The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Badagry communities seek N100b compensation

    Badagry communities seek N100b compensation

    Three communities in Badagry Local Government Area have instituted a legal action Lagos State and the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged demolition of 1,500 houses in the communities. They are demanding N100billion as damages from the respondents.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police Lagos, Area Commander Area K Police Command, Ministry of Police Affairs and Lagos Task Force on Environment and Special Offences Unit are the respondents.

    Others are: Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lands Bureau, Lagos Attorney-General and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    The communities that were represented by 23 of their leaders are Atinporome, Araromi Ale Extension and Mowo Phase 2.

    The applicants said the houses were demolished by the police on December 16 and 17 last year and that a six-month-old baby was killed in one of the houses in the process.

    The demolition of their houses without prior notice or valid court order violates their fundamental human rights under Sections 33, 34, 36,43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution, they said.

    According to them, the respondents carried out the act despite a subsisting order against them over the same matter in a suit before the Badagry High Court. The applicants also sought N5million as the cost of filing the case.

    According to them, a letter dated December 14, 2013, written to them by the police, specifically mentioned Agemowo/Agelado Mowo via Badagry as the community whose residents are encroaching on the Force’s land.

    They claimed that contrary to the letter, the police stormed their communities – Atinporome, Araromi Ale Extension and Mowo Phase 2 – at about 4.30am on December 16 to begin the demolition.

    Over 100 armed policemen, 16 Black maria and 12 bulldozers were said to have committed the act, despite their reply to the police on December 15, indicating that their communities ought not to be demolished.

    In an affidavit, one of the applicants, Chief Charles Adu, who is chairman of Atinporome Development Association, stated: “On December 16, 2013, over 500 houses were demolished; on December 17, 2013, the agents of the respondents continued the said demolition and 1,000 houses others were demolished, rendering the residents homeless.”

    He said their valuables worth billions of naira were destroyed while many who took pictures were arrested, detained and had their phones seized.

    “No resident was allowed to pick anything from their houses before rendering us homeless,” the applicant said.

    The affidavit also states that about 72 residents were arrested and detained by the police in the course of the demolition, while four residents died from shock.

    “We have run into serious loss to the tune of billions of naira as a result of collateral damage on our house and property and being suddenly put out of shelter,” the applicant added.

    The December 14 letter by the Police Commissioner to the Baale of Atipo Rome, Mowo-Morogbo Chief Joshua Medepo, is entitled: “Encroachment of Police Land Located at Agemowo/Agelado Mowo via Badagry.”

    The letter, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin) F. G. Ogundeji, read: “This is to inform you about the encroachment on the above land measuring 64.429 hectres by some persons believed to be your subjects.

    “The land which was duly allocated to the Nigeria Police by the Lagos State Government with C of O No.33/33/2009 is meant for the building of housing units for its personnel. The project will commence anytime from now.

    “You are hereby put on notice and requested to warn all those on the land to vacate immediately to pave way for hitch-free execution of the project by the developer. Your cooperation in this regard is highly solicited, please.”

    Yesterday was the third court session on the matter but none of the respondents responded to the suit, it was learnt.

    A lawyer from the Lagos Attorney-General’s office confirmed being served with the suit, but said they needed time to respond. Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned till Friday.

  • Customs arrests passenger with $1.9m

    A passenger carrying $1,909,140 allegedly in his luggage was arrested yesterday by the Customs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    Customs Airport Command spokesperson Mrs Thelma Williams identified the passenger as Mr Ani Paulinus Onyeka, who came into the country aboard ASKY Airlines flight from Congo Democratic Republic.

    She said the passenger did not declare the cash, which was found after physical examination by Customs personnel at the baggage hall.

    Mrs Williams said: “During the inward clearance of ASKY flight No: KP 041 from Congo Democratic Republic on February 9, 2014 about 12:30hrs, Mr Ani Paulinus Onyeka with Nigeria Passport No A00923933, upon normal routine examination, his luggage was found to contain one million, six hundred and twenty thousand US dollars ($1,620,000USD), carefully concealed.

    “On physical counting of the money, it was discovered to be one million, nine hundred and nine thousand and forty USD ($1,909,140USD) as against the 1,620,000 dollars earlier discovered when the passenger was apprehended. The passenger and the said currency have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives for further investigation.”

  • Lithuania celebrates in Lagos

    A cocktail party to mark the 2014 Lithuania National Day in Nigeria will be hosted by the Honorary Consul of Republic of Lithuania in Nigeria, Mr Goodie Ibru, on Sunday, at the Federal Palace Hotel and Casino, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The yearly event will attract captains of industry, diplomats and other dignitaries.

  • Kingship tussle: Court rejects monarch’s bid to testify

    Lagos High Court refused yesterday the request of the Onibeju of Ibeju in Lekki, Lagos, Rafiu Salami, to testify in a case over his appointment as a traditional ruler by the state government.

    His lawyer, Mr Gbenga Ojo, prayed for leave permitting Salami to call five more witnesses. But Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi ruled that Ojo did not list the monarch as one of his witnesses at the Case Management (pre-trial) stage.

    Besides, he said Ojo could have cross-examined Salami when he testified on subpoena for the claimant.

    In the suit, the claimant, Omo Oba Taofeek Adegboyega Odukoya is praying the court to declare that he had been nominated by the Ladeseso Ruling House and kingmakers for installation as the Onibeju of Ibeju.

    He sought a declaration that a publication in Lagos State Official Gazette on the appointment of Salami as the Onibeju is contrary to the customary law of Ibejuland, among others.

    Governor Babatunde Fashola, Attorney-General Ade Ipaye; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Ibeju Lekki Local Government Council; Prince Samilu Ogunlana, Salami and Babatunde Odunaiya are the defendants.

    Dismissing the application, Justice Olateru-Olagbegi said Salami decided at the early stage of the trial not to testify for himself.

    The judge said the monarch testified on all the issues when the claimant’s lawyer brought him to court on subpoena, adding that his testimony is for the benefit of all parties in the case.

    “The sixth defendant is at liberty to rely on his evidence on subpoena, not withstanding that he was called by his adversary,” the judge said.

    He added that, in effect, the monarch testified when PW12 testified on his behalf.

    The judge held that Salami coming to testify again “is not of any value, but for the purpose of ritual.”

    “To grant this application will only achieve one thing: cause unnecessary delay. The application is valueless, time-wasting and without merit.”

    On Ojo’s claim that he wanted an additional kingmaker to testify, the judge said more than one of them had already testified.

    The judge added that bringing back Salami to testify again would be like “going on another adventure.”

    The monarch’s lawyer had prayed the court to allow him call the witnesses to testify based on their depositions before the court.

    He said one of the witnesses would tender the instrument of recognition issued to Salami by the government, while the kingmaker would testify on his and others’ role in a monarch’s appointment.

    The claimant’s counsel, Chief Olusegun Raji opposed the application, saying it was calculated to cause delay in the case.

    He said the document Ojo talked about could be tendered from the Bar, and not necessarily through a witness.

    Raji added that the applicant waited for four years to call his witnesses, adding that it was part of the monarch’s delay tactics.

    After dismissing the application for being “misconceived”, the judge asked Ojo if he was ready to tender the Letter of Recognition from the Bar. The lawyer declined. The judge, however, granted Ojo’s requested to bring one more witness who is among those he earlier listed.

    Justice Olateru-Olagbegi adjourned till February 18 for continuation of hearing.

  • Two electrocuted, five injured after rain

    Two electrocuted, five injured after rain

    Two persons were electrocuted and five others injured following yesterday’s rain in some parts of Lagos.

    The incident occurred at the Soluos Hotel bus stop on Igando Road, Lagos.

    Eyewitnesses said the incident was caused by the rain water that dripped from a high-tension electric cable. “The cable did not snap, but the wire that ought to go to the earth from the high-tension cable had cut; so, the rain water that dripped from the cable conducted electricity and when it splashed on them, they were electrocuted,” a source said.

    The victims were a middle-aged woman, simply identified as Mama Bose and a young man, said to be a commercial motorcyclist, who was trying to rescue her. Others were injured.

    An eyewitness, Mr Moshood Balogun, told The Nation that seven persons were affected. Two died on the spot; those injured were taken to undisclosed hospitals.

    Balogun, who described the woman as a nice person, said her daughter, who rushed to her aid, was injured. He said some policemen came to remove the bodies from the spot.

    Asked if there was any problem with the high-tension cable before, Balogun said residents usually experienced occasional sparks whenever there was power supply, adding that PHCN (Power Holding Company of Nigeria) workers were aware of the problems.

    When The Nation visited the two PHCN stations at Igando and its office on Ezeanowi Street, no official was around to speak on the matter.

  • EFCC quizzes lawyer over N70m dud cheques

    EFCC quizzes lawyer over N70m dud cheques

    Lagos-based lawyer and principal partner of LPC Solicitors, Ms. Shade Ogundare, is being quizzed by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ikoyi, Lagos for allegedly issuing N70 million dud cheques to her clients – Oyemade Royal Family of Onibeju – being proceeds from the sale of a land belonging to the family in Eti-Osa, Lagos.

    She was arrested following a petition by Nickezab and Associates, solicitors and property consultants to Banjoko, Oyetubo and Okun-Ade, the three branches that constitute the Oyemade Royal Family for alleged lack of accountability and gross embezzlement of the family funds.

    The petition dated November, 18, 2013, which was received by the EFCC on November 20, same year, detailed the alleged “fraudulent dealings and sale of Oyemade Royal Family land by Ms. Shade Ogundare and her cohorts worth over four billion naira.”

    The petition reads in part: “That Oyemade Royal Family is the true owner of all that expanse of land situated at Oni-Ibeju Sangotedo Village in Eti-Osa Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, measuring 201 hectares covered by a Certificate of Occupancy No. 75/75/1996AE.

    “That the Certificate of Occupancy was obtained in respect of the land on behalf of the family in the family’s holding company’s name, Oyetubo Joko T’ Ade Est Resources Ltd with RC No. 278537. That Ms. Shade Ogundare was appointed by the family/company as an attorney for the purpose of sale, dealings, transaction of monies accruing to the family/company and which appointment has since been revoked.

    “That the said Ms. Shade Ogundare has been dealing and carrying out transaction on the said land for over 15 years now without making or reconciling accounts with the family or the company as this act has left members of the family impoverished. She has swindled our clients to the tune of over N4 billion.

    “That apart from this heinous financial crime against the family, she has resorted to harassment and intimidation of our clients whenever they demanded that she settle accounts. She has equally put her stooge, Mr Kelechi Mbagwu, on the land who has now employed the services of mobile police officers who harass and intimidate our clients.”

    Upon interrogation by the EFCC in the presence of members of the families, she allegedly said: “When the cheques could not be cleared, I transferred the money into their accounts.” EFCC promised to investigate her claim and granted her bail.

    After fruitless attempts to get Ms. Ogundare’s comments, her lawyer, Mr Bosun Osifowora, who spoke on phone, declined comments because the case is still being investigated by the EFCC.

     

  • Alarm over rising fires

    The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, has raised the alarm over the spate of fire outbreaks across the state.

    He said the service recorded 153 cases across the state from January till date and urged residents to be cautious of using electrical appliances.

    Fadipe said: “Though we recorded 119 fire cases in January this year, against the 283 cases recorded last year, this year’s figure is alarming because we did not witness the kind of dry season witnessed last year,” Fadipe said.

    Fadipe, who said the data for February has not been compiled, confirmed that no fewer than 34 fire outbreaks have been attended to since February 1.

    “On February 3, we responded to nine emergency calls including a building at Femi Okunnu Estate, Lekki, where a trapped 10-year-old boy was rescued.

    “Similarly, on February 4, we attended to five fire emergency calls including one at 283, Abeokuta Expressway, Pleasure Bus Stop, Iyana Ipaja, which claimed the life of an eight-month-old baby, Nifemi.

    “On Thursday, February 6, we responded to four calls out of which fire razed two rooms in a male hostel at the Yaba College of Technology. Our prompt response prevented the spread of fire to other rooms and floors of the four-storey building complex. Among many others, another serious fire outbreak was recorded on Williams Street, Ifako Gbagada, on Monday which two fire trucks attended to. The Gbagada incident was the ninth within 24 hours. We had earlier attended to a case of an adult male of about 75 years, who fell into a well. He was recovered dead,” he said.

     

  • Pastor needs N5m to live

    Pastor needs N5m to live

    The situation is getting almost hopeless for Femi Alao, a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He is bed-ridden with a life-threatening kidney ailment for which he needs N5million for kidney transplant in order to live to tell his story.

    The Ikere-Ekiti-born zonal pastor of the RCCG in Ikoom, Cross Rivers State was struck by the ailment about two years ago. Since then, his chance of survival has remained hung in the balance with a weekly dialysis to the rescue. He is currently in critical condition at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ido-Ekiti.

    A few days ago, the 42-year-old cleric who had earlier served in places like Erijiyan-Ekiti, Awo-Ekiti, Iseyin in Oyo State and Obubra, Cross Rivers State, was taken from FMC, Ido-Ekiti to Calabar to attend a state-sponsored crusade anchored by the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. He was, however, unable to see the respected man of God for his anticipated deliverance.

    Not ready to leave things to chances, Alao’s younger brother, Anthony, in a letter dated January 17, 2014, sought the assistance of Ekiti State Government through the Office of the Commissioner for Health in order to raise funds for the kidney transplant. The family is still waiting for government’s intervention to restore his health.

    Speaking with The Nation, Alao’s younger brother, Deji, said: “His worsening plight has become the source of a major headache for us in the family. For him to live, he needs kidney transplant that can be done either in Ilorin or at the Kano University Teaching Hospital (KUTH). The cost of which is over N5 million, according to doctors treating him at FMC in Ido-Ekiti.”

    “We have spent a lot on his treatment, especially on the weekly dialysis which costs thousands of naira. We have written letters to Ekiti State Government, the leadership of RCCG and our town’s union, asking for financial support for his kidney transplant. We are confident that our ever-responsive state government and the RCCG’s leadership as well as all the people we have reached out to, will come to our son’s aid. We want Nigerians also to assist us in getting our brother out of his frightening condition.”

    Nigerians who might be willing to help, Deji said, should call him on 07035457369, 08034365192 or 08062634830.”

  • Amosun mourns slain Newswatch editor

    Amosun mourns slain Newswatch editor

    Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has expressed deep shock and heartfelt condolences to the management and staff of Newswatch Newspapers Limited, and the family of late Mr. Toyin Obadina, who was killed by suspected armed robbers last week.

    In a release signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Amosun described the killing of Mr Obadina, who was the deputy editor, Sunday Newswatch, as “gruesome and most regrettable.

    “It is more painful that the deceased was killed while returning home from work as a journalist, after practising his profession with passion for decades”, he added.

    The governor urged security agencies to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice.

  • Cobbler docked for allegedly defiling twins

    The Police in Lagos yesterday charged a 23-year-old cobbler before an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping six-year-old twins.

    The defendant, Yusuf Ojuolape, a resident of 23, Okearin Street, Lagos Island, is facing a charge of defilement of the two minors.

    Prosecuting Inspector Richard Odigie told the court that the crime was committed between January 18 and 22 at the defendant’s residence.

    “The defendant and the mother of the victims live in the same house; the victims live in the second flat, while the defendant resides on the ground floor. The victims accused the defendant and another – still at large – of inserting their fingers into their private parts on six previous occasions without their mother’s knowledge.

    “The victim’s mother was bathing the victims and she noticed swollen parts on their bodies. She asked them and they said the defendant assaulted them. Immediately, she went to the defendant’s flat, but nobody was around. The victims became scared anytime they passed by the defendant’s apartment while on errand. The victims’ mother reported the case at the Adeniji Adele Police Station and the defendant was arrested while the other culprit is still at large,” Odigie said.

    According to the prosecutor, the alleged offence contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail by Magistrate S.O. Solebo in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

    Solebo ordered that a proper medical check be conducted on the victims at a General Hospital since the medical report presented by the prosecution was “not clear.” The matter was adjourned till March 3 for mention.