The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • ‘My wife is carrying another man’s pregnancy’

    A businessman, Samson Muse, yesterday urged an Ojo Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his three-year-old marriage because his wife is carrying another man’s pregnancy.

    Muse said his wife, Tunrayo is unfaithful, adding that such a woman should not be seen as his wife.

    “My wife fights a lot, uses dangerous weapons to attack me, she is too troublesome, does not take care of our son, I’m no longer in love with her.

    “A woman that sleeps about with different men is not worthy to be a wife; in fact, the seven month-old pregnancy she is carrying is from an unknown source.

    “I cannot live with a woman who has become promiscuous, sleeping around, in fact, she has become too troublesome and does not have any regard for me,’’ Muse said.

    He said he would obey the court’s order to pay N30,000 monthly feeding allowance for their two-year-old son to ensure the divorce.

    “I need this court to dissolve our marriage and also grant me permission to be in possession of my son because she cannot take good care of him.

    “My son, legally named Faruk is currently referred to as ‘Park well’ at the motor parks, I cannot take it any longer, I need quick action,’’ he said.

    Tunrayo, 38, however, denied Muse’s claims, saying her husband abandoned her and she had to seek help from other men.

    “My husband does not take care of me, he has carried out deals of over N2 million in my presence. His sister is the Deputy Iyaloja of Okoko Market, yet he cannot even pay my dowry, I cannot say who owns this pregnancy, but I cannot release my son to him,’’ she said.

    The court’s president, Chief Joseph Ogunmola, advised the husband to keep his promise of giving feeding allowance to his son.

    Ogunmola adjourned the case till June 29 for judgment.

  • ‘This road is giving us hell’

    ‘This road is giving us hell’

    Since the rains started, residents of Owode Street, Abule Egba in Ijaiye Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have been living in pains. Going and coming have not been easy because of their deplorable road.

     “The road, despite being in the metropolis, has been neglected for many years by the local and state governments. Many residents, business owners and tenants have relocated elsewhere because of the condition of the route, while many car owners have been forced to park them,” a resident, Mrs Folu Adesiyan said.

    There are huge craters on the road, which make it even difficult for tricyclists to manoeuver.

    Our reporter was forced to park his car on a neighbouring street when he visited the place on Monday.

    Angry residents lamented how once flourishing businesses on the street crashed because of the bad road.

    No fewer than 15 shops were have been shut following their owners’ relocation to other areas.

    Workers in the three hotels on the street said sales had plummeted.

    A worker at Jydab Hotel, who identified herself as Cyntia, said it had been over three months since a new customer visited, adding that the hotel has been running on deficit.

    This, she said, has affected staff salaries and the running of the hotel.

    At DSK Hotel, one of the managers, Mr Adebisi Sosanya, said only the old and loyal customers still patronise them “out of sympathy”.

    “Despite the huge revenue being generated on the street from taxes and the great employment opportunities provided by companies, the bad state of the road has made it impossible for any business to make profit,” he said.

    A resident said: “This is really lamentable; ordinarily, this should be the work of the local government, but despite all our entreaties to the last administration, the local government refused to fix this road. We pay taxes and we contribute to the economy of the state and this is how the government has chosen to pay us back”.

    Many of the residents criticised the former council chair, Benjamin Olabinjo, saying he rebuffed all their entreaties to fix the road.

    Mrs Bisola Bello said: “When anybody gets to our street, he would wonder if really human beings are living here. This is not a village in a suburb; this is Abule Egba and this street is one of the most important ones here. There are so many business concerns here. Also, you see that this is a major link road to the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.”

    A community leader, Alhaji Salaudeen Tiamiyu, said the bad road has resulted in “huge economic sabotage”. “There are some things we should not even think about as it is too shameful; this road is one of them. How can you imagine seeing Owode Road in this state of utter disrepair and disregard?  It seems both the local and state governments are not interested in the people who live here, yet we are citizens. Look at the three hotels here and tell me if they can make any profit with this state of the road?” he said.

    Another resident Mrs Olaitan Olaonipekun said: “On some occasions, our children have had to stay in their homes because their school buses cannot access the street. It is that bad.”

    The residents pleaded with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to come to their aid to prevent disaster.

    “Our governor said he wanted to make life simpler and make us happier; we are yet to feel that here. But we hope he will make good his pledge. Now, we wait for him to fix the road,” said a resident.

  • Three injured as bus’ break fails

    Three injured as bus’ break fails

    Three persons were injured at the Cappa bus stop on Agege Motor Road in Lagos yesterday when a LAGBUS vehicle marked APP 466 XJ had a brake failure.

    The 45-passenger bus, The Nation learnt, ran into a fence along the road around 2pm to mitigate the disaster.

    Passersby rushed to save the injured victims after the Ikorodu-bound vehicle, which was said to have taken off from Oshodi, stopped.

    Three passengers were rescued with bruises, while the bus’ driver who suffered shock was taken away from the scene.

    One of the victims, who claimed anonymity, said: “The bus was driving normally from the beginning of our journey, but within a minute, what I heard was noise from other passengers who were shouting ‘Jesus’. Before I could figure out what the problem was, our bus had crashed into the fence.”

    Another survivor praised the driver for his experience and his promptness at deciding to crash the bus into the fence.

    “If he had rammed into other cars on the expressway, he would have created more damages and even deaths. I thank God that we are all alive and well,” he said.

    The third injured victim was seen sitting under a tree near the scene of the accident. Apparently still in shock, she thanked God for not having any critical injury.

    “I’m fine and I bless God for that. I just sustained a minor scare in my thigh; it is nothing to worry about,” she said.

  • Woman ‘chases out’ niece,9, for meat theft

    A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court on Lagos Mainland yesterday granted N100,000 bail to a woman, Mercy Akinsode, 46, who chased out her nine-year-old niece for allegedly stealing a piece of meat.

    Chief Magistrate A.O. Soladoye ordered her to provide two sureties in like the sum and adjourned the case till July 6.

    Akinsode, who lives on Bajulaiye Road in Somolu, Lagos, is facing a charge of child abandonment.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Anyanwu told the court that the accused chased out her late sister’s nine-year-old daughter for stealing a piece of meat.

    Anyanwu said the accused committed the offence on June 5 about 8 p.m., at her residence.

    The victim, he said, was brought to Lagos from Ekiti some years ago to live with her aunt following her mother’s death.

    “The family’s nanny, one Esther, had brought some raw meat from the market and directed the victim to prepare it. The nanny saw the victim eating part of the meat and reported her to her aunt. After scolding her, the aunt drove her out of the house.

    “However, a good Samaritan saw the victim wandering around in a market, and took her to the Alade Police Station, Somolu.’’

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

  • Father in court for caning son, 5

    A father was yesterday arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for caning his five-year-old son.

    The accused, Sikiru Mustapha, 29, is standing trial for assault.

    Mustapha, a resident of Pedro Street in Iwaya, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Anyanwu told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 5 about 9.30 a.m. at his residence.

    The victim, he said, lived with the accused and his step-mother.

    Anyanwu said the accused beat his son because he defecated on his body as he was preparing to go to school.

    “The victim’s teacher saw the injuries on the boy’s body and rushed him to hospital.

    “The teacher and those who treated the boy called the Public Defender’s Office to report the case.

    “The accused was arrested by officers of the Sabo Police Station at Yaba after investigations,’’ he said.

    The prosecutor said the victim was still undergoing treatment.

    Chief Magistrate A.O. Soladoye granted the accused N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case till July 20.

  • Row over Ikorodu monarch’s selection deepens

    Row over Ikorodu monarch’s selection deepens

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been asked not to present staff of office to the new Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi.

    Some aggrieved aspirants are claiming that Shotobi’s selection did not follow due process.

    In a June 3 letter to Ambode, Prince Tajudeen Odofin and Chief Joseph Aluko said Shotobi should revert to the Odofinship chieftaincy title he was holding before his purported selection.

    The petition was copied to the Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs; Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo; Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro; Oba of Igbogbo, Johnson Fatola Adeboruwa; Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Oba Richard Ogunsanya; Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs: Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Executive Secretary, Ikorodu Local Government; Secretary, Chieftaincy Committee of Ikorodu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice.

    The petitioners noted that since the creation of Ikorodu, an Odofin has never been made Oba and challenged Shotobi and the kingmakers to cite a precedent. They maintained that the process adopted by the kingmakers was alien to the Oba and Chiefs Law of Lagos State.

    The petitioners listed 17 reasons why Shotobi cannot be Ayangburen.

    They said the May 22 ruling of Justice Akintunde Savage of Ikorodu High Court did not pronounce him the new Ayangburen but only stated that “the Adegorushen branch of Lasunwon Ruling House has the right to present the names of candidates for the stool of obaship”.

    The law, they argued, was not allowed to take its course as there were two suits on the Obaship of the town and Shotobi’s selection. The cases, according to them, include the appeal served on Monday, May 25, 2015 in suit number IKD/454/GCM/2014 and a sister case of allegation of fraud against Shotobi in suit number IKD/57/2007.

    The petitioners claimed that as Odofin, “Shotobi witnessed the burial rites of the late Ayangburen”, adding: “This is a sacrilege.“As the Odofin, he has performed the traditional rites of lighting the Ofufu; is he going to light another which is sacred?” they asked.

    They alleged that Shotobi refused to resign as Odofin as instructed by a committee set up in November 2014 by the Council of Obas and Chiefs Ikorodu Division, before vying for the stool.

    “It is also an established fact that he was never selected from the general Lasunwon Ruling House, “hence he does not have the nomination and backing of the whole house”.

    “The same Prince Shotobi Kabiru Adewale is one of the kingmakers in which case, he did not resign his position when they were constituted in December 2014, hence he cannot be a judge in his own case. It will be deemed under the law that he influenced the decision of the kingmakers,” the petitioners claimed.

    The selection, said they cannot stund because  the Oluwo, who is he head of Osugbo fraternity (kingmakers) had distanced himself from the exercise as “he was never invited nor informed by other kingmakers during the selection process”.

    The process of authorising the Oba-elect was not followed as it did not pass through the monthly meeting of the Lagos Council of Obas and Chiefs usually held on the last Thursday of every month, the petitioners added.

    They said: “The Council of Obas and Chiefs Ikorodu Judicial Division did not preside or ratify Shotobi’s selection. To the best of our knowledge, the executive process was also boycotted as we have no record to that effect”.

     

     

  • Bus conductor jailed 21 years for robbery

    Bus conductor jailed 21 years for robbery

    A bus conductor, Sunday Olalekan, was yesterday sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by a Lagos high court sitting in Ikeja for robbery.

    The court presided by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye found Olalekan guilty of robbing one Nkong Remi on February 14, 2013.

    The convict, 22, was arraigned by Lagos State Government on a one-count charge of robbery.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, Akin George had accused Olalekan of robbing his victim,  Remi, of her handbag, phones and other valuables on February 13, 2013.

    He said the robbery took place at Gani Fawehinmi Garden Ojota, in the Ikeja Judicial Division.

    During trial, Remi had told the court that she was driving an ash colour 4runner Jeep on February 14, 2013 going to drop her sister at the park around 6:15am when the robbery took place.

    “There was small traffic jam so we slowed down. I heard a loud shout and as I turned to my side, there was a black boy with a mark on his eye, he was accompanied by two other boys, he came to the car window and forced it down. The other two boys jumped in”, she told court.

    Remi further explained that their assailants also robbed her sister, rough handled her and fondled her breast before she could drive off.

    “I returned back to Gani Fawehinmi’s park around 7am and asked the boys at the park and they told me that some boys were caught and taken to Alausa Police Station.

    “When I arrived the station, they asked me if I can recognise the boys and I said yes I will recognize the one with a swollen eye. They took me in and I recognised him (convict),”she added.

    However, Olalekan, who testified in Yoruba language, had denied all the allegations.

    He claimed to have gone to 7up at Ojota to wait for his boss, one Tunde, but he failed to meet him at the appointed place.

    “I met one Jelili, a co-conductor with whom I work with Tunde. After waiting for Tunde till 6pm and we did not see him, Jelili suggested that we should go to the new garage to see if we can see another motor to work with.

    “We were approaching New Garage when we saw those PSP people at Owens Park and claimed that some people has robbed a motorist not quite long.

    “They stated further that we are the people that robbed them. They started beating us and later handed us over to the police. I did not rob any person or persons,” the convict stated.

    Delivering her ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, held that the testimony of the victim, Remi, was unshaken during cross-examination.

    The trial judge noted that the victim was able to identify the assailant because he was close to her and put his hand in her dress to rough handle her and fondle her breast, looking for money.

    “I have carefully considered the total evidence of the prosecution. The essential ingredient is that there must be a robbery and the accused was one of those who took part in the robbery. However none of the stolen items were recovered.

    “I have carefully studied Exhibit 1, which is the statement of the defendant. The defendant was in the company of his friend (Jelili) when he was arrested on February 14, 2013.

    “In the light of what I have said, I hereby find you Sunday Olalekan guilty of the offence of robbery and sentence you to 21 years imprisonment as stated by law,” the judge said.

     

  • Row over Ikorodu monarch’s selection deepens

    Row over Ikorodu monarch’s selection deepens

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been asked not to present staff of office to the new Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi.

    Some aggrieved aspirants are claiming that Shotobi’s selection did not follow due process.

    In a June 3 letter to Ambode, Prince Tajudeen Odofin and Chief Joseph Aluko said Shotobi should revert to the Odofinship chieftaincy title he was holding before his purported selection.

    The petition was copied to the Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs; Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo; Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro; Oba of Igbogbo, Johnson Fatola Adeboruwa; Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Oba Richard Ogunsanya; Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs: Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Executive Secretary, Ikorodu Local Government; Secretary, Chieftaincy Committee of Ikorodu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice.

    The petitioners noted that since the creation of Ikorodu, an Odofin has never been made Oba and challenged Shotobi and the kingmakers to cite a precedent. They maintained that the process adopted by the kingmakers was alien to the Oba and Chiefs Law of Lagos State.

    The petitioners listed 17 reasons why Shotobi cannot be Ayangburen.

    They said the May 22 ruling of Justice Akintunde Savage of Ikorodu High Court did not pronounce him the new Ayangburen but only stated that “the Adegorushen branch of Lasunwon Ruling House has the right to present the names of candidates for the stool of obaship”.

    The law, they argued, was not allowed to take its course as there were two suits on the Obaship of the town and Shotobi’s selection. The cases, according to them, include the appeal served on Monday, May 25, 2015 in suit number IKD/454/GCM/2014 and a sister case of allegation of fraud against Shotobi in suit number IKD/57/2007.

    The petitioners claimed that as Odofin, “Shotobi witnessed the burial rites of the late Ayangburen”, adding: “This is a sacrilege.“As the Odofin, he has performed the traditional rites of lighting the Ofufu; is he going to light another which is sacred?” they asked.

    They alleged that Shotobi refused to resign as Odofin as instructed by a committee set up in November 2014 by the Council of Obas and Chiefs Ikorodu Division, before vying for the stool.

    “It is also an established fact that he was never selected from the general Lasunwon Ruling House, “hence he does not have the nomination and backing of the whole house”.

    “The same Prince Shotobi Kabiru Adewale is one of the kingmakers in which case, he did not resign his position when they were constituted in December 2014, hence he cannot be a judge in his own case. It will be deemed under the law that he influenced the decision of the kingmakers,” the petitioners claimed.

    The selection, said they cannot stund because  the Oluwo, who is he head of Osugbo fraternity (kingmakers) had distanced himself from the exercise as “he was never invited nor informed by other kingmakers during the selection process”.

    The process of authorising the Oba-elect was not followed as it did not pass through the monthly meeting of the Lagos Council of Obas and Chiefs usually held on the last Thursday of every month, the petitioners added.

    They said: “The Council of Obas and Chiefs Ikorodu Judicial Division did not preside or ratify Shotobi’s selection. To the best of our knowledge, the executive process was also boycotted as we have no record to that effect”.

     

     

  • ‘Involve tech experts to track traffic offenders’

    The Information Technology System Security Professionals (ITSSP) yesterday advised the Lagos State Government (LASG) to involve stakeholders in its bid to use technology to check traffic offenders.

    Its President Rogba Adeoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that government should involve stakeholders such as ITSSP and the Nigeria Computer Society in its bid to check errant road users.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode last week read the riot act to officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), telling them that he wanted a situation where they would use technology to arrest offenders rather than harassing them.

    Adeoye said: “For this innovative project to work, government needs to put things in place to see to its success.

    “Government needs to call stakeholders like Nigeria Computer Society, the ITSSP, among others, to a round table to deliberate on the right way to go.”

    Adeoye said there were various methods which could be used for traffic management such as cameras and trackers, but said that this must be matched with personal identification.

    The ITSSP president, however, said there might pitfalls in the implementation of the project.

    Adeoye identified one as lack of a good address codes in the country to match the equipment with personal identification.

    According to him, the state government has made a policy and all stakeholders in ICT are waiting for more clarification from the governor.

    Adeoye said the next stage would be for the adviser to the governor on transport and the state ministry of science and technology to see what was on ground and to chart the way forward.

     

  • ‘Erratic power supply crippling cinema business’

    Epileptic power supply has been identified as the major problem affecting the growth of cinema business in the country.

    The Managing Director of 5D Cinema 9ja, Mr Kayode Owolabi, who spoke at the inauguration of the five-dimensional (5D) Cinema in Surulere, Lagos, said power failure should be addressed as it imposed significant costs on cinema business.

    According to him, the envisioned growth of the cinema industry and the economy cannot be achieved without improved electricity supply.

    “We hope that President Muhammadu Buhari will treat the issue of power supply as one of topmost priority to enhance the growth of cinema business in the country,” he said.

    Owolabi described 5D Cinema as a multi-dimensional digital technology. It is more advanced than 3D and 4D. It has technology, such as rain, smoke, lathing, air bubbles and sunlight, he said.

    This 5D technology, he said, is different from the conventional cinema because viewers are part of the actions.

    “The 5D experience is a computer technology that makes movie as interactive as possible. The cinematic technology is a relatively new experience in Nigeria and holds great promise for the digital entertainment in the country.

    “The cinema will be opened throughout the day for families, groups and lovers who love recreation and adventures. The technology is open to everyone to experience. However, certain restrictions are to be emphasised. Children below the age of four, pregnant women and hypertensive adults cannot see the movies as it is not medically advisable for them,” he said.

    He said a movie under 5D technologies usually runs between seven to 12 minutes.

    “The 5D technology is perfect for families and tourists who want to enjoy the innovations in digital cinematic entertainment,” he said.