The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Shock as police chief dies in bed

    An Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kayode Adewoye was found dead in his bed yesterday.

    The late Adewoye resided at the Police Officers’ Quarters at GRA, Ikeja in Lagos. His body was said to have been found by some members of his family.

    Neighbours claimed the police officer was found stone dead after he did not step out of his apartment at the usual time.

    “Someone had gone into his room to check on him and discovered that his body was ice cold. Nobody knew what led to his death, but sources close to him said he was a diabetic patient,” a source said.

    It was gathered that on Monday night, the late Adewoye took his kids out for a treat, returned and went straight to bed.

    He was the Commandant in charge of the Police Training School, Iperu, Ogun State. He joined the force as a Cadet in 1990.

    The late Adewoye has worked at Ilasa, Bariga and Badagry Police stations among others as a Divisional Police Officer.

    He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. He was the chairman of University of Ilorin Kegites’ Club for the 1985/86 session.

    He has three children, the eldest of whom just got admission into a university in China.

  • Customs seizes 107 bags of Indian hemp

    •Destroys N15m frozen products 

    The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday seized a white Ford Chevrolet bus loaded with 107 bags (963 kilogrammes) of Indian hemp (cannabis sativa).

    Addressing newsmen at the command headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the Customs Area Controller, Mr Oteri Richard, said the bus was intercepted around 4.30am at Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of the state.

    He said the command‘s Crack Team led by Alajogun J.A, a Deputy Superintendent of Customs (DSC), arrested the bus marked, XW 193 GGE.

    He said nobody was arrested as the culprits abandoned the bus when they saw men of the command, but assured that through the vehicle documents found in the bus, further investigation would be made to arrest those involved.

    Oteri, who handed the substance to the state Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs Omobolade Faboyede, called for synergy among security agencies in combating insecurity in the country.

    Also, the command seized about 2,000 cartoons of imported poultry products worth about N15million along the Agbe-Olodo axis of Osun State.

    The seizure, according to Oteri, was effected through  the renewed commitment to bringing down to the barest minimum, the incidence of smuggling within the command.

    He disclosed that on June 6,  an anti-smuggling team of the command led by Efetobor R.O, intercepted a black Mazda 3 Volkswagon Passat  and another bus loaded with 2,000 cartons of frozen poultry product.

    Oteri explained that the arrest was made possible with the professional expertise of his men.

    Destroying the seized poultry products in the presence of newsmen at the Arapaja dump site in the Oluyole area of Ibadan, Oteri warned those importing contraband products to dump the trade.

    He warned that the command is battle-ready to spoil “business” for them.

     

  • Estate gets new exco

    Residents of the Millennium Housing Estate (MHE) in Ojokoro-Ijaiye area of Lagos State have been advised to pay their monthly levies and other charges promptly.

    The estate’s newly elected chairperson, Mrs. Florence Lawal, who gave the advice at the inauguration of the newly elected executives of the estate, said prompt payment of levies and other charges would enable the estate’s leadership to provide basic amenities in the area for meaningful development.

    While thanking government for its efforts on the estate over the years, she urged government to establish a primary healthcare centre in the estate. “We need a medical centre here. We have about 634 flats here; so, it is usually agonising that when our women want to give birth and we start running helter-skelter to take them to Agege or Alimosho. Government needs to do this for us,’’ she added.

    Outgoing chairman Gbayesola Akin, who urged the new executives to imbibe the spirit of togetherness, enjoined them to always consider other people’s opinions before taking any decision, adding: “In every human group, there must be misunderstanding, but the ability to resolve same amicably is what matters most.”

    Saying that leadership should be seen as a sacrifice, Akin added: “The state and local government should help us in the implementation and enforcement of laws guiding every resident in the estate. This is important because we understand that everybody has a fundamental human right. But if there are laws in place, people will act accordingly.”

  • Police kill two armed robbers, arrest three

    Police kill two armed robbers, arrest three

    Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ogun State Police Command, have killed two suspected armed robbers in Epe area of Lagos State.

    The operatives engaged the gang in a fierce gun duel early  yesterday. Three of the suspected robbers who were eventually arrested, sustained bullet wounds.

    It came barely a day after anti-robbery operatives attached to Mowe Division killed one robber during a gun battle with members of his gang near the Redemption Youth Camp along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. A snatched vehicle was said to have been recovered from them.

    Police said one of the gang members, Ahmed Yusuff, was arrested on April 25 at Dalemo-Otta in Ogun State after snatching a Mercedes Benz ML Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) from the owner.

    It was gathered that Yusuff, in the course of police investigation, agreed to lead the SARS operatives to their hideout at Epe in Lagos State. However, when operatives arrived the hideout, there was resistance from his gang members, leading to a shoot out.

    Ogun Police Command’s spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), gave the names of the arrested suspects as Adeyinka Olajuwon, Isiaka Salawu, and Jumoke Odukoya.

    He said that others escaped with bullet wounds, adding that efforts were in top gear to apprehend them. Adejobi said one assault 06 rifle marked 07003808, two magazines loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition, three cut-to-size single-barrel pistols, two cut-to-size double barrel guns, 10 live cartridges, one axe and some assorted charms were recovered from the suspects.

    Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye praised the teams for a good job done, particularly the follow-up on the case.

    He also urged the public, particularly medical practitioners, to be on the alert for the fleeing injured robbers who may come to them for treatment.

    Okoye also directed the officer-in-charge of SARS, Ogun State, Mohammed Tijani, a Superintendent, to ensure the arrest of fleeing suspects  with their arms recovered.

    The police chief assured Ogun people of adequate protection of their lives and property in every  nook and cranny of the state.

  • ‘Singles, get it right’

    Singles aspiring to get married have been admonished to get the right spouses for virile families that would develop the society.

    The advice was given by experts at a seminar for singles, which was organised by the Treasure Neighbourhood Development Foundation (TRENDEF) in Lagos. Its theme was: “Get it Right.”

    The seminar was among the programmes designed for Nigerians to bring back normalcy and national pride, it was learnt. Youths were taught on methodology of selection and the dynamics of healthy marital life.

    President of the foundation, Mr Joseph Obude, a career expert, said the event was aimed at arresting the negative trends in the society through attitude enhancement and character building by educating the young ones on the core values of life.

    He said it was also aimed at enlightening the public on personal development and how to uphold the core values of life, urging homes to have the right cultural values that will help to develop the society.

    A motivational speaker, Mr Samuel Adelaja, who chaired the event, said: “Handle this transitional part of life with all care and seriousness to avoid broken homes. This goes a long way in affecting the society and future generations. Making the right decision now will guarantee blissful homes.”

    The keynote speaker, Mr Chikezie Emebuze, also contended that getting it right begins with getting the right partner and making the right choices.

  • LASU students want portal shut

    LASU students want portal shut

    The Lagos State University Students Union (LASUSU) yesterday took their hard-line stance against hike in their tuition fee to another level, urging the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, to shut down the institution’s payment and registration portal.

    Its president, Mr Nurudeen Yusuf, the union’s President, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the closure of the portal was necessary until the government reduced the tuition fees.

    “We hereby appeal that the payment and registration portal be closed till the government makes pronouncement on LASU fees as proposed by the students’ union. This is to ward off unforeseen eventualities that may arise in the nearest future,” he said.

    Yusuf said the deadline by the management for students to pay their fees and register courses for the 2013/2014 academic session before May 30 had elapsed.

    He said students were bent on their “no reduction, no resumption” policy and that discussions on how much the students would pay were still ongoing.

    According to NAN, Fashola had, at a meeting with LASUSU on March 31, directed the students to come up with a proposal on how much they could afford.

    The students decided that the fee should be reduced to N46, 500 for returning students and N65, 500 for fresh students.

    The students’ proposal was submitted on April 24, while several reminders were later sent to the governor on the issue.

    Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, at a media briefing on May 8, said the government would soon make a pronouncement on fees.

    Yusuf said the students were not satisfied with the government’s statement since the word “soon does not indicate a definite time.” “If a 50-year old can die and we say gone too soon, hence, anytime can be soon,” he said.

    The students’ leader said that sequel to several peaceful protests by the students, the Exco Ad-hoc Committee set up by the state met with the union on the review of the tuition on May 27.

    The Committee, chaired by Mr Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner for Transport, he said, had decided that quality education could not be achieved based on the students’ proposal.

    Opeifa said the tuition of N46, 500 would make LASU a university for the poor and all comers.

    “The committee said the state government is subsidising education in LASU by 90 per cent and government is only responsible for free education up to secondary level,” he said.

  • Customs probes acid bath case

    Customs probes acid bath case

    Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde CFR, has ordered a full investigation into an allegation of acid bath on one Ms.Tope Fadipe by one Nwaeze Fidelix  Chukwuemeka, a Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) serving in Seme Command.

    The Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ – Ikeja, Nuhu Isa Mahmoud who gave this hint added that, “the CGC has further directed that should the officer be found culpable as alleged, severe disciplinary actions which includes dismissal would be taken against the officer to serve as deterrent to others.

    “Meanwhile, the officer has been handed over to the Special Criminal Investigation Dept (SCID) Panti Yaba-Lagos for necessary interrogation, after which the Service would conduct an in-house disciplinary committee to deal decisively with the issue.

     

  • Artistes support Lagos residents’ registration

    Artistes support Lagos residents’ registration

    Musicians and theatre practitioners in Lagos State yesterday stormed its secretariat at Alausa in Ikeja to participate in the ongoing resident registration exercise, carried out by the state Resident Registration Agency (LASRRA).

    Among them were: Juju music maestro King Sunny Ade, Kate Henshaw, Prince  Jide Kosoko, Saheed Balogun, Foluke Daramola, Adebayo Salami and Segun Arinze.

    Others are the two chairmen of the Lagos State Actors Guild, Messrs. Don Pedro Aganbi and Victor Osuagwu; Abubakar Yakubu, Joke Silver, Toni Akposeri, Tunji Bamishigbin, Yemi Shodimu and Biodun Aremu, among others.

    The General Manager, LASRRA, Ms. Yinka Fashola, said a total of 1.8 million residents of the state had been registered by the agency, adding that the exercise was to enable government to efficiently plan for Lagos residents and allocate resources to meet their needs.

    She said that musicians, actors/actresses, producers, editors and all those involved in any production, play vital roles in the development of the state, adding: “Many studies show that economic prosperity lies in the ability of a city to attract artistes to the urban core.

    “As a hub of actors and musicians, the computer industry, social media, visual arts and fashion, among others, have followed the flow and creativeness of our actors and musicians to Lagos”, she said, adding that the development demands for facilities and resources that would enhance and improve the standard of living such as entertainment, cinemas, restaurants, night clubs and shopping mall.

    She explained that cities that attracted a large number of artistes experience economic growth since other industries have interest in their creative activities.

  • Court jails man for swallowing cocaine

    Court jails man for swallowing cocaine

    A 33-year-old man, Chibuzo Elioku, yesterday bagged a six-year jail after he pleaded guilty to ingesting 95 grammes of cocaine, a banned narcotic.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned him on November 29, last year on a charge of unlawful dealing in the illegal substance.

    The agency said he was arrested on May 13, last year, at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, during a clearance of passengers aboard a Qatar Airline flight from Brazil.

    A scan revealed the convict had cocaine in his stomach, which contravenes Sections 11 (a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    Justice Abang, while pronouncing the sentence, said: “The prosecution tendered documents to prove its case, notwithstanding the guilty plea of accused. The documents included the confessional statement of the accused, where he admitted to ingesting several wraps of Cocaine while in Brazil.

    “It is also clear from the evidence tendered by the prosecution that the accused excreted some of the narcotics later when he arrived Nigeria. The confessional statement of the accused is straightforward, compelling, and convincing. I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case beyond doubt.

    “The accused person is accordingly convicted as charged in line with sections 285 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act. I hereby sentence the convict to six years imprisonment with effect from June 3, 2014, I so hold,” Justice Abang said.

  • Patients suffer as strike paralyses LUTH

    Patients suffer as strike paralyses LUTH

    Patients were at the receiving end at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) yesterday as the indefinite strike declared by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) entered day three.

    The ever-busy Accident and Emergency (A and E) Ward, Paediatric Ward and obstetrics and gynaecology unit, among others, were unusually quiet.

    There was total black-out in the hospital as electricity supply was unavailable all through the day.

    Some consultants and nurses were, however, carrying out skeletal services.

    The hospital, The Nation gathered, had discharged some patients, the day before, to seek treatment elsewhere, while new patients were turned back right from the gate.

    The strike, which coincided with the three-day warning strike earlier declared by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), paralysed all activities in the hospital.

    Many relatives were seen taking their wards to prevent their ailments from worsening, while some ailing children were discharged at the Paediatrics Ward, while those left were not attended to.

    A woman, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The nurses used to bathe our children but since the strike began, they would just give us warm water to bathe them. The only thing they do is to clean babies in the incubators. They even refuse to give my son any injection.”

    Chairman, ARD LUTH, Dr Olubunmi Omojowolo, said there was no going back on the strike until the hospital’s management accedes to doctors’ demands.

    He identified high hospital fees as the main reason doctors were striking, adding that a lot of patients are complaining about the cost of treatment.

    “In some sub-specialties, such as obstetrics and gynaecology (O and G) and dentistry, the fees are beyond the reach of an average Nigerian. Before, silting and laceration cost about N8,000 but today it has gone up to N50,000. So ARD has issues with fees of major surgeries but our focus now is on minor surgeries,” he said.

    No appreciable progress has been made by the hospital to resolve the problems. The hospital should resolve the issue of excessive taxation of doctors to allow equity and fairness as doctors were heavily taxed.

    “LUTH was implementing its own tax regimen before the Federal Government introduced hers. We were paying more under LUTH, so where was the excess going? When the government puts us on its Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) programme, we paid less before it stopped it,” Omojowolo said.