The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • How Ikenna Emedike was sacked from Gulder Ultimate Search

    How Ikenna Emedike was sacked from Gulder Ultimate Search

    Ikenna Emedike, the sixth contestant to be shown the door in the ongoing Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) reality show, had dreamt of his exit, two days earlier.

    The medical doctor and indigene of Anambra, host state of the show, lost out in the Octagon Chart task, and was given three seconds to exit the jungle, despite his plea for a second chance.

    In the Octagon Chart task, the GUS 11 contestants were to make three trips down a hill and retrieve three pieces of a hexagon; one piece at a time. Upon return to their work stations, they were to solve a puzzle, using parts of the hexagon to form the answer.

    The other contestants solved the puzzle in succession and left for another location, leaving Ikenna at the workstation. By the time he called to Chidi Mokeme to say he had solved the riddle, the anchor man told him he had been evicted from the show.

    A dejected Ikenna said he didn’t expect that the task will lead to eviction, given the reason he was not in haste to solve the puzzle. He however blamed his poor performance on hunger, which he said did not make him think straight.

    From all indications, Ikenna’s eviction from the jungle was different. Others evictees were asked to leave, either at the task ground or at the Place of The Talking Drum. They were also allowed to return to camp to pack their belongings. But in the case of the medical doctor, he was not evicted in the presence of the other contestants, who have been wondering about his whereabouts.

    After completing their tasks, his colleagues returned to camp to find a scroll which directed them to bring Ikenna’s bag and totem to The Place of the Talking Drum. They immediately knew he had been evicted.

    Ikenna, by his fate, joins Loretta Erijakpor, Sandra Nwagbagiro, Blessing Eriata, Joshua Nwagboso and Iwuoha Ikenna who were earlier evicted from the show.

    He revealed that he had dreamt about his eviction. “In the dream,” he said, “we as contestants were performing a particular task and all of a sudden, a number of us were evicted. It happened so fast that I felt it was odd. I wondered what was happening. The remaining people left were a male and a female contestant. In the dream, I asked Chidi Mokeme, the anchor man whether this was the way things were done on Gulder Ultimate Search.”

    He recalled telling some contestants about the dream, but they brushed it off. When asked if he nursed the fear that the dream might come to pass, Ikenna answered: “I was very worried. I prayed against it anyway. It got me worried to the point that I told myself, maybe it was destined to happen, whatever comes out of this competition, I will attribute it to the will of God.”

    with the exit of Ikenna, the race for the grand prize of N10 million and a brand new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) continues with Otto Canon, Addoh Evi, Iroh Noella, Samantha Appi, Emmanuel Afolabi, Sharon Robinson, Chinedu Ubachukwu and Cosy Joe.

    The show is broadcast everyday on AfricaMagic World (DSTV), Real -Stars (Star Times), Minaj TV Obosi, Ebony Life TV (DSTV), Galaxy TV (Lagos, Ibadan and Ondo), Hip TV (DSTV & GoTV), Nigezie (Star Times) and WapTV (Star Times) from 10pm to 11pm; and on AIT network from 10:30pm to 11:30pm.

  • Lagos lauds judgment on hijab

    Lagos lauds judgment on hijab

    The Lagos State Government has applauded the judgment of an Ikeja High Court which upheld the ban on the use of hijabs in primary and secondary schools in the state.

    The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye stated this in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday in its reaction to the judgment.

    Justice Modupe Onyeabor had last Friday, dismissed a suit filed by the Muslim  Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) seeking to quash an order of the state government banning use of hijab in schools.

    Justice Onyeabor held that the practice, if allowed would affect the secular nature of state.

    Ipaye said the state government is in the forefront of human rights promotion in Nigeria and will not deny its citizens their religious rights.

    The AG, however, observed that no right was absolute, adding that sometimes, public interest would justify some limitations, adding that uniforms are adopted for school children at the formative stages to encourage a sense of unity, discipline, organisation and orderliness.

    He noted that once deviations are allowed, conscious or unconscious group affiliations would crop up to promote prejudices, limit interactions and weaken the sense of unity among pupils of the same school.

    ‘With uniforms, students, teachers and other staff are less likely to focus on dressing or appearance as a means of determining status, religion or other socio-cultural affiliations.

    “Every student is equal and students are not able to tease or bully each other about the style, colour or quality of their clothing or their religious, social or cultural background’, he noted.

    He said uniformity will also encourage focus on school work and reduce social anxiety or animosity among students while enhancing confidence and all-round sense of belonging.

    Ipaye said that the government’s decision to refuse variations to the uniforms:

    “We need to first define the limits of this policy as it is not as extensive as some portray it to be. It is only applicable in government-owned primary and secondary schools where encouragement of free interaction among children from all social and religious backgrounds is a matter of state policy. Above the secondary school level, adult students can wear whatever they like, subject only to the dictates of their particular vocation or profession”.

    Even in the primary and secondary schools, Ipaye said, interested female Muslim students will be allowed to wear their hijab during Islamic Religious Knowledge classes and for afternoon or Jumat prayers.

    “Once any deviation is allowed for any reason, religious, cultural or personal, there will of course be no reason for disallowing another which may be requested on similar bases, Ipaye explained.

    In her ruling, Justice Onyeabor said Section 10 of the Constitution made Nigeria a secular state and that government must maintain neutrality at all times. She added that government has a duty to preserve the secular nature of the institutions concerned.

    She noted that since the public schools were being funded by the government, it was competent to issue dress codes and other guidelines to the students.

  • Prison is my university, says freed suspect

    Prison is my university, says freed suspect

    Despite wasting six years in incarceration at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Ikoyi in Lagos for an offence he did not commit, a freed armed robbery suspect yesterday said he was happy to have undergone the ordeal.

    Kelvin Robert, 40, was remanded in prison custody in 2008 after he was arrested at his Mba Street, Ajegunle residence by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), for allegedly being an accomplice to armed robbery.

    Robert, who said he was a commercial driver, disclosed that his ordeal started after his friend in the neighbourhood, who was caught with stolen items and weapons, fingered him as a partner in crime.

    While his co-accused was freed by former Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips during one of her prison visits, Robert remained in prison until yesterday when Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of a Lagos High Court, Igbosere discharged and acquitted him.

    Speaking to The Nation after regaining freedom, Robert said he considers himself lucky to have been incarcerated because to him, the prison is a university.

    “I have never gone for any robbery operation in my life. I knew the first accused person because he was my friend but I never knew he was a robber. I knew him as a hustler, who goes to Tincan Island to do menial jobs.

    “I was a danfo driver before I was arrested. I was told the guy was caught during an operation and that he was locked up for six months before he mentioned me as his partner. That was how I landed in the hands of SARS men after three months we were charged to court,” he said.

    “From the court, we were taken straight to Kirikiri prison. I was in the prison without trial until this year when a human rights lawyer came and asked me why I was being held. After explaining everything to him, he told me not to worry that he would pursue my matter.

    “Suddenly, my name was announced among those who were to be taken to court. My lawyer was not present the first day, but from the next day, he was always available. When trial started, the court asked the prosecutor to provide its witnesses and exhibits but on several occasions, nothing was provided.

    “When we came to court on June 27, the judge gave the prosecutor the last chance to provide its witnesses and exhibits and adjourned the matter till October 21 and so, when the prosecutor could still not provide its witnesses, the judge struck out the case,” he added.

    Robert said he learnt how to acknowledge God’s supremacy while in prison, adding that he now seeks God’s face in everything he does.

    “Prison to me was like a university. I learnt a lot of things I never knew. I learnt how to be patient in life. So, I do not see prison as a place of punishment or suffering. Though I was locked up for doing nothing, I am happy I had to go through that experience.

    “I see prison as a learning ground. We were being fed well and properly taken care of. Prison has made me a better person. So, I do not regret anything,” said Robert.

  • Businessman jailed for issuing dud cheque

    A 30-year-old businessman, Justin Onyewesi, has been convicted by the Federal High Court in Lagos for issuing a dud cheque to a supplier.

    The GSM accessories dealer collected five cartons of batteries with 4,000 pieces from Mr Ejike Itanyi.

    He issued a cheque for N742, 555 to Itanyi, who got to bank and was told that there was insufficient fund in Onyewesi’s account.

    Justice Mohammed Idris sentenced him to a one-year jail term after the convict pleaded guilty to the four-count charge of fraud and issuance of dud cheque.

    He said the prison term would be computed from when the convict was arrested.

    “Following the plea of the accused, he is convicted as charged, and is hereby sentenced to a one-year imprisonment on each count. The term of imprisonment shall run concurrently and shall begin from October 2, 2013, the date of his arrest,” the judge said.

    Onyewesi was first arraigned on January 1. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. However, on October 22, he changed his plea, saying: “I am guilty as charged.”

    The prosecutor, Mr Nosa Watson, said the fraudster committed the offence on August 17 last year in Okota, Lagos.

    The offences contravened sections 419 and 419 (b) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation, 2004; and Sections 1(1) of the Dishonoured Cheques Act, 2004.

  • Robber to die for stealing N9,000

    Robber to die for stealing N9,000

    Lagos High Court, Igbosere yesterday sentenced an armed robber to death by hanging for dispossessing his victim of N9000.

    The convict, Onyekachi Abazu, was said to have at gun point, robbed Obioma Obiekwe of her N9,000 and a BMW car marked CM659JJJ.

    He was said to have committed the offence with others at large on June 13, 2007 at Gowon Estate, Ipaja on the outskirts of Lagos.

    Abazu was arraigned by the Lagos State Government on January 9, 2008, before Justice ýMorenike Obadina on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery under Sections 403 (A) and 402(2)(A) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos, 2003.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Delivering judgment yesterday, Justice Obadina said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubts.

    She found the defendant guilty as charged and sentenced him to death by hanging as prescribed by the law under which he was charged.

  • Couple sues NDLEA for ‘rights violation’

    Couple sues NDLEA for ‘rights violation’

    A couple has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to re-list their N50 million suit against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged rights violation.

    Justice Okon Abang struck out the case on April 16 “for want of diligent prosecution” because Emeka Opara, lawyer to the plaintiffs, Mr Mathias and Fidelia Muomah, was not present during a hearing.

    Yesterday, Opara said he was absent that day because he was indisposed, adding that he sent his junior to inform the court of his ill-health.

    He prayed that the case be re-listed so that it could be heard on merit, adding that previous adjournments were at the respondents’ instance.

    The Commander, NDLEA Joint Task Force in Lagos, Mr Sunday Zirangey, is the second respondent.

    The plaintiffs are claiming that NDLEA officials barged into their bedroom on December 6, 2012 at about 5.30am and accosted Mrs Muomah while naked, in flagrant violation of their rights to the dignity of their persons.

    The couple is seeking a declaration that her arrest and the confiscation of their vehicles on the suspicion that her younger brother, Nonso Okeke, is a drug dealer violates the 1999 Constitution and various articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

    They sought an order mandating NDLEA to tender a public apology to them in a national newspaper, as well as an injunction restraining the agency from further detaining them or their vehicles.

    According to the plaintiffs, NDLEA claimed Okeke used Muomah’s house to register a Toyota Corolla car, which was used to convey someone to a hotel in Victoria Island where a meeting was held to discuss the supply of Ephedrine, a substance similar to cocaine.

    It was allegedly agreed at the meeting, which had NDLEA informants in attendance, that 25kilogrammes of Ephedrine and production machines would be supplied and that the proceeds would be shared.

    In a bid to track down the suspects, the plaintiffs said NDLEA officials arrested Mrs Muomah, insisting that the couple must produce Okeke and the Toyota car. They ordered the wife to be reporting to the agency’s office every Wednesday.

    “Nonso Okeke whom the respondents claim they are looking for does not live in my house and I do not know where he is at the moment. He is a 39-year-old man and is not under my family’s control,” Mr Muomah said in a supporting affidavit.

    The couple said NDLEA operatives did not only embarrass the woman, but the presence of several officials in their red uniforms in the premises led to “terrible embarrassment” for the family.

    However, NDLEA said its officers did not “barge” into the couple’s room, did not meet her naked, and did not unduly detain her. Rather, it said its officers met Mr Muomah at the door and conducted themselves professionally during the search.

    “The applicants did not at anytime threaten to seize the applicants’ vehicles and did not label the applicants’ family ‘a drug family’ and never directed the second applicant to be reporting to NDLEA office every Wednesday.

    “The applicants knew where Mr Nonso Okeke is and are harbouring him contrary to the provisions of the NDLEA Act. Neither the respondents nor its officers saw the nakedness of the second applicant as was alleged. It was the first applicant that led them into his room,” NDLEA said.

    Justice Abang adjourned till January 30 for ruling on the application.

  • Alleged theft: AGF takes over Okorodudu’s case

    Alleged theft: AGF takes over Okorodudu’s case

    Lagos High Court in Ikeja yesterday heard that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to quit the prosecution of Cross Country Transport Limited boss, Bube Okorodudu.

    Okorodudu is standing trial before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, alongside his firms, Cross Country and Car Link Limited, for allegedly stealing N82.8 million by fraudulently selling 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Ltd and Adeloye Olukemi.

    At the resumed hearing yesterday, a lawyer from the office of the AGF, D.E. Kaswe, told the court that the EFCC was no longer prosecuting the matter.

    He said the AGF took over the matter from the commission on September 8, while the court was on vacation, adding that the case was taken over because of a sister criminal case before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Praying the court for an adjournment to enable the AGF’s office collect the original file it requested from the EFCC, Kaswe said it would enable them examine the files and reach a conclusion.

    The defence counsel, Taiwo Taiwo, said Okorodudu had voluntarily reported himself to the police as directed by the court on July 1.

    “The first defendant (Okorodudu) was in their custody and came to court on July 14, but the court could not sit due to the strike by judiciary workers. He was thereafter granted administrative bail by the police and the reason he is not here today is because I was not aware that the matter would be coming up today,” Taiwo said.

    After hearing the submissions of both counsel, Justice Lawal-Akapo observed that the directive by the National Judicial Council (NJC) was that judges should give priority to high-profile criminal cases.

    He said: “I am not in any way impressed with the explanation given by the prosecution counsel that the AGF office is still trying to take over the original case file from the EFCC since September 8. Counsel from both sides should assist the court in dealing speedily with this matter.”

    He held that the bench warrant issued against Okorodudu on July 1 was still in force.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo ordered the police to arrest and produce him in court at the next adjournment fixed for December 2.

  • My husband is irresponsible, alleges athlete

    A 32-year-old athlete, Mrs Pauline Ukah, has sought the dissolution of her marriage of nine years to her husband, Ukah Charles, before the Customary Court, Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, over his alleged irresponsible attitude.

    She also accused her husband of forcefully taking away their only son under the pretext of taking him to his hometown.

    Mrs Ukah told the court: “Four days after our wedding, my husband started attacking me physically. For the next five years, I endured the pain, thinking he would begin to treat me as his true love. Even when my husband got a job, he still didn’t make any meaningful contribution to our upkeep. I had to obtain a loan to complete our house. I have been solely responsible for the upkeep of our children. Most of the time, I would go on commercial motorbike from Lagos Island where I work to Meiran. But rather than empathise with me, my husband would lock the door against me, thereby making me to enter the room through the window.

    “Sometime ago, when I was duped N5 million by some con men who wanted to help us obtain U.S visa, my husband labelled me a prostitute. On that day, they asked us to put all our money and jewelry inside a box and we complied. But that was the last we heard of them.”

    Mrs Ukah complianed that her husband was fond of charms. Till date, I don’t know why he buried his singlet in the house. When my husband was under some spiritual attacks and all he could see were reptiles, I stood by him. I took him to a hospital and footed the medical bills.”

    Ukah, however, said: “Almost everything she said is true. She has been a caring wife and mother. But there is no cordial relationship with my in-laws. Since I lost my job, life has been tough.

    “Contrary to her claim, I don’t beat her. We only have misunderstanding once in a while. Each time I intend to pick our children for holidays, her mother chases me with a cutlass.”

    “It is a taboo in my tribe for a woman who commits adultery to still sleep with her husband again. My wife once confessed to having slept with a man who wanted to help us obtain the U.S. visa.

    “It was at a family meeting that they ordered me to take our only son to our home town for cleansing and I did. If only my wife can cleanse herself, she can have our son back,” Ukah told the court.

    Obviously miffed, Mrs. Ukah reacted, saying: “My husband was given four days to take our son for cleansing in his home town. It is almost a month, but my husband has not brought him back. Now, I am agitated because the boy has always been in my custody. It’s been three years since we lived as a couple. I was told to cleanse myself if I was still interested in being his wife. Since my son has been cleansed, there shouldn’t be a problem. I have never fought him over any trivial issue. I always make my intentions known to him. God knows I am fed up; so, I want a divorce. He is free to see our three children whenever he wishes.”

    The court’s President, Mr .Olubode Sekoni, fixed a chamber interview for the couple and ordered them to bring four relations each.

    He adjourned the matter till November 3.

  • OPC gets new president

    he Dr. Fredrick Fasehun-led Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has appointed a new president to lead the group.

    At a conference in Lagos yesterday, the new President, Comrade Dare Adesope, said the development became imperative to harmonise all the members.

    Adesope said he would liaise with other factions of OPC to actualise the Oodua agenda. “I will work with other OPC leaders, Yoruba elders and other prominent Nigerian leaders who have supported the Oodua cause.’’

    Announcing the new leadership, Comrade Godwin James said  the group acknowledges the input of Faseun who had led the organisation since it was founded 20 years ago.

     “In view of all this, we the leaders of the organisation across the nation met and unanimously choose a vibrant and resourceful youth who has served at all levels to bring the desired positive changes to OPC.”

    “There is unity between our group and that of Otunba Gani Adams in piloting the affair of Yoruba. We are still under Dr. Fasehun who is the founder of OPC; he would have been here at this meeting but he was unavoidable absent,” he said.

  • FRSC enlightens motorists

    FRSC enlightens motorists

    THE Special Marshals of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), have intensified efforts to ensure stress-free traffic flow on the ever-busy Lagos/Ibadan Expressway through Mowe in Ogun State.

    They held an “operation national patrol and enforcement exercise” to focus public enlightenment, arrest and booking of offenders in line with the organisation’s efforts at bringing road crashes to zero level in the country.

    It was organised to reduce carnage on the roads, ensure lives and properties are saved from crashes, educate motorists on illicit acts that cause accidents, make the roads free from traffic gridlocks and arrest erring drivers driving contrary to traffic rules and regulations.

    It was led by the Coordinator, Lagos Sector Command (RS 2.1), Special Marshal and Partnership (SMP), Mr Benson George Babatunde and supervised by the Lagos Sector Command’s Head of SMP, ACC Victoria Babatunde.