramon Moronkola said the hospital has refused to dialogue with the doctors making peaceful settlement.

    He said: “Rather, the management has been threatening and intimidating doctors because they were asking for what rightfully belongs to them. We will not be deterred in our quest to get justice. If the management fails to accede to our demand on or before June 29, we will commence an indefinite strike.”

    The ARD, he said, was still open to peaceful resolution of the crisis, adding that the management should address the issue in patients’ interest.

    Moronkola said the hospital was not interested in addressing doctors’ welfare despite their openness on the issue. “We will not hesitate to embark on indefinite strike if by 29 June the management does not proffer solution to the problems,” he said.

  • Court refuses foreigners’ bid to quash charge

    Court refuses foreigners’ bid to quash charge

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed a preliminary objection filed by 14 foreigners charged with illegal dealing in petroleum products.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba held that the court has jurisdiction to try them directed the prosecution to open its case.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 10 preferred a four-count charge of conspiracy, dealing in and storage of petroleum products without lawful authority against them.

    They are three Russians – Arthur Pakhladzhian, Vasaliy Shkundich, Kretov Andrey; a Japanese – Sergio Abgarian; and three Ukrainians – Vitalis Biluos, Laguta Olesksiy and Chepikov Oleksan.

    Others are seven Britons – Hilarion Teofilo Regipor Jr, Cadavis Gerardo, Baduria Benjamin, Naranjo Allian Antero Jr, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Carantiquit Micheal Bryan.

    Three vessels – MT Anukt Emerald, Monjasa DMCC, and Glencore Energy UK Ltd were charged with them.

    EFCC said they committed the offence on February 27 by storing 1,500 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel inside the MT Anuket Emerald’s Cargo Tank. It said they also stored 3,035 metric tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) in other tanks.

    The offence contravenes Sections 4, 17, 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Petroleum Act, Laws of the Federation.

    On Wednesday, defence counsel Babajide Koku (SAN) argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to try them because they were not carrying out any illegal activities within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

    He said the accused were within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and that the Miscellaneous Offences Act does not cover the zone.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to discountenance Koku’s arguments, saying: “It is late for the accused after taken their plea to challenge the prosecutorial powers of the EFCC.”

    Justice Buba held that the EFCC has the powers to file the charges under the Act being  since the offence was committed on Nigerian waters.

    Besides, the EFCC can file any charge on the government’s behalf.

    The judge said the accused had taken their plea without any objection, adding that the defence counsel applied for their bail which was granted.

    “The instant case is not an abuse of court proceedings. The accused has a case to answer and the court has jurisdiction to entertain the case. I hereby dismiss the objection,” the judge held. He adjourned till today for trial.

  • Sickle cell symposium holds today

    In commemoration of the World Sickle Cell Day, an advocacy group, Tonymay Foundation, will today hold a symposium at the Lagos Television (LTV8) premises, Agidingbi, Ikeja in Lagos.

    Sickle Cell is a disorder that affects haemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body.

    The symposium, will be chaired by the Medical Director, Nigeria East Africa Region and head, Pfizer Worldwide Biopharmaceutical Businesses, Kodjo Soroh, with the theme: “Healthcare for People Living with Sickle Cell; whose responsibility”

    The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Edith Otokhina said the most critical of life-saving measures is awareness and information management.

     Chairman of the foundation, Chief Andrew Otokhima said the symposium will be preceded by a walk, where it will enlighten people of the ailment.

     Otokhima, a lawyer, called on the National Assembly’s attention to enact laws for a policy to ensure prompt and free treatment for carriers, so that they can enjoy what others are privileged to in other developed countries.

  • ‘Make Yoruba compulsory in schools’

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to make the teaching of Yoruba in primary and secondary schools compulsory.

    The House made the call at plenary yesterday after adopting a resolution on a motion to revive teaching of the language in schools in the state.

    The motion was moved by Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho 1) and seconded by Oladele Adekanye (Lagos Mainland 1).

    The House urged all its 40 members to go back to their various constituencies to promote the teaching of the language by organising competitions among pupils to encourage their fluency.

    It muted the idea of holding a stakeholder’s parley where Ministry of Education officials, educationists, parents, teachers, among others would be invited to brainstorm on the way forward.

    Yusuf lamented the poor attention being paid to the teaching of Yoruba, a situation he said had made Yoruba sons and daughters communicate poorly in the language.

    Yusuf noted that with such neglect, the Yoruba culture and tradition, which he described as very rich and full of wisdom, had been abandoned as the language is considered by some to be that of bush people.

  • Health workers protest non-payment of arrears

    Health workers protest non-payment of arrears

    WORKERS of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta, Lagos have given management up till Tuesday to meet their demands or face a strike.

    The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) yesterday accused the management of not paying their promotional arrears for three years.

    JOHESU chairman Shehu Sulaimon told reporters after the workers’ protest on the hospital premises that many are scared of using the hospital because of its decaying infrastructure and rise in service charge.

    Sulaimon called for improved staff welfare, saying workers’ morale was low because of some steps taken by the management.

    ‘’It has been a protracted issue that we have been discussing with our management.

    “For instance, they have not done anything about the promotion arrears which have not been paid and only God knows the reason.

    “We heard that other FMCs have collected their arrears and the budget office at the Ministry of Finance confirmed that our centre is not being owed promotion arrears. It means that our hospital has collected the arrears just like FMC Owerri too, yet we have not been paid. Where is the money?

    “We gave the management 14 days ultimatum that elapsed without doing anything; we gave another seven-day ultimatum and our Managing Director decided to travel out during this period. I wonder how the head of a house would travel while his house is on fire,” Sulaimon said.

    He enjoined the management of the hospital to upgrade the equipment in the hospital to make the hospital attractive to the public.

    Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), FMC, Ebute Meta chapter, Mrs Blessing Israel, said the use of outdated equipment was affecting internally generated revenue because of the dwindling number of patients.

    “The equipment are outdated and with outdated equipment, you cannot really work efficiently. We need new equipment; light is nothing to write home about; patients scream at night because they are always in the dark throughout the night; the members of staff are not encouraged to give their best due to poor welfarism. The generating set is very old and not functioning well.

    “The tariff is very high and because of this, we are not really having patients, if the tariff should come down, patients will come and we will be happy to work. We don’t want to be made redundant; let them bring down the charges,” Israel said.

    Medical and Health Union Chairman, FMC, Ebute Meta chapter, Mr Julius Achonwa, said the workers were being treated like second-class citizens.

    He said: “Can you imagine you can’t speak your local language to any patient here; you get query for doing so – my mother tongue? How do you communicate with a patient who doesn’t understand English language?

    “One pathetic aspect of our case was when one of our staff died, the management sent people to attend the burial. On their way back, the bus had an accident; one died and some were taken to the nearest hospitals, but many of the injured ones were brought here. The management refused to pay the medical bills of those treated here. Those that used their money for the treatment are yet to collect refund from the management.”

    According to him, no staff has gone on training in the last four years.

    “We are here dying silently; we are begging the government to come to our rescue and if care is not taken, this place will die a natural death,” he said.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the hospital’s Medical Director, Mrs Yewande Jinadu, when contacted on phone, said she was on leave and was outside the country.

    Mr Emmanuel Okone, Director, Administration and Human Resources, when contacted, declined comment. “You are talking to the wrong person on this issue,” he said.

  • Foreigners contest court’s power to try them

    Foreigners contest court’s power to try them

    Fourteen foreigners charged with illegal dealing in petroleum products have challenged the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction to try them.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 10 preferred a four-count charge of conspiracy, dealing in and storage of petroleum products without lawful authority against them.

    They are three Russians- Arthur Pakhladzhian, Vasaliy Shkundich, Kretov Andrey; a Japanese, Sergio Abgarian; and three Ukrainians-Vitalis Biluos, Laguta Olesksiy and Chepikov Oleksan.

    Others are seven Britons- Hilarion Teofilo Regipor Jr, Cadavis Gerardo, Baduria Benjamin, Naranjo Allian Antero Jr, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Carantiquit Micheal Bryan.

    Three vessels-MT Anukt Emerald, Monjasa DMCC, and Glencore Energy UK Ltd were charged along with them.

    The commission said they committed the offence on February 27 by storing 1,500 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel inside the MT Anuket Emerald’s Cargo tank.

    They also stored 3,035 metric tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) in other tanks.

    The offence contravenes Sections 4, 17, 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Petroleum Act, Laws of the Federation.

    Yesterday, their lawyer, Mr Babajide Koku (SAN), said the court lacked jurisdiction to try them because they were not carrying out any illegal activities within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

    He said the accused were carrying out their activities within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

    Koku argued that they were charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act, which has no effect within the EEZ where the accused were arrested.

    “The Miscellaneous Offences Act under which the accused were charged doesn’t cover the jurisdiction in which the accused were arrested.

    “These are foreign nationals, the Miscellaneous Offences Act cannot apply to them and does not apply within the EEZ because it is oustide the sovereignty of Nigeria,” Koku said.

    The senior advocate urged the court to decline jurisdiction and strike out the suit, adding that the fiat of the Attorney-General of the Federation was not sought before the accused were brought to court.

    He cited Sections 31 and 34 of the Territorial Waters Act, which state: “A Nigerian court cannot try a person who is not a citizen of Nigeria for an offence committed in an open sea, and the consent of the AGF must be provided before such trial could commence.”.

    EFCC’s lawyer Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to discontenance Koku’s arguments.

    He said the accused had been arraigned and their plea taken, pointing out that if the court’s jurisdiction is being questioned at this stage, it should be considered along with the substantive suit.

    Oyedepo said: “It is late for the accused after taken their plea to challenge the prosecutorial powers of the EFCC.”

    The AGF, he said, does not have the monopoly of prosecuting such matters, adding that the EFCC is vested with the powers to prosecute any economic crime whether it occurs at sea or land.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba reserved ruling till June 18.

  • Lagos CJ frees 21 Kirikiri inmates

    Lagos CJ frees 21 Kirikiri inmates

    LAGOS STATE Chief Judge Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade yesterday freed 21 awaiting trial inmates at Kirikiri Medium Prisons.

     She freed them in exercise of the powers conferred on her under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007.

    Her gesture is part of efforts to decongest prisons.

    Justice Atilade was accompanied by Justices Oluwatoyin Ipaye, Aishat Opesanwo, Kudirat Jose, Lateef Lawal-Akapo and Sedoten Ogunsanya as well as her Chief Registrar Emmanuel Ogundare and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs Idowu Alakija.

    She advised the freed inmates to be of good behaviour henceforth, saying: “I release all you today 17th day of June, 2015 from custody pursuant to the powers conferred on me and admonish you to go and sin no more.”

    Most of the inmates had spent more time in prison custody than they would have if they had been tried and convicted.

    Justice Atilade urged them to refrain from crime because the government has zero tolerance for it.

    She implored others not to lose hope in the system, cases would be reviewed periodically to release those who have spent more time in prison than they would have if convicted.

    The judge restated her commitment to an effective justice delivery system where the courts work efficiently and the prisons are not congested.

    Her visit to the prison to release inmates, she said, would be continuous, adding: “ Those of you released should, henceforth, be of good behaviour. The state government is committed to a crime-free Lagos and anyone found committing crime will be arrested and prosecuted.”

    Justice Atilade appealed to non-governmental organisation’s (NGO) and other stakeholders working with the prisons authority to ensure that those released are re-integrated into the society.

    Earlier in his opening remark, Officer-In-Charge of the prison, Deputy Controller (DCP) Kayode Odeyemi thanked Justice Atilade for exercising her powers in releasing the inmates’ favour.

    He said: “My Lord, today the criminal justice system of Lagos State has taken a leap in seeing that justice is done to all as a result of your visit to the prison because a good number of of inmates with minor offences will be let off the hook.”

    Odeyemi thanked the immediate past administration for approving the fortification of the prisons before leaving office.

    He appealed to the Judiciary and the executive to assist the prison authority with trucks and buses to ease the challenge of conveying inmates to court.

    A total of 2452 inmates are in the prison built to take 1,700 inmates. About 2349 are awaiting trial, 92, convicts, 32, detainees, and  21 described as lodgers/acquitals.