The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Kenyan ‘pilgrim’ caught with heroin

    Kenyan ‘pilgrim’ caught with heroin

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, has begun investigations into the arrest of a 32-year-old Kenyan, Imeldah Awino Noah, who was caught with a substance suspected to be heroin.

    The suspect, who was in the country under the pretext of being on pilgrimage, was arrested following the discovery of the substance inside two pairs of female sandals in her luggage. The seizure took place during inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa.

    It was also gathered that she left Nairobi, Kenya for Bujumbura where she collected the luggage containing the drugs before proceeding to Nigeria through Addis Ababa.

    Confirming the arrest, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr Hamza Umar, said: “The drug was found inside the soles of two pairs of female sandals as well as in a false bottom of her luggage. She is cooperating with our investigating team.”

    Imeldah recounted her journey into the world of crime, saying: “My best friend masterminded my involvement in drug trafficking. I am a diploma holder in Community Health and Development at the African Institute of Development Studies in Western Kenyan town of Kisumu, Nyanza Province. After my one-year volunteer service, I searched for employment. My friend introduced me to her Nigerian boyfriend who offered to assist me by sponsoring my trip to Nigeria. Initially, I was reluctant but my friend persuaded me. They bought my ticket and gave me the bag containing clothes where the heroin was concealed. On arrival at the Lagos airport, the drug was detected.”

    Imeldah also told the investigators that she loved coming to Nigeria to receive blessings from her unnamed spiritual father.

    NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade urged the public not to be ignorant of the machinations of drug trafficking syndicates.

    “Drug barons sometimes present themselves as philanthropists. They will offer you free tickets and make all travel arrangements but the ultimate objective is to get you to smuggle their drugs from one point to another. The public should be on the alert and report suspected drug barons to the agency,” Giade said, adding that the suspect would soon be charged to court.

     

  • Poly students protest ASUP strike in Lagos

    Poly students protest ASUP strike in Lagos

    Polytechnic students in Lagos State took to the streets yesterday to protest the on-going strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). The strike is in its ninth month.

    They disrupted traffic flow along the ever-busy Ikorodu Road, causing a gridlock that extended as far as Yaba on the Lagos Mainland.

    The students, under the aegis of Concerned Students Against Education Commercialisation (CASATEC), began the protest by 9am at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH).

    They displayed placards with various inscriptions like: “We are tired of staying at home”, “We want to go back to classroom”, “Spend money on education, not on confab”, “The idle mind is the devil’s workshop”, “Education is a right not privilege”, and “We are tired of watching Africa Magic”.

    Hassan Taiwo Soweto, National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), who led the students in the protest, said the strike had affected them negatively.

    “We are out in the streets to show our displeasure at the ASUP strike and for the government to meet our demands; we are tired of staying at home and also most of the students are now engaging in immoral acts,” he said.

    Another ERC member, Adeeko Kehinde, said: ‘’Government should meet ASUP’s demands instead of spending millions of naira on National Confab. Also B.Sc certificate should equate HND because apart from spending more years in school than the university students, our experience, if not more, will be equal to theirs.”

    Deputy Coordinator, ERC, Lateef Adams, said the aim of the protest was to appeal to the Federal Government to implement the agreement it signed with ASUP, adding that failure to implement the agreements would lead to the continuation of the protest.”

    “As responsible students, we cannot stay at home and watch the strike continue. This is the first phase of the protest; it will continue next week if the government refuses to implement the agreement before next week,” he said.

    Also the coordinator of ERC, YABATECH branch, Lateef Ibrahim called for unity and collaboration among the students to continue with the protest despite criticisms from some quarters.

    When the students got to the top of the bridge at Maryland, they played music, danced and stood there for sometime, while vehicle users were forced to watch their antics until they dispersed after about an hour. They hijacked five empty BRT buses which conveyed them back to YABATECH.

    Some pedestrians and policemen praised the students for their courage and hoped that the government would listen to them and act on the situation.

    Mr Joshua Ayokunmi, Speaker, Student Union Government, YABATECH, urged government to end the strike to save the future of youths studying in polytechnics.

    Ayokunmi said the protest was to draw government’s attention to the yearnings of the students who were being affected by the strike.

    “We are protesting to show our frustration and we do not support the strike. We are not happy with the government because the strike is being prolonged unnecessarily. We want the government to meet the demands of our lecturers so that we can go back to school. We are pleading,” he said.

     

  • ‘We’re committed to child protection’

    ‘We’re committed to child protection’

    The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips yesterday day expressed her commitment to the protection of the Nigerian child.

    She spoke at the inauguration of children’s lounge for the Family Courts, which was held at the Commercial Division of the Lagos High Court, National Assembly Complex, Lagos,.

    She said the lounge would remove the children from the psychological influence they would have suffered if they heard the divorce story of their parents.

    The lounge was equipped with children’s story/toy books, exotic toys and games of different kinds, couches and other electronic items like television, water dispenser, cookies and candies. She said the lounge would assist in quick dispensation of cases in the family courts.

    The chief judge, who was represented by the Head Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade, warned staff of the judiciary against bringing their children to the lounge, otherwise called crèche, insisting that it was essentially meant for children of litigants in family courts.

    She described the lounge established by virtue of section 150 of the Child’s Right Law, as the first of its kind in all the 19 states that have adopted the law so far.

    The Head of the Family Courts, Justice Yetunde Idowu, praised the chief judge for the gesture and for making all resources readily available for the take-off of the centre.

    Justice Idowu, however, sought from the chief judge, approval of remand forms, reproduction forms, warrant of arrest and other documents to enhance smooth implementation of the Child Rights Law.

  • Nigerian student ‘murdered’ in Ghana

    Nigerian student ‘murdered’ in Ghana

    Police authorities in Ghana are working round the clock to apprehend the killers of a 19-year-old Nigerian student at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, Godwin Chukwudi Ayogu.

    Godwin was killed penultimate week by persons believed to have links with his Ghanaian room-mate, Abotsi Gweus, a.k.a Enay. A 300-level Economics student, he was stabbed to death by his attackers after tying his hands and feet. They disemboweled him and later dropped his corpse in front of his hostel.

    Godwin’s father, Mr Fred Ayogu, a Lagos-based businessman, said he had returned to school for the second semester in September last year with $5,000 meant for his tuition and sundry fees. However, the money was allegedly collected from him for “safe keeping” by Gweus, a 400-level Music student. But, up until the night of his murder, Godwin had not paid his school fees because he could not recover the money.

    When the police asked Gweus why he refused to return the money to Godwin, he reportedly said since Godwin had collected $600 from the $5,000, the balance of $4,400 “is not enough to pay his school fees.” However, the vice chancellor promptly confirmed that the balance – $4,400 – was the late Godwin’s exact fee.

    Then, Gweus reportedly changed his story, claiming that Godwin later removed the whole money from where he kept it.

    The Cape Coast police are working on the theory that Godwin was killed by his attackers to prevent him from reporting them either to his parents or the school’s authorities.

    Ayogu said the Ghanaian police had assured him that his son’s killers would be found and punished. He thanked the Nigerian High Commission in Accra for the “expeditious manner in which they have been handling the case.”

    “My son just lost his life so carelessly. He was kind to a fault; he lent his own school fees to another person to pay his own school fees and their gratitude was to murder him. It’s most unfair, a very callous thing to do to a fellow human being.”

    The Senator Ayogu Eze, who represents Enugu North District, where the slain student hailed from, The Nation learnt, has briefed the Senate and the Presidency on the development. The Presidency has reportedly taken it up with the Ghanaian authorities. The latter, it was reliably gathered, has ordered the police to leave no stone unturned to unmask Godwin’s killers.

    Also, the House of Representatives’ Committee on the Diaspora will soon raise the matter on the floor of the House, its Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said yesterday.

     

  • ‘Women are change agents’

    ‘Women are change agents’

    The President of the National Council of Women’s Societies, Mrs Iyabo Osifeso, has described women as agents of change in the society.

    She spoke at the celebration of the International Women’s Day in Lagos, explaining that the responsibility of a woman as a change agent begins at home through proper mentoring of her children.

    “We should ensure that our children are well educated; we should know that if we educate a child, we will be educating the nation,” she added.

    The chairperson on the occasion, Hon Lola Akande, said it was high time more women started taking active part in politics.

    “We should try to inspire change because we don’t like most of the things going on. We don’t want sexual harassment; we hate rape and we want to be in positions of authority,” she said.

    She called for the right tutelage of women in the society, saying: “If you train a woman, you train a nation. I say without any apology that if a woman is in a position, you will see a lot of changes. We want change in all ramifications – educationally and economically – because most of us live below poverty line.”

    Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, who was represented by the wife of the Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Mrs Folashade Odunlami, assured that the state government would continue to do its best as it had been doing through by training women on various skills.

    ,The guest lecturer, Mrs Marie Fatai-Williams who spoke on inspiring change through women said women should not be discriminated against and sought financial independence for them.

    “To eradicate poverty generational transformation we must empower women economically,” she said.

  • Foundation lifts 2000

    More than 2000 people have benefitted from the free health programme organised by the Mike Egbayelo Foundation in Lagos State.

    The programme, which took place in Apapa Local Government Area, was part of the independent mobilisation programme for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Apapa.

    It was a one-week event that afforded residents of Apapa to benefit from the free blood pressure and blood sugar tests; free cancer screening, free eye test and free eye-glasses, drugs and treatment.

  • Kidney disease threatens man’s life

    Kidney disease threatens man’s life

    When at 23, the heavens appeared smiling on Nathaniel Obasefunmi on his academic ambition, he was hit by what is medically known as end-stage kidney problem.

    Now, he needs N5million to undergo kidney transplant at an Indian hospital, but his parents cannot afford the cost as all they laboured for had gone into managing the ailment.

    “I have been suffering unbearable pains all over me. I cannot breathe. My heart is heavy. My parents and siblings are crying every day because this sickness has wrecked us and we have turned to a family of beggars. Nigerians should ensure that I don’t die,” he said, sobbing.

    Obasefunmi, in April last year, was diagnosed with the ailment while seeking admission into the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. He had earlier obtained a National Diploma certificate from the Department of Office Technology Management, Kwara State Polytechnic.

    “We are now beggars,” his mother, Grace Obasefunmi, who teaches at the Ilota Junior Secondary School, Ilorin, said, adding: “My husband and I have exhausted our life savings and incurred over N4million debt to safe our son’s life.”

    Mrs Obasefunmi recalled: “He returned from the Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) hall in April last year and started vomiting. Initially, we thought it was malaria; we gave him some drugs. It was after several tests that he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

    “Then, he started undergoing dialysis at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ido in Ekiti State, around June, last year, and we have since been on it. It was initially on a twice-a-week arrangement, later, it became thrice weekly. We have been doing it at N420,000 per month for almost a year.

    “The sickness has turned us into a family of beggars. As I speak, we are living on foodstuffs donated to us by sympathisers including my siblings. This is too difficult for me. The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where I worship, has tried its best for me. I’m ashamed that church members are always contributing money to assist me on the dialysis.”

    She spoke further: “All my children were initially withdrawn from their private schools to public schools before we stopped some of them totally. I want Nigerians to please help me. They should not abandon me to this; they should not allow this child to die. He will be 24 by May 10 and he is a very brilliant boy.”

    A medical report signed by Dr O.E. Fadipe of the FMC, Ido-Ekiti confirmed that Nathaniel would need the renal transplant.

    For the victim’s father, Inspector Tunde Frederic Obasefunmi, who is attached to the Health Division of the Nigeria Police, Tanke, Ilorin, who has only four years left in service, said, sobbing: “If you realise what I have been going through, you will cry for me. I live on supports from my church and some neighbours to feed my family. All my salaries and my wife’s are expended on dialysis.”

    By sending SHI HELP NATHANIEL to 35140 at N100 per sms, a non-governmental body, Sought and Help Initiative (SHI), is out to raise funds to save the young man’s life.

    Urging Nigerians to rescue the victim, SHI’s director, Daniel Soetan, said the concept is aimed at raising funds faster for Nathaniel through SMS Fund Raising Platform (SFRP).

    Alternatively, Nigerians willing to assist him, according to Soetan, can send their contributions to Obasefunmi Aaron Gbenga through Guarantee Trust Bank account number 0115914950.

    “To send N500 or N1,000, a sender only needs to send same SMS five to ten times. There is greater reward in helping the needy; please let us help Nathaniel to live a better life. We need about 50,000 to 100,000 SMS of N100 each to raise N5million for Nathaniel. He will not have to wait endlessly for a few rich ones who hardly help people they don’t know,” said Soetan.

  • Prayer for peace

    To seek God’s intervention in the myriads of problems besetting the nation and its people among other things, various ministers of God will on Wednesday gather for fervent prayers.

    It will hold at the maiden edition of the Lunch-Hour Fellowship, where The Turner Ogboru Ministries will participate. The organisers said it would take place at The Chapel of Christ The Light on Secretariat Road, near the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Central Business District (CBD), Alausa, Ikeja, at 3.00 p.m.

    The theme of the event, according to a statement, is: “Prayer and supplication for all saints and the nation in the holy ghost.”

    “It is expected to be attended by various ministers of God, General Overseers, other religious faithful, government officials and others from all walks of life. It is a divine intervention against the crises that have enveloped the nation. It is an avenue for total divine deliverance and the spiritual rejuvenation of the society, the state and the nation in general,” the statement added.

  • ‘I asked God for a son, he gave me four’

    ‘I asked God for a son, he gave me four’

    There was confusion and tension in Nkpor , Idemmili North local government area Anambra state when an Nkpor based business man, Mr Sampson Ekene Okeke, rather than jubilate over the delivery of her wife of quadruplets, curiously questioned God on why He should give him four babies instead of a baby boy they bargained for.
    The couple already have  three girls.
    “When my wife, Esther, became pregnant all I know is that she is as usual pregnant until the medical director of Kanayo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha, told me that she is having a twin but I don’t know they are up to this number, three boys and a girl. I now have eight of them, three boys and five girls. The lord has answered my prayers, ” Okeke stated.
    He  appealed for financial assistance from Governor Peter Obi and good spirited Nigerians saying  the burden is much for him.
    “Children are owned by everybody once they are out from the womb, ” Okeke stated.
    Two of the quadruplets weighed 2.5kg while the other two weighed 2.2kg.
    A  group of prayer warriors, known as St. Paul main group from St. Peters Anglican church, Nkpor, led by Prince Kenneth Madu Akwasa have embarked on intensive prayers for the protection of the quadruplets and their parents as well as God’s provision for them.

    Mr Akwasa who visited the hospital led by the vicar, Rev Ndubuisi Amaechina, Catechist-Ugo O, Christopher Ogham and Secretary, Sam Ogu, donated undisclosed sum of money and two dozens of pampas to the quadruplets.

  • Residents flee as hoodlums take over community

    Residents flee as hoodlums take over community

    Some embattled residents of Abule-Egba community in Ojokoro Local Government Area of Lagos State have cried out to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, urging him to rescue them from the hoodlums that have laid siege to the area.

    The hoodlums, they alleged, are acting for a certain family which is claiming ownership of the land. Many houses have been destroyed beyond repair, while most residents have fled into hiding.

    The residents are accusing the Carrena family of wilfully destroying their homes and threatening to kill the residents who no longer enjoy peace, day and night.

    According to the residents, the family is laying claim to three streets in the community, Arowolo, Segun Akinola and Abiodun Onitiri, which accommodate about 200 houses and over 5,000 residents.

    The residents spoke with The Nation in hiding on condition of anonymity for fear of attacks. An elder in the community and a landlord, who has been living there since 1976, said none of his fellow landlords is below 65 years.

    Elder Adenrele Adeleye was in fear while speaking with The Nation. He said when they bought the land from the original owners – the Iyanru family – they were not aware of any case, adding that they had been living safely until August 2009 when the Carrena family appeared for the first time, claiming ownership of every house there, having won a case over the land at the Supreme Court.

    Another landlord, Elder Adenrele, said he bought his land in 1976 with a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the Lagos State Government with approved building plan.

    Another old landlord said the Carrena family was demanding N6 million per plot from them and had refused every entreaty to accept a lower amount. “The cheques of N1 million each that some of us sent to them were returned,” he said.

    The resident said to settle the matter amicably, they approached the state Ministry of Justice, following which lawyers to both parties picked February 27 to meet with the ministry, but before that day, over 20 hoodlums invaded the community, firing gun shots and causing wanton destruction of their property.

    “We have suffered huge losses; we can no longer stay in our homes,” said an old widow and a landlady in one of the streets. She said about 14 landlords/landladies had died within the last four years since their trouble began.

    She said she had been informed that the family was planning to bring caterpillars to demolish their houses for refusing to move out or pay N6 million per plot as demanded.

    The family’s lawyer, Mrs Bisi Awonuga, told The Nation on phone that the family first got judgment on the land in 1987 and a Supreme Court judgment in 2008, but the residents still refused to vacate for her clients whose father bought the said land in 1931. “We have done execution; we went with bailiffs and the police to execute the judgment. I am their lawyer, but I can only advise them; they have the right to take over their property. I cannot stop them,” she said.