The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Council chief, Muslim clerics pray

    Council chief, Muslim clerics pray

    The entire neighbourhood of Macaulay Street in Odi-Olowo-Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State shook yesterday as Islamic clerics gathered to pray for the country.

    It was at a prayer session being hosted yearly by the chairman of the local government, Aremo Adeyemi Alli to celebrate the Eid-Il-fitr with Muslim faithful in the council area.

    A mammoth crowd of Muslim adherents, their Christian counterparts and other residents from across the council area gathered for the outing which was held at council chief’s home.

    One after the other, Chief Imams from the area and other leading Muslim clerics gave soul-searching sermons on the need for religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence among residents and Nigerians at large.

    They decried the rising wave of insecurity in the land, especially the mindless killing of innocent souls in the northern part of the country, urging more prayers and concerted efforts by everyone to restore peace in the affected areas.

    As residents ate and drank to satisfaction, words of appreciation poured in for Alli for sponsoring the celebration. “This is a rare event that will go a long way in further consolidating religious tolerance and overall oneness among us in the entire council area,” one of them, Mrs Abike Aremu said.

    Alli, who said he was very passionate about the celebration, described it as part of the various ways he had been trying to promote unity and friendliness among the residents.

    “Far beyond the festivity that accompanies the Eid-Il-fitr, I felt it was important to find a way of letting our people know the essence of sharing moments like this together, especially to pray for continued peace and tranquility that my domain is noted for. We always invite every resident to partake of the celebration and the clerics amid us use the avenue to give sermons and offer fervent prayers for the good of all, the council area, our dear state and country as a whole,” he said.

  • ‘CAC crisis will end soon’

    The Chairman of the Christ Apostolic Church Peace and Reunification Group (CACPRG), Pastor Moses Adedoyin, has said that the over 24-year crisis of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) would soon be over as the reconciliation move of the two factions is yielding positive outcome.

    Adedoyin, who spoke at the 2nd Unity Prayer Conference, held at CAC, Itabale, Olugbode, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, added that the group had been visiting leaders of the different factions who had been showing interest in finding an end to the crisis.

    “We have succeeded in ensuring that the leaders of the factions are now talking to one another and have held series of meetings together. The leadership of the Supreme Council accepted the reconciliation move, but the leadership of General Executive Council is still having issues with the reconciliation terms and conditions; so, we are appealing to them to embrace it for the unity of the church,” he said

    Adedoyin noted that the crisis had done a lot of havoc to the mission, both spiritually and physically.

    He enjoined CAC members all over the world to re-dedicate themselves by organising special prayer meetings in their assemblies and districts for the resolution of the crisis that has turned the church to an object of reproach.

  • Why road project is delayed, by commissioner

    Why road project is delayed, by commissioner

    Commuters have nothing to worry about on the Ago Okota Palace Way as its reconstruction is still on course, Lagos State Government assured yesterday.

    Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who gave the assurance, said the project was delayed for five months because a court case instituted by a landlord whose property was affected by the construction.

    He added that the delay is exacerbated by the rainy season which does not help such construction works.

    To forestall a repeat of such situation, Hamzat told The Nation that government had decided to always meet stakeholders before such critical infrastructural effort is embarked on in future.

    He debunked the notion that the current administration in the state is elitist and is more interested in constructing roads in upscale areas, saying: “Nothing can be further from the truth as road constructions and other infrastructural provisions are even more in the medium and low-income areas such as Alimosho, Mushin, Badagry and Oshodi Isolo local government areas among others. Indeed, rural roads are given more attention despite the fact that they are more difficult and expensive to build.”

    He said the reconstruction of the Mile 12-Ikorodu highway, is one of the examples of the state government’s commitment to strategic infrastructural provisions in the state.

    The commissioner explained that the road would incorporate nine bridges with three lanes. He added that roads and other infrastructure are prioritised as other considerations such as access to hospital, Water Corporation, waste management agency and population figure come into play in decisions about putting up a facility in a particular place.

  • FUTA students arrested for OPEC scholarship scam

    FUTA students arrested for OPEC scholarship scam

    Four graduates and two undergraduates of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State have been arrested for alleged fraud by the police.
    The suspects are Falade Oluwapelumi Ayotunde (25), Asaolu Victor (25), Awote Temitope Emax (27), Fajobi Olalekan (27) Bolatiri Emmanuel Onaopemipo (25) and
    Adebomi Oluwatosin (26).
    They were arrested by operatives of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) for alleged internet fraud
    The suspects were also accused of being specialist in the unauthorized design of organisation’s websites and using them to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
    Police alleged that the suspects have defrauded their victims of up to over N5million .
    The suspects were arrested following a petition which PSFU received on August 22, 2013,from OPEC FUND for International Development.
    Police said the petitioner had alleged that a website designed as “OFID Scholarship Website” with OFID name and logo has been used to defraud innocent Nigerian applicants.
    On the website, applicants were required to pay N2,500.00 as application fee and over 2,000 applicants responded and paid the fees through the First Bank Account Number 2020874607 and Access Bank Account Number 0056941009 with the name OFID WSAS NG.
    The petitioner stated further that it was one of the victims that contacted OFID via facebook, accusing OFID of being complicit in the fraud.
    PSFU spokesperson, Ngozi Isintume- Agu, a Deputy Superintendent told The Nation that immediately the petition was received, operatives of the Cybercrime Section of the Unit swung into action and the mastermind of the fraud, one Falade Oluwapelumi Ayotunde was arrested.
    She said: “His arrest led to the arrest of five other syndicate members. Police investigation so far revealed that over 2,000 applicants paid the sum of N2,500.00 each into the two banks provided by the suspects and the principal suspect is the only signatory to both accounts”.
    Ayotunde is a from Akure, Ondo State and a 500Level Estate Management undergraduate student of FUTA.
    Police said the suspect has made a confessional statement.
    According to his statement, Ayotunde confessed that he designed the website of OFID WSAS (OPEC Fund for International Development for World Student Aid Scholarship) in June, 2012.

  • Suspected case of Ebola found in Lagos

    Suspected case of Ebola found in Lagos

    A Liberian suspected to have the Ebola virus is being kept in a Lagos hospital, the government said yesterday.

    The 40-year-old Liberian arrived in Lagos from Monrovia last Sunday, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adesina told reporters.

    The briefing was attended by the Director, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalami Nacidi; Head, Virology Reference Laboratory, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Dr. Sunday Omilabu; Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, and representatives of national and international agencies involved in the prevention and control of the disease.

    Dr. Adesina said the victim’s history revealed that he never had contact with a person infected with the virus.

    According to her, it was also found that he had no records of partaking in the funeral of any person who died of Ebola Virus.

    Dr. Adesina said: “The patient was admitted and detained on suspicion for possible EBV infections while blood sample collection and testing were initiated, including samples of the Virology Reference Laboratory LUTH, Idi-Araba. Blood samples were also sent to a World Health Organisation (WHO) Reference Laboratory in Dakar Senegal which is actively in process and results are pending.

    “Presently, the patient’s condition is stable and he is recovering. The diarrhoea and vomiting have stopped … Universal Infection Prevention and Control has been instituted to prevent spread of the disease and guarantee safety of other patient and staff of the health facility.”

    Nacidi said the Federal Government was not leaving Lagos State alone in the struggle to prevent the disease from spreading.

  • Police arrest 12 for alleged visa fraud

    The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) has arrested 12 Nigerians at the United States of America (USA) Embassy for their alleged involvement in visa fraud.

    The suspects are: Oloni Olufemi Olawale, Olugbenga Akinlade, Motunrayo Adeniyi, Samuel Ojo, Ogundipe Temidayo Emmanuel, Babatunde Oluropo Abiola, Babatunde Alexandra Adenike, Oyewole Emmanuel Tunde, Abelese Eunice Olayinka, Christiana Oweyu Omagu, Donald Omagu and Idrisu Tella Martins.

    PSFU spokesperson, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said they were arrested between July 9 and 17.

    She said a petition from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos alleged that a person, simply identified as Esther, with December 31, 1988 as date of birth, appeared at the embassy for Non-Immigrant Visa Interview with forged Canadian Visa, Turkish Visa, and Angola Visa, with entry and exit stamps, claiming to have visited the said countries.

    Investigation revealed that the said visas were purportedly forged by her boyfriend, Olawale, to fraudulently obtain the U.S. visa after paying him N100,000 for all the fake visas.

    The US embassy also alleged that Olugbenga with Passport No. A0573775 appeared before it for an immigrant visa interview with fake name, Awoleye Oluwamuyiwa Tope with January 1, 1982 as date of birth.

    It was also gathered that Adewole Tanwa Fatimah ‘F’ whose real name is Adeniyi Motunrayo appeared at the U.S. Embassy with Adewole Adeyemi Oluwaseun for a diversity visa interview.

    Isintume-Agu said: “Also, one Omoyemi Bamikole Olaiya, born on January 22, 1984, whose real name is Samuel Ojo, appeared for a diversity visa lottery.  He knowingly and fraudulently appeared at the embassy to steal the identity of the real winner. The U.S. Consulate alleged that Ibenne Emmanuel Nkem on July 15, came for U.S. Immigrant Visa with Nigerian e-passport No. A05593775.  The suspect’s real name is Ogundipe Temidayo Emmanuel.  The suspect’s intention was to defraud the real winner of the DV Lottery.

    “Babatunde Oluropo Abiola and Babatunde Alexandra Adenike presented forged bio-data, wedding pictures, marriage certificate and fake result to the embassy.  Their real names are Oguntimehin Olanike and Aderoju Olayinka Eunice.

    Also one Aderoju Adebayo Qasim and Aderoju Olayinka Eunice presented forged bio-data and fake document to the embassy for immigrant visa.  Their real names are Oyewole Emmanuel Tunde and Abelese Eunice Olayinka. Both suspects fraudulently appeared at the embassy to steal the identity of the real winner of the Diversity Visa Lottery.

    She said all the suspects will be charged to court to serve as a deterrent to others after conclusion of investigations.

  • Alleged robbery: Seven bankers, six policemen held

    Four cashiers, three security guards and six policemen have been held in connection with Wednesday’s robbery at the Okokomaiko, Alaba, Lagos branch of the Fidelity Bank.

    The suspects were arrested following investigations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led by Abba Kyarri, a Superintendent of Police (SP).

    The robbery occurred barely a month after a similar attack on the bank, in which a riot police officer was killed. The robbers made away with N24 million.

    Last Wednesday, robbers stormed the bank and blocked two bullion vans as they drove into its premises.

    The robbers were allegedly armed with AK47 rifles and magazines wrapped round their bodies.

    The bullion vans were escorted by seven policemen from the heavily armed Bar Beach Police Station on Victoria Island, with two spy policemen and others.

    The robbers overwhelmed the police escorts, killing two of the spy policemen.

    Eyewitnesses said one died on the spot; the other on the way to the hospital. A police corporal, who was also shot, is critically ill in hospital.

    The robbers broke open the first bullion, carting away all the money in it. They riddled the other van with bullets in their attempt to force it open.

    When they did not succeed, they disappeared with the loot from the first van.

    A police source said: “One of the spy policemen who died was a driver, while the second used to load money into bullion vans. Six policemen have been detained and four cashiers of Fidelity Bank.”

    Another source said: “The matter is now with SARS. It is believed that there is an insiders’ connection. I heard that investigation has started immediately. The Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko is suspecting a foul play, considering that the bank had only recently been robbed in the same manner. He asked why it was always Fidelity Bank.”

    Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide confirmed the incident, saying: “The incident did not occur at Fidelity Bank, but at the bank’s box office, where the bank officials used to box money before moving it out. Only one spy policeman was killed. The robbers would have been caught, but because it was in the market, our policemen did not want to shoot. The bullet could hit innocent people. The car attacked was the bank’s bullion van and it came to pick boxed money. The money taken away was about N24 million.”

  • Council chiefs, cleric seek peace

    The Chairman, Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Hon. Olumuyiwa Oloro; his Oto-Awori counterpart, Hon. Bolaji Robert and popular Islamic cleric, Alhaji Muyideen Bello, have urged more prayers for the country.

    Oloro, who made the call yesterday, said the various troubled besetting the nation call for fervent prayer during the ongoing Ramadan. He added that he had just given some donations to over 300 Muslim faithful in his domain in support of their fasting.

    Robert and Bello spoke at the sixth Annual Bibiire Ramadan lecture and special prayer held at Ijankin, a Lagos suburb. “Today‘s lecture is timely due to the incessant security challenges in the country. We should learn how to dwell peacefully with one another. We should be tolerant of one another’s belief and be a worthy example of responsible citizenry,” Robert said

    On security, he said the council had stepped up arrangement to protect lives and property, adding that strategic measures were being taken to forestall breakdown of law and order in Oto- Awori LCDA.

    In his lecture, Bello warned politicians against making statement that could cause mayhem in the society.

    “As Muslims, this is the period to devote ourselves to Allah to cleanse the land of the terrorist activities of Boko Haram and other forms of violence perpetrated in the country. We should abstain from sin and worship our creator with our hearts,” he said.

  • ‘Be conscious of your environment’

    Community leaders, corporate organisations and residents of the Lagos Mainland Local Government Area have been admonished not to do anything that could erode the sanity of the environment.

    The chairman of the council, Hon Oladele Adekanye, who made the call yesterday, told The Nation that it is the responsibility of the residents to cooperate with the government to ensure the preservation of the environment in their interest.

    “Look at the efforts that the state government has been putting into lifting the environmental condition of the state; it is the same spirit that is passionately imbibed by all the local government councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The people must join the crusade by sustaining the right attitude to their surroundings for decent living.

    “The annual tree planting that we all participated in last week is part of the efforts aimed at preserving our environment. We are all generally involved. Also, we must be conscious of the way we treat our environment, especially the manner in which we dispose of wastes, our attitude to cleaning our surroundings and drains and how well we teach the young around us the ideal we should give our environments,” Adekanye said.

    To complement the council’s various efforts at monitoring the area, the council chief said he had been used to leading some of his aides to monitor his domain occasionally at nights to ensure that residents don’t dump refuse indiscriminately at wrong places.

  • Air Force men raid Lagos airport

    Air Force men raid Lagos airport

    •FAAN, police, others kick

    Air force  men stormed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja,  Lagos yesterday, raiding passengers, their escorts,  concessionaires and Bureaux De Change operators.

    The gun-totting officials led by the Airport Commandant, Group Captain Victor Ajiboye, disrupted operations at the departure and arrival halls.

    The military personnel, it was learnt, acted on a tip-off on alleged security breach at the airport, resulting in the clamp-down.

    They arrested those moving around the departure and arrival halls without “on duty” identity cards in line with aviation regulations.

    The raid drew the ire of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), whose chief security officer (CSO), as was learnt, was not carried along in the operation.

    The CSO, other senior officials in the aviation security department of FAAN, and other security agencies including the police, Immigration and Customs expressed shock

    Officials of other security agencies who craved anonymity condemned the Air Force’s action, describing it as rash and unacceptable.

    According to them, it is wrong to mete out such treatment on innocent civilians at the airport without recourse to civil aviation regulations.

    Passengers were scared to speak to reporters for fear of the Air Force personnel whose plain-cloth officials maintained surveillance at the terminal.

    Offices of some Bureaux de Change operators including: Sulah Bureaux de Change, Kings Bureaux de Change, Vida Sem, Westgate Pharmacy, Kilimanjaro Eatery,   Global Link Mini Market, Eddy Burger Eatery, Famous Link, and Leader Investment Company Limited were shut.

    Airport workers said it was wrong for the Air Force to raid offices of concessionaires who pay rent and other charges to FAAN without carrying the airport’s security unit along.

    Some of the operators, whose offices were shut, it was learnt, may be planning legal action against the military for the onslaught.

    The affected eatery operators bemoaned their fate as their shops were deserted by passengers and others who had come for their legitimate activities at the airport.

    A source hinted that the military personnel at the weekend, also raided a section of a private terminal at the international wing of the airport.

    Some persons were said to have been arrested by the Air Force officials at the private terminal.