The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Fire guts school building, AIT studio

    Fire guts school building, AIT studio

    Fire has razed Ewutuntun Senior Grammar School building and part of Africa Independent Television (AIT) studio in Lagos. The fire was caused by high voltage following restoration of power. The school incident occurred about 10 pm last Saturday; AIT’s was yesterday.

    The building, a pupil Zainab Mustapha, said consisted of four classrooms, the vice principal, administration and academics, office and the English department.

    A resident, Mama Aliyah, said: “There has been power outbreak for days. When electricity officials restored power around 9.30pm, the voltage was very high. I was still trying to switch off electrical appliances in my house when I heard a loud bang.  I heard people shout fire. It was when I ran out that I realised the school behind my house was on fire.”

    It was learnt that the fire was quenched early Sunday by fire fighters.

    The school’s principal, Mrs Dupe Ojo said nothing was salvaged from the inferno.

    “I visited the school immediately I got the news but we couldn’t recover anything. Our computers, furniture, stationery, documents and other essential items went with the fire. It is indeed a great loss,” she said.

    During a visit yesterday, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Executive Secretary Dawood Olajobi

    empathised with the school management and promised to inform the government.

    “I shall assist in my own way because I know the lost equipments are essential needs for pupils,” he said.

    The AIT fire was said to have started from an air conditioner in the studio around 9am.

    It was quickly put out by men of the Lagos State Fire Service from Agege, Ikeja and Alausa divisions.

    A senior receptionist, Mrs Ebi Lwarence, who spoke with The Nation, said there were no casualties.

    Director of Fire Service Rasak Fadipe said his men arrived on the scene 15 minutes after the distress call.

    “The fire was caused by high voltage. We arrived at the scene shortly after and we spent about 15 minutes for active fire-fighting operations.

    “Only the air conditioner was badly damaged as we were able to curtail the spread of the fire,” he said.

    He urged Lagosians to be conscious of electrical appliances in their homes and offices.

     

  • Lagos objects to environmental sanitation case

    Lagos State has asked the Federal High Court in Ikoyi to dismiss a suit by a rights activist, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, seeking to declare the monthly environmental sanitation  illegal.

    The plaintiff said the restriction of movement during the exercise from 7am to 10am has no legal basis.

    Besides, he said, it grossly violates Nigerians’ right to constitutionally guaranteed freedom of movement.

    The lawyer is seeking a declaration that the restriction of movement on the last Saturday of every month, constitutes a breach of his and other residents’ rights.

    Adegboruwa said no law in Lagos State approves the compulsory detention of citizens at home for three hours for the purpose of observing a mandatory sanitation.

    Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Attorney-General Mr Ade Ipaye;  Commissioner for the Environment and the ministry are the respondents.

    Parties to the suit adopted their written addresses yesterday after which Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned verdict till March 16.

    Chief State Counsel in the Lagos Ministry of Justice Jonathan Ogunsanya argued that Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution permits the state to make laws that affect the right to freedom of movement, such as the Environmental Sanitation Law of Lagos State, 2000.

    He said the law vests the commissioner with powers to make regulations towards ensuring a clean environment and public safety.

    Ogunsanya said keeping people at home for three hours every last Saturday was meant to keep society and environment clean and safe.

    According to him, there are classified exceptions to the restriction, including ambulance services and those on essential services.

    But, Adegboruwa argued that Section 39 of the Environmental Sanitation Law could not be the basis for restricting human movement.

    He urged the court to hold that even if there is any regulation in force which restricts movement, it could not be enforced on roads that are designated as federal highways under the Highways Act, such as the Third Mainland Bridge where he was once arrested by the police and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

    He said the federal roads were built and maintained by the Federal Government, and as such, the state government lacks authority over them.

    The lawyer is praying for an order restraining the respondents or their agents from restricting his movement and that of other Lagos residents on the last Saturday of every month

    He is also asking the court to direct the respondents to forthwith allow him and other residents to move freely on that day, in exercise of their fundamental rights.

    In a supporting affidavit, Adegboruwa said he had been restricted on several last Saturdays from going out on the grounds of  environmental sanitation.

    For instance, he said last June 28, he was invited by a television station for a 9am programme on a Saturday.

    “The next morning of June 29, 2013, I set out from my house in Lekki to honour the said invitation.  At the Ketu interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, I was arrested and detained by police officers on the ground that the monthly environmental sanitation was going on.

    “The expressway was blocked by policemen and officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), also used their pick up vans to block the road, to prevent access and to hinder free movement.

    “I have a monthly arrangement with one of the companies licenced by Lagos State to clear refuse, and they deploy their trucks to my house regularly, to dispose of all the waste generated by my household.

    “I am aware that the sixth respondent has granted several other private firms the right to manage waste disposal in Lagos State.

    “I verily believe that the restriction of human and vehicular movement constitutes a breach of the fundamental human right of freedom of movement as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter,” he said.

    Adegboruwa had successfully sued Lagos State over toll collection on the Ikoyi bridge.

     

  • Fashola lashes Jonathan as he opens Glover Road

    Fashola lashes Jonathan as he opens Glover Road

    LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has chided the Dr Goodluck Jonathan administration for not fulfilling its promises to the citizenry.

    The government, he said, is just deceiving the people, while his administration has delivered on its promises.

    Fashola spoke on Sundaay night at the commissioning of the 2.18km Glover Road in Ikoyi in fulfilment of his promise to the residents when he commissioned the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge in 2010.

    According to him, among the roads he promised to upgrade in Ikoyi, Glover Road is the first of such roads where the government has intervened to improve easy connectivity within the area.

    Other roads, including First Avenue and Ikoyi Club 1938, are being reconstructed, he said.

    Fashola noted that the Federal Government which criticised his administration for building the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, has not kept its own promises made within the same period.

    He said: “In three years, we have finished a first class architectural masterpiece which put Lagos back on the global architectural reckoning. For our political opponents, they say it is expensive, they say every negative thing about it, but we used the same contractor, Julius Berger, to build that bridge. The same contractor has not been able to help them deliver the Second Niger Bridge that the president promised since 2011. That’s the difference between us and them.

    “We built you a bridge; they are bringing money to you in the twilight of elections. Do you want me to take that bridge down and give you the money instead? So for those who say there is no difference between us, there is a clear difference, we do the work, they share the money”.

    The governor said motorists and bicycle riders would have a respite following the upgrading of the road.

    Fashola appealed for maintenance of the road, saying if well maintained, it could last between 30 and 50 years.

    Earlier, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat said the bicycle lane is government’s attempt at tackling climate change. He said the use of bicycle would reduce carbon emission and enhance positive lifestyle, adding that the road has all the necessary service ducts and provisions made for street lights.

    “The road can withstand flooding that characterise rainy season around this axis of the state. The completion of this road will also improve the driving experience of the people of the community.

    “This is also a link to the Lekki/Ikoyi Link Bridge through the Alfred Rewane road. We are also on Bank road and First Avenue that will create the necessary links and improve connectivity,” he said.

  • Armed robbery suspect nabbed by victim, mob

    Armed robbery suspect nabbed by victim, mob

    Luck ran out for a suspected robber when he was apprehended by his would-be victim and some residents of Okoafo on Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

    Tunde Animasaun and two others had attempted to rob a supermarket attendant at gun point.

    The attendant’s distress call attracted residents; but Animasaun’s colleagues fled.

    Parading Animasaun yesterday at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, the command’s spokesperson, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the suspect is a member of a three-man gang that attacked a supermarket about 9pm in February.

    Nwosu said two others Abiodun and Sodeeq, a commercial motorcyclist, are at large.

    Animasaun, 25, said the operation was his first.

    He said:  “We were three myself, Abiodun and the okada rider. We went to rob a chemist man; Abiodun pointed a gun at him and asked me to pack some of the provision in his shop including money. The third member is not known to me before. It was Abiodun that told me that he is a member of our gang.

    “His role is to take us to a robbery operation scene and take us back on his motorcycle. We share money and loot equal. Two of them escaped on the motorcycle when the chemist man grabbed me and wrestled with me and start shouting for help.

    “When they brought me before the officer in charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a superintendent of police SP Abba Kyari, he asked me about my parents. I told him that my father had died. My mother took care of me from primary school to junior secondary school. When there was no money to continue, I started learning furniture work but there was no money to do freedom. It was my friend Abiodun that lured me into armed robbery work. He told me that with armed robbery operations, I would be able to get enough money to do any big business of my choice and open big furniture workshop in Lagos.

    “I was arrested in my first operation. If I am released, I will never rob again. Police and my mother will be my witnesses. It is better to be a poor man than to be an armed robber. I will not smoke Indian hemp again. I will face my furniture work and help my mother before I marry. I will marry a nurse to reduce cost of family health care.”

  • Two boys, three others held as navy smashes robbery gang

    Two boys, three others held as navy smashes robbery gang

    A gang that specialised in recruiting children to burgle homes in Kirikiri-Ojo, Lagos has been smashed by the Navy.

    Five members were arrested and handed over to the police.

    According to the Commander NNS WEY, Commodore Ignatius Ilaiya, they were arrested after two of the teenagers sent to break into people’s homes were intercepted by Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) WEY personnel at Navy Town, Ojo.

    The teenagers, aged13 and 15, told The Nation that they have been stealing for the group since last year.

    The duo said they were intimidated and beaten by the older members to start stealing.

    Others nabbed are Afeez Lamidi, 29; Abdulsalam Garba, 29 and Ibrahim Idris, 27.

    Three others are said to be at large.

    The teenagers confessed to have stolen N50,000, N40,000, N12,000,  N7, 000 and N5, 000 from the barracks and a motorcycle and a television set which they handed over to the others, who usually gave them N1, 000 after each operation.

    The 13-year-old said they used razor blades to cut mosquito nets on doors and windows to gain entry.

    He said: “We are four children in my family and I am from Edo State. My mother sells recharge card. These brothers (pointing at the other suspects) were the ones who forced me to start stealing.

    “Everytime they would come to our house and they would be beating me. They said they will injure me if I refused to steal and that if I tell anybody they will deal with me.

    “That is how they used to beat us and they would take us to waterside and be teaching us how to enter someone’s house and steal.

    “I have been stealing since last December.  I have stolen N50,000, N40,000, N12,000, N7,000 and N5000. We give everything we stole to them and they will give us N1000 each.

    “I usually jump fence around 6pm to check if people are around.  I was coming to meet my second (the 15-year-old) who was already inside before I was arrested that day. It is my second who usually uses blade to tear nets and we enter the house.

    “My parents do not know that I steal. I used to leave when my mother gives me money to go and buy food and I will go home late and tell them I was in my friend’s house. They do not complain whenever I go home late and I did not tell anyone that I was being forced to steal because they said they will deal with me.”

    His second said he started stealing last December 31, after “several beatings from the adults.”

    “Papa Afeez usually takes us to waterside and teach us how to steal. Initially when we refused, they would come to our house and be beating us. He warned us not to tell anyone. We have stolen money many times and also television and motorcycle.

    “I use blades to cut nets to enter people’s houses. Most times too, when we discover some people did not lock their doors, we enter their houses and steal. I do not like stealing but had to do it out of fear. They usually wait for us at the back of the fence while we go inside and steal. After stealing, we meet them at the back of the fence, give them everything and they will give us N1000 each,” he said.

    Ilaiya said the children were arrested when a Naval patrol team within the barracks suspected their movements and called them for questioning.

    He said people had been complaining about their homes being burgled, prompting the base to take measures to avert a recurrence.

    “The suspects confessed they were in the barracks to do reconnaissance so that when they return in the night to execute their plan. Through interrogation, it was discovered that they are members of a syndicate at Kirikiri. From their confessions, three others including the man who buys stolen items from them were arrested, while a certain Tonton and one Blast are currently on the run. Also the elder brother of one of the suspects, who they also claimed is a member was said to be in Badagry.  Efforts are being made to also investigate and arrest him,” Ilaiya said.

     

  • Three held for alleged robbery

    Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Square (SARS) has arrested three persons for allegedly robbing a driver at gun point.

    They are: Aliu Abubakar, 22, Anas Mohammed, 20 and Aliu Adamu, 30.

    SARS said they allegedly robbed a driver conveying orange fruit juice at 5am around Cassidi Bus stop at Okokomaiko in Lagos, last month. They pointed a gun and machete at the driver and the conductor, robbed them of their phones and N27, 000 cash.

    The driver identified one of the suspects when he and the owner of the goods were invited by the police after arresting the gang.

    Abubakar said he never used a gun to rob due to his burnt fingers.

    He said: “See my hands, I cannot trigger a gun but I can use machete. It was when my parents couldn’t take care of me that I took to robbery. To feed myself, I did scrap picking. One kilo of scrap is sold for N750. I spend N500 to buy it with N250 gain daily. We have operated over 10 times. We are five in the group but only three of us were arrested. I had once been remanded for stealing at Kirikiri Medium Prison where I spent three months. We steal phones and hand bags in traffic jams or during rush hours. Our leader is Shibushele and he is the one in charge of the gun while others use machete.”

    Mohammed said he was arrested at his Okokomaiko residence.

    “I am a butcher. I sell meat at Odo-eran market in Ojo Army Cantonment, Mammy Market in Lagos. I used to get N700 daily. I participated in the last robbery but I was given a token of N8, 000,” he said.

    Adamu also a butcher denied being a member of the gang.

    “I only bought mobile phones from Aliu because he sold them at cheaper rates. I knew him as a scrap person. I knew that they were robbers but I never followed them to rob,” he said.

  • Council teaches youths ways out of crime

    Apapa Local Government Executive Secretary, Bolaji Dada has restated the need to fight crime and other social vice in the society.

    Dada said all hands must be on the deck to curtail crime, noting that unemployment is the factor responsible for it.

    She said the council would do everything within its power to assist youths who are ready to embrace hard work, stressing that government will train and empower youths to enable them earn decent living.

    At a ceremony to teach youths how to become useful citizens trough self employment, Dada enjoined them to be proactive in the development of the council.

    The youths received items ranging from vulcanizing machines, clippers, generators, pope corn machines, hair dresser machines, sewing machines and hair dryers were urged to be proactive in making the society better.

    Dada said it was better to teach them how to fish, saying that the effort will lead to multiple effects of reducing crime and enhancing the economy growth.

    She said: “We have decided to move away from tokenism of doling out consumables to people. We believe such consumable be exhausted within weeks, sending their beneficiaries to the squalor where they have always been.

    “Today, government should not only concentrate on erecting building and construction of roads while the welfare of the people is push to the background.”

    She added that one of the best way of fighting crime is to engage the youth in productive venture, noting that the council will continue to play its role the fight to make Apapa and environs better.

    “All over the world, especially in Africa, poverty has become a hydra-headed problem which must be tackled by all, using all the available resources at our disposal to nip it in the bud.

    “Though this should not be left in the hands of the government alone, everyone must be involved. This includes the philanthropists, corporate bodies and very other person with the milk of human kindness,” she stressed.

  • NURTW boss warns against violence

    NURTW boss warns against violence

    Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede has warned members to desist from violence.

    He said the warning became necessary because of the police threat to seal off any park where there is violence.

    Agbede was reviewing the Oshodi crisis in which three persons died at the union’s monthly meeting over the weekend.

    The union, he said, would no longer allow disgruntled elements to tarnish its image.

    “We have been enjoying peace in the Lagos State council since I came on board about three years ago. I will not fold my hands and allow some disgruntled elements to rubbish my achievements. We shall not allow them to take us back to the dark period in the history of the union when violent clashes in all the parks were the order of the day,” he said.

    Agbede warned that where there is violence, the state council would take over the park after suspending its executive members.

    He thanked the police, the Department of Security Service (SSS) and Lagos State government for their support and understanding.

  • Labourer defiles master’s four-year-old girl

    A 27-year old labourer, Friday Nwiwe, has been arraigned before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly raping a four-year old girl.

    Nwiwe was said to have ‘defiled’ the Nursery two-pupil at her father’s house in Seme Border, near Badagry, Lagos.

    The Ebonyi state born defendant is said to be employee of the girl’s father.

    He was said to have had carnal knowledge of the girl four days after his employment.

    Nwiwe, was reported to have told the girl not to report the matter to her mother.

    The child sustained injuries in her private parts.

    Nwiwe, who pleaded guilty, said “I did not sleep with her; I only inserted my hand into her”.

    Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Etim Nkankuk told the court that the defendant committed an offence contrary to Section 134 of the criminal law of Lagos State.

    Magistrate Abolarinwa Olatunbosun fixed sentencing, for March 6.

  • The Nation man attacked by hoodlums

    The Nation man attacked by hoodlums

    Hoodlums attacked a graphic artist with The Nation Joe Ukah, last Monday, taking away his phone and N15, 000 cash.

    The incident happened around Dopemu under bridge on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at 10.30pm when he was returning from office.

    Ukah was injured on the head.

    He withdrew the money to give his brother who was billed to travel the following day. Part of the money was also meant for his mother in the village.

    Ukah, with a bandaged head said yesterday: “A colleague dropped me off near Dopemu bridge; It was really dark so I decided to walk to the next bus stop since my chances of getting a bus there were slim; I was still heading to Abule-Egba. I was almost at the bus stop when suddenly someone grabbed me from behind and searched my pocket. As I began to struggle, four other men came with sticks and hit me on my head. They beat me mercilessly that I bled. Before I knew it, my phone, wallet and the N15, 000 I withdrew earlier on that day had gone.”

    Ukah said he wanted to give the money to his brother who was travelling and send some part of it to his mother.

    “I used my shirt to tie my head because I had bled so much. I didn’t have a kobo on me. It was a Good Samaritan who saw me that gave me his shirt to put on and N100 to Abule-Egba. When I got to the hospital few minutes past 11pm, the nurses on duty didn’t want to attend to me if not for one of them who recognised me. I wasn’t given first-aid treatment because I had no money on me. They only stopped the blood and wrapped my head with bandage

    “The following day, I went back to the hospital because the pain deprived me from sleeping and I thought my head was going to fall off. I was asked to pay N20, 000 for treatment but I deposited N15, 000. My head was stitched in five different places before it was bandaged. I couldn’t resume office for two days because of the pain.

    Ukah thanked God for saving his life, urging people to always be on the alert especially at night.