The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Court dissolves 20-year-old marriage over man’s insanity

    An Igando Customary Court in Lagos yesterday dissolved the 20-year-old marriage of Mr and Mrs Demola Lawal because of the husband’s insanity.

    The petitioner, Mrs Abosede Lawal, sought dissolution of the marriage, citing her husband’s mental sickness, threat to her life and irresponsible acts.

    She said she discovered her husband had mental sickness after she had her first baby.

    “My husband is mentally sick, I have stayed with him for 20 years, thinking he would get well, he always exhibits his madness by destroying our household items and misbehaving.

    “I discovered after I had my first baby but I decided to stay praying to God to cure him of the illness,” Abosede, a designer said.

    She also accused her husband of always threatening her with acid and dangerous weapons.

    “My husband brought acid home and he always threatens to pour it on me saying that he wanted to disfigure me so that I will look unattractive to people,” she said.

    She said: “My husband refused to take care of the family. I pay our bills because anytime I asked him for feeding money or the children’s school fees, he beats me up.

    Lawal, a 47-year old automobile technician, agreed that he is insane, saying his wife wanted to divorce him because of his sickness.

    “My wife wanted to quit our marriage just because of my state of health, I believe God will heal me one day,” he said.

    Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mr Hakeem Oyekan, said it appeared that the parties were tired of the marriage, adding that efforts to reconcile them have failed.

  • How my houseboy, others robbed me, by Indian

    Lagos High Court  heard yesterday how a housekeeper, Peter Maina, robbed his Indian boss, Aja Bikram, of cash and property worth N3.2million.

    Led in evidence by a state counsel, Afolabi Sholebo, Bikram told Justice Aishat Opesanwo that Maina and three others gagged him, his wife and 15 year-old daughter and threatened them with a knife last November 10.

    Bikram, who works with Euro Global Food Distillage Limited in Lekki, Lagos,said that the defendants wanted to attack him on November 9, but postponed it till the next day because he had visitors.

    He said: “On that fateful day, Peter our housekeeper of eight months who lived with my family rang our door bell, my wife opened the door for him after she looked through the security viewer of our home.

    “He was followed immediately by three accomplices who forced their way into our house.

    “I, my wife and 15-year-old daughter were shocked to see the strangers in our house. One of his accomplices pulled out a jack knife and held it to my throat.

    “Peter ran to the kitchen to take our household knives to arm his accomplices during the ordeal.

    “They ordered us with knives on our throats to remove our jewellery and wrist watches and we were also ordered into the toilet where my wife was forced to bring out all the cash in the house.

    “I and my wife were tied with ropes while my daughter was tied with the dog leashes used for our two puppies.

    “My mouth was also gagged with a red handkerchief and I was locked in the toilet while my wife and daughter were left in the bedroom,” he said.

    The Indian said the ordeal last 45 minutes, adding that the defendants planned to kill him and also abduct his daughter for ransom.

    “I overheard them plotting to kidnap my daughter, after collecting N265, 000, an IPad, our Iphones, three laptops and our household ornaments which amounted to N3.2million.

    “Peter and his gang also wanted to kill me but changed their plan after they heeded to the pleas of my wife and daughter.

    “After they left, my daughter was able to set herself free from the dog leash used to tie her and she untied my wife and they unlocked the toilet door and released me.

    “We raised alarm and our neighbours who live in the boys quarters came to our rescue and called the police.”

    Explaining how Maina was apprehended, Bikram claimed it took the intervention of the Presidency, following his report at the Indian High Commission when he realised the police were unable to get the prime suspect 10 days after the incident.

    “After I lodged a complaint with the Indian High Commissioner who in turn spoke to the Presidency, the matter was taken up by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

    “Peter who was already working as a security guard at Anthony area of Lagos was arrested by the police as well as his accomplices.

    “Some of the phones that were stolen from us were found in Peter’s possession. The phones are currently in possession of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS),” he said.

  • I was mistaken for a thief, says suspect

    I was mistaken for a thief, says suspect

    A 26-year-old suspect, Tunde Adewale, has been paraded by the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    Adewale was rescued by the police from an irate mob that nearly lynched him at Ijegun, a Lagos suburb.

    His two other colleagues fled on motorcycle.

    According to police, the suspect had been under intensive medical care because he could not talk when he was brought for investigation.

    “You can see that it is the treatment that he was receiving since they transferred him that even enabled him to talk and the worse is that he is a poor liar and a stark illiterate,” a policeman said

    “He was transferred here almost half dead but we were able to revive him,” the officer said.

    Adewale said he is a commercial motorcyclist, adding that he was mistaken for a thief.

    He said: “I was carrying two passengers at Ijegun community half way they stopped me and brought knives and cutlasses claiming to be cult boys. I became afraid and locked my motorcycle and started asking them why they stopped me here whereas they have not reached where they were going.

    “As I was talking one of them snatched my motorcycle key and started the motorcycle. As he wanted to drive away with the second person I started dragging my motorcycle with them but they succeeded in overpowering me and zoomed off with my motorcycle.

    “When I was crying for help, the people from the area gathered round me calling me thief, thief and before I knew it, they started beating me.

    “Look at my eyes, mouth, the whole face, how I was beaten almost to death. They thought that I was dead and pushed me by the road side. Luckily policemen on patrol carried me to their station and later transferred me to SARS Scorpion House when they noticed that I was still breathing.

    “I am an okada rider. I was mistaken for a thief when the two boys I was carrying snatched my motorcycle and claimed to be cult boys. I am married with a child.

    “I carried two passengers from Ikotun to Ladipo side. The two passengers wanted to drop and one of them collected my okada key and I saw cutlass with them. They started my motorcycle and left pushing me aside. I was badly beaten before police picked me up. They tore my shirt before beating me. I did not know who beat me because they were many. It was after intensive medical attention in SARS that I recovered consciousness. I was brought here unconscious.

    “I was beaten by people living around Kano Street, Ikotun. The irate mob was wrong for trying to lynch. I did not know the two passengers who claimed to be cult boys.”

    On why none of his relations has asked after him he said: “My brother is in Osun State. I am the only one in Lagos. It happened around 1pm. I am not an armed robber. Cult boys snatched my motorcycle and ran away while people living around there gathered and started beating me telling me that those two passengers were my gang members or fellow cult boys.”

  • He abandoned me for 10 years, says wife

    A middle-aged woman, Bola Ogunmodede, has dragged her husband Adeoye, to an Alagbado Customary Court in Lagos, for abandoning him for over 10 years.

    She said she had pleaded with him severally to return home, all to no avail.

    Mrs Ogunmodede said: “It’s been four years since he left me with our five children. I had to return his brother’s children because I couldn’t carry their responsibility anymore.”

    She also accused him of adultery, saying she has lost count of the number of women she saw him with.

    The petitioner said she brought the case to court  because their third child willingly stopped schooling.

    “Our 15- year-old son is a disgrace to me. I once beat him on assembly ground because of his unruly behaviour. When it persisted, the school authority collected his uniform and shoes before he was expelled. If there is unity in our home, this wouldn’t be happening,” she said.

    Her son, she said,  had been keeping bad friends, adding that he has sold almost all the electrical appliances in the house.

    Mrs Ogunmodede said when she could no longer bear his idleness, she took him to a barber’s shop to learn the trade, but the first day he returned, he vowed never to go back because there were too many masters there.

    “Just last week, policemen came to our house for our son, accusing him of stealing some money. He doesn’t sleep in the house anymore. He doesn’t listen to me. I want him to move to his father’s house so I can have peace of mind,” she said.

    Defending himself, Ogunmodede told the court that his wife was lying.

    “I know how we used to be and I realise it is because there is no money anymore. 12 years after, I keep wondering how and when I resigned from where I worked.”

    He said he applied as a night guard of a church just to be closer to God, adding that it was when the pressure became unbearable that he left the house.

    He also accused his wife of adultery.

    “My wife was dark skinned when I married her but now, I hardly recognise her. There is nothing wrong with our third child. In fact, he still came to my house few days ago saying he didn’t like the way he sees different men with his mother and whenever he complained, she rained curses on him which made her send him out of the house,” he said.

    He added that his wife was behind marriage troubles.

    The marriage produced five children between the ages of 6 and 18.

    The court’s president, Mr Olubode Sekoni, fixed a chamber discussion and ordered the couple to bring their third child. The case was adjourned till today.

  • Judge bars reporters from murder, robbery trial

    Justice Aishat Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court yesterday barred reporters from covering an alleged murder, robbery case in her court.

    Although the matter could not be traced on the cause list, the defendants- three men and a woman- were alleged to have murdered one Alhaja.

    Justice Opesanwo, who said the matter was a “private matter”, stated emphatically that reporters should leave her court “as they were not needed”.

    The drama started after the judge, who had earlier stood down the matter for absence of lawyers, recalled the case for continuation of trial.

    Instead of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. E.I. Alakija, to announce her presence in court, she made moves to draw the judge’s attention to non-parties in the matter seated in court.

    Justice Opesanwo interrupted her at the first instance and directed that lawyers should announce their presence for the matter to continue.

    But as soon as all counsel in the matter had done so, the judge asked the reporters, who were seated at the gallery, if they were parties to the case.

    “Except for my law students, I do not know who the people seated at the gallery are,” she said.

    Directing her gaze at the reporters, Justice Opesanwo asked if they were parties in the suit.

    “No, My Lord. We are journalists,” replied one of the reporters. The others also stood up.

    Justice Opesanwo immediately said: “Journalists are not needed here. You people should excuse us because this is a private matter.”

    As the reporters walked out of the court room,  the judge directed that the door be locked while the proceeding continued.

  • Drugs led me to robbery, says suspect

    Drugs led me to robbery, says suspect

    A 50-year-old man, Tokunbo Ojo, has said his love for cocaine and Indian hemp led him to armed robbery.

    According to police, Ojo was arrested on April 6 for using a master key to open the door of a parked car on Yaya Abatan Street in Ogba, Lagos, carting away laptops, expensive phones, wrist watch and money.

    He said: “I used to take drugs like cocaine but I usually mix it with N20 marijuana as cocaine is N100 a wrap and I take it five times a day. I have operated three times. One was at Agege, the second at Iyana-Ipaja and the third is at Abule-Egba. It was this fourth one at Ogba that I was arrested and transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Lagos State Police Command.

    “I have not achieved anything. Drug only damages my life and did not give me chance to take care of my children and wife. I am sorry for myself. It is drug that pushed me to stealing. My wife is even tired of persuading me to stop taking drug.

    Fortunately my being detained in SARS cell has helped me to stop taking drug. My 15 days in detention has removed all the cocaine in my body. I will not take cocaine again. My detention in SARS is a blessing in disguise.”

    The father of two said he was a one-man squad.

    “People suspected me of stealing laptops, money, phones, wrist watches from parked vehicles and I was arrested while trying to do it again at Ogba 15 days ago. I am a one-man squad because it is risky to allow somebody to join because his mistake can bring about your arrest. I collected only two laptops. I just started,” he said.

    Ojo said he regretted his action, adding: “My wife is a motor agent; she buys motor for people and company that requested for vehicles and she does it on contract basis as she is after commission.”

  • How we got back our girl, by Ajeleros

    How we got back our girl, by Ajeleros

    The Ajeleros, who were reunited with their kidnapped daughter, Olubunmi, on Monday night, spoke yesterday on her safe return.

    Mrs Toyin Ajelero, mother of the three-year-old girl, said the family did not pay a ransom for her.

    Bunmi was kidnapped from the Surulere Baptist Church in Lagos on Sunday. She was released in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Monday night.

    Mrs Ajelero said yesterday that Olubunmi is in good health.

    “She has been playing around with her siblings, jumping up and down. You know how it is reuniting with your family members. She is extremely happy to see her daddy who she is very close to,” she said.

    She thanked all for their support and prayers, especially members of Surulere Baptist Church.

    “I can’t thank people enough, the leaders of Surulere Baptist Church for standing by us all through; they are all wonderful people,” she said.

    Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the girl was sighted in a church at Oke Sokori area of Abeokuta on Monday evening crying.

    The villagers, who were attracted by her cry, he said, informed Adigbe Divisional Police Headquarters, Abeokuta, that rescued her.

    The girl was first handed over to the Juvenile and Women Centre of the Police.

    Adejobi confirmed that the kidnappers demanded N300, 000 ransom for the girl, promising to drop her where the parents could find her.

    He said the girl was seen with a note bearing a Lagos pastor’s telephone number.

    According to Adejobi, the phone number was dropped ostensibly to help locate her after the criminals’ transaction with her family but the rescue effort terminated that. He said no ransom was paid, adding that the command recently rescued three babies who were kidnapped in other states.

    Adejobi said his Commissioner, Val Mtomchukwu, is planning to liaise with his counterpart in Lagos State on how to curb kidnapping.

    There was jubilation at Surulere Baptist Church on Ojuelegba Road on Monday when Mr Ajelero in a stripe shirt and cream trousers emerged with his daughter.

    He was accompanied by some church leaders, who accompanied him to Abeokuta where Olubunmi was found.

    Their praise songs attracted passersby.

    Mrs Ajelero could not control her emotion on sighting her daughter.

    She carried and hugged her.

    They went to the altar where special prayers were offered for the family.

  • Man, 31, in court for alleged N53.6m theft

    A 31-year-old man, Kehinde Lateef, on Monday appeared before a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N53.6 million from Sterling Bank.

    Lateef, a former student of Lagos City Polytechnic, lives at 16, Igbeyin Adun Street, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    He pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Chidi Okoye, however said Lateef committed the offences with others, who are now at large, on February 22, at Sterling Bank Headquarters on the Marina in Lagos.

    He said the accused stole N53.6 million by making illegal transfers online through the bank’s Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBBS) Instant Payment platform from two customers’ accounts.

    “The accused was able to gain access to the bank’s system because he was a student on industrial attachment in the year 2013 at the time of the fraud. He made the illegal transactions to accounts domiciled in other banks,” the police said.

    Okoye said the transactions were blocked when the bank discovered the illegal transfers.

    “While N52.5 million was salvaged, N1.1million was already withdrawn by Lateef and his syndicate. After thorough investigations, Lateef was apprehended after two years,’’ he said.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Magistrate A.O. Awogboro granted Lateef N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    He adjourned the case to May 6.

  • NDLEA arrests two for ‘drug ingestion’

    NDLEA arrests two for ‘drug ingestion’

    A timber merchant, Olusegun Ojo (59) and an electronics dealer, Igweibuike Obinna (47), are in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) net for alleged drug trafficking.

    They were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, during their trips to the United States (U.S) and United Kingdom (U.K)

    Ojo was caught during the outward screening of passengers on a Delta Airline flight to New York, U.S; Obinna was nabbed on a Virgin Atlantic flight to Heathrow in London.

    NDLEA airport commander Hamza Umar said preliminary investigation showed that Ojo, who hails from Ilesa, Osun State, ingested 75 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin weighing 1.090kg. Obinna, from Anambra State inserted six wraps in his anus and ingested 11 wraps making a total of 17 wraps of cocaine weighing 335 gramms.

    Ojo said his involvement in drug trafficking was due to financial hardship.

    “I am married to two wives with five children. My problem started in 2013 when I lost N2 million to fraudsters. In the process, I became indebted and had been running from pillar to post without any solution. A young man introduced me into drug trafficking to enable me pay my debts. Initially, I dismissed the suggestion but when my condition was not getting better, I decided to take the risk. The $10, 000 they promised me would have gone a long way in solving my problem. This is my first time of smuggling drugs,” Ojo said.

    Obinna said he would have made N1 million from the deal.

    “I sell electronics at Alaba market in Lagos. I agreed to smuggle drugs because I would have made N1 million to invest in my business. I also needed money to take care of my family. I am married with two children,” he said.

    NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade said it was gladdening that the number of arrests has reduced on the U.S. and U.K. routes, adding: “We are working very hard to replicate similar feats on others.”

  • Fire guts sawmill, building, bank

    Fire guts sawmill, building, bank

    FIRE yesterday swept through Oko-Baba Sawmill in Ebute-meta, Lagos Mainland; a bank and a building, destroying Properties worth millions of naira.

    Traders at the sawmill are counting their losses to the fire, which reportedly began around 2a.m.

    “I received a phone call around 3am that the market had been destroyed. I was confused. I didn’t know what to do but to see for myself. On getting there, I almost passed out. The only thing I could picture was my machines; generators and planks I just bought. Oh! God why me? How will I move on?”, said John Ezenye, who claimed to have lost equipment worth N12million.

    Ezenye said the planks he just ordered were still at the shoreline because he thought he was going to pay his supplier after yesterday’s sales.

     The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained but some traders believed it could be the carelessness of those who sleep in the market.

    Another trader, Niyi Akinloye, said that was the second time his goods would be destroyed.

    “What else can I do than to accept my fate? I just sawed some woods yesterday (Monday) and anticipated my customers who promised to come today (yesterday). I am pained you don’t need to ask. I just hope favour comes from somewhere,” Akinloye said.

    Another trader, simply called Alhaja, said she lost her office to the fire.

    “I lost so many things. I had vital documents there. All the logs of wood I cut yesterday (Monday) got burnt. I will be depressed if I continue to count my losses,” she said.

    Secretary, Lagos Mainland Saw Millers F Ward Oye Agbujeloye praised the fire fighters saying: “I learnt that it was probably due to carelessness of some individuals who sleep in the market. I know it wasn’t deliberately destroyed because we are like a family here. This is another challenge and we must continue. I plead with the government to assist us because we also pay some dues to them. They should rescue us because some of us have employees who have families to fend for.”

    He added that four industrial generators were burnt.

    There was panic at a branch of Ecobank on Oba Ogunnusi Road, Omole, Lagos, when fire gutted its generator. The generator is outside the bank.

    A boys’ quarters at 46, Adegbola Street in Alakuko, Lagos, was also razed by fire.

    Director of the State Fire Service Rasaq Fadipe said four rooms in the boys’ quarter got damaged.

    “The fire at the boys’ quarter was due to electrical surge. Immediately we got the information, I deployed men from Alausa and Ogba to the scenes. Thank God, there was no casualty,” he said