The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Police, residents end robbers’ reign

    Police, residents end robbers’ reign

    THREE among the four armed robbery suspects who allegedly laid siege to the Oke Odun in Shashi, a Lagos suburb, have been seized by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command.

    Residents said the bandits raided their homes, injuring victims and carting away money and other valuables.

    The suspects are: Chukwuemeka Bright Bardi (23), Dare Adetunji and Abraham Nsong, both aged 21. The fourth suspect, Joshua, is at large.

    A police source said the three suspects stormed a house on Salvation Street, on October 21, inflicted deep machete cut on their woman victim’s head and shot one of her daughters, Ann, in the leg. After injuring two other members of the house, they were said to have made away with money, phone sets and laptops.

    “They attacked them with a locally made pistol, pestle and kitchen knife, which police recovered,” the source said.

    After the attack, the victims reportedly raised the alarm and the community’s vigilance men cordoned off the area, leading to the arrest of Dare and Abraham. Their arrest led to that of Chukwuemeka, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    Chukwuemeka claimed that he did not follow the other two suspects on the operation that fateful day, but Dare and Abraham said he lied.

    Abraham said Dare broke the woman’s head, adding that Joshua that shot Ann in the leg.

    Dare, who confessed that he had participated in robberies four times, added: “The first operation fetched me N15, 000.

    The fourth operation failed. But since I started robbery, I have not shot or killed anybody.”

  • Fashola’s wife lifts the visually impaired

    Fashola’s wife lifts the visually impaired

    The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, has demonstrated her commitment to giving succour to the less-privileged, with the donation of a vocational training workshop for the visually impaired under their umbrella group, the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB).

    Commissioning the project at the Vocational Training Centre (VTC), Oshodi, she said the gesture was prompted by her desire to touch lives positively.

    She explained that the initiative was a fulfillment of the birthday promise she and her husband, Mr Babatunde Fashola, made in 2012 when they visited the school.

    Mrs Fashola, who bagged the Honourary Membership of the FNSB, pledged her support to the organisation, even after the expiration of her husband’s tenure.

    The society’s chairman, Mrs Biola Agbaje, said the workshop was renovated 10 years ago by some philanthropists from the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, had remained in bad state.

    “For many years now, our students have been taught in the school’s common and dining rooms and even under trees in our compound. Two years ago, God heard our prayers and directed the first lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola to us. She actually jump-started what we are seeing today. She arrived quietly that first day she visited us. On the governor’s birthday on June 28, 2012, the first couple spent part of the day with us here at the VTC. Our fortunes changed that day. Before leaving, the governor made a handsome personal donation and pledged to complete the renovation,” said Mrs Agbaje.

    She said the governor had also secured scholarships for all the students in the school through the state scholarship board since 2013.

    Fashola, she added, pledged to finance a new hostel that would accommodate about 120 students. She promised effective utilisation of the workshop.

    One of the students, Mr Ebong Essienkan, thanked Mrs Fashola and sought her support in creating job opportunities for them.

  • ‘I’ve stopped sleeping with my wife’

    A 55-year-old resident of 5, Osunnike Street, Alakuko, a Lagos suburb, Kazeem Busari, has prayed the Alakuko Customary Court to dissolve his 13-year-old marriage to his wife, Rasheedat, because “she is troublesome”.

    He also alleged that she constantly fights him over trivial issues.

    Busari, a plumber, said: “I married her solely because my first wife died and I felt my daughter needed motherly love. But since we got married, I have not known peace. She enjoys attacking me and my children. I have never gone on a successful business trip because I always receive distress calls from home. It is more than a year since I stopped sleeping with her because of her incessant fights. I have informed her relations about her behaviour. Since she can’t stand the sight of my children, I don’t want her anymore.”

    However, Rasheedat, 42, told the court: “My husband barred me from working when we got married. His children virtually complain about everything I do in the house. Even when I tend to correct my step-daughter, she wouldn’t listen. In fact, the last time I sent her on an errand, she slapped me. His children are mean. They regard me as a slave, not their father’s wife. I also don’t want the marriage anymore because of his children.”

    The marriage was sealed under the Native and Customary Law, is blessed with a one-year-old child, Lateef.

    The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered the parties to maintain peace and be law-abiding. He adjourned the case till November 27 for further hearing.

  • Three kids burnt to death in Lagos

    Three children of the same parents were on Tuesday night burnt to death in their sleep at Jakande Estate, Mile 2 in Lagos.

    The children (names withheld) were locked inside the flat by parents who went to church on vigil.

    It was gathered that the children lit up a candle and went to sleep. The candle fell and ignited the fire, which burnt the three children to death.

    Spokesman of Lagos State Fire Services Rasak Fadipe confirmed the tragedy saying by the time his men gotto the scene, the kids had died.

    He appealed to parents never to lock their children at home unattended to avoid this kind of disaster.

    “I always advise people not to leave a candle on and go to bed. We cannot tell them not to buy and use candles because people produce them to sell, but they should not leave it and go to bed. In this era of portable rechargeable lamps that are cheap, people could purchase them for use in their houses.”

    Fadipe said the fire razed two flats of three bedrooms at the topmost part of the building.

  • ‘Dismissed police officer steals colleagues’ N20m’

    ‘Dismissed police officer steals colleagues’ N20m’

    A dismissed police officer, Victor Afam Banor, has been earning salaries from 15 different police commands, the Federal High Court in Lagos heard yesterday.

    He also stole N20million meant for salaries of officers of the Enugu State Police Command, the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, told the court.

    Banor was dismissed while serving at the Umunede Police Division in Delta State for allegedly stealing an exhibit vehicle in a criminal case under investigation.

    He escaped from detention and resurfaced at the Enugu Command with a falsified signature, claiming to be a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

    When the officer-in-charge (O/C) of the command’s Mechanised Salary Section (MSS) retired, Banor assumed office as the “O/C MSS”. It was while holding this position that in March 2011, he allegedly absconded with the money.

    “While absconding from office, the applicant (Banor) dropped a note stating that nobody should look for him because he has resigned to join his militant groups at the creeks of the Niger Delta region,” Abba said.

    These were contained in an affidavit filed in opposition to an application by Banor praying the court to release him from police detention.

    The applicant said he had been held for over eight months without charge, and prayed the court presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, to either order his release or direct the police to charge him in a court.

    Banor, who said his continued detention violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution, joined the IGP, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos, and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), DSP Solomon Igwe as respondents.

    In the counter-affidavit filed yesterday by the Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Department (O/C Legal), Zone 2, Mr Justin Enang, the police are urging the court not to release Banor because investigation into his alleged crime is still ongoing.

    The police said several officers under Banor complained that their salaries were diverted, and that he did not turn up until he was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State on April 15.

    When he was arrested, he claimed to be a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), flashing a police warrant card and demanding to be shown respect as a “senior officer”.

    Photocopies of forged police Identity Cards were found on him, with “CSP” Afamefuna Banor V. and “W/SGT” Hannah Markson Banor, among other names.

    The police further found badges and insignia of a Deputy Commissioner of Police at his home, adding that he absconded from the Enugu Command with a Police Barretta Pistol loaded eight rounds of ammunition.

    “Ongoing investigation has revealed a barrage of forgeries leading to monumental fraud by the applicant who opened more than 25 bank accounts using fictitious names with which he has been collecting and still collects monthly salaries from over 15 command payrolls across the country,” the respondents said.

    Banor allegedly opened different accounts in various banks and one in Onitsha, using police letter-headed paper with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police Logo, claiming to be residing in the police barracks as a Superintendent of Police.

    Igwe, who deposed to the counter-affidavit, said: “The applicant forged office stamps of various commissioners of police, including CP Awka, Enugu, Lagos and Kogi states with which he forged and signed fake documents which he altered and presented to the various banks to open salary accounts for himself.

    “If the applicant is released on bail, the prosecution of the charges will be at risk and he will not make himself available for trial as he will run away as usual.

    “Counsel for the respondents, Justine Enang informed me that under Section 35 (1) (C) of the Constitution, a person’s liberty can be curtailed in order to prevent him from committing further offences.

    “Releasing the applicant will jeopardise our investigation as he is still dribbling us over the service pistol in his possession, thus taking us on a wild goose chase. It will be in the interest of justice to refuse this application as many lives are still at risk since the applicant has refused to produce the police automatic weapon he absconded with,” said Igwe.

    Justice Aneke adjourned till November 21 for ruling on Banor’s bail application.

  • Synagogue: South African mortuary vans arrive Lagos today

    Synagogue: South African mortuary vans arrive Lagos today

    •Fashola approves movement of 54 foreign victims

    Special mobile mortuary trucks from South Africa are expected to land in Lagos today. They are billed to collect the bodies of 81 of its nationals, three Zimbabweans and one Democratic Republic of Congo national, who died in the building that collapsed at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, Lagos, on September 12.

    Government inter-ministerial task team’s spokesman Phumla Williams, who is in Nigeria to facilitate the repatriation, said they would return home on Sunday.

    “Another task team will arrive in Lagos tomorrow to prepare to load the bodies into the mortuary trucks, which will arrive at the Waterkloof Air Force Base on Sunday.

    “From there, the trucks will be driven, without the need to individually offload the bodies, to the different government mortuaries in the eight provinces involved, unless the families want them taken to their private undertakers,” she said, adding that costs of funerals would be borne by the families.

    To facilitate the arrangements, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday granted approval for the release of the bodies of 54 South Africans.

    He gave the approval at a meeting with delegates of the South African government at the State House in Marina.

    The governor said the development became necessary following complaints that the bodies were being held for too long.

    He assured the delegation that the government would ensure proper identification in line with South African tradition and culture.

    Fashola added:  “We have no reason to deny you the right to take those 54 bodies. You have my word; you can take them whenever you are ready to do so. It is left for you to decide whether to take them in batches or wait until we conclude the exercise. But if you are ready, my team will ensure that you take them without any delay.”

    He said coroner’ inquest was still ongoing to investigate the cause of disaster in order to prosecute anyone found culpable.

    Earlier, the leader of the South African delegation to Nigeria, Special Envoy and Minister at the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, said that South-African culture and traditions demand burial within a week of bereavement.

    “But today makes it two-month since the incident, so I did pay a condolence visit to President Goodluck Jonathan two days ago, to convey the message of our president and find ways of speeding up the processes and reparations of the mortal remains of disease.

    “The whole nation of South Africa is in mourning, especially the families that have to endure these two months of waiting in order to bring closure to the whole incident. We are ready to repatriate them as soon as we get the green light from the State government.”

    “We appreciate your government for the cooperation and our team has been briefing us on the challenges of identifying the bodies,” the envoy said.

    The Director in the Presidency, Cassius Lubisi explained that all necessary mercenary were already in place for smooth return of the bodies to S/Africa.

  • Community sacks pipeline project workers

    Community sacks pipeline project workers

    The phase 2 of the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline Expansion project yesterday suffered a setback as the people of Igbooye in Epe, a Lagos suburb, prevented workers from further working on the pipelines.

    They are protesting non-payment of compensation by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on the communities’ over 10-kilometre land taken over for project.

    They alleged that the DPR failed to do Enviromental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the land.

    The irate protesters, who carried branches of trees and placards, were led by the heads of the ruling houses and family heads in the town, including Alhaji Mikhail Kadiri, Otunba Abdulwasiu Musa-Adebamowo, Alhaji Waidi Lasisi from Erelu ruling house; Alhaji Safiriyu Bakare from Osikadewa ruling house and Apostle Mathew Odunlami from Shamba ruling house, among others.

    They defied the directive of the monarch of the town, the Orijeru of Igbooyeland, Oba Michael Gbadebo Onakoya, who was alleged to have emboldened the DPR and workers of the construction company, Zakhem Construction Company Limited to carry on with their job.

    The people marched on the construction sites, forcing the workers to move their caterpillars, giant generators and welding machines out of the land to the neighbouring Ibonwon town.

    Alhaji Kadiri told the construction workers that they would not be allowed to work until the DPR met the demand of the people.

    Kadiri claimed that the DPR reneged on payment of compensation to the community and the families whose land were encroached upon by the project.

    He said that elders of the community had exchanged correspondences with the DPR on the issue but that the department has been economical with the truth.

    When reporters visited the palace of Oba Onakoya for his comments, his wife, Olori Adenike said he had travelled out of the community, saying that only the monarch could speak on the issue.

    DPR’s spokesman Paul Osu declined comments, but challenged the community to bring the acknowledged copy of the correspondences exchanged with the department for them to respond appropriately.

  • LEAP’s change makers

    The Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa, will announce the names of finalists at the Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA) in Lagos on Thursday.

    Through the SIP, LEAP, a leading non-profit-making organisation in the country, is promoting youth-led social entrepreneurship by supporting the innovators with trainings and award to enhance delivery, maximise the impact and sustainability of their initiatives with each project currently benefitting hundreds of families in several communities in Nigeria.

    The Executive Director, LEAP Africa, Iyadunni Olubode, said: “The SIP Fellows are faces of social change in Nigeria, a crop of emerging social entrepreneurs challenging the present status quo to advance our communities. The SIPA is bringing together individuals and organizations from six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and hosting them in Lagos to celebrate diversity, creativity and excellence of these young change makers shaping our society.”

    LEAP Fellows initiatives, she explained, cut across all sectors such as agriculture, health, education, business, economic development and technology.

    “Their initiatives and impact have been further enhanced through the programme where LEAP’s partners worked with the SIP Fellows with a focus on developing these change agents, equipping them to lead and create sustainable initiatives. Ten out of these Fellows will be announced as finalists to receive Social Innovators Awards for their outstanding contributions at the Social Innovators Programme and Awards, 2014. LEAP will also be inducting emerging social entrepreneurs into the new fellowship programme year,” Olubode said.

    Billed to speak at the event is Mr. Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa.

    He is said to be a tireless supporter of initiatives that motivate, empower and educate Africa’s youth-driving force behind pro-social campaigns that have impacted the social and cultural landscape of urban Africa.

  • Appeal court dismisses Bamaiyi’s application

    The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed an application filed by former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi challenging the ruling of a Federal High Court.

    A panel presided over by Justice U.I. Ndukwe-Anyanwu struck out the appeal for want of diligent prosecution because none of the parties had attended to the matter since its institution.

    Bamaiyi and three others had approached the appellate court seeking the overruling of late Justice R.O. Nwodo’s decision which struck out a Fundamental Human Rights (FHR) suit he instituted alongside three others against the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    Other appellants are: former Lagos Police Commissioner James Danbaba (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza al-Mustapha and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mohammed Rabo Lawal.

    The appellants were about 13 years ago charged with attempted murder of The Guardian Publisher, Alex Ibru before Justice Augustine Ade Alabi of a Lagos High Court, but in the course of the trial, they alleged that the trial judge demanded $10 million bribe from them.

    In a petition to the NJC, they claimed that the judge had caused delay in hearing motions; refused to supply record of proceedings in the case as well as threatened and bullied their lawyer severally in court.

    The appellants had demanded that the trial judge should disqualify himself from the case but the body, after investigating their allegations, concluded that they were baseless and frivolous.

    A three-man panel headed by Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin was set up and tendered a 44-page report which cleared Justice Alabi of all allegations.

    Describing Bamaiyi’s claims as malicious, the panel dismissed the bribe allegation against Justice Alabi.

    Dissatisfied, the appellants who said they were not given fair hearing, approached a Federal High Court presided over by Nwodo, challenging the procedure leading to the panel’s findings.

    They had also prayed the court to enter judgment against NJC, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Justice Alabi, AG of Lagos State and one Magistrate D.T. Olatokun for bridging their FHR.

    But in her ruling of September 26, 2002, Justice Nwodo dismissed their application for want of jurisdiction, prompting the appellants to approach the Court of Appeal for an overrule.

    Through their lawyer, Yakubu Maikau Bamaiyi and others urged the court to set aside Nwodo’s decision and grant them leave to enforce their rights.

    They prayed the court to hold that the trial judge has jurisdiction to entertain their application, arguing that Section 158 of the Constitution does not preclude the trial court from enquiring into an alleged breach of fair hearing against the NJC.

    The appellants sought a declaration that from the proceedings in charge LCD/108/99, the 3rd respondent (Justice Alabi) no longer possessed the independence and impartiality required by Section 36 of the Constitution to continue to preside over the proceedings in the said charge.

    When the appeal came up yesterday, none of the parties or their lawyers was present in court.

  • Court dissolves 40-year-old marriage

    It was a touching scenario before the Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos yesterday when the 40-year-old marriage between Samuel Ogunleye and his wife, Wuraola, was dissolved.

    The 61-year-old woman had on the first hearing, alleged that her husband was fond of constantly attacking and raining curses on her.

    “From the outset, we constantly fought over trivial issues. Each time he offends me, he apologises but it has not changed his unruly behaviour. On several occasions, when my husband brings women to the house, I excuse them without uttering a word. My husband is in the habit of telling neighbours each time we make love,” she said.

    She further told the court: “His attitude is repulsive. He slaps me each time I talk. I first brought the case before the court in 2004, but it was struck out because he failed to appear. He says I am not useful but I have been responsible for settling our rent since 2006. Our children are in support of our divorce because he rains curses on them whenever they complain bitterly about his attitude. I am getting older. All I want is peace of mind. If I still love him, I won’t be saying all this.”

    Ogunleye (67) caused a stir when he prostrated, pleading:”I love her and I have also stopped beating her. She has failed to give our children proper upbringing. I am ready to vacate the house since she is fed up.”

    The marriage produced four children – Funmilola (39), Sunday (37), Bukky (31) and Seun (26).

    The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered that the couple should cease to be husband and wife adding that Ogunleye must vacate his wife’s house.

    They were, therefore, advised to go their separate ways “without hindrance.”