The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • ‘We lost intelligent pupils’

    ‘We lost intelligent pupils’

    Proprietor of the school attended by the three siblings, who died in a fire last weekend, yesterday described them as some of her “most intelligent pupils”.

    Ufoma, Emeka and Udoma Patrick died in the fire that gutted their home at 18, Fakoya Street, Egbeda in Lagos. The fire was sparked by a candle lit by their father.

    The proprietor, who pleaded anonymity, said she saw the children last three weeks ago.

    “They stopped coming to school three weeks ago because their father had outstanding tuition to settle. It is a great shock. Udoma, the third child, clocked three the very day she died. I will miss my very active pupils, especially Udoma, who participated in almost everything in her class,” she said.

    The candle burnt some furniture before spreading to the ceiling of their self-contain apartment.

    It was learnt that there has been no love lost between the landlord and the children’s father who had gone to the hospital to see their mother, who just gave birth.

    A neighbour said she was shocked at the lukewarm attitude of the landlord that night.

    “The circumstance surrounding the death is strange. The landlord and his family ran away that night and returned the next day. The family moved in exactly three years ago – the day the incident happened. Also, the youngest child, Udoma, who was born in that same house three years ago, died on her birthday. I learnt he gave the Patricks quit notice few months ago,” she said.

    The landlord, Samuel Oyekola, however, told The Nation: “I don’t know why the neighbours are blaming me for this tragedy. Immediately my family and I were alerted, I called the Lagos Fire Service. My daughter fetched over 10 buckets of water because the tenants ran away when the incident began. It is very unfortunate.”

    It was learnt that Patrick has been taking to his home town for treatment.

     

     

  • Cook ‘drugs’ mistress to rob her

    Cook ‘drugs’ mistress to rob her

    A cook has landed in trouble for drugging her mistress in order to rob her.

    Mrs Omowunmi Fadojutimi hired the cook, Victor Hounkpe, David Amusu.

    Mrs Fadojutimi and her acquaintance, Nwogu Chinaka and two security men were hospitalized after taking the vegetable soup prepared by Hounkpe.

    Hounkpe and Amusu allegedly drugged the soup to enable them have unhindered access into the couple’s rooms to steal their valuables.

    The suspects, who were paraded by the Lagos State Police Command, claimed that they only wanted the couple to sleep off during the operation.

    According to Hounkpe, he was briefed on the operation and handed the concoction (drug) by Amusu.

    Their plan, he said, was to dispossess the woman of her gold jewellery, which would have only been possible if she was asleep.

    “It was David (Amusu) who brought me to work as a cook for his former boss. He was the one who told me that the Madam invests in gold. He told me the reason he wanted me to work as cook was to enable us rob her

    “I confirmed it when I started working there that she had plenty gold. So on that fateful day (April 22), he gave me something which he said was sleeping drug to put in the vegetable soup I was asked to cook to enable him come in so that we can rob the woman.

    “After eating the food, the woman and her husband slept. The two security men who also ate the food slept. We tried to enter the woman’s room but it was locked.

    “We became scared the way all of them were sleeping. We thought they were dead and so we ran away,” said the Beninoise.

    But Amusu, who admitted he brought Hounkpe for his former boss, denied giving him any pill. He said the Beninoise hatched the plot, adding that he grounded 10 tablets of Super Appetite.

    He said: “I did not give him any drug. I did not even know he drugged their food. It was when we went for the gold that I saw everybody sleeping.

    “I was scared because I thought they were dead. So when we realised the door was locked. I quickly ran out of the premises.

    “I left my former boss because I was not feeling well. I have recommended four cooks to her but she kept saying they were not good. Hounkpe was the last person I introduced to her. But when he got the job, he called me and said we should rob the family, that they were rich. He asked if I had any sleeping tablet that would put them to sleep. I grounded 10 tablets of Super Appetite and gave them to him. Our intention was never to kill anyone but to rob and leave for Benin Republic, where we intend to establish our business. But after the deed was done, Hounkpe called me and I went and stayed in front of the gate waiting for the next call to come in, only for him to announce that people were suspecting him. The devil pushed me into this because the family was nice to me when I was working there.”

    The Lagos State Police chief Kayode Aderanti said the offence was uncovered following a petition by Mrs Fadojutimi, who accused the suspects of attempted murder.

    According to the police boss, the complainant’s husband developed severe stomach ache after eating the meal and collapsed before he was rushed to the hospital.

    “The petitioner alleged that she engaged the services of Hounkpe as a domestic cook through Amusu who was her former cook.

    “She alleged that on April 22, at about 5pm, the cook was instructed to prepare vegetable soup for dinner for the family and all domestic staff.

    “The cook duly complied with the directive and every member of the household ate dinner as served. After dinner, the complainant’s husband, Chinaka developed severe stomach ache and collapsed.

    “The complainant immediately rushed her husband to a nearby hospital amidst her own severe pain having eaten the meal.

    “She became unconscious also at the gate of the hospital and both husband and wife were admitted for medical attention. Shortly after, two of the security guards of the complaint who ate the dinner were brought in unconscious in the same hospital.

    “It was discovered that shortly after serving the dinner, the cook, Hounkpe sneaked out of the house.”

     

  • Fake MFM pastor remanded in Lagos prison

    A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday remanded a man, David Praise-Diri, who impersonated a pastor of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM) at Ikoyi Prisons.

    Chief Magistrate Bola Folarin-Williams, gave the ruling after the accused pleaded guilty to the offences.

    The accused, Praise-Diri, is facing a three-count charge of impersonation, obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Benedict Aigbokhim told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 3 at Toyin Street, Ikeja.

    He said the accused approached the complainant, Miss Itohan along Toyin Street, and introduced himself as a pastor of MFM.

    “The accused said he got a revelation from God for her and collected N13,000 from the complainant on the pretext of praying and fasting on her behalf for a possible solution to her problem.

    “She became uncomfortable when the accused told her to come for a vigil and decided to inform a relation who also worships at MFM church.

    “They informed the church and upon investigation it was discovered that the accused is a fake pastor.

    “The MFM church management alerted the police, who arrested the accused,” Aigbokhim said.

    According to him, the offences contravene Sections 78, 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    The case was adjourned to June 23.

  • Man, 51, remanded for raping NYSC member to death

    Man, 51, remanded for raping NYSC member to death

    An Ilorin Magistrate Court has remanded a 51 year old man for allegedly raping a youth corps member to death in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

    The late youth corps member, Idowu Yetunde Shukurat was a member of the 2014 batch B set in the state.

    She was serving with the state broadcasting corporation (Radio Kwara) Ilorin, before her demise.

    Late Yetunde’s corpse was reportedly found about a month ago around Government Residential Area (GRA) Ilorin.

    The suspected killer of the youth corps member, Abdullahi Tanko and his accomplices now on the run lured the lady from her residence in Saw-Mill area to a shopping mall where she was raped to death.

    The police prosecutor, Inspector Matthew Ologbon told the court that police received a distress call that day to go to Simeon Okedi street in GRA in the metropolis.
    Ologbon said that when police got to the place they found the late corps member on the ground in a pool of her blood.

    The Prosecutor told the court that the suspected killer and his gang had raped the deceased inside their car, which caused her untimely death.

    He added that after they had raped the late corps member at Tanko’s residence at Plot 6, Simion Okedi Upabiasika junction GRA, they dropped her dead body to nearby junction leaving her in a pool of blood.

    The Police prosecutor added that the police located Tanko’s house through the blood stains of the deceased and the suspected killer was arrested.

    The prosecutor added that the mobile phone of the deceased was found with Tanko at the time of his arrest.

    He added that efforts were still going on to arrest Tanko’s fleeing gangs by the police.
    The prosecutor urged the court to remand the suspected killer in prison custody until other suspects were arrested and completion of police investigations.

    Presiding Magistrate, K.A Yahaya therefore ordered that the accused be remanded in Mandala Minimum prison, Ilorin outskirts.

    He adjourned the case till August 10, 2015 for further hearing.

  • Passenger caught stealing inside plane

    Passenger caught stealing inside plane

    A passenger, Mr Ovuironye Mathew Dennis, was yesterday caught stealing about N263,000 from the luggage of a fellow passenger, Novothy Anton on board  an Abuja-bound Aero Contractors flight.

    Ovuironye, 31, was spotted by a female attendant when he removed the Austrian’s bag from the luggage cabin under the pretence of changing his seat.

    After removing the bag, he returned to his own seat 23c and removed N150,000 and 500 euro (about 113,000) from it.

    The Nation reporter, who was onboard the flight, reports that a wrap of marijuana was also found on Ovuironye.

    His temporary driver’s licence states that he hails from Delta State and gave his height as 1.65m.

    Before he could return the bag to the luggage cabin, the attendant asked him to remain seated.

    “While trying to return the bag, I asked him to sit down. But he became uncomfortable before the plane landed and the white man raised the alarm that he couldn’t find his bag,” the attendant said.

    She asked the Austrian to see his bag with Ovuironye, who claimed that he thought it was his.

    But when Novotny discovered that cash was missing, other passengers descended on Ovuironye. Many also took his photograph with their phones.

    The cash was found on him with a wrap of marijuana when he was searched.

    In an interview with The Nation in the presence of other passengers, Ovuironye said he stole the money to take care of his mother’s health. He said he came to meet his elder brother who is a business man in Abuja.

    Ovuironye said he is a Business Administration student at the University of Port Harcourt.

    He was handed over to security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, when the plane landed.

     

  • LUTH doctors begin three-day strike

    LUTH doctors begin three-day strike

    Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH) resident doctors yesterday began a three-day warning strike over their May salary and unpaid arrears.

    President, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LUTH chapter Dr Ramon Moronkola said they were being owed 13 months arrears of skipping from Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) 10 to 13.

    The money, he said, was their entitlement, adding that it should be paid without further delays as other doctors have received theirs.

    “We don’t know why our case is different in LUTH. Other doctors in the employment of the Federal Government have since been paid,” Moronkola said.

    The strike, he said, became imperative to give room for peaceful resolution of the crisis, adding: “Failure to address the problems, we will not hesitate to commence an indefinite strike on June 29.”

    Moronkola said the government directed in January last year that the money be paid, adding that he is surprised at LUTH’s refusal to do so.

    “Some doctors in other government-owned institutions have received their skipping arrears in eight centres,” he said.

    Moronkola berated LUTH management for resorting to threat rather than having a dialogue with the doctors.

    Such threats, he said, would only worsen the matter because doctors would remain resolute until their demands are met.

    Ex-president, ARD LUTH Dr Olubunmi Omojowolo said the hospital has not prioritised doctors’ welfare, adding that doctors have been attacked by armed robbers on a number of times with their valuables stolen.

    He alleged that the acting Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Christopher Bode and the Committee of CMDs are deliberately withholding the arrears.

    “They have formed a parallel body to that of the government. That is why they can go against the government and withhold doctors’ pay,” he said.

    He said there was money to pay doctors’ arrears as it had been captured in the 2015 budget, adding: “The CMD should answer us to prevent plunging the hospital into another crisis.”

    Skeletal services, he said, were being provided to cushion the strike’s effect on patients.

     

  • How we robbed nursing mother, by suspect

    How we robbed nursing mother, by suspect

    A 29-year-old man has told the police how his gang robbed a nursing mother with the aid of her driver.

    Solomon Ugorji told Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives that they robbed the woman the day she returned from America.

    He, Obinna, the  driver, who is said to be at large and Obiano Cosmos are said to have attacked a lounge in Victory Garden City (VGC) on May 16.

    Ugorji, who claims to be from Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, said he was an undergraduate at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), studying Public Administration, but could not continue after 200 level because of financial problem.

    He said: “I worked as security guard to Stoke and Caldwell Engineering Services Limited, a company that was into general procurement, maintenance and manpower training at Kilometre 23, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ajah, Lagos. I worked there for over two years on N40,000 per month.

    I live at Majek in Balogun Estate along the expressway. The owner of the company, a woman, travelled to the United States of America (USA) for child delivery.

    “On May 16, her driver, Obinna, (at large), told us that the madam would be coming back on Friday or Saturday with hard currency. He asked that we hatch a plan to rob the woman at a roundabout. He later asked us to go to the airport from VGC Roundabout by 7pm if we did not see her there. When the driver got to the roundabout, he stopped for the woman to buy fruits for her workers. The woman asked Obinna why he stopped without her order.

    “The woman wound down and bought some fruits. As she wanted to wind up the glass, with our gun, we ordered her driver to reverse towards the toll gate. When we got near the toll gate, there was heavy traffic jam, so we ordered the driver to head towards Ajah. We warned her not to shout. When we got to Eleganza, there was a traffic jam again. The woman held my knife and it wounded her. She kicked the car door and it opened and hit an oncoming vehicle and both of us fell down.”

    Ugorji said when he attempted to escape, some passersby pursued, arrested and beat him up before handing him over to the police. “I told the police that I am an armed robber and not a kidnapper. Our plan was to take her money only,” he added.

    The suspect said he recommended Obinna to the woman and advised her to increase his monthly salary from N25,000 to N50,000.

    “The other guy called Cosmos was holding a hammer which people mistook for gun. I was living with Obinna because I had problem of paying my house rent at Ajuwe, Ajah. We were all armed robbers but we did not operate with real gun. We used hammer as gun due to its shape,” he added.

     

  • Smugglers injure three Customs officers

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, Lagos, yesterday said it would track down smugglers who injured its officials after seizing their rice-laden boat at Bawe Creek in Badagry.

    The Customs Area Controller, Mr Umar Yusuf, made the pledge while showing reporters items seized from the smugglers, including a boat.

    Yusuf said the officers were among those attacked by the smugglers while on duty on June 12.

    He said the smugglers bowed to the superior fire power of his men as they abandoned their weapons and fled.

    “The smugglers opened fire, but the gallant officers were able to subdue them and they fled, leaving their machetes and guns. They did not want my officers to come back alive, but God intervened and the officers fought a good fight.

    “We are ensuring that we track down the smugglers wherever they are and we will do so squarely because we are equal to the task,’’ Yusuf said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the boat laden with about 2, 000 bags of rice; a locally-made gun, one shot gun, four knives and a machete were seized.

    Some seized expired drugs, condensed milk, and secondhand clothes were destroyed on the controller’s order.

    The Customs boss warned smugglers operating on the waterways to desist forthwith or face the command’s wrath.

    The command, he said, was set to deploy its seagoing boats – the Customs Pride and Group of Nine – to boost its operations.

    He said the command’s officials would be exposed to marine training courses to enable them effectively operate the boats.

    Yusuf hailed the Customs Intelligence Unit for supporting his command.

     

  • Passenger caught stealing on Lagos-Abuja flight

    Passenger caught stealing on Lagos-Abuja flight

    A passenger, Mr. Ovuironye Mathew Dennis, travelling on-board a 6.45am Aero flight on Monday was caught while stealing about N350, 000 from a luggage belonging to an Austrian, Novotny Anton, another passenger on the flight.

    Dennis,  31 with 1.65 height as captured in his temporary driver’s licence and seating on flight seat No. 23C,  was spotted by a member of the airline’s cabin crew when he removed the Austrian’s bag from the cockpit as if he was changing his seat.

    Our correspondent, who was on-board the flight, said the suspect was also caught with a wrap of marijuana.

    The suspect had removed the bag from the cockpit where the Austrian sat, took it to his own seat, giving the impression that he was changing his seat and stole a sum of N150, 000 and 500 Euros belonging to the Austrian.

    But he ran out of luck when a female cabin crew raised alarm, asked him to remain seated while he was trying to return the bag to the overhead bin before the Austrian could suspect any foul play.

    “While trying to return the bag I asked him to seat down. But he became uncomfortable before the plane landed and the white man raised alarm that he couldn’t find his bag,” she said.

    Immediately the plane landed at the Abuja airport, the Austrian couldn’t find his bag and raised alarm, but the cabin crew member told him to check the bag with Dennis.

    After the suspect was stripped naked, he told other angry passengers that he mistakenly took the bag in question for his own.

    The Austrian later discovered that the sum of N150, 000 and 500 Euros had been taken from the bag.

    Other passengers immediately descended on the thieving Dennis.

    The money was later found on him alongside a wrap of marijuana.

    The suspect told The Nation that he stole the money to take care of his ailing mother.

    .

  • Three siblings die in Lagos fire

    Three siblings die in Lagos fire

    Three siblings were on Saturday burnt to death in their sleep at Egbeda in Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos.

    The fire was said to have been caused by candle light.

    Fire has been wreaking havoc in the state of late.

    Just yesterday, another fire consumed 30 shops in a popular market in Ajah, a Lagos suburb.

    The victims – Ufoma, 9, Emeka,7, and Udoma,3,- ýlived in a self-contained apartment with their parents.

    The candle was said to have been lit by their father, who left to visit their mother who just gave birth. The candle fell and started burning the furniture.

    The fire which started around 10pm, was not noticed that until smoke started coming from the ceiling.

    Residents battled to put out the fire, without knowing that the kids were trapped inside the apartment.

    The Nation gathered that their bodies were evacuated by the police.

    “The incident happened on Fakoya Street, around Vulcaniser bus stop, Egbeda. It affected a building with three rooms-and-a-parlour self-contained apartments. The affected family stays in one of the apartments.

    “The fire was noticed around 10pm after their father had gone out to check on their mother who had just given birth at a nearby hospital. Before he left the house, he lit a candle and shut the door, while his children – two girls and a boy – slept off.

    “The candle stick must have either burnt out or fallen, causing the fireý. No one knew the kids were inside the apartment else they would have probably survived,” said a source.

    Confirming the incident, Director, Fire Service Rasaq Fadipe said: “We got the call at 10.48pm. We quickly sent the Agege Fire Station to the place with 10,000 litres of water. The fire started from the children’s apartment and consumed the three apartments in the building. The kids were fast asleep when the fire started and they were burnt to death.”