Category: South West

Lagos stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has organised an interfaith Christmas concert tagged ‘Come unto Christ through music’.

President of Lagos and Ogun stakes, Mr Adekunle Adegbenro explained that the essence of the concert was to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ “which is what we are having at this season.”

Adegbenro said the event reminds Christians of the atonement sacrifice of Jesus Christ, adding it is also to let the world know that they can easily live together “as the same sons and daughters of God.”

The concert hosted by Ojodu stake choir featured performances by the Celestial Church of Christ, The Apostolic Church, Ojodu, Cherubim and Seraphim, BEMIL Chapel, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.

The church leader explained it has been ongoing for years at different stakes of the church.”We had it at Egbeda last year while it is happening simultaneously at Ojodu and Ikeja this year,” he said. Calling for oneness in the faith, Adegbenro said: “We are all children of our Father (God) in Heaven, so we are related.

Worried about the abuse of tobacco products and other substances in the entertainment industry  and their negative impact on public health, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) filmmakers, and other relevant stakeholders is canvassing against smoking in Nollywood movies

The group also advocates for implementation of the National Tobacco Control Fund as specified in the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and National Tobacco Control Regulations 2019 in relation to the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorships (TAPS).

The stakeholders, which included the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Federal Ministry of Health, National Film and Videos Censors Board (NFVCB) and others, stated this at the end of a one-day roundtable held in Lagos, in a communiqué read by the Director General of NFVCB, Adedayo Thomas; Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi,; Zeb Ejiro, Saheed Balogun and Michael Olaniyan of CTFK, among others.

According to them, smoking in movies and the entertainment sector was a pathway to young people embracing smoking and should be stopped.

“The tobacco industry uses sophisticated marketing mix to promote smoking on set and in the entertainment sector. Entertainment stakeholders are deliberately targeted by the tobacco industry either through financial inducement, misinformation and other subtle approaches to further glamourise smoking in the movies and the entertainment sector

“Awareness on the dangers of smoking in movies and the entertainment sector in the digital media space is still low. The national legislation does not sufficiently capture the growing shisha use and emerging alternative products such as e-cigarettes,” the communiqué reads.

The stakeholders also agreed that the NFVCB would escalate its awareness creation and education among relevant stakeholders in the movies and entertainment sector to ensure compliance with national laws, especially the NTC Act 2015 and the NTC Regulations 2019 in relation to the ban on tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorships.

Kwara State has emerged winner of the 61st independence president’s national inter-basic school debate championship. The competition held in Lagos.

Katsina State took second place, Lagos third place while Imo State took fourth place.

Kwara and Katsina debated on ‘Introduction of Treasury Single Account’ while Lagos and Imo debated on ‘Sporting activities for girls at the basic education level’.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the closing ceremony and dinner, said 1,449 infrastructure projects have been commissioned in 1,036 Schools in Lagos State.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, said 96,334 dual composite units of furniture were supplied to primary and secondary schools across the state.

He said: “So far, our government has delivered over 1,449 school infrastructural projects, covering 1,036 schools across the state. Our government ensured prompt construction and rehabilitation of dilapidated public schools, while 96,334 dual composite units of furniture were supplied to primary and secondary schools across the state.

“As an inclusive government, we are committed to ensuring that high quality education is accessible to all learners irrespective of their locations through effective and efficient management of resources for the attainment of self-reliance and socio-economic development.

CLEEN Foundation recently held a two-day workshop on the development of Standard of Operating Procedure (SOP) for Human Trafficking and Forced Migration in Lagos State.

The workshop, held at Vantage Hub, Moselola House, Allen Avenue, Lagos, had representatives of CSOs, officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and officials of Lagos State government in attendance.

Participants in an interactive session threw up ideas on how best to tackle the menace of human trafficking, with particular focus on traffickers.

NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Ganiu Alao Aganran coordinated the Day 1 session and supervised the grouping of participants, which saw them discussing the order of approach and likely template for tackling the menace.

At the end, group leaders made their presentations on SOP thematic areas.

Day 2 had participants incorporating recommendations and fine-tuning of group work/presentation.

It was followed with Harmonisation/Presentation by committee and an interactive session. The 2-day event was held in collaboration with the UN Women, NAPTIPn and the Italian Government and Lagos State government.

 

Foremost indigenous restaurant and outdoor catering company,  OfadaBoy has organized Ofada rice Day in conjunction with the Lagos State Government, with participants applauding organisers of the event.

The event was witnessed by top entertainers including Brother Shaggi, Saga of the just concluded Big Brother Naija, Kenny Black, Sir Shina Peter, Awesome Band, SBLive, and B-Red, and notable brands including Bet9ja, Malta Guinness, Origin, Maggi, O-Gas, among others.

The event themed ‘Ijoya’ was a mix of food, entertainment, poetry rendition to promote Nigeria’ most nutritious brand of rice, Ofada .

Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Akeem Adeniji said that the State’s presence and partnership with OfadaBoy was a restatement of the government’s readiness to increase acceptability and promotion of ofada rice beyond the shores of Nigeria. He added that the partnership is a strategy to increase the quantity of ofada rice consumption amongst the sixteen million bags of rice consume in daily in Lagos State.

In his welcome address, Chief Executive Officer, OfadaBoy and Convener of Ofada Rice Day Festival, Oluwatobi Fletchers, said that the dream to make an available platform to tell the story of ‘’our brand of rice is a fact that the company believe and stay through to promoting food and other ideas that are indigenous.’’

Mr. Fletcher added that Ofada Rice Day in its 3rd edition is a statement of the fact that we are strong and proud of the natural blessing we have got. The festival this year themed Ijoya Brought in a new dimension with the symposium that was held in October 2021, where we discussed the business and the opportunities available for stakeholders in the international as well as the local space.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, on Friday, held a security interactive meeting with traditional rulers, service commanders, local government chairmen, and vice-chairmen, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, the state capital.

Makinde called for more cooperation and collaboration among security agencies, governments, and the traditional institution in the state, maintaining that such cooperation has helped to improve the security situation of the state.

The governor read the riots act to land grabbers and some chiefs who are said to be aiding their operations, insisting that his government would deal decisively with anyone found guilty of abetting a crime.

Governor said his administration would continue to provide necessary support and encouragement to the security agencies so that they can keep the state safe during the Yuletide and beyond.

He equally warned illegal miners in the state, whose operations are as dangerous as that of the land grabbers noting that it is unlawful for any individual or group to forcefully take over the landed property or engage in illegal mining operations.

He assured the state will nip the situation in the bud by dealing decisively with those found culpable in these acts.

Makinde said: “Let me welcome every one of us to this interactive session. I want to thank our service commanders and traditional rulers. Your co-operation has brought Oyo State to the point where the rest of the country is asking us how we are stable security-wise while the rest of the country seems to be getting it wrong.”

”We have noticed that the co-operation between the agencies have tremendously improved and we really want to keep it that way not only for the Christmas season but even into the New Year. And we, as a government, will do everything possible to provide the necessary encouragement and support”.

”We still have threats and challenges but there is room for improvement. I am also interacting with the people, including the traditional institution. We still have quite a bit to do and what we have identified as a major issue is what has been mentioned about the land grabbers. From our analysis, the land grabbers are working mostly with some traditional rulers.

”While we try to protect the interest of everybody, I want to seriously warn that we are not going to allow the situation in other places to occur here in Oyo State. This is because we have the chance and opportunity to deal decisively with those troublemakers before it becomes a trend here.

”We have to address some of these issues and nip them in the bud right now and I want to solicit for the support of our traditional institution on this.”

Governor Makinde also added that the state government will move to curtail the activities of illegal miners operating in the state, saying: “Oyo State is blessed with solid minerals in our localities, especially Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, and Ibarapa axis and we know what the mining law says. They go out there and get the concurrence of the local community, go to Cadastra Office in Abuja to get licence to start mining.

”We have the Chinese, Malians, and different people from other places all over this place, especially in the Iwajowa axis all the way to Saki East, the

Earlier, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi commended the Governor Makinde-led administration for handling the security of the state quite well.

He said: “I want to say that we are very happy to be here and we want to commend what you are doing at the local level. The traditional rulers have been forming synergy with the police and other security authorities. So, in collaboration, we have been able to nab some of these malfeasances and are now getting to sleep with our two eyes closed.

”We need to also commend you for your zero tolerance to anybody thinking that the state will be on fire. Another thing we appreciate is the fact that you are moving and not docile and giving orders. “So far, the incidence of robbery, banditry and the rest have been stamped out of Oyo State.

“The local government chairmen are collaborating very well with local authorities, and we have to appreciate them through you. If they are not doing well, I will tell you the truth.”

Representatives of the Army, Air Force, Police, State Security Service,  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Amotekun also spoke at the meeting.

Authorities of Ogun Police Command have warned owners of abandoned or seized vehicles parked at Owode-Egbado Division to remove them within two weeks or risk forfeiture.

The vehicles, according to a statement issued by the police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi are: Eight unregistered Bajaj motorcycles; three unregistered Haojue motorcycles, two unregistered Juncheng motorcycles, two unregistered Honda motorcycles, Six Bajaj motorcycles (TTN 714 WS, KNN 573 WH, QJ 192 KJA, SGM 873UL, PKA 315 UV and MEK 251 VU) respectively.

The General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board, Mukhtaar Tijani has said that the board was passionate to deliver renewable energy in the state.

Tijani made this known during the maiden edition of the board’s two-day management retreat held in Lagos on Thursday.

This is coming shortly Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu unveiled a new policy on clean and affordable energy on Tuesday.

According to the General Manager, the LSEB was working closely with stakeholders to achieve sustainable renewable energy.

He said: “As part of the policy document, there is a separate document that speaks on how we are going to diversify the energy and it is something the Lagos State Board is very passionate about. We have the renewable energy unit that currently powers one hundred and seventy-five schools and eleven private healthcare centers with off-paid clean solar energy. We are working with various donors and other private to see how we can expand and improve on those systems.

”We are working closely with all stakeholders, the distribution companies especially and federal government agencies and other responsible parties including manufacturing association or Nigeria, the local communities, local governments, and private developers and funding bodies to see how we can unlock the capitals that are required to deliver power to our homes, offices and public spaces in Lagos State.’[

Also speaking at the retreat, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral resources, Ms. Olusola Shasore said: “This is an opportunity to rub minds, create a document on this and then take am it forward. I believe that if we do this and we iron out the challenges we should be able to go forward and impact Lagos State better.

 

The Lagos State Government (LASG) yesterday  re-arraigned alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, and two others over the attempted kidnap of the Chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo.

Evans was re-arraigned alongside Joseph Emeka, and Udeme Upong following the Nov. 26 death of their co-defendant, Chiemeka Arinze, 45, while in the custody of the Correctional Services.

The death certificate issued by the Ajeromi General Hospital, Ajegunle, Lagos State, indicated that the deceased who was suffering from complicated Advanced HIV died of cardiopulmonary arrest.

During  proceeding; the state prosecutor, Mr Yusuf Sule, informed the court that Evans and his co-defendants would be re-arraigned on amended charges which would no longer reflect the name of the late Arinze.

The defendants plead not guilty to a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap and sale and transfer of firearms over the attempted kidnap of Obianodo.

The prosecutor said that Evans, Emeka and Ubong committed the offences on Aug. 27, 2013, at Third Avenue in Festac Town, Lagos State.

Also, Evans and his accomplices allegedly killed one Ngozi Chijioke and attempted to kidnap and kill Obianodo.

The prosecution similarly alleged that in 2008, Ubong sold and transferred two AK47 rifles and 70 rounds of live ammunition to Evans.

Following their arraignment, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo in a ruling said that the court dismissed the submissions of the defence in the trial-within-trial that the confessional statements given to the police were done under duress.

According to the judge, there was no proof that the defendants were tortured by the police into giving their statements.

Taiwo adjourned the case until Feb. 4, 2022 for the continuation of trial.

 

How I raised $420,000 ransom for husband’s release, witness tells court

Also yesterday,a businesswoman, Mrs Chimebere Ahamonu told  an Ikeja Special Offences Court how she raised a ransom of $420,000 for the freedom of her husband.

Chimebere’s spouse, Mr Sylvanus Ahamonu was allegedly kidnapped by Evans and his gang on June 23, 2014 on Kara Road, off Osolo Way, Ajao Estate, Lagos.

Witness  gave her testimony online via the Zoom App during the continuation of the  trial of Evans and a dismissed member of the Nigeria Army, Victor Aduba.

The witness said that she had spoken to her husband in the morning of the day of the abduction, but did not sense anything amiss until evening when he was not answering his phone.

“Then, I was not living in Lagos, I was in Onitsha. I started calling everyone we knew that I did not hear from him.

“A week later a man called my line with a hidden number that my husband was kidnapped.

“Another week later the same man called me and demanded $2million for his release. I shouted because I have never seen that kind of money before.

“I started calling family and well wishers for help,” she said.

Chimebere said another week later, the same man called her demanding for the ransom and she told him that she could only raise N5million.

“He said that I was not serious and that if I do not come up with the $2million, I am not ready to see my husband alive. He said even if it is $100,000 I should bring it,” she said.

The businesswoman said that she sold properties, sought donations from family and friends and managed to raise $200,000 which she sent to Lagos to her brother-in-law, Dominic to deliver the ransom.

She said that she received a phone call a week later demanding for more money and warning her never to send Dominic to deliver any ransom because he had reported them to the police.

Chimebere said that fearing for the safety of her spouse, she raised another tranche of $200,000 and came to Lagos to deliver the ransom herself alongside a relation who escorted to the drop-off site.

“After dropping the $200,000, he called me again to demand for some more money.

“I told him I have no more money that people were even calling me a scam because of the way I was appealing for funds.

“I managed to raise $20,000 and it was after then that my husband was released.

“He instructed that my husband must be taken immediately to hospital so that he would not die,” she said.

While being cross-examined by Evans’ counsel, Mr Victor Opara (SAN), Chimebere narrated the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the second tranche of $200,000 ransom.

She said she was unfamiliar with Lagos and had to be accompanied by a relation named Onyebuchi to drop off the ransom under the cover of darkness.

“I was communicating with the person on the phone throughout the process. I recognised the voice. It was the same voice that had been calling me,” she said.

Following her evidence, the prosecutor announced that the state will be closing its case against Evans and Aduba.

The  two defendants are facing a four-count charge of kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until Feb. 4, 2022 for the defence to open its case.