Category: Lead

•Intercepts drugs in wedding gown, seizes 1.2 toms of skunk
• Undergraduate, cripple, ex-convict held

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has arrested a man, Ariyibi Ahmed Olaseinde, and a woman, Akanbi Silifat Tunrayo, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos for attempting to export 14.4 kilograms of cocaine concealed in lace and ankara fabrics.

The suspects, the NDLEA said, were going for lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia before their interception on April  19 and 20, at the screening point, Terminal 2, MMIA, during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers travelling from Lagos to Medina through Doha.

Spokesman for the agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, adding that four sets of white lace fabrics with linings of substance that tested positive to cocaine weighing 11.50kg were discovered in  Aribiyi’s carry-on luggage on April 20.

He said the man who claimed he was a widower and an advertising practitioner, said he planned to ingest the drugs but changed his mind after failed attempts to swallow bitter cola.

Babafemi said Ariyibi was to be paid N1.8 million upon successful delivery of the consignment in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

He said the female lesser hajj passenger was intercepted on April 19 by officers at same Terminal 2, with 2.90kg cocaine concealed in Ankara fabrics.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a divorcee and a trader who used to hawk cloths around Awoyaya area of Ajah, Lagos.

“Based on information in her statement, a follow up operation that lasted through the night into the early hours of Thursday, April 20, was carried out and the person who recruited her, Alhaji Adebayo Adeola Wasiu, was arrested at 28, Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos. Adebayo is the managing director of B&T Travel Agency.

“In the same vein, NDLEA officers attached to courier companies have intercepted two drug consignments consisting of ecstasy and skunk going to United Arab Emirates. While the pills of ecstasy were concealed in a gold colour wedding gown, the skunk was hidden in a micro controller.

“This is even as a 400-level Marine Engineering student at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Kelvin Ogenedoro, has been arrested for dealing in 600grams of skunk.

“He was nabbed at the university’s gate in a followup operation following the interception of the consignment in a commercial bus along Tombia-Amassoma road.

“In Adamawa state, a notorious drug dealer, Sunday Ishaku Emzor (aka Lalas), who was convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2010 for drug offences, was on Thursday 20th April arrested for drug dealing.

“He was arrested at Hayin Gada, Imburu Numan LGA where he went to supply 1.650kg cannabis to an undercover operative. His Yellow Press Cub motorcycle used for supplying illicit drugs and a cash of N78,120 suspected to be proceeds of the illegal business were recovered from him at the point of arrest.

“On the same day in Kaduna, operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a truck conveying 110 bags and 200 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 1.223 tons (1,223kg) in Zaria while the truck driver, Adekunle Olanrewaju, 32, and his assistant, Tunde Jamiu, 20, were arrested.

“In Edo State, a 42-year-old cripple, Lucky Aigberenmolen trading in illicit drugs on his wheelchair was arrested in a raid of drug joints in parts of the state. While Lucky was nabbed at Ekpoma, Esan West LGA with 1.3kg of Cannabis Sativa and 10 litres of Monkey Tail, another suspect, Mary David, 46, was arrested at Ugbegun, Esan Central LGA with four litres of Monkey Tail and Osagiede Stephanie, 19, at Ekpoma, with various quantities of Colorado, Methamphetamine, and Molly. A 50kg cannabis stored in a bush ready for distribution was also recovered in Irrua area of the state.

“While two suspects: Adeshina Olalekan and Christopher Joel, were arrested at Lektop hotel, Igbeba, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, with 39 litres of Skuchies, as well as various quantities of tramadol, and rophynol, operatives in Imo State intercepted a female suspect, Ijeoma Anyiam Loreza, 40, at Orogwe, Owerri North with 70 blocks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 30kg.

“A notorious drug dealer in Okitipupa area of Ondo state, Mathew Obateru, 42, has also been taken into custody after different quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Colorado and Loud were recovered from him. In Taraba, a suspect, Mohammed Usman was arrested on Monday 17th April in connection with the seizure of 10,009 pills of tramadol…”

•Govt seals property over non-compliance

A three storey-building under construction yesterday collapsed at the Apapa area of Lagos State.

The building located at 45, Ladipo Oluwo Street, GRA Apapa, was said to have partially caved in as a result of thunderstorm.

The Nation reports that there was heavy rainfall with storms across Lagos State Sunday afternoon which also led to flash floods.

This incident occurred barely a week after a seven storey-building under construction collapsed at Banana Island, killing one person with several others injured.

Although no casualty was recorded as a result of the incident, the state government has sealed the property over alleged non compliance to the provisional approval granted it.

Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Mukaila Sanusi, in a statement Sunday evening said the developers broke government’s seal that mandated a stop work on the property.

Read Also: How three-storey building collapsed in Ibadan

Sanusi said the property was sealed because the provisional approval was given for two floors but the developer constructed three floors.

He said preliminary inquiries indicated that LABSCA officials issued a number of contravention notices, stop work and seal up  orders which the developer ignored and carried on construction without any recourse, whatsoever, to the authorities.

“There has been no report of any casualty, while the site has been cordoned off and taken over by LASBCA

“This particular incident, like similar others, reinforces governments repeated calls for responsible behaviour on the part of all stakeholders in the built environment.

“Lagos State Government has immediately activated inquires into the collapse to unravel the minute details and guide appropriate actions.

A preliminary report signed by an architect, Adeniyi Adebiyi, of the state’s Physical Planning Ministry, also showed that the frontal part of the second floor of the building collapsed in the early hours of Sunday.

“The property has been served the CN, STW & Seal Up Notices accordingly and they observed that the ongoing construction had a Provisional Development Permit of a two floor structure.

“No authorisation and building was not staged by LASBCA. Construction is at third floor roof level with block work completed.”

A volunteer with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Ajeromi Ifelodun LCDA, Asimiyu Tiamiyu, said he was among earlt callers at the scene and that there was no casualty.

He said work on the site was put on hold as a result of the Sallah holiday and that made all the artisans to be away at the time of collapse.

Tiamiyu said, “the state government must beam a search light on the recurring incident of collpased building which had claimed many lives and property worth billions of naira destroyed.”

The police in Lagos have arrested a 41-year-old man, Tolulope Olowu, for allegedly stabbing his neighbour to death over parking space.

Olowu, it was gathered, allegedly stabbed one Pablo, 33, on Saturday night at Gbadamosi Street, First Unity Estate in Badore, Ajah.

The duo was said to have had a disagreement over the parking of vehicle along the street which led to a fight around 10pm.

In the course of the scuffle, Olowu, it was learnt, grabbed a knife and stabbed Pablo on the stomach, killing him on the spot.

According to police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the case was reported at Langbasa Division around 2am on Sunday.

He said detectives were immediately deployed to the scene to document evidence and evacaute the body for autopsy.

He said the suspect was arrested and the exhibit recovered from him.

After a trip to France, President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected back in the country today.

He will be returning to a rousing reception by party faithful with his wife, Senator Oluremi, to the  Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The President-elect left for France on March 21 after months of rigorous and nationwide electioneering campaigns, town hall meetings and the general election in which he was returned victorious.

Though no formal reception is planned for his return, The Nation gathered that he will be received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, governors and top officials of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Nation also gathered that various APC support groups are mobilising to storm the airport to welcome back the winner of the February 25 Presidential election.

It was learnt that party members, supporters and different groups will, in a carnival-like motorcade, lead the President-elect from the airport to the Defence House where he will be staying until the May 29 inauguration.

Confirming the return, media aide to the President-elect, Tunde Rahman, in a telephone chat while reacting to our enquiries simply said: “Yes, Asiwaju is returning tomorrow (Monday).”

Read Also: The Spiral Effect of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (BAT) Presidential Victory on Lagos and Environs

He, however, declined to give details about his arrival. “All I know is that there is a big plan by party members and supporters of the President-elect to give him a rousing welcome tomorrow, he offered.

The President-elect, it was learnt, used the opportunity of his vacation to plan and fine-tune his transition programme.

A source said: “Remember Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to hit the ground running from day one of his inauguration. I can tell you that the former Lagos State governor has used the last month to perfect his plan to put the nation back on track with progress and development.

“He had also used this period of vacation to make consultations with the international communities, developmental partners and friends of the country on how he intend to deliver the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda Action Plan’ and put the country back on track.”

President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected back on Monday a month after he left the country to Paris, France on a vacation.

He will be returning with his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The President-elect left on March 21 after months of rigorous and nationwide electioneering campaigns, town hall meetings and the general elections where he was declared victorious.

Though no formal reception is planned for his return, The Nation gathered that he will be received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima; Governors and top officials of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Nation also gathered that various APC Support groups are mobilising to storm the airport to welcome back home the winner of the February 25th Presidential election.

It is also gathered that party members, supporters and different groups will in a carnival-like motorcade lead the President-elect from the airport to the Defence House where he will be staying until the May 29 inauguration.

Confirming the return, President-elect media aide, Tunde Rahman told The Nation:”Yes Asiwaju is returning tomorrow (Monday).”

He however refused to give details of his arrival, simply saying:”All I know is that there is a big plan by party members and supporters of the President-elect to give him a rousing return tomorrow.”

Another source close to the just dissolved APC Presidential Campaign Council confided the President-elect used the opportunity of his vacation to plan and fine-tune his transition programme.

“Remember Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to hit the ground running from day one of his inauguration. I can tell you that, the former Lagos State governor has used the last month to perfect his plan to put the nation back on track with progress and development.

” He had also used this period of vacation to make consultations with the international communities, developmental partners and friends of the country on how to intend to deliver the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda Action Plan’ and put the country back on track,” the source hinted.

A three storey-building under construction on Sunday collapsed at the Apapa area of Lagos State.

The building located at 45, Ladipo Oluwo Street, GRA Apapa, was said to have partially caved in as a result of thunderstorm.

The Nation reports that there was heavy rainfall with storms across Lagos State Sunday afternoon which also led to flash floods.

This incident occurred barely a week after a seven storey-building under construction collapsed at Banana Island, killing one person with several others injured.

Although no casualty was recorded as a result of the incident, the state government has sealed the property over alleged non compliance to the provisional approval granted it.

Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Mukaila Sanusi, in a statement Sunday evening said the developers broke government’s seal that mandated a stop work on the property.

Sanusi said the property was sealed because the provisional approval was given for two floors but the developer constructed three floors.

He said preliminary inquiries indicated that LABSCA officials issued a number of contravention notices, stop work and seal up  orders which the developer ignored and carried on construction without any recourse, whatsoever, to the authorities.

“There has been no report of any casualty, while the site has been cordoned off and taken over by LASBCA

“This particular incident, like similar others, reinforces governments repeated calls for responsible behaviour on the part of all stakeholders in the built environment.

“Lagos State Government has immediately activated inquires into the collapse to unravel the minute details and guide appropriate actions.

A preliminary report signed by an architect, Adeniyi Adebiyi, of the state’s Physical Planning Ministry, also showed that the frontal part of the second floor of the building collapsed in the early hours of Sunday.

“The property has been served the CN, STW & Seal Up Notices accordingly and they observed that the ongoing construction had a Provisional Development Permit of a two floor structure.

“No authorisation and building was not staged by LASBCA. Construction is at third floor roof level with block work completed.”

A volunteer with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Ajeromi Ifelodun LCDA, Asimiyu Tiamiyu, said he was among earlt callers at the scene and that there was no casualty.

He said work on the site was put on hold as a result of the Sallah holiday and that made all the artisans to be away at the time of collapse.

Tiamiyu said, “the state government must beam a search light on the recurring incident of collpase building which had claimed many lives and property worth billions of naira destroyed.”

• 284 new members may determine House direction in June
• Only 45 APC, 25 PDP Representatives reelected
• APC leaders fear repeat of 2015 Saraki episode

Newly-elected members of the 10th National Assembly are gripped by anxiety ahead of their June inauguration, expecting a tight race for the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

About 13 members, mostly APC ranking Representatives, have indicated interest in succeeding the outgoing Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Two hundred and eighty-four of the 360 House of Representatives members-elect are first timers.

The huge figure of new members has sparked fears of a possible repeat of the Bukola Saraki formula in the 8th Senate unless the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is proactive. Some of the aspirants are said to be infiltrating the ranks of the first timers whose governors (their godfathers) are also completing two terms in office on May 29th.

But the most challenging factor in choosing the next Speaker is the rivalry between the North-West and the North-Central to lead each arm of the National Assembly.

While the North-West is seeking the Senate presidency or the Speaker because of its support for the President-Elect, the North-Central wants APC to fulfill its unwritten agreement which made its candidates to step down for Gbajabiamila in 2019.

Those who stepped down were the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase and Umar Mohammed Bago, who is now the Governor-Elect in Niger State.  

Only the North-Central out of the three geopolitical zones in the North has not produced House Speaker.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the complex nature of the jostle for the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives has made APC leadership to adopt what a source described as a “cautious approach to zoning formula.”

It was gathered that this is the first time the party is recording the highest number of aspirants for the office.

The number currently stands at 13.

They are Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase (Plateau-North Central); Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (Plateau, North Central); Chairman, House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Abdulraheem Olawuyi (Kwara, North Central), Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Aliyu Mukthar Betara (Borno- North East); Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna- North West); Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli Jibia (Katsina- North West), Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Okezie Kalu (Abia, South East); Chairman, House Committee on Disability Matters, Mariam Odinaka Onuoha (Imo, South East);  Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Abubakar Makki Yalleman (Jigawa-North West) and  returning member who was part of the 8th Assembly, Sani Jaji (Zamfara-North West).

Others are Chinedu Ogah from Ebonyi and Kabiru Ibrahim Tukura from Kebbi, who had earlier indicated interest.

Read Also: ‘Why I should be the Speaker of 10th Assembly’

House Leader Alhassan Ado Doguwa is also believed to be interested in the race, but he appears to be waiting for the party’s decision on zoning before announcing his declaration.

Sources said the number may increase in view of the ongoing coalition talks by the opposition parties which have about 186 Representatives-Elect following the death of a new member yesterday.

According to a source, one of the strategies of the coalition is to present a joint candidate for the Office of Speaker based on a projection that the 13 APC aspirants may split their votes.

The source said Representative-Elect, Abdulmumin Jibrin of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), who was Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, may emerge the candidate of the opposition for the post of Speaker.

The top source said: “We are studying the situation and at APC level doing some permutations which may lead to zoning. It is not as easy as the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, is saying.

“Unlike in the 8th and 9th National Assembly, 13 heavyweight aspirants want to be the next Speaker. The party is adopting a cautious approach to its zoning formula in order to get it right.

“And what is making it complex is that 284 out of the 360 members that will determine the next Speaker are first time lawmakers in the House. The implication is that the race is likely to be an open type.

“It may be difficult for APC leadership to breathe down on the new Representatives. And the old ones who can provide guidance are not many.

“For instance, only 45 APC House members returned and 25 PDP House members re-elected. Out of the returning lawmakers, 13 want to be Speaker.

“Already, there is intense lobbying of the Representatives-Elect by aspirants with war chest. We may have a repeat of the Bukola Saraki episode of 2015 if we are not proactive.

“The tussle for National Assembly principal offices by the North-West and the North-Central is posing a threat to the choice of a new Speaker.

“The North-West is seeking the slot for its role in supporting Tinubu. But the North-Central, which has never produced a Speaker, is stronger in its agitation with Ahmed Idris Wase (Plateau-North Central); Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (Plateau, North Central); and the  Chairman, House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Abdulraheem Olawuyi (Kwara, North Central).

“Wase, who stepped down for Gbajabiamila in 2019, is pressing for the honouring of the alleged unwritten agreement to concede the slot to the North-Central.

“To checkmate Wase, some forces are backing Yusuf Adamu Gagdi who is rated as the most vibrant aspirant with six of his bills signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Everyone is looking forward to the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is a foremost parliamentarian, to break the tie at the end of the day.”

Responding to a question, the source said the “likelihood of a coalition” by the opposition parties may deny APC of producing the next Speaker.

He said: “We may witness the USA scenario of a Democrat President and a Republican House Speaker.

“From the situation room, the figures are as follows: APC – 170; PDP – 115; LP – 37; NNPP – 25; APGA – 4; ADC – 2; SDP – 2;  and YPP – 1

“APC has four unaccounted for. While results have been announced, we’re not including those because INEC hasn’t uploaded their names in its database.

“To produce Speaker, you need the votes of 181 Representatives, but APC is not united. It may be difficult for it to secure 181 unless it gets its zoning formula right.

“With Vice President-Elect, there is no basis for Betara’s aspiration. But his supporters are citing the case of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila from the South-West.

“Already, the opposition is covertly wooing some of the 284 new members with sentiments, including religious factor. This is a dangerous dimension.

“The party’s leadership ought to rise to the occasion by consulting President Muhammadu Buhari, the President-Elect, governors and members-elect. APC must beware of the antics of the opposition.”

Asked why Gbajabiamila has not been able to reduce the number of aspirants, the source added: “The Speaker is playing the role of a mediator. He has succeeded in meeting with the aspirants to appeal to them not to bring down the roof.

“His intervention has so far reduced the tension among the aspirants, because it was almost getting dirty at a stage.”