The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • MSSN hosts competition final

    The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit will on Sunday conclude the Islam and Science Quiz Competition at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Isolo’s main auditorium, Lagos.

    The exercise, with the theme: Scientific nation: Unleashing the potential within, is geared towards promoting academic excellence and encouraging scientific advancement among the youth.

    According to MSSN’s Amir (President) Kaamil Kalejaiye, the competition is also to awaken the sleeping giant among secondary school students alongside tertiary institutions to take up the challenge of developing interest in science related field.

    “We are on track to build the next generation of professionals who can constantly take on the world by actively and massively developing the nation through advancement in science and technology,” he said.

    Kalejaiye, while highlighting the objectives of the programme, stressed that it is meant to challenge students to think swiftly, apply skills and craftsmanship.

  • ‘You’re enforcement not harassment officers’

    ‘You’re enforcement not harassment officers’

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday implored Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials not to harass offenders.

    At an interactive session with them at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, he said there were more civil ways of apprehending offenders without harassing them.

    According to him, the government will, henceforth, adopt technology to arrest offenders.

    Ambode said: “Don’t victimise Lagosians, there are more civil ways to control and arrest offenders. From now, no harassment; you are enforcement officers and not harassment officers, arrest people in civil manner.”

    The governor said the meeting became necessary following feedback from the public about the worsening traffic across the state. He charged the officials to note traffic bad spots and report back to government so as to find a lasting solution.

    He said places like Third Mainland Bridge, Abule Egba, Dopemu, among others, which are known traffic black spots, must be decongested immediately.

    Ambode also promised to assist the officials perform their task effectively.

    The time, he said, has come for a new Lagos, urging LASTMA officials to desist from the habit of jumping into offenders’ car. The new tracking device of the government would be used to trace and arrest offenders, Ambode said.

    The governor said: “I appeal strongly for your cooperation and support; as little as you think your work is, you are going to be the new face of this government. Whatever you do outside, you are actually doing it on my behalf and anything you do is a reflection of who I am.”

    He sought their support, urging them to reflect on the promises he made to the electorate during electioneering.

    “The primary duty of all of us is to make life easier for every Lagosian. If you do this, the pattern of your service delivery will change,” he said.

    Ambode implored LASTMA to ensure that traffic improved, saying: “The feedback from outside is that traffic situation has worsened; we have to work round the clock to ensure free flow of traffic.”

    Earlier, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello, urged the officials not to encourage indiscipline.

    “You are the face of government; if the enforcement is not right and the traffic does not move, we are all in trouble. You have done well in the past, but you need to build on it; now, there will be no room for excuse,” he said.

    Bello said LASTMA and KAI had been doing well but noted that they had to do more to keep Lagos working.

    The SSG added that traffic must be decongested and street trading stopped.

    Deputy Governor Dr Oluranti Adebule warned that bad eggs in LASTMA and KAI would be flushed out, saying extorting money from people must stop.

    Dr Adebule charged the officials to live up to their responsibilities and ensure that the purpose for which their agencies were set up was achieved.

    LASTMA Director of Operations Mr Phillip Ogunlade, and Mr Mayowa Adeyeye of KAI, said they would do their best to project the government.

  • ‘We’re big boy armed robbers’

    ‘We’re big boy armed robbers’

    The love for ostentatious life has put four apprentice traders in trouble. They rob boutiques, and the homes of the rich for expensive shoes, clothes and jewelry in order to show off as “big boy traders”.

    A member of the gang, Ugo Nnakue, 26, told Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives that they operated discreetly.

    Ugo, an apprentice in the Ladipo Auto Parts market in Lagos, is being held by the police with Ozioma Ike, 20, Kenechukwu Anierobi, 23, a hustler, and the gang leader, Obi Gaza.

    Anierobi was arrested in Mushin by a patrol team on May 18 with a nylon bag containing stolen phones.

    He was taken to Mushin Police Station where he confessed that he belonged to a four-man gang that used sledge hammers and iron cutter to break into boutiques.

    He was transferred to SARS Headquarters in Ikeja, from where he took the police to arrest Ike and Gaza .

    Nnakwe said: “I sent Kenechukwu to follow Obi and the other one to break a shop at Mushin and one boutique on Nkenu Street in Ajao Estate. They went with one rod and two iron cutters. I sent them two times. I shared their loot with my roommate. I chose my size of jeans and shoes and started wearing them. I received four phones while my roommate got about five. We break shops to get expensive shoes, clothes which ordinarily we could not afford. But it was just to show off as big boy traders in Ladipo market and its environs.

    “In our second operation, I got 12 jeans trousers, two wrist watches and 13 assorted shirts which I kept for personal use because I did not loot to sell. We succeeded in the third operation but one of us, Kenechukwu, was arrested by police. When police arrested him, we ran away but he later brought SARS operatives to arrest us despite the oath we took not to betray any member in a situation like that.”

    “For three years, as an apprentice, my master (who is even my brother) refused to settle me. He even found it difficult to give me pocket money to be like my peers; that was why I joined the gang to get fine clothes to wear like my mates.”

    Ike said he followed the gang to break into two boutiques, adding that his role was to alert others in case of danger. “We shared our loot in our sponsor’s house. In the first operation, I got 15 jeans trousers and 10 tops (shirts), while in the second, I got 21 jeans trousers and 13 tops. I used my bag to pack some of the loot. We hanged somewhere till 4 am before we started working towards a bus stop. We steal to show off as big boy traders in Mushin,” he said.

    Anierobi said: “I hustle in Ladipo market. I usually charged N1, 000 for carrying an engine. I joined them to break shop in Mushin where we got 35 phones. We used cutter, chisel and wheel spanner to break shops.”

  • Rider docked for alleged attempt to sell stolen tricycle

    Lagos State Police Command yesterday arraigned a tricycle rider, Polycarp Awuya, in Lagos, for allegedly attempting to sell a stolen tricycle to an unsuspecting buyer.

    The accused is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on stealing and fraud at the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

    Prosecutor Police Inspector Gbemileke Agoi, told the court that the accused committed the offences between January and May at the Ibeju Lekki.

    Agoi said the accused stole a tricycle valued at N410, 000, belonging to one Pastor Isaac James.

    The prosecutor said James had entered into a business arrangement with the accused to ride the tricycle with Reg. No. LSD 100 QE for commercial purpose and to be making returns to him.

    He said the accused instead obtained the sum of N220, 000 from one Ikechukwu Okorie with the intention of selling James’ tricycle to him.

    “Awuya knew that the tricycle belonged to another person and still went on to make false presentation to another unsuspecting person in a bid to transact business with the same tricycle,’’ he said.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 278, 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Awuya pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate F.O. Dalley granted the accused N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of tax payment and adjourned the case to June 26.

  • Man docked for alleged N1.1m theft

    A 27-year-old employee, Agbo Samuel, was yesterday arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly converting his employer’s N1.1 million to his own use.

    The accused, an indigene of Ijede in Ikorodu, is standing trial on a two-count charge of stealing and a breach of the peace.

    Samuel pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Police Inspector Gbemileke Agoi told the court that the accused committed the offences between August 2014 and January 2015.

    Agoi said the accused fleeced his employer, 3MS Global Concept Nigeria Ltd. at Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    He said the accused collected N1.1 million from the company’s customers and failed to remit same amount into the company’s bank account.

    The prosecutor said the accused conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace between the company and its customers.

    “The conversion of the money from the company’s customers to his own use did cause the peace between 3MS Global Concept Nigeria Ltd. and its customers to be in disarray,’’ he said.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 166 (d) and 285 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

  • Five assaulted FAAN officials hospitalised

    Five assaulted FAAN officials hospitalised

    Five Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security officials were yesterday hospitalised after being allegedly beaten up by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) personnel at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    The Customsmen were said to have been annoyed  because the FAAN officials stopped them from entering the airport’s “restricted areas” since they were not wearing reflective jackets and had no On-Duty Card (ODC).

    The airport’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Col Carl Onalu (rtd), said the Customsmen beat up the FAAN officials who were doing their job.

    Onatu berated the Customs officers, saying the uniform does grant anybody access to restricted areas of the airport.

    He said the customs officers involved in the attack had been arrested by the Airport Police Command personnel, adding that the matter has also been reported to the Comptroller-General of Customs in Abuja.

    He said: “What happened at the airport was very unfortunate. The officers were entering the restricted areas of the airport though they were in their uniform, but without reflective jackets and on-duty card and our officers said they won’t allow them to go to the airside without the appropriate uniform, which they kicked against and descended on our men. The uniform doesn’t grant you access to restricted areas of the airport.

    “The matter is still under investigation and we are going to look at the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to see what transpired between them. Be it Boy Scout, Red Cross and others, you all have your roles to play. About five of our men were beaten critically by the officers, but until the investigation is concluded, we cannot tell you what transpired today.

    “I called the airport commissioner of police and even the headquarters of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in Abuja is already aware of this and even FAAN Managing Director.  Everybody is interested in the whole case and there would be a security meeting, where this issue would be deliberated upon.

    “We went to see the management of Customs and they also told us that they were sorry about what happened. Those concerned have been arrested and issued queries.

    “But, we are also requesting the copy of the disciplinary action that would be meted out to the officers that perpetuated this act for our record purpose.

    “As I speak with you, even the headquarters at Abuja has already called and the Customs Area Controller too is very sorry about what happened and they promised that this will never happen again.”

    To avoid a recurrence, Onalu said there would soon  be an airport security meeting, noting: “at the higher level, there is good working relationship, but there is disconnect at the lower level. Everybody has a role to play at the airport. There are rules governing act of everybody.”

    Dikko, it was learnt, has asked the Customs Area Controller at the airport to investigate the matter.

    He was quoted as saying he would discipline any officer who drags the agency’s name in mud.

    A source said: “Investigation is going on to ascertain what happened and we cannot speculate about what happened today (yesterday) until investigation is concluded.

    “The relationship between Nigeria Customs Service and FAAN is cordial, but once in a while, you have such issues. We should not condemn ourselves in totality because of this isolated issue.”

  • Wheelbarrow thief bags nine-month jail

    Wheelbarrow thief bags nine-month jail

    The Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced Femi James, a labourer, to nine months imprisonment for stealing a wheelbarrow worth N15, 000.

    Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun Abolarinwa said James was sentenced to three months for conspiracy and six months for stealing.

    “You are hereby sentenced to a total of nine months in prison and the sentence will run consecutively,’’ Abolarinwa said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that James, 21, pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing leveled against him.

    Prosecuting Corporal Cyriacus Osuji had told the court that James stole the wheelbarrow on May 26, at at Oyingbo Bus-Stop.

    He had said James stole and absconded with the wheelbarrow belonging to one Mr Augustine Chukwu.

    He said Chukwu had chained the wheelbarrow to a pole from where the convict stole it.

  • FOMWAN to lift the displaced

    FOMWAN to lift the displaced

    The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Lagos State Chapter has concluded arrangements to donate materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    Amirah (female president), Dr Sariyu Ashiru disclosed it yesterday during a briefing on the FOMWAN Week.

    Ashiru urged the public to donate materials, both in cash and kind to the displaced persons.

    According to her, the association would soon hold a special prayer for the nation.

    She said: “Since we have just changed to a new government, we need to pray for the new administration tread the right path.”

    With Service to Humanity: Path to Jannah as the theme, Ashiru said the week-long activities would include symposium, visitation, prayers, special jumat service and advocacy at each local government.

     

  • Synagogue: Coroner to give verdict July 8

    The Lagos Coroner investigating the collapse of a building on September 12, last year, at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, Lagos will give its verdict on July 8.

    The Coroner court presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe announced this yesterday after parties made their final submissions.

    About 115 persons, mostly tourists from South Africa, lost their lives when the six-storey building, which served as guest house for visitors, collapsed.

    The Lagos State government had set up the inquest to ascertain the cause of the collapse and identify the victims.

    The Founder of the church, Pastor Temitope Joshua, had initially linked the tragedy to a strange aircraft hovering above the building shortly before it collapsed.

    The church released a video on social media, which showed an aircraft hovering around the building before its collapse.

    The coroner took evidences from many witnesses, counsel of the government, trustees of the church and professionals in the construction industry.

    Joshua declined the coroner’s invitation to appear in person before the court.

    Instead, the cleric, through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, filed an application in which he sought the order of the high court setting aside his invitation.

    He accused the coroner of delving into areas outside its jurisdiction.

    Joshua told the coroner court that he was not under any obligation to testify before the coroner.

    The high court presided over by Justice Lateefa Okunnu ruled that the Coroner had the power to summon anybody and corporate body it deemed fit to assist it in the conduct of the inquest.

    But the cleric appealed the ruling. The matter is still pending before the Court of Appeal.

    The Lagos State government had insisted that the inquest must be guided by Section 40 of the coroner’s law which bestows on it the role to find out who the deceased are, when and how they died.

    The government had submitted that since the issue of who the deceased are and when they died had been resolved by the report prepared by the state’s Chief Medical Director, Prof John Obafunwa.

  • Woman led Ikorodu banks robbery, says eyewitness

    A woman led Monday’s robbery of two banks in Ikorodu, Lagos, it was learnt yesterday.

    Two persons died in the incident.

    The woman was seen giving orders to her colleagues after leaving one of the banks.

    The Nation learnt that the robbers snatched two vehicles, including a Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and drove towards Ijede.

    An eyewitness said the lorry driver had just parked by the road side.

    He alighted and was heading towards a canteen near the bank when he sighted the robbers coming and shooting into the air.

    The driver turned and made for his vehicle but was shot before he could start it.

    The other victim was trying to leave the troubled area when he was caught in a crossfire between the robbers and police.

    The police were said to have been delayed by traffic snarl caused by speed breakers.

    They were coming from Itamaga to where one of the robberies took place at Omitoro.

    Police spokesperson Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP),  said the police were able to foil one of the robberies.