The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • ‘Solution to Celestial Church crisis’

    The leadership crisis rocking the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) won’t end unless its leaders adhere strictly to the instructions of its late founder, Pastor Samuel Bilewu Oshoffa, by recognising the church in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, which he first established as its supreme headquarters.”

    This was the admonition of Rev. Pastor Bennett Akande Adeogun, the church’s Supreme Head Worldwide, during a sermon at this year’s harvest thanksgiving held in Porto Novo.

    Adeogun said the crisis was occasioned by greed and selfishness on the part of some leaders of the church, especially those in the Nigerian diocese, whom he accused of flouting the laid down rules and regulations of the late Oshoffa.

    “Pastor/Reverend Oshoffa did the job according to how he was directed by God and what the founder planted is what we are improving upon. This church was established by the holy spirit and not by human wisdom, knowledge or power,” he stressed, adding: “What we are doing here is in accordance with the order of the founder as commanded by God, and which must be obeyed by all faithful of the Celestial Church of Christ all over the world.”

    Pastor Patrice Lashile, first Vice President, said unless every member recognises the Port-Novo church as the mother of all celestial churches, there will continue to be leadership crisis in the fold.

    He said any pastor that was not ordained by the Porto Novo church is not a bona fide member and warned pastors who claimed to have been ordained by other persons apart from Pastor Adeogun to stop doing pastoral work in the name of the church.

  • Tears as robbers storm community

    Tears as robbers storm community

    The residents had smiled to bed after a fulfilling day. But, just when some of them who were still “alive” should celebrate the birth of a new day, the devil struck, leaving in its wake, tears and bloodshed.

    It was on Sunday. Idowu Crescent, Community Road and Ariya Street – all in Adalemo, Sango area of Ogun State – were the theatre of what many a victim described as an unforgettable ordeal.

    Armed robbers – for the second time in a week – swooped on the neighbourhood without let. As they shot their ways into homes, beating and maiming residents, they looted valuables, especially money. Their prey could only groan in pitiable helplessness.

    The operation, it was gathered, began around 12am and lasted hours. Several houses, it was said, fell victim to the invasion by the unwelcomed visitors who reportedly shot sporadically into the air to scare off security agents.

    “They blew whistles like typical night guards while the operation lasted. So, many of us mistook them for local security guards,” said a resident.

    A victim a landlady on Idowu Crescent, Mrs Osho a.k.a Mummy Solo, said she was thoroughly beaten when she refused to handed over her bag containing her money and gold to them.

    “As they came in, they demanded money and I said I had none. They asked for gold; I said I had none. One of them pointed gun at my daughter, Bose, when she too said she didn’t have money and that she was an apprentice. Then, I said my last prayers. Another one ordered them to fire us if we refused to cooperate. They vowed not to leave our house if we didn’t surrender money or gold to them. To avoid wasting our lives, I handed over all I had to them,” she recalled, sobbing.

    Another victim, who simply gave his name as Mrs Linus, said she was “mercilessly pounded” and hit with an iron in her head as she didn’t have anything to offer them.

    “As they came into our house, about four men entered my room and ordered me to bring out my money. I replied that I had no kobo. And after thoroughly searching the room and found no penny, except my faulty mobile phone, one of them, in annoyance, smashed the phone on the floor. Another one hit my head with the iron rod of my standing fan. He said he would have fired me but for my cooperation,” still in shock, Mrs Linus said.

    It was gathered also that another victim, Mr Akeem, who lost his wife while delivering a baby about three months ago, was angrily shot in the leg when nothing was found on him. He was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

    It was the same tale of woes on the other affected streets. While many of them said security must be seen as a responsibility that should not be left only for night guards, most others urged government to strengthen security of lives and property, especially in the suburbs.

  • Four Boko Haram suspects arraigned over ‘plot’ to attack Kirikiri Prison

    Four Boko Haram suspects arraigned over ‘plot’ to attack Kirikiri Prison

    The Federal Government yesterday arraigned four persons at the Federal High Court, Lagos for allegedly belonging to the proscribed Boko Haram sect.

    The accused persons are: Adamu Mohammed, Mohammed Mustapha, Bura Hassaini and Mohammed Ibrahim.

    The first and second defendants allegedly plotted to attack the Kirikiri Maximum Prison to free their members held in custody.

    Security was tight at the court yesterday as armed State Security Services (SSS) officers mounted guard around the premises.

    The charge, numbered FHC/L/316c/13, was signed by E. K. Ugwu, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    In the first count, the government said the four, sometime in June/July at Wasein, a hideout at Orile-Iganmu area, Apapa, Lagos, and at 3, Denton Street, Yaba, within the court’s jurisdiction, were arrested by a team of security agents “for belonging to a proscribed organisation to wit: Boko Haram sect.”

    The prosecution said the accused persons committed an offence contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and punishable under Section 2 (3) (i), read in conjunction with Section 33 (1) (b) of the Act as amended by the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) 2013.

    In the second count, the government alleged that Mohammed and Mustapha, with others at large, on or about June 26 at Wasein, conspired “to commit a felony to wit: act of terrorism by organising a planned attack of the Kirikiri Prison in Lagos State to free your detained members in prison custody.”

    The alleged offence, the government said, is contrary to Section 8 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under Section 8 (1) of the same Act.

    The prosecution also alleged that Hassaini in 2012/2013 at Bama, Borno State, within the Federal High Court jurisdiction, “did commit a felony to wit: acts of terrorism, in that you assisted or facilitated the activities of a proscribed organisation to wit: Boko Haram sect members by monitoring the activities of the security agents and reported your findings on phone to the leadership of the Boko Haram sect headed by one Yamodu in the area, so as to evade arrest and investigation.”

    Following Ugwu’s oral application, the charge was read in English and explained to the accused persons in Hausa language.

    The court, presided over by Justice Saliu Saidu, asked each of them: “Do you understand the charge read to you?”

    Theys all responded in the affirmative, but pleaded not guilty.

    “I am not guilty,” each of them said.

    Ugwu said: “In view of the plea of the accused persons, we pray for a date for trial, while the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.”

    Justice Saidu ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the trial till December 12.

  • Job seeker ‘rapes’ groundnut seller

    A job seeker, Muselium Dele, was yesterday charged with allegedly raping a 19-year-old groundnut seller at an Itire Magistrate’s Court, Surulere, Lagos State.

    Dele, 25, who resides at Lawanson in the Surulere area, is also being tried for alleged conspiracy.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Olakunle Shonibare, told the court that the accused, with others at large, committed the offences on September 18 at 45, Anjorin Street, Lawanson.

    He said the accused lured the teenager into his apartment under the pretext of buying groundnut and raped her.

    The offences, Shonibare noted, contravene Sections 258 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Section 258 prescribes life imprisonment for offenders.

    The accused, however, pleaded innocence and the Magistrate, Mrs A. O. Gbajumo, granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She adjourned the case till November 14 and directed that the case file should be forwarded to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

  • Foundation, firm endorse Power Oil

    The Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) and the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) have endorsed Power Oil vegetable oil as suitable for the heart because it is cholesterol-free. Likewise, NSN endorsed Power Oil because laboratory tests also revealed the product contains other nutrients that would improve consumers’ health.

    Speaking during an event in Lagos, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, Executive Director (NHF) said due to its cholesterol-free components, Power Oil was indeed ideal for the heart and would go a long way towards ensuring cardiovascular health in the country. “Our plan is to meet the World Health Organisation’s target to reduce the number of cardiovascular deaths by 25 percent before 2025. Products like Power Oil will help us achieve that goal,” he declared.

    During the media launch of Power Oil in Lagos, the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have also given Power Oil their backing.

    Engineer Fred Akingbesote, Head, MANCAP, SON, said the vegetable oil brand had scaled a very demanding tripartite test for standards and could be reckoned with in the market.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Power Oil, Mr. Deepak Singhal, said of the certification: “This certification and the huge patronage that Power Oil enjoys in the market prove it is the ideal vegetable oil brand for the health-conscious.”

    He also assured that the heart-friendly vegetable oil would go a long way to check the consumption of adulterated oil which many Nigerians had been patronising when quality oil was still unaffordable.

  • Traditional ruler seeks development

    The traditional ruler of Ajah community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Chief Fatai Abiodun Olumegbon has bemoaned the lack of a government secondary school in his domain.

    He said the state has only built a junior secondary school in the community.

    The monarch urged government to do more to address poverty, which he said, was the root-cause of all the indices of insecurity in the country.

    Olumegbon sought tolerance and understanding among Nigerians, urging them to meditate on the benefits the nation can derive from a greater display of honesty and peaceful co-existence with others.

  • Speech contest holds today

    The Tola Olukilede International Ministry, in conjunction with Heal The World Mission International, will tomorrow hold its Prefect Summit/Speech Competition at the Banquet Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

    The President/Coordinator of Heal the World Mission International, Pastor Tola Olukilede, who spoke with reporters at the church’s headquarters in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, said that the competition is to motivate young people to participate in community development and be agents of positive change.

    He said that the competition’s draw, which started in November last year, was held in the six education districts, adding that 30 students from 30 different schools, public and private, competed against one another in each district, with the first five best performances from each regional draw qualifying for the final.

    “It will feature speech competition among 30 schools in six educational districts of Lagos State. Winners will enjoy three-year scholarship, computers, printers, books and automatic membership of World Changers Club”, he said.

     

  • Robbers spoil Sallah for community

    For residents of Sabainah Taiwo and its environs in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, this year’s Sallah was celebrated on a sour note. Reason: Armed robbers had, last Friday, swooped on the community, dispossessing them of the money they had saved to buy rams.

    The bandits, numbering over 25, The Nation learnt, stormed about six streets in the neighbourhood, about 1:am that fateful day and had a free reign till 5am.

    “It was a day of terror. They broke doors with bullets and carted away various sums of money and phone sets. They asked me for the money I had saved to buy ram. In order not to lose my life, I surrendered the N120,000 I had at gun-point. I’m yet to recover from the shock,” a victim, who simply gave his name as Mukaila, told The Nation yesterday.

    “The shock of the incident killed an ailing woman the following day. A man sustained machete cuts on his head. He had suffered the same fate two previous times armed robbers laid siege to the area,” said another victim, who described his experience as hellish.

    Many a resident, it was learnt, had fled the area owing to incessant robbery attacks coupled with the “unbearable” activities of hoodlums and cultists.

    “In fact, what we have been undergoing here is horrible. Day and night, we live in fear of attacks by armed robbers and thugs who have become demi-gods. They make trouble and go scot-free. Security agencies dare not touch them; we are living in real hell,” a resident, who craved anonymity, said.

     

  • Ejigbo gets fire service station

    To reduce the huge losses associated with fire incidents, the Kehinde Bamigbetan-led administration in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, has begun the construction of the first Fire Service Station in the council area.

    Bamigbetan said the sad experiences from past fire incidents in the area gave birth to the project, which is situated opposite the council’s secretariat.

    According to him, the station, now ready for roofing, consists of five rest rooms, information office and two offices with toilet facility.

    He said it also comprises six columns upon which the steel roofing shall be constructed to serve as shelter for fire bus.

    Bamigbetan, who said the project is being financed by the council, assured that it would be commissioned before the end of the year.

     

  • CORRECTION: www.nigeriapropertycentre.com

    CORRECTION

    On September 18, 2013, we published on our website a press statement by the Lagos State government accusing a property website  www.nigeriapropertycentre.com of providing false information purportedly from government and requesting  payment to a certain bank account on the Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS).

    We have since confirmed that the accusations are not true.

    We regret the error.

    Editor