The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Artisan

  • Enugu residents in panic purchase ahead of Saturday polls

    Enugu residents have engaged in panic purchase of food items ahead of the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, Feb. 16.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who monitored markets in the metropolis reports that the rush was noticed mainly in the major markets.

    At the Ogbete Main Market, people were mostly rushing for perishable food items such as meat, tomatoes, dry fish, ice fish, and vegetable.

    NAN gathered that the rush was to accumulate enough stock that would sustain them throughout the election period.

    The rush was also taking place at the Artisan and Ariaria markets all within Enugu metropolis

    A Police officer, Mrs. Angela Obi told NAN that she was shopping against Saturday because she would be on election duties in the state.

    Read Also: Police kill suspected robber in Enugu

    “We have already started working by ensuring that laws and order were maintained throughout the election perio and beyond,” Obi said.

    Mrs. Nkem Okoro, a banker said that she was shopping to enable her travel to her village to cast her vote on Saturday.

    “I registered in my village, and need to do my shopping this morning so that I can travel later today.

    “I am traveling to the village with my family, I need to travel early in order to reach there on time” Okoro said.

    Mr. Jude Eze, a civil servant said that he took permission from my office to do the shopping since there was no public holiday in Enugu as was done in some states.

    “I came to the market early today because I want to cool down and buy everything I needed against Saturday’s election”.

    Mrs. Kate Ugwuanyi, a tomato dealer, told NAN that she had made bumper sales because of the rush.

    “I have sold four and half basket of tomatoes today.

    “I am optimistic that before the end of the day I will be able to sell up to six baskets of tomatoes,” she said.

    NAN

  • Police probe electrocution of artisan

    Police probe electrocution of artisan

    Enugu State Police Command has begun investigation into the alleged electrocution of an artisan, Uzoma Okpara, at the Unity Estate, Independence Layout, Enugu, spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said in a statement yesterday.

    He said the incident occurred on November 21, about 11 am.

    Amaraizu said the deceased, a plumber, died when he had contact with a high tension wire close to a building where he was working on a faulty overhead tank at the estate.

    He said the victim was taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention and was certified dead on arrival by the doctor.

    Amaraizu said the body of the plumber had been deposited at the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Enugu mortuary for autopsy.

  • Artisan ‘stabs’ banker to death over N1,000 fee

    Artisan ‘stabs’ banker to death over N1,000 fee

    A man identified as Godwin has been accused of stabbing his neighbour to death over N1,000.

    Godwin, a phone repairer at Abule Egba, was alleged to have stabbed 31-year-old Bankole Olubode, a Wema Bank employee, for refusing to give him N1,000.

    Trouble was said to have started after the deceased gave a BlackBerry Bold Five mobile phone to the suspect for repairs.

    It was gathered that the suspect who usually came to Bankole’s house to eat, demanded N1,000 for the repairs.

    Instead of the N1,000, Bankole was said to have given Godwin N500 on Sunday and told him that the other N500 with him was his transport fare to his place of work at Apapa on Monday.

    It was gathered that Godwin was served dinner and he left only to return on Monday night to demand for N1,000.

    When he got to Bankole’s house, his sister was said to have told him that her brother just returned from work and was refreshing, which irked Godwin.

    A fight was said to have ensued between the duo, prompting Bankole to come out of the house to broker peace.

    But as he drew closer, Godwin was said to have stabbed him on the neck and he fell.

    According to Madam Abeni Olokun, Bankole’s scream attracted the attention of other neighbours who ran to the scene and rushed him to a private hospital.

    She said: “The hospital rejected him and he was taken to General Hospital where he died. Because he was a Muslim, his sister wanted his body for immediate burial and the police told us to go and get an affidavit from court.

    “But the annoying thing in the whole matter was that the IPO (Investigating Police Officer) Titus instead of arresting the suspect, turned and asked for money for vehicle to take the suspect to the station.

    “He was told that the deceased was the breadwinner of the family and that their mother was late. His sister does not have money but he didn’t want to hear anything. It seems they are trying to rubbish the case and it is not fair.”

     

  • Police, family bicker over artisan’s death in Ogun River

    Police, family bicker over artisan’s death in Ogun River

    An artisan, identified as Gafar Ajibola, has drowned in Ogun River, following panic reaction to a police raid on Oniyanrin community in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    The incident occurred at the weekend when the 31-year-old Ajibola was washing his clothes at the river bank.

    The Nation gathered that a detachment of policemen in search of hoodlums hiding near the river shot sporadically.

    In ensuing confusion, the deceased was said to have jumped into the river in fear.

    His remains were retrieved about 17 hours later by local divers.

    Ajibola’s uncle, who pleaded for anonymity, called for thorough investigation and demanded justice for the deceased.

    He said: “This is an unfortunate situation. My nephew was not a criminal. He was at the river bank to wash his clothes. He jumped into the river out of fear.

    “We are demanding for justice in this case. We are going to take legal step against the police,” he said.

    But police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi absolved the police of any wrong doing.

    He said the policemen were in the vicinity to perform their duties.

    According to him, some people were arrested and released after investigation,  wondering why the deceased jumped into the river when no one was chasing him.

    “The case is under investigation, the police were in the place to ensure safety of lives and property,” Abimbola said.

  • Artisan drowns in Ogun river following Police raid

    An artisan identified as Gafar Ajibola, has drown  in Ogun River when he plunged the water in panic reaction to a police raid on Oniyanrin community in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the state.

    The unfortunate incident which happened in the early hours of Saturday, when the 31 years old Ajibola was at the river bank to wash his clothes.

    The Nation gathered that a detachment of policemen had stormed the area in search of hoodlums around near Ogun river and were shooting sporadically.

    In ensuing confusion, deceased was said to have jumped into the river in a fit  of fear and got drowned but his remains were retrieved about 17 hours later by local divers.

    Ajibola’s uncle who who did not want his  name being mentioned in print, called for thorough investigation into incident even as he demanded justice for the deceased.

    The Uncle added  the late Ajibola was at the river bank to wash clothes and met his death because Police’s sporadic shooting.

    He said: “this is an unfortunate situation. My brother was not a criminal. He was at the river bank to wash his clothes. He jumped into the river out of fear following serious shooting by the police. We launched a search after his body until we found it on Saturday night.

    “We are demanding for justice in this case. We are going to take legal step against the police on this matter,” he said.

    But  the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, absolved the police of any wrong doing, saying that the policemen were in the vicinity to perform legitimate duty.

    Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the Police were  at the area to burst the hideout of criminal ring there.

    According to him,  some people were arrested and released after investigation,  wondering why the deceased jumped into the river when no one was chasing him.

    “The CP has directed that a powerful investigation be launched to unravel the culpability or otherwise of its men. The men were just on routine operational duty of providing residents adequate security.

    “The case is under investigation, the police are in the place to ensure safety of life and property,” Abimbola said.

  • N250m jobs tools for artisans, groups in Kwara

    N250m jobs tools for artisans, groups in Kwara

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has spent N250 million on jobs tools distributed to artisans, women associations, taxi drivers, Hausa groups, Igbo groups, Zuru and Fulani groups in the state. Other beneficiaries, according to him, were members of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Association of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU).

    Eighty tricycles, 1,777 grinding machines and 664 sewing machines, among other items, were distributed to the beneficiaries.

    The empowerment scheme, according to the senate president was designed to alleviate poverty and equip the less privilege to be economically self-reliant.

    Saraki was represented at the distribution of the items which took place at his mandate constituency office by the state chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani.

    Senator Saraki said that the gesture was to give back to reciprocate the honour done to him to represent them at the upper house which gave him the opportunity to become the president of the Senate. He promised the beneficiaries more of such assistance.

    The senate president advised the beneficiaries to use the items judiciously so that it can uplift them economically.

    The Director-General, Mandate Constituency Office, Abdulwahab Issa, said beneficiaries of the scheme were selected across the 16 local government areas of the state.

    Alhaji Issa said that “we painstakingly spread it round all the Local Government and wards in Kwara Central as well as Kwara North and Kwara South Senatorial districts.

    “I appeal to all beneficiaries to use the materials judiciously. On our part at mandate we shall endeavour to monitor how it is being utilised.”

    The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, was represented by the Magaji Are of Ilorin Alhaji Aremu Zubair hailed the effort of the former Kwara State governor and urged other political office holders to emulate him.

     

  • DSS arraigns two artisans for cloning Ambode’s phone number

    The Department of State Security (DSS) Wednesday arraigned two artisans before an Isolo Magistrate Court for allegedly cloning the mobile line of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The suspects – Rilwanu Jamiu and Balogun Stanley Oyewole, who claimed to be a cocoa dealer, were said to have attempted to perfect a N50 million transfer with the said mobile line.

    Prosecuting counsel from the DSS, Mr. Peter Okerinmodun told Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo that the suspects were arrested after using the cloned mobile line of the Governor to send a text message to the Accountant General of the State requesting for transfer of N50 million.

    He said the suspects conspired with others now at large to commit the crime on February 10, 2016 at about 10:02hours.

    Count one read: “That you Rilwanu Jamiu (M) of No 10, Giwa Street, Oka Akoko Street, Lagos and Balogun Stanley Oyewole (M) of No 65, Unity Street, Ikotun, Lagos and others at large on 10th February, 2016 about 1002hours at Lagos within Lagos Magisterial District, conspired to commit felony to wit: obtaining by false pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 312 (2) and (3) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.”

    Count two read: “That you Rilwanu Jamiu, Balogun Stanley Oyewole of the above addresses, and others at large, on above date, time and place fraudulently cloned the Glo line of His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with intent to induce him by false pretence and used the Glo line to send a text message for the transfer of a sum of fifty million Naira (N50m) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 312 (2) and (3) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.”

    After the charges were read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty, while the prosecutor asked that they should be kept in protective custody pending the outcome of the legal advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) in view of the fact that their lives could be endangered by other suspects who are on the run.

    But Magistrate Adedayo overruled Okerinmodun, saying the DSS ought to have kept them in custody judging by the fact that their lives could be in danger.

    She said since the offence for which the accused persons were charged to court was bailable and the fact that the Magistrate Court is a court of summary trial, she was inclined to grant bail to the accused persons.

    She, therefore, admitted them to bail in the sum of N1 million each and two sureties in like sum.

    Magistrate Adedayo ruled that one of the sureties must be a religious or community leader within the jurisdiction of the court, and that the accused persons must provide five years tax clearance certificates.

    She further ordered the accused persons to be remanded in Kirikiri Prison pending the perfection of the conditions attached to their bail, and adjourned the matter to May 10.

  • Artisan pleads with court to save marriage

    An artisan, Scot Emmanuel (27) yesterday begged an Ojo Customary Court in Lagos to prevail on his wife to stop her divorce bid.

    “I do not want my marriage of 10 years that has produced two children to scatter. I want to settle with my wife and I am ready to provide accommodation for her and my children,” he said.

    Emmanuel urged the court to reject the suit filed by his wife for alleged abandonment because he still loves her.

    “I will put in more effort to provide her and my children with accommodation so that they can leave her brother’s house where they are presently staying.

    “My wife should take it easy with me too because I do not get contracts to do borehole very often.

    “My kind of work is not steady and constant,” he told the court.

    The petitioner, Caroline, alleged that her husband had not taken “proper steps” on reconciliation.

    “My husband promised this court in our last hearing that he will see my people for reconciliation.

    “But as I speak, he has not done anything about that and has not come to see us.

    “My seven-year-old daughter has not been going to school since my ordeal with him started,” she said.

    The court’s President, Chief Joseph Ogunmola, advised Emmanuel to work harder to make Caroline to change her mind because of their children.

    “Caroline is too young to have two homes now in her life. But the petitioner too needs to endure with her husband,’’ he advised.

    He asked the couple to involve their family members to settle their differences and adjourned the case to June 2 for possible reconciliation.

     

  • Artisan, others win prizes in Lipton promo

    A Kano-based plumber, Mr John Folajomi and Miss Ikemefuna Isioma, a worker of General Motors, in Lagos, who emerged winners of a brand new car prize each, in the just-concluded ‘Lipton switch on and win promo,’ have been presented with their prizes

    Five other customers, including an eight-year-old pupil of Ajelogo Nursery and Primary School, Ketu, Lagos, Ebonyegharun Osadumebi Zion, went home with N100,000 each, at the presentation held at Unilever’s head office in Lagos.

    Other winners were Razak Adeyemi,Amih Njideka, Kehinde Agbomeji, and Florence Ojebseme, with George Friday, winning a return ticket to Dubai as 100 other consumers were also rewarded through the exercise.

    Speaking at the presentation of prizes, the Vice President, Operations, Unilever Plc, Mr Anil Gopalon, said the promo was initiated late last year to reward consumers for their support for the brand.

    He said: “One of the major reasons for the promo was to spur Nigerian consumers to develop interest in taking healthy drinks, instead of carbonated products that could be injurious to human system. Our major reason for conceptualising the promotion was, first to reward consumers, encourage them to drink tea and to add value to the lives of our teeming consumers.”

    The vice president, who said the reward exercise always takes place at every first quarter of the year, also posit that consumers should expect more of such exercises in the future.