The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Man accused of impersonation

    Man accused of impersonation

    A 52-year-old man, Ikechukwu Ubana, has been arraigned before the Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly impersonating an Army Lieutenant.

    The charge reads: “That you Ikechukwu Ugbana on March 30 at about 8am at Ikorodu Road Mile 12 Lagos in Ikeja Magisterial District did impersonate to be a serving Lieutenant of the Nigeria Army by showing an identity card no: 53245 with F/No NA/53/245 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 77 (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

    “That you Ikechukwu Ugbana  on the same date, time and in the above mentioned Magisterial District did unlawfully be in possession of identity card with Nigerian Army Logo, bearing Captain Nwoseh Ifeoma  F/No NA 251998, card no. 580690 and Ugbana Identity card no. 53245, F/NO. NA/53/245 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 328 (d) of the criminal Law of Lagos State.”

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Akeem Fashola granted him N100, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

    He ordered that the surety must be the defendant’s relation and must show evidence of tax payment for three years.

    Magistrate Fashola adjourned the matter till April 28.

     

  • Don’t remand me, suspect pleads

    Don’t remand me, suspect pleads

    AFRAID of life as an awaiting trial suspect, a robbery suspect has pleaded with Lagos State Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti to save him from being remanded.

    Emmanuel Okoli (20), who hails from Awka, the Anambra State capital, urged the commissioner to ensure that he is jailed rather than being kept in custody.

    The suspect promised not to rob again if released, adding that if he is caught robbing again, he should be killed.

    Okoli became a guest of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for attempting to snatch a woman banker’s handbag in Lagos last week. Luck ran out against him when the Coaster bus the woman was waiting for came and her colleagues pounced on Okoli for harrassing her.

    The suspect said: “I am an unlucky armed robber because I have been arrested by police, charged to court and remanded three times in Ikoyi prison. An awaiting-trial person lack enough space to move about. A day is like 40 days in the wilderness without food or access to medical attention.”

    Recalling his arrest, he said: “We were four – Karimu, Soji, Gito and I. We went to a club in Awoyaya in Ajah. As we were coming back in the morning, we saw a woman standing at a bus stop with a bag. Soji, Gito and Karimu told me to go and get the bag. When I got to her, I started asking her irrelevant questions. As I was still talking, a bus came and she jumped into the bus and told other occupants her experience with me. They came down, gave me the beating of my life and handed me over to the police. Karim, Soji and Gito ran away. I was later transferred to SARS and that is why I am here now.

    “I have been remanded in prison three times. The first one was in November 2012, for stealing a carton of beer, hence I was charged with breaking into a shop in Ajiwe in Ajah. I was remanded for three months. The second one was in 2013 at Flash Club Ajah. The third operation was a street fight where we used the opportunity to rob and I was arrested and remanded in Ikoyi Prison.”

     

  • LASAA begins posters’, banners’ removal

    LASAA begins posters’, banners’ removal

    The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has begun the removal of all political posters and banners in the state.

    Its Managing Director, Mr. George Noah, said the development became necessary following the conclusion of the elections.

    He said: “We have expanded our plan to ensure that the clean-up exercise is completed in the next two months. We are also ready to scale up our effort wherever the need arises.

    “From our findings, over 1, 000, 500 posters will be cleaned in Lagos. We are also removing 358 illegal billboards of various types deployed in the state with Alimoso and Eti Osa accounting for the highest”.

    The agency’s Head of Enforcement, Mrs Olamide Oyegoke, added that LASAA has mapped out areas that require heavy clean-up.

  • My wife is violent, says husband

    A middle-aged man, Daniel Imeri, has sought the dissolution of his eight-year-old marriage at an Agege Customary Court in Lagos, accusing his wife, Margaret of being self-centered, violent and naughty.

    Mrs Imeri is accusing her husband of beating her, smoking and drinking.

    “There was a day he came home drunk in the middle of the night and messed up everywhere. I was the one who cleaned it afterwards. He said I am naughty but I am not. He beats me for hours on the ground. I don’t love him anymore; I have left his house over a year ago with our children,” she said.

    But, Mr Imeri told the court: “We both take alcoholic drinks and in fact she drinks more than I do. I remember when she was carrying our daughter’s pregnancy, she took stout. I was the one cautioning her to stop it as it could harm the baby.”

    He added: “She once stabbed me in the chest with a scissors. My wife is selfish and self-centered. For two-and-a-half years, she denied me sex. Whenever I requested for sex, she pretends not to be in the mood or to be tired. She lacks human feeling.”

    Imeri denied beating his wife, accusing her of only informing him about their children’s upkeep and school fees without allowing him access to them.

    He said: “She told people I once beat her for three hours in the middle of the night and I keep asking myself if I am that strong to do that. I just want our union dissolved and I also want to see our children when I wish to.”

    The Court’s President, Pa Adekunle Williams, fixed a chamber discussion for the couple after the proceedings.

  • We don’t have N13m, Orekoyas beg kidnappers

    We don’t have N13m, Orekoyas beg kidnappers

    The Orekoya family appealed yesterday to kidnappers of its children for mercy, saying it does not have the N13 million ransom being demanded for their release.

    The kids – Ademola (6), Adedamola (4) and Aderomola (11 months) were abducted by their housemaid, Mary Akinloye (23), last Wednesday.

    Mary, who kidnapped the children from their Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos home and her accomplices have ignored the Orekoyas’ plea to release their children.

    They are insisting on collecting the ransom before releasing the kids.

    When The Nation visited the family’s residence, the kid’s mother, Mrs Bisi Orekoya, burst into tears on seeing her children’s pictures in The Nation’s Friday edition.

    Family members, friends and some of her colleagues gathered to console her.

    “Have faith in God that your children will all return alive,” a friend told her.

    Another one prayed God to touch the kidnappers’ hearts and release the children.

    They later prayed with the family, urging God to continue to protect the children wherever they are.

    A distraught Mrs Orekoya said “Amen” to the prayers amid tears.

    According to some family members, she seems to be mentally disturbed.

    “It is not easy – three children at a go; who will not be incapacitated by the housemaid’s actions. You can imagine the trauma she is going through now. It’s unfortunate that a once happy family is in sad mood for whole five days,” a family member said.

    The children’s father, Mr Adeleke Orekoya, told The Nation yesterday that his wife “is mentally disturbed”.

    The nightmare, he said, is unbearable.

    “Coupled with the fact that we do not have the money they are asking for made things difficult. It is true the whole issue is affecting her mentally,” he said, looking at his wife’s direction.

    A family friend simply identified as Abiodun wondered what the society is turning to.

    He described the kidnappers’ action as shameful and inhuman.

    “How could people descend so low; abducting children you were hired to protect and demanding an audacious amount? I think the world should stand with this (Orekoya) family and ensure the children return to their parents in safe condition,” he said.

  • How woman stopped her attacker

    How woman stopped her attacker

    In a rare display of bravery, a woman failed a plan to rob her at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) portal in Ajah, Lagos.

    The woman, according to the police, lifted the robber, who held a toy gun, and hit him on the ground.

    Initially, the woman was trembling with fear but when she noticed that the gun Collins Ebong was pointing at her was a mere toy, she pounced on him, grabbed him at the waist of his trousers, shouting ‘you must die here today’.

    Her action attracted passersby who joined in beating Ebong before handling him to police. He was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS for discreat investigation and possible arrest of his gang members who escaped when the woman overpowered him.

    Ebong (26) from Uknafun town in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State was paraded by SARS at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, last Friday.

    The police said: “When the woman came out with the money, Collins went to her and pointed a toy gun at her and ordered her to hand over the money she had just collected from the ATM.”

    Ebong said: “I had gone to prison remand once but when I came out I had no money to buy food. Majority of my friends are criminals and no one gave me useful advice when I needed help.  I stayed in Ikoyi Prison for 10 months. When I came out in February, I was on my way when I saw a woman coming out from a Bank’s ATM counting money openly. I went  to her with my toy gun to collect her money but she gave me a surprise of my life as I pointed the gun at her and stretched out my hand to collect the money from her but she grabbed my hand with force and wrestled me down. She started pounding me which attracted people who joined her to beat me, see my eye; they nearly blinded this eye, it was on March 10, they handed me over to Ajiwe Police Station at Ajah and later transferred me to SARS.

    “I studied in Government Secondary School, Shawo in Kwara State between 2003 and 2008. I did not make my papers. It was in prison I found out that they had good teachers so I re-registered for those papers and cleared them as follows English C6, Mathematics P7, Economics C5, Government B2, CRK A1, and Biology C6.

    “If I am released, I will go back to school. I would like to study Journalism or Mass Communication. I also want to worship God. I had a calling to serve God. I want to be a pastor to tell my experience that a thief can still be useful. I will try and win souls for Christ.”

  • Civil Defence chief hails Lagosians over polls

    Civil Defence chief hails Lagosians over polls

    Commandant, Lagos Command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Gabriel Abafi has hailed Lagosians for their good conduct during last Saturday Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    He spoke with reporters while monitoring the elections in some parts of Ogba, Agege, Mushin, Alapere, Surulere, Itire, Somolu,Yaba, Akoka, Ogudu, Alimoso and Isolo in Lagos.

    Abafi attributed the low voters’ turn out to fear of possible breakdown of law and order.

    Lagosians, he said, displayed maturity and sensitivity to electoral issue.

    Abafi also visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Yaba, Lagos Mainland to report his findings.

  • Spirit of Lagos honours patriots May 27

    Spirit of Lagos honours patriots May 27

    The Spirit of Lagos, a behavioural transformation initiative, will on May 27, honour individuals and corporate bodies for their “selfless acts to the city.”

    Its Project Director, Mr Olaniyi Omotoso, said at a media briefing in Ikeja, that the ceremony, tagged: “Citizens’ Day”, is part of activities to restore, share and protect those values that made Lagos great.

    He said the ceremony, which would be in three categories – individual, public service and corporate organisations – would be chaired by Governor Babatunde Fashola at a grand event to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the creation of Lagos State.

    The individual category, he explained, includes Lifetime Achievement Award for an elderly citizen, living or dead, who has positively on the state; Award for Community Development for a citizen, who has impacted on his community; Award for Exceptional Community for a community that has been able to do exceptional things through collaborative efforts; and Award for Exceptional Youth for a young resident between 18 and 25 , with a strong commitment to societal good.

    The Public Service categories according to Omotoso, cover Lifetime Achievement Award, Role Model Award and Rising Star Award; it will reward Lagos State civil servants who have been in their duties.

    He said the corporate organisations category would honour socially responsible corporate bodies, such as multinationals, emerging corporate bodies and small and medium scale enterprises, that have, given back to the society they operate.

    He said: “The award is to inspire and acknowledge good behaviour as well as engender and sustain attitudinal change among Lagos residents. The search for these exceptional citizens and organisations will extend to all the 57 local government areas/local council development areas in the state and will give residents of the locale the opportunity to identify and nominate those who they feel are worthy of the awards in their localities.”

    A panel of judges comprising eminent men and women, he added, would shortlist the prospective nominees, who will be voted for by the public to determine the winners.

    Also at the briefing were: Folasade Fasehun, Director, Development Partnership Department, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget; Shola Shasore, Office of Public Private Partnership; Ronke Daniels, Spokesperson, Akoka CDA, and Kelechi Nwosu, Managing Director, TBWA Concepts.

  • Man arraigned for duping church member

    A 26-year-old man, Samuel Aroma, has been arraigned before the Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for fraudulently obtaining N160, 000 from one Onyinye Nwachukwu on the pretext of securing a job for himself.

    Aroma was charged with a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    He pleaded guilty to the offence which the prosecutor, Olatunde Kehinde, said contravened Sections 285 and 312 of Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    The claimant, Onyinye Nwachukwu, said she worshipped in the same church with the accused

    Onyinye said she gave Aroma N20, 000 the first time he told her about securing a job which he promised to refund after getting a job.

    “Since he was a church member, I decided to assist him. He came to me severally for money which I gave him. There was a day he phoned me saying he was in Abuja and they requested an International Passport where he worked so I sent him money. The day I called his mobile line, someone else picked his call and when I asked where the person was, he said he was at Agbado crossing in Lagos. I traced the address and I saw him there. It was then I knew he had been lying. I also got to know he was not in search of a job.

    “I reported him to Ilupeju Police Station and he was arrested,” she said.

    Onyinye, who lives at Adekunle Odunlami Street, Ilupeju in Lagos, said she wants him to refund her money.

    Magistrate A.A Fashola adjourned the matter till June 3.

  • Mbu scores Lagos polls high

    Mbu scores Lagos polls high

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone 2, Lagos, Joseph Mbu yesterday described the Governorship and Assembly elections in Lagos as peaceful, free and fair.

    He praised the security agencies for “a job well done”.

    Mbu who was at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) state collation centre at Yaba, to witness the collation of results, stated that anyone who emerged winner in the election merited it.

    While addressing reporters, Mbu described the election as the best ever conducted in Lagos.

    Mbu said: “This is going to be one of the best elections ever conducted in Lagos State. Whoever wins is winning on merit, whoever comes out as governor is doing so on merit and nobody should begin to cast aspersion on the police or INEC.

    “We have done our best and there is no problem. I am not in possession of the results but I know it was a keenly contested election, and this is democracy.”

    Commending his men and other security agencies for exhibiting high professionalism, he said: “You know me and I hope you know my antecedent. The elections in Edo state, I was there, I was Commissioner of Police (Mobile) then.

    “As a junior officer, I was in Yobe, I conducted election in Geshua, one of the most violent and critical flashpoint. When I was in Niger State, I was Assistant Commissioner then, I did the same thing in Suleja, I did the same thing in Kontagora.

    “The policemen here are under my control. You know Lagos has three senatorial zones and each of the zone is being controlled by a Commissioner of Police. So, Commissioners of Police have been reduced to Zonal Senatorial Commanders and I as an AIG have been reduced to Commissioner of Police because I have left my office and operated from the CP’s office.”

    Asked if the police made any arrest with respect to places were violence was recorded,  Mbu said: “We are not in heaven where everything is perfect. We haven’t made any arrest because nothing serious happened. The people conducted themselves very well and the security agencies were readily on hand.”