The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Agege

  • Jobless man,arraigned for burglary, N450, 000 theft charge

    Jobless man,arraigned for burglary, N450, 000 theft charge

    A 29-year-old unemployed man, Kabiru Mohammed, who allegedly broke into a shop and stole
    goods worth N450,000, was on Wednesday released on a bail of N100, 000 on the orders of an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Alexander Komolafe, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused two sureties in like sum.

    The accused, who was arraigned under Sections 278, 305 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised), risks a seven-year jail term if found guilty of the offence.

    Mohammed, who resides at Railway area of Pen Cinema, Agege, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing.

    The accused, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.

    The prosecution told the court that Mohammed burgled a shop and stole 13 sets of second hand television valued at N450, 000.

    The accused committed the offences on May 6 at Shop 7, POWA Complex, Agege, Sgt. Joseph Ajebe said.

    According to him, the accused with others still at large, broke into the shop of the complainant, Mr Uchenna Eze and stole the television sets.

    “In their get away bid, the accused and his accomplices were accosted by the Police on patrol.

    “When they were asked about their luggage, they took to their heels but the Police were able to apprehend the accused,’’ he told the court.

    The magistrate adjourned the case until June 19 for mention.

  • One killed, eight arrested in Lagos street fight

    One killed, eight arrested in Lagos street fight

    Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday said it arrested eight suspects following a street fight at Iyana-Ipaja which claimed one life.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, told newsmen that the fighting broke out at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday and lasted until about 2 a.m. on Wednesday.

    “At about 10 p.m., we received distress call that some youths are on rampage at Iyana-Ipaja and we sent the police response team there.

    “The fight raged and continued till 2a.m when normalcy was restored.

    “Eight suspects were arrested and one person was killed in the course of the fight.

    “Investigation, however, revealed that fighting ensued over a girl, who resides at Abule-Oki area of Iyana-Ipaja.

    “The girl had gone to a party at Elere, Agege, where she was molested.

    “On getting back to her area, she told the youths who later blocked the road and led a fight towards Elere during which the police moved in to stop them.

    “Investigation is still on and will be extended to both sides of the community and those involved will be brought to book,” the police boss said.

  • Two women in court over conspiracy, fraud

    Two women, Romoke Hamzat and Adijat Lasisi, were on Friday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding their friend of N700, 000.

    The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Hamzat, 56, resides at No. 10, Ajigbontinu Str., Agege, Lagos while Lasisi, 40, lives at Oremeji St., Okekoto in Agege.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Ezekiel Ayorinde, said that the accused persons conspired and obtained N700, 000 from one Mrs Oluwatoyin Lawal, their friend, under pretence of helping her to purchase Shea butter and honey.

    He said the offence was committed in March, 2016 at the Agege Main Market.

    “The duo collected the money and promised to supply the goods to the complainant which they never did. Rather, they converted the N700, 000 to their own personal use.”

    Ayorinde said the accused disappeared after committing the fraud and was recently apprehended by the police.

    The offence contravened Section 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 which carries a three-year imprisonment.

    Chief Magistrate Omolade Awope granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties each, who must be gainfully employed.

    She said that the sureties must also show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case has been adjourned until April 26 for trial.

  • Lagos developer faces fraud charge

    A 45-year-old developer, Sikiru Owolabi, who allegedly defrauded five accommodation seekers’ of N750,000 was on Friday charged before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The accused, a resident at No. 15, Osanyintola St., Agege, a Lagos suburb, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court that the offences were committed between March 6 and March 23 at No. 16, Adekunjo St., Alakuko, Lagos.

    Ayorinde said the accused collected the sum of N300, 000 from one Oketokun Tolulope, under the pretext of securing a two-bedroom apartment which he never did.

    He said that Owolabi fraudulently obtained N230, 000 from one Fagboye Muyiwa, N100, 000 from Mikail Olusegun, N70,000 from Abatan Abiola and N50,000 from Ogungbemisola Olalekan, on the pretext of helping them to secure an accommodation at No. 16, Adekunjo St., Alakuko. Lagos.

    “When the complainants got to the house, they discovered that the accused had collected money for the same apartment from many people.’’

    The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravene Sections 285 and312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year imprisonment for stealing.

    Also, Section 312 says that any person who obtains money under false pretences is liable to 15 years’ imprisonment.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Omolade Awope, granted the accused bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Awope ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed with a statement of accounts for six months, and three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and adjourned the case until April 26, for trial.

     

  • Lagos communities decry poor power supply by Ikeja Electric

    Electricity consumers in some suburbs of Lagos State on Friday decried poor electricity supply by Ikeja Electric (IE) in the last one month in spite of proclaimed improvement in power generation.

    The consumers expressed their feelings in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Those in Okota, Alaguntan and Gowon Estate areas the hours in which electricity was supplied daily had reduced drastically.

    They also said that contrary to their expectations, the reduction in supply was not accompanied by reduction in monthly billing by the company.

    Mr Godfrey Okoro, a resident of Okota, said the inconsistent power supply in the area had become “dehumanising.“

    Okoro further said the power supply to Okota had reduced considerably, compared to the estimated billing being brought by IE representatives, resulting in unnecessary confrontation between the consumers and the IE staff.

    “What is our sin in this area that IE always gives us electricity for just one hour? To make matters worse, this light comes in the middle of the night when we are usually asleep.

    “The company will not even consider the shortfall at the end of the month while distributing bills for the previous month.

    “This is injustice, we hope that the privatisation of power in Nigeria will provide results to the lingering power supply problems, but it is even worse now,’’ Okoro said.

    Another consumer from Gowon Estate, Mr Joseph Folorunsho, said energy supply to the area had reduced in the last two months for reasons IE could not explain.

    Folorunsho said, “It is unfortunate that we are experiencing this blackout; we pay our bills regularly, yet there is no value for the money we pay for electricity.

    “I thought the new government will bring us out of the doldrums but it appears we are being plunged deeper into darkness by the DISCOs.

    “It is so bad that you cannot buy food items in bulk to store in the freezer to save cost in this harsh economy, this is terrible.’’

    Mr Abiodun Yusuf, a resident of Alaguntan in Alimosho Local Government Area, said that the transformer supplying energy to the community had been faulty since February, causing irregular power supply with no solution in sight.

    Yusuf appealed to the company to replace the old transformer, adding that the outage had domestic and economic repercussions for the community.

    When contacted, Mr Felix Ofulue, the Head, IE Corporate Communications Unit, said the shortfall in power supply to consumers was due to the reduction in the supply received from the National Grid (NG).

    According to Ofulue, it is what IE gets from the national grid that it shares equitably among its customers.

    “Some may seem to get more than the others because of a combination of technical and commercial factors.

    “From Okota to Ikotun, cases of vandalism are very rampant and this is contributory to reduction in power supply to consumers in those areas.

    “In the last three months, we have witnessed more than 10 cases of vandalism in these areas,’’ the IE official said.

    Ofulue, assured the residents of Alaguntan that another transformer would be provided for the community soon.

    For Iyanapaja and Gowon Estate residents, he said the irregular power supply being experienced in the two areas were as a result of collapsed towers at Shagari Estate.

    “The collapsed towers at Shagari Estate have affected the Agege and Ipaja injection, and disrupted power to many areas within that environment.

    “However, we are on top of the situation as repairs are ongoing on the towers, it should be completed by the end of May.’’

    He apologised for the inconveniences caused by irregular power supply to all the areas, saying that the company was concerned and working to normalise the situation.

     

  • Man docked for damaging co-tenant’s eyes

    Man docked for damaging co-tenant’s eyes

    A 40-year-old driver, Ikechukwu Offor, who allegedly beat up a co-tenant for not opening the house gate and damaged his eyes, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    A resident of Lagos Street, Agege, Lagos, Offor is being tried for breach of peace and assault.

    According to the prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, the accused committed the offences on Feb. 23 at a tenement building.

    He said the accused assaulted a co-tenant, Mr Idowu Onajobi, by beating him and causing damage to both eyes.

    Okuoimose said following an agreement by tenants, the complainant was nominated to be locking the gate at  11.00 p.m. and keep the key.

    “The complainant was nominated by his co-tenants to be locking their gate at 11.00 p.m. as a result of wave of robbery in the area.

    “The accused, who came home late after the gate was locked, started knocking the gate loudly, threatening to destroy it if the gate was not opened for him.

    “When the complainant finally opened the gate, the accused descended on him for the delay.

    “He punched him several times in the eyes and damaged the eyes,” he said.

    He said the complainant was still in the hospital receiving treatment as he could not see clearly.

    The offences contravened Sections 166 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 171 prescribes three years imprisonment for assault.

    Offor pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Y. O. Ekogbule, adjourned the case until April 17 for mention.

  • Lagos meat seller faces N259, 000 theft charge

    A 49-year-old meat seller, who allegedly obtained cow meat worth N259,000 from a butcher under false pretences, was on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, Toyin Joshua, a resident of Agege area of Lagos, pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of false pretences and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Mathew Akhaluode told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in December 2016 at Abattoir Cattle Market, Oko Oba, Agege, a Lagos suburb.

    He alleged that Joshua bought meat worth N259, 000 from the complainant, Garuba Bello, with a promise to pay back after selling the meat, but failed to do so.

    “Joshua, who had no intention of returning the money after selling the meat, converted the money to personal use and started giving excuses.

    “When the complainant got tired of his excuses, he reported the case to the police and Joshua was arrested,” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 stipulates three years, while Section 312 prescribes  15 years imprisonment for offenders.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Y.R. Pinheiro, in her ruling, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She said the sureties must be gainfully employed and also show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The magistrate adjourned the case to March 23 for mention.

     

  • No bomb in Agege, says Lagos govt

    No bomb in Agege, says Lagos govt

    •‘Suspects aiding investigation into killers of LASTMA Commander’

    The Lagos State Government yesterday allayed the fears of residents on a substance suspected to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which was allegedly dropped in a manhole in a street in Agege. It said that there was no cause for alarm.
    The development forced residents to scamper for safety following the discovery and a bomb scare. But, rising from its monthly Security Council Meeting, chaired by Governor Akinwumi Ambode, the government urged the people to go about their normal businesses.
    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, who briefed reporters at the end of the meeting alongside service commanders of security formations and top government functionaries, said security agencies responded swiftly to the development and found out that the substance was just pieces of thrash dropped in the manhole.
    He said: “Early this morning, we were alerted to a situation where it was reported that some passersby dropped something on the manholes in one of the streets at Agege which led to a bomb scare.
    “The security operatives quickly responded; the bomb disposal unit also went there; those manholes were checked and it was found out that it was just thrash that was thrown into those manholes.
    “We also seized the opportunity to do what is called sweeping of the environment to reassure members of the public that security operatives in the State are more alive to their responsibilities, and that once we get information on a timely basis, response will also be done in a swift manner to ensure that nothing untoward happen in Lagos.”
    He said the meeting, being the first for the year, was used to appraise the performance of security outfits in the State last year, and strategize for the New Year.
    “We have done an appraisal of what happened last year in terms of our challenges and the modest achievements that were recorded last year and use that to prepare for the year and improve on what we have been doing and to position ourselves very well for the new challenges that could emerge in the year with the view to making the people of Lagos and their properties safer and more secured,” Owoseni said.
    Assuring the people that security outfits and the State Government were more poised, repositioned and more willing to ensure smooth security operations in the state, the Commissioner urged residents not to hesitate to supply necessary security information as at when due.
    Speaking on the arrest of two persons in connection with the gruesome murder of a Zonal Commander of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Surajudeen Olatunji Bakare in Apapa late last year, Owoseni said investigation into the case was still ongoing, but that those arrested would help in arresting others who were part of the mob action that led to the incident.
    He said: “It is an ongoing investigation. You know there was a video recording which we have considered and it is based on some of the faces that we saw that we picked those people that were arrested.
    “It was a mob action and we don’t want to rush to court without doing a good clinical finishing of forensic analysis of the faces to match them with what we have seen in the video and for those fellows that have been arrested to be able to say oh yes these are the other people that were there.
    “As investigation is going on, we would be unveiling the development to the people of Lagos, but what we just want to do is to ensure that all such impunities are stopped in Lagos State.”
    Besides, the CP recalled the arrest of some Boko Haram suspects in Lagos recently, saying that the collaborative effort and synergy that had always existed among security agencies in the State led to the arrests. He said henceforth, government and security agencies have resolved to further put their ears more on ground and open their eyes more widely to ensure that those elements were not allowed any space to operate in Lagos.

  • Lagos allays fears on bomb scare in Agege

    The Lagos State Government on Monday allayed fears of residents on suspected explosive substance which was allegedly dropped in a manhole in one of the Streets in Agege area of the State, saying that the development was nothing to worry about.

    The development had led to residents scampering for safety following the bomb scare, but rising from the Monthly Security Council Meeting chaired by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the government urged the people to go about their normal businesses as the situation had been put under control.

    The State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting alongside service commanders of security formations and top government functionaries in the State, said security agencies responded swiftly to the development and found out that contrary to rumour the substance was just pieces of thrash dropped in the manhole.  

    He said: “Early this morning, we were alerted to a situation where it was reported that some passersby dropped something on the manholes in one of the streets at Agege which led to a bomb scare.

    “The security operatives quickly responded; the bomb disposal unit also went there; those manholes were checked and it was found out that it was just thrash that were thrown into those manholes.

    “We also seized the opportunity to do what is called sweeping of the environment to reassure members of the public that security operatives in the State are more alive to their responsibilities, and that once we get information on a timely basis, response will also be done in a swift manner to ensure that nothing untoward happen in Lagos.” 

    He said the meeting, being the first for the year, was used to appraise the performance of security outfits in the State last year, and strategize for the New Year.

    “We have done an appraisal of what happened last year in terms of our challenges and the modest achievements that were recorded last year and use that to prepare for the year and improve on what we have been doing and to position ourselves very well for the new challenges that could emerge in the year with the view to making the people of Lagos and their properties safer and more secured,” Owoseni said.

    While assuring the people that security outfits and the State Government were more poised, repositioned and more willing to ensure smooth security operations in the State, the Commissioner urged residents not to hesitate to supply necessary security information as at when due.

    Speaking on the arrest of two persons in connection with the gruesome murder of a Zonal Commander of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Surajudeen Olatunji Bakare in Apapa late last year, Owoseni said investigation into the case was still ongoing, but that those arrested would help in arresting others who were part of the mob action that led to the incident.

    He said: “It is an ongoing investigation. You know there was a video recording which we have considered and it is based on some of the faces that we saw that we picked those people that were arrested. 

    “It was a mob action and we don’t want to rush to court without doing a good clinical finishing of forensic analysis of the faces to match them with what we have seen in the video and for those fellows that have been arrested to be able to say oh yes these are the other people that were there.

    “As investigation is going on, we would be unveiling the development to the people of Lagos, but what we just want to do is to ensure that all such impunities are stopped in Lagos State.”

    Besides, the CP recalled the arrest of some Boko Haram suspects in Lagos recently, saying that the collaborative effort and synergy that had always existed among security agencies in the State led to the arrests.

    He said henceforth, government and security agencies have resolved to further put their ears more on ground and open their eyes more widely to ensure that those elements were not allowed any space to operate in Lagos.

  • Lagos By-Election: Residents resort to trekking over restrictions

    Residents of Iju-Ishaga, Ogba, Agege and Ifako/Ijaiye areas on Saturday resorted to trekking due to partial road restrictions resulting into heavy traffic over the ongoing Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency By-election in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was heavy traffic along Agege/Ogba and Fagba axes; shops were also closed and security men with patrol vans were seen in the areas.

    Some of the residents who spoke to NAN lamented low publicity as they were not aware of the by-election.

    Mr Seye Adeoti, a civil servant, said that due to heavy traffic he alighted from the bus and started trekking from Iyana-Orile in Agege to Ogba.

    Mrs Biola Abdul-Lateef, a trader at Fagba, said she was not aware of the by-election that it was the heavy traffic and the mass trekking of people on the road that suggested something was happening in the area.

    She said she was not allowed to open her shop because of the election as a polling unit was situated close to her shop.

    Also, Mr Celestine Okhiro, an apprentice said the restriction had made him trekked from Pen Cinema in Agege to Iju-Ishaga.

    NAN also reports that the six political parties’ contesting in the poll are: Action Alliance (AA), Alliance for Democracy (AD), African Democratic Party (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    The by-election resulted from the death of Mr Elijah Adewale, who represented the constituency in the House of Representatives.

    Adewale died in Abuja on July 20.