The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Yes, I deal in narcotics, man tells court

    A 25-year-old man, Kunle Adetoso, yesterday pleaded guilty to dealing in banned narcotic during his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) charged him with a one-count offence of dealing in 320 grammes of cannabis sativa, a banned substance with similar effects as heroine and cocaine.

    The prosecutor, Orji Kalu, said Adetoso committed the offence on September 23 last year in the Agbado Oja, Ifako Area of Lagos.

    The offence, he said, contravenes Section 11 (C) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation 2004.

    Justice Okon Abang ordered that Adetoso be remanded in prison custody after he pleaded guilty. He adjourned till March 13 “for a summary review of the facts of the case.”

    Kunle Adetoso

     

  • NDLEA finds 9.2kg drug in palm oil

    NDLEA finds 9.2kg drug in palm oil

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has aborted a plot to export 9.2 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed inside palm oil to South Africa.

    The discovery was made during the screening of cargoes on a South African Airline flight at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

    A taxi driver, who brought the consignment, was arrested by the anti-narcotic officials.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar, said: “A taxi driver, Okwuokei Peter, has been arrested for attempting to export 9.2kilogrammes of methamphetamine to South Africa. The drug was packed in 41 parcels and hidden inside a gallon containing palm oil,” Umar stated.

    The suspect, in his statement, said: “I thought I was doing one of my passengers a favour; little did I know that it would land me in a big trouble. He called me and asked me to collect a gallon of palm oil from somebody. When I got to an estate junction as directed by him, a young man walked up to me and asked if I was Peter; I said ‘yes.’ Then, he gave me the gallon of sealed palm oil. At the airport, it was found to contain drugs during search. In fact, I am speechless, confused and frustrated.”

    Peter, who hails from Delta State, lives in Lagos with his wife and four children.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade urged the public to shun drug trafficking.

    “Ignorance is not an excuse under the Act. If you are not sure that consignment is drug-free, then do not take it for export; otherwise you are liable. People must be cautious,” Giade stated.

    He added: “Section 11, sub-section ‘B’ of the NDLEA Act states that anybody who, without lawful authority export, transports or otherwise traffic the drug popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroine or any other similar drugs, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • Advice for expectant mothers

    The Chairman of Mushin Local Government in Lagos State, Hon Olatunde Adepitan has urged expectant mothers to patronise the Primary Health care Centre (PHC) closest to them for antenatal care.

    He spoke when he visited the Omodigbo PHC in the area to present gifts to the 1st baby delivered at the centre in the New Year.

    Adepitan said the medical personnel at the centre were qualified, experienced and gentle with the patients, pointing out the fact that they all attended universities as those in General Hospitals and private hospitals.

    He assured expectant mothers of safe delivery at the centres.

    Adepitan said advised parents of babies delivered in his domain early in the year to start some businessed with which they could cater for the welfare of their babies.

    He praised the mothers for considering the PHC suitable for the delivery of their babies and urged the medical personnel to be more friendly with pregnant women.

    n order to encourage them to patronize the centre.

     

    The Mother of the 1st baby of the year Mrs Aishat Lawal thanked the Chairman for the gesture, She promised to train the baby with the money donated to the family, urging other pregnant women to take advantage of the free medical care at the centre.

     

    Mrs. Moji adeshina also thanked the Chairman and Mrs. Lara Adedeji

     

    Dr Obani, the Medical Officer of Health explained that the delivery of the 1st baby of the year was without any stress to the medical personnels pointing out the fact that both the mother and the baby were in good condition for discharge to the families.

     

  • Cleric seeks jobs for youths

    Massive unemployment has made youths in the country to become elements of destabilisation and threat to socio-economic peace as more of them are now used by unscrupulous politicians to cause mayhem in the country.

    Archbishop Magnus Atilade, who said this at the 13thBiennial Graduation Ceremony at the Nigeria Opportunities Industrialisation Centres (NOIC

    ), Lagos, lamented the factors encouraging youth unemployment, saying it is dangerous to the society.

    “This massive unemployment among the youth and the unpalatable economic situation in the country have reached a devastating peak, leading to Boko Haram, kidnapping, assassination, ritual killing, armed robbery, advanced fee fraud and internet crimes with the youths actively involved in the social and moral vices,” Atilade said

    He bemoaned the wastage of the nation’s wealth through high-level corruption among politicians, saying if government at the federal, state and local levels would reinvest in the youth, peace and tranquility would abound in the nation with improved economy.

    About 1,000 youths graduated from the institute with training in marketable vocations in line with their educational backgrounds.

    The institute’s Executive Director, Mr Kehinde Abiola, urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to partner with NOIC to tackle the lingering unemployment problem in the country.

    He said NOIC is “about impacting marketable skills that will enable young people acquire self employed jobs skills and be self-reliant, live meaningful lives and also employ others.

    “We are appealing for assistance from governments at all levels, corporate organisations and concerned stakeholders to join us to put an end to the issue of unemployment in Nigeria within the shortest possible time.”

    To ensure that the trainees do not lose sight of their goals, a national revolution scheme, he said, was set up to give loans to its graduate trainees to enable them set up their businesses while the NOIC officials follow up the business with regular visits and organising seminars and workshops.

  • Suspected highway robber held

    Suspected highway robber held

    Eight days ago, as a free man, he led his gang on a mission. His dreaded five-man armed robbery gang attacked passengers in a Lagos-bound luxury bus belonging to GC Okoli Transport Company on its way from Sagamu in Ogun State.

    Today, he is in the net of the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which caught him while others fled.

    The suspect, Mmaduabuchi Ibe (37), a sculptor, was paraded yesterday by the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP), who said he was arrested in one of the vehicles snatched by his gang at Sagamu.

    Braide said the suspect was wearing a fake bullet proof vest when he was caught. She said the operatives were still on the trail of the fleeing suspects, noting that Ibe would be charged to court after investigations.

    Ibe said poverty and frustration led him into robbery, explaining: “I met members of my gang, Monday, IK, Sunday and Miracle, at Oyingbo where we slept under the bridge in a nearby smoking joint. After narrating to them my problems and frustrations and how I left Ghana for Senegal to look for job, how things became worse and how I returned to Nigeria. They told me they had a job and asked me to drive them. It was Sunday and IK that wore the bullet-proof vest made of polythene.”

    Ibe revealed that the gang attacked two commercial buses at Sagamu on the New Year Eve, but said they did not get anything from the first bus because the whole passengers ran into the bush. In the second bus, he said they “captured” seven passengers and dispossessed them of money and phone sets. However, he said not get a kobo because the loot was yet to be shared when he was arrested.

    He urged Commissioner of Police Umar Manko to forgive him because they only operated with wooden guns that were mere toys. He said he would help the police to arrest his accomplices and other criminals in Oyingbo if released and allowed to join the police.

    Officer-in-Charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the suspect was correct that their bullet-proof vests and guns were made in Nigeria, but said it is incredible that they could intimidate passengers with polythene-made bullet-proof vests and toy guns.

    Ngozi Braide

     

  • FRSC warns traffic offenders

    FRSC warns traffic offenders

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists to adhere to driving regulations to checkmate road accidents, adding that the corps would no longer tolerate indiscipline among the drivers.

    Its Ogun State Sector Commander, Mr Adegoke Adetunji, made the plea at the mobile court programme of the command, which was held both at the Magistrate Court 2, Isabo, Abeokuta and the Sagamu Unit Command office, Sagamu, Ogun State.

    Adetunji said utmost discipline is expected of drivers, adding that compliance with traffic rules can only reduce crashes on the roads.

    He warned motorists to ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles, stressing that violators of traffic rules would henceforth be prosecuted in the mobile courts established by the corps at strategic areas on the highways.

    The Sector Command’s Legal Officer, Mr Uzoma Enwereuzo, said 55 traffic offenders had been prosecuted for various offences during the mobile court exercise for offences ranging from Overloading Violation (OVL), Driver’s Licence Violation (DLV), driving with worn-out tyres, Seat belt Use Violation (SUV), Vehicle Windshield Violation (VWV) driving with expired tyres and many others.

    Enwereuzo said some of the offenders were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms with options of fine, while others were cautioned.

    The Sagamu Unit Commander, Mr Ben Akunne, also admonished drivers to drive safely and ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy before setting out for journeys.

    He also cautioned that they must avoid phone calls while driving and driving under influence of alcohol etc.

  • Your future is bright, Nigerians told

    Nigerians have been advised not to see their personal problems and the political/socio-economic calamities besetting the nation as insurmountable.

    The clerics, who gave the advice at the 4th Annual Convention of the Evergreen Christian Church of God (ECCG), which was held at its auditorium (Home Touch Building), Obanikoro in Lagos, assured that better days lay ahead.

    The guest speaker at the convention with the theme, “Joy has come,” Rev Charles Achonwa, who gave a soul-searching sermon to the thick congregation, prophesied that the difficulties being faced by Nigerians and Nigeria would sooner than expected, be over.

    “….Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning,” he said, quoting from Psalm 30: 5. He added: “What is happening to Nigerians and Nigeria today and the good news that will follow have biblical precedent; this is why we must keep our hopes alive with unwavering faith in God, The Omnipotent.”

    The host pastor, Philip Babalola, a lawyer, echoed Achonwa’s sermon, ascertaining that after darkness comes a re-assuring dawn, with the admonition that Christians must remain faithful to God “because He is unchanging and ever-faithful to us only if we honestly believe in Him and follow His Commandments to the letter.”

    Thunderous noise of joy erupted in the gathering when Achonwa, armed with his guitar, spiced up the outing with soul-stirring melodious gospel tunes as Babalola led others in spirited dancing.

    Famous Funmi Sax, Healas Acappella and the church’s choir, Spirit Lifters, later took turns to entertain all, thus leading to a dance contest of sorts.

    Babalola said the church’s journey so far, though initially tasking, had offered everyone enough reason to appreciate God for His boundless mercies.

  • OAU Prof yet to be found

    OAU Prof yet to be found

    As universities across the nation get set to reopen after the five-month-old face-off between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government, Prof James Bolarinwa Olomo may not return to work with his colleagues at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    For over two months now, his whereabouts have been a cause for concern for his colleagues, family and indeed, the university’s authorities.

    They have remained persistent in their appeal to the public to provide any information that could lead to his recovery.

    Olomo, a Professor of Nuclear and Medical Physics at the OAU, was said to have left Lagos on Thursday, October 17 by flight for Calabar and later, by road for Eket near Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, supposedly to an oil & gas company, where he is a Radiation Safety Adviser (RSA).

    A statement jointly signed by the school’s chapter of ASUU, Search Committee (Department of Physics); OAU Administration, Otan Aiyegbaju Progressive Union; and the Olomo family, said Olomo was last reached on phone by a colleague from the institution and his secretary on October 19.

    The statement said the matter had since been reported to the police, State Security Service (SSS), Osun and Kwara states government, and major hospitals in Eket, among others.

    The statement urged any Nigerian with useful information to contact OAU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, or representatives of the Olomo family on 08033580020.

    The statement added: “A Yoruba adage says: ‘The demise of a child is more tolerated than his or her disappearance.’ The disappearance of Prof James Bolarinwa Olomo is still a mystery and shock and has dealt a deadly blow to his colleagues, students, friends and relations.

    “The search must continue until he is found and therefore, we need to double our efforts. It is exactly two months and one week now since he disappeared mysteriously.”

  • Teacher charged with ‘defiling’ two pupils

    A 27-year-old teacher, Mohammed Ibrahim, yesterday appeared before an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos Mainland. He was charged with defiling two pupils ages six and 11.

    Ibrahim, of 2, Olaosebikan Street, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos, Mainland is charged with “defiling two minors.”

    The Prosecutor, R. Odigie, an Inspector, said the crime was committed on December 18 about 11 a.m at Al-adab Nursery and Primary School, Abalti Barracks in Surulere.

    He said the accused took the pupils to the school’s toilet and forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of them. “The victims screamed for help and they were rescued by another teacher. An eyewitness reported the accused to the headmaster,” he said.

    Odigie said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. But the accused pleaded not guilty.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.A. Demi-Ajayi, granted the accused bail N1 million with two sureties in the like sum.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she adjourned the case till January 29, 2014.

  • Merchant Navy to boost maritime security

    Merchant Navy to boost maritime security

    Efforts are being stepped up by the Nigeria Merchant Navy (NMN) to ensure maritime security to boost the economy.

    The Head of Department, Training Depot, Lieutenant John Buba, at a Ceremonial Parade at the Merchant Navy Training Depot in Idah, Kogi State, hailed junior officers for displaying professionalism in combating crime on the waterways.

    NMN, he said, could boast of personnel that are technically, physically and mentally prepared to combat local and international crimes.

    He urged the National Assembly to pass the Nigerian Merchant Bill for the nation’s economic growth, and praised the effort of the traditional Nigeria Navy towards safeguarding the Nigerian maritime boundaries.

    The NMN chief, however, stressed that the activities of the traditional Navy do not cover any vessel beyond the country’s maritime boundary, which he said, is why Nigeria, as a country desiring economic growth, needs the services of the Merchant Navy.

    The Head of Department, Medical/PRO Training Depot, Lieutenant Immaculate Aghaulor, said the parade was to show Nigerians and the entire world the readiness of NMN to protect the Nigerian maritime sector to drive the country’s economy.

    Aghaulor said: “Protecting Nigerian waterways from insurgents and contributing to the growth of the maritime sector are some of the goals of the agency.”

    He stressed that among global security agencies, the Merchant Navy is the only agency mandated to proffer security initiatives to vessels that are crossing waterways of different countries. “Therefore, the NMN has acquired the skills needed to monitor the flow of goods into and out of the country to ensure the corporate existence of the nation,” he said.

    The Assistant Intelligence, Training Depot, Nigeria Navy, Idah, Lt. Solomon Ocheja, commended the state governors and traditional leaders who have been supporting the NMN.