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Tag: Alaba International Market

  • Fire guts structures at Lagos market

    Fire guts structures at Lagos market

    Fire at the weekend gutted three three-storey buildings and adjoining structures at a market at Dosunmu Street on Lagos Island.

    The inferno started around 8:50pm.

    The cause of the fire was unknown at press time.

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    Head, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said in a statement that goods including key lock/cylinder, decoration fittings, Christmas items, among others worth millions of naira were destroyed.

    She said the timely intervention of firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to top floors of the buildings.

  • Alaba trader accused of destroying N2m gatehouse

    A trader at Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, Chidi Chimezie, who allegedly destroyed a gatehouse valued at N2million, was yesterday brought before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    Chimezie, 28, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate K. K. Awoyinka by the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (Force CIID), Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, wilful damage and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

    Prosecuting counsel Morufu Animashaun alleged that Chimezie and his accomplices, who are on the run, committed the offence at about 5:30pm, sometime in March last year.

    The court heard that they invaded  11, Chibuzor Street, Mosafejo-Ilufe, Ojo, Lagos and destroyed a security gatehouse belonging to Osita Ezeani.

    While destroying the fence, they allegedly breached the peace, forcing residents of the area to scamper for safety, Animashaun said.

    Chimezie pleaded not guilty.

    His counsel, Gani Oyeravuegbe, E. O. Amadi and T. Y. Okeke, made an oral application for his bail.

    But Animashaun objected, saying granting him bail could jeopardise effort to arrest other suspects.

    Chief Magistrate Awoyinka granted him N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum, among other conditions.

  • Alaba International Market is 40

    The Alaba International Market, Lagos, is set to celebrate its 40th aniversary.

    Its Public Relations Officer, Maduabuchi Adiukwu, said the market’s impact on the economy was enormous.

    He said the market with over one million shops, was one of the largest commercial avenues in Africa. The anniversary, he said, would highlight why the market is great.

    Adiukwu urged the government to appreciate the market’s role in the society and accord it its rightful place.

    The celebration begins today.

     

  • ‘My husband attacks me with deadly weapon’

    A housewife, Sylvia Ekejelape, 38, on Tuesday pleaded with a Badagry Customary Court to dissolve her 13-year-old marriage alleging that her husband, Stanley, always attacked her with dangerous weapon when fighting.

    Sylvia, a businesswoman and a mother of three, who now resides at No1, Oja Tuntun, Akure, Ondo State, also told the court that she could no longer tolerate his adulterous behavior, adding that there was no more love in the marriage.

    “I met my husband in 2004 at Alaba International Market, Lagos; he proposed to me and i agreed.

    “We did introduction; he married and paid my dowry in May 7, 2006.

    “But eight months after our wedding, he started maltreating me like a slave.

    “He always beat me and throw my belongings out of the house in the middle of the night, telling me to go anywhere I like.

    “The reason for the beating was that my husband is a womanizer and he used to bring them home without any regard for me and my children.

    “Anytime we are fighting, he used to attack me with deadly weapon like bottle, knife and iron rod.

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    “He is a very dangerous man, who has no respect for me, he has publicly disgraced me on many occasions, I am through with his womanizing attitude,” she said.

    The respondent, Stanley, however, denied all the allegations against him by her wife, Sylvia.

    Stanley, 40, an electrical contractor, who lives at No 8, Muriana Str., Ajangbadi, Lagos, said that he was not against the divorce suit filed by the wife.

    The court President, Mr Sakirudeen Adekola, adjourned the case until Nov. 8 for judgment.

  • NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    The National Film and Video Censors Board ( NFVCB ) said it seized uncensored, unclassified and pirated films worth about N200 million and arrested 12 suspected pirates between March and December, 2017.

    Mr Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director of NFVCB made the disclosure in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday.

    Thomas said that pirated items were confiscated at Alaba International Market, Lagos, Kubwa, Banex Plaza and Wuse Market in Abuja, as well as Benin City in Edo and Kaduna.

    He explained that the seized items include; DVD’s, CD’s, Production equipment and copies of several pirated films.

    “The board has scaled up its enforcement activities for the New Year and are intensifying efforts to make this evil business of pirates becomes unbearable for those that have seen it as a means of making quick money.

    “The board will ensure total sanity and get rid of pirates in the industry, while the right owners of works enjoy the fruit of their hard labour,” he said.

    According to him, the 12 suspects arrested in Lagos and Abuja would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

    Thomas said that such action would serve as deterrent to others thinking of going into such business and prevent such illegal products from selling in the market at the expense of genuine ones.

    The Executive Director added that the action was part of the board’s enforcement operations in sanitising the Nigerian market of illegal films.

    He explained that the board had lined up nationwide raid against uncensored, unclassified and pirated films to ensure that such products were completely removed from the movie market.

    The NFVCB boss noted that the motion picture industry was not all about entertainment, but a big business that must be encouraged and protected to grow and bring profit to its investors.

    Thomas said that the creative industry was acclaimed to have contributed 1.4 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and can do more.

    He commended the Bank of Industry ( BoI ) and Tonye Princewill, the executive producer of film “79 for supporting the board to discharge its mandate effectively.

    Also Read: NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

    “Bank of industry (BoI) support the Censors Board with the sum of N500,000 and three powerful motorcycles, while Tonye Princewill gives the board N500,000 to repair its abandoned operational vehicle used for raiding of pirates on the street.

    “BoI and Tonye Prince will have been supporting any drive that would enhance the commercial viability of the films and creative industry.

    “Recently, BoI gives two powerful motorcycles to the board as part of machinery needed to carry out its work smoothly.

    “I am indeed grateful and happy towards their gesture, and I appeal to other stakeholders, individuals and philanthropists to support and partner with the board to be effective and efficient in discharging its mandate, ” he said.

    Thomas said that BoI was a major financier of the creative sector, having invested heavily in the development of infrastructure and movie production in the country.

    NAN

  • NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

    NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

    The National Film and Video Censors Board ( NFVCB ) has seized pirated materials worth N150 million at Alaba International Market in Lagos and arrested five suspects.

    Mr Adedayo Thomas, the Director-General (DG) of the board in Lagos on Thursday revealed that the seizure was made between May and October.

    He said that the pirated materials seized include: CDs, Videos CDs and literary works.

    He also added that the seizure followed the information the board gathered from some people at the market regarded as the hub for piracy.

    “We have our informants that spy the market on a regular basis, once they notice any form of piracy operations going on there, they inform the board.

    “The seizure of the N150 million worth of materials is a result of the information giving to the board on the mass productions of some films that are yet to be made public.

    “When our anti-piracy squad assisted by some police men got to the market, we saw pirated copies of films yet to be produced littering the whole environment and were being sold it at cheaper prices.

    “By Nov. 30, the board will start the court proceedings of those arrested for piracy,’’ he said.

    Thomas likened piracy to a murder case, robbery or economy sabotage where the suspect wanted to reap where he or she did not sow.

    He said that the legitimate owners were usually subjected to huge debts and loss.

    “The board is going hard on piracy. We are working seriously to reduce piracy to its barest minimum in our environment.

    “The board will go on street campaigns and to secondary schools to enlighten them not to patronise pirated materials and explain the implications of doing so on the rightful owners,’’ he said.

    The DG said that the board also frowned at nude movies adding that it was not part of its culture.

    He said that nude movies always had negative impacts on the lives of the masses and an abuse on the society.

    “We are not going to accept that as we had not done in the past. We are going hard in banning such movies from being shown on air,’’ he said.

    Thomas said that the board was also looking at reviewing some of its policies and laws to suit contemporary situations.

    He advised Nigerians not to buy pirated materials on the streets or from any unlicensed people selling such works.

    The DG said that the industry was worth billions of naira, and urged government and stakeholders to utilise the opportunity in the sector judiciously.

    “The industry is generating billions but losing more to piracy.

    “Actors, actresses, producers, marketers and other stakeholders are not happy with the loss to piracy.

    “The board is doing all it can to sanitise the industry for producers, film makers and other relevant stakeholders to enjoy the fruits of their labour,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • NFVCB, FVPMAN’s bust of Alaba, a slap on NCC

    FOR decades, any attempt by right owners and law enforcement agencies to raid Alaba International Market Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, in the name of piracy activities was considered a suicide mission.

    I was a witness in 2006, when suspected pirates in Alaba market resisted arrest by mobilizing other marketers who launched a vicious attack on officers of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and men of the Nigerian Police.

    The Police arrived the market with the anti-piracy team of the NCC. They had barely gone 30 minutes into the operation when a suspect dealt a police officer a blow in the face. Another brought out a gun and shot an officer in the leg. Members of the team scampered in different directions as stones, bottles and other dangerous objects were hauled at them. The Police abandoned their lorries in the pandemonium.

    The incident occurred on June 12, 2006, two weeks after former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Adebayo, assured the then Director General of NCC, Adebambo Adewopo, of full Police support.

    The incumbent government of Muhammadu Buhari’s desire to turn the creative industry to creative economy took a serious look at issue of piracy, and after the last Creative Industry Summit, a collaboration was announced between the Police and a special taskforce set up by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. But just before the committee could settle down for work, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) hit a sudden blow on Alaba, by arresting four piracy suspects, and confiscating film titles and replicating machines worth over N50 million.

    The NFVCB raid was carried out by members of the Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN) who constitute an earlier taskforce, set up by the newly appointed Executive Director of NFVCB, Adedayo Thomas, to fight unauthorized distribution, as well as unlicensed and uncensored films.

    It is instructive to note that the chief players in the recent ambush on Alaba include the NFVCB boss; notable film marketer, Gabriel Okoye, aka Gabosky; Chairman of FVPMAN, Emeka Aduah, and film marketer and lawyer, Nobert Ajaegbu.

    “This is the first time I am seeing a very coordinated raid of these intellectual thieves,” a filmmaker noted.

    It is interesting to know that a consistent raid of Alaba, over a period of five days could be successful. It is also curious, as one would imagine that this became successful the first time the NCC was not involved in the operation. This is lending credence to the popular belief that bad eggs in the Commission may have been acting as informants to the pirates. This feat is a slap on the NCC, and an indication that indeed, it is possible to break the ranks of the notorious Alaba market pirates.

    Not only was the NFVCB able to beat the NCC to its game, the former embarked on a ride that could offend the latter’s mandate, by utilizing its mandate on licensing for distribution, classification and censorship to set a pace for possibility.

    With this eye-opener, the NCC and the larger taskforce of the creative industry should move in swiftly to keep the fire burning. The mandate of the NFVCB is not to fight piracy, but fortunately, the pirated works cannot be taken to the agency for censorship or distribution bid. Thus, the pirates are potential captives of the NFVCB. This can only be more interesting, as the offence of the pirate is multiplied.

    With the bad eggs in the NCC in mind, and the need to keep the anti-piracy moves watertight, the fight can only be sustainable, if the NFVCB man is able to identify the bad eggs in his agency and put them where they belong.

    Stakeholders must be wary of divide and rule antics which the pirates have used to keep themselves on top. There is no doubt that they (pirates) may want to infiltrate the anti-piracy team.

    Actors and other popular faces should support this new energy by speaking against piracy and educating fans on the need to patronize original copies of DVDs alone.

    It can only be a win-win situation for the right owners if this energy is sustained, long enough for the pirates, who are enamoured of this business to seek the legitimate way, deploying their financial and material resources to help the surplus that proper distribution require nationwide, and in fact, internationally.

  • Driver docked for alleged N1.3m fraud

    A commercial driver, Justine Okoro, who allegedly defrauded a businessman, Tochukwu Mamara, of N1.3 million, on Friday appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, 45, who resides at No. 538, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

    Police Prosecutor Peter Nwangwu told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large at about 10.a.m. on April 4 at Alaba International Market, Ojo Lagos.

    He alleged that the accused fraudulently collected the money from the complainant by luring him to an unknown destination.

    “The accused approached the complainant, who sells Motorola walkie-talkie, to supply walkie-talkie to him in large quantities.

    “Mamara took three samples of the products to him at an agreed location, but on getting there, Okoro hypnotized the complainant.

    “The accused and others forced the complainant to swear to an oath of secrecy that whatever he saw would not be revealed.

    “The accused asked the complainant to go and withdraw money from his account in exchange for dollars,” Nwangwu said.

    Nwangwu also told the court that the accused collected N1.3 million from the complainant and promised to send double the amount to him in hard currency.

    “The complainant later discovered that he had been duped.”

    The offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for offenders, while Section 285 stipulates a three-year imprisonment.

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

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Y.O. Aje-Afunwa, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She said the sureties must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and adjourned the case until June 21 for hearing. 

  • Alaba: Newly-elected chairman vows to end touting

    The newly-inaugurated Chairman of the Industrial Materials Association (IMA), Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, Mr Patrick Iwuagwu, on Thursday pledged that his administration would bring to an end, the issue of touting in the market.

    Iwuagwu said this in Lagos while inaugurating a 7-man Task Force he had set-up to work with his administration.

    The chairman urged the task force members to work round-the-clock to ensure that only shop owners in the market were allowed to direct the affairs of the market.

    He said that the right of women in the market would be protected, to instil social disciple and equity into its affairs.

    “The previous years in the market have been under the control of faceless leaders, who ruled the market since the past 7-years with touts.

    “The present management is indeed the dawn of a new era, going by the numerous support the administration enjoys from all and sundry.

    “The time has come to put an end to hooliganism and bring the once dreaded `F Line’ at the market, to a peaceful place, where businesses thrive,” Iwuagwu said.

    According to him, in line with his manifesto, the administration will strive to construct a befitting hall where the association will be holding meetings.

    He added that another priority for his regime would be to ensure that electricity was restored to the market, which, according to him, had eluded it for a long time now.

    NAN reports that the new executive was elected into power on April 3, to lead for four years.

  • Alaba trader charged with N10m solar panels theft

    The police have accused a trader at Alaba International Market, Ojo, Michael Nnabuife, of stealing solar panels valued at N10 million, property of a firm in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Nnabuife, 30, was arraigned Wednesday before Mrs. Abimbola Komolafe of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    He is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Prosecuting Inspector Steven Molo told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the alleged offences on February 25, at Alaba International Market.

    He said the defendant stole the solar panels, property of one Joy Solar Nigeria Ltd.

    According to the prosecutor, the theft occurred when Nnabuife obtained the solar panels under the guise that he would pay the firm N10m for them after selling the goods but failed to do so.

    The court heard that the alleged offences contravened Sections 285 (1) (7) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Nnabuife denied the charge.

    Magistrate Komolafe granted him N5 million bail with two sureties in the like sum, who must show evidence of three years’ tax payment, swear to an affidavit of means and deposit N100, 000 in the Chief Registrar’s account.

    She adjourned the case till August 23.