The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bricklayer

  • A bricklayer comes to a crumbling house

    A bricklayer comes to a crumbling house

    • By Kene Obiezu

    Sir: With the appointment of Dr. Tahir Mamman, SAN as minister of education, Nigeria has a round peg been so fittingly rounded into a round hole. Indeed, the appointment of Mamman is a masterstroke.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to show that he has a nose for the right people, at least in some respects.

    His masterful distribution of security chiefs to every part of the country has doused historical tension. He has also successfully comforted long-suffering indigenes of the FCT by his decision to appoint as minister  Zephaniah Bitrus  Jisalo.

    Between 2005 and 2013, Mamman was the Director General of the Nigerian Law School. He has also been the Vice Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja. An astute administrator, compassionate formator and consummate professional, the learned law teacher revolutionized the Nigerian Law School. The lawyers who passed under his hand on their way to the Nigerian bar bear testimony to his uncanny mix of uncompromising integrity and adamantine adeptness.

    For long in Nigeria, the alarm bells have long pealed to announce the demise of education and its lofty standards. It is no coincidence that Nigeria’s free fall into decadence has continued just as the standard of education has slipped.

    In 2022, Nigerian undergraduates sat at home for eight months as university lecturers downed tools. For much of the eight months, the government conveniently looked away in what was one of the gravest attacks on education in Nigeria.

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    While many Nigerian students know a dearth of educational infrastructure, many teachers know the frustrations of poor welfare.

    Mamman has already promised to work like a bricklayer to fix the leaking roof of education in Nigeria. Given his antecedents, he will give it his best. But, will his best be enough?

    To fix education in Nigeria, the educational sector has to move up the list of government priorities. Declaring a state of emergency in education will not be a bad first step.

    The budgetary allocation made annually to education must also improve dramatically because a lot of funding is needed to improve educational infrastructural and train teachers.

    Education should not be cheap. What it must however be is accessible. Quality education is never cheap, but with proper funding and commitment, it can become available to every Nigeria.

    Now that the right horse is sat in the saddle of the education sector, he must be supported to fix things there.

    The bricklayer may have come, but without the right materials to  lay bricks, the house will continue to crumble.

    •Kene Obiezu,

    keneobiezu@gmail.com

  • Bricklayer gets life jail for defiling niece

    An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court yesterday sentenced a bricklayer, Idowu Ismail Gbolahan, to life imprisonment for defiling his seven-year-old niece.

    Justice Abiola Soladoye convicted Gbolahan, 30, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

    Gbolahan defiled the girl when she visited her grandmother at 50, Morocco Road, Somolu, Lagos on August 11 last year.

    The prosecutor, Mrs. Fehinti Ogbemudia, told the court that the defendant took the victim from her grandmother’s room where she went to drink water to his own room to defile her.

    She said: “The defendant suddenly carried the victim to his room and shut the door. He removed her pants and had sex with her. The victim’s scream attracted a neighbour, Ufot Esther, who led her rescue.

    “The defendant made a confessional statement and the victim was referred to the Mirabel Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja,  for medical examination, to corroborate her evidence.

    “The statement and report are attached to the proof of evidence, which is before the court. We rely on Section 213 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2015.”

    In his allocutus (plea for mitigation of sentence), defence cousel Mr. Kelechi Obi said Gbolahan was a first offender, with no criminal record, adding that  he did not also waste the court’s time.

    In her judgment, Justice Soladoye held that the defendant admitted to defiling the girl.

    She said : “I have listened carefully to the allocutus of the defence counsel. I hereby hold that the offence in question is a strict liability offence. An offence against a child is a violation of her chastity and I cannot imagine the emotional and physical scars she will endure for the rest of her life.

    “Idowu Ismail Gbolahan, male, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. This is the judgment of this honourable court’’.

  • Bricklayer remanded for ‘raping girl, 13’

    A bricklayer, Daniel Ezekiel, who allegedly raped a 13-year-old food vendor, was yesterday remanded in prison by an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.

    Ezekiel, 23, who lives at Elegushi in Lagos, was arraigned by the Igando Police Station on a one-count charge of defilement before Mrs. K. O. Doja-Ojo.

    Prosecuting Inspector Peace Chukwudi alleged that the defendant committed the offence at about 3pm on January 30, at Ikate Elegushi, Lekki, Lagos.

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    She said the defendant had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl.

    The court heard that the girl went to the defendant to collect money for a plate of food she sold to him earlier, and Ezekiel, instead of paying, grabbed her and sexually violated her.

    The plea of the defendant was not taken, because the court had no jurisdiction to try the alleged offence.

    Instead, the prosecutor made an application praying the court to remand Ezekiel pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    Upholding the application, Magistrate Doja-Ojo remanded Ezekiel in prison custody and adjourned till February 27 for the DPP’s legal advice on the matter.

     

  • Bricklayer faces plank theft charge

    A 25-year-old bricklayer, Femi Abbey, was yesterday arraigned before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing 126 planks valued at N280, 000.

    Prosecuting Inspector Lucky Ihiehie said the accused committed the offence last November 26 at Olamiju Street, Ifako, Gbagada.

    He alleged that the accused scaled the fence of the complainant, Mrs. Karen Ekpo, to steal the planks from her compound.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Mrs. E. Kubeinje granted the accused N100, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned till February 26.

  • Bricklayer remanded for alleged laptop theft

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, yesterday remanded a bricklayer, Jamiu Ademola, at Kirikiri Prisons, for alleged house-breaking and theft of a laptop, valued at N120,000.

    Ademola, 25, whose address was not provided, is facing a four-count charge on house-breaking, damage and stealing.

    He pleaded guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. A. I. Abina, ordered that the accused be remanded in Kirikiri Prisons, and adjourned the case till April 12 for facts and sentencing.

    The prosecutor, Ishola Samuel, told the court that the accused damaged the window of a house belonging to Sidney Esichei, in a bid to steal.

    He said the accused entered Esichei’s apartment and stole his laptop.

    “The accused was unfortunate, as people around apprehended him and handed him over to the police.’’

    Samuel said the accused committed the offences on March 27 at Mohammed Balogun Street, Alagbado, a Lagos suburb.

    He said the offences contravened sections 306, 309, 339 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

     

  • Bricklayer remanded over theft of laptop

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded a bricklayer, Jamiu Ademola, 25, in Kirikiri Prisons for alleged house-breaking and stealing of a laptop valued at N120,000.

    Ademola, whose address was not provided, is facing a four-count charge, bordering on house-breaking, damage and stealing.

    He, however, pleaded guilty to the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mrs A.I. Abina, ordered that the accused should be remanded in Kirikiri Prisons and adjourned the case until April 12 for facts and sentencing.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Ishola Samuel, told the court that the accused damaged the window of a house, belonging one Sidney Esichei in a bid to steal from the house.

    Samuel said that the accused, thereafter gained access into Esichei’s apartment and stole his laptop.

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    “The accused was unfortunate as people around the scene arrested him during the act and handed him over to the police.’’

    Samuel said that the accused committed the offences on March 27 at Mohammed Balogun Street in Alagbado, near Lagos.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 306, 309, 339 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

  • Bricklayer arraigned for ‘assault’

    A 29-year-old bricklayer, Denis Okoya, who allegedly assaulted a commercial bus driver, Deji Adebite, has been arraigned at a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    The accused, who lives at 4, Adenuga Street, Ajara Dokoh, Badagry, is facing a charge of assault.

    Police prosecutor Akpan Ikem told the court the accused committed the offence at 36, Adarikoh Street, Sango, Badagry.

    He said the accused assaulted the complainant by punching his face, after an argument about the fare.

    “Before anybody could intervene, the accused started punching the complainant, but onlookers stopped him and reported to the police,’’ he said.

    Ikem said the offence contravened Section 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Jimoh Adefioye, granted him bail at N100,000 with a surety in like sum.

    He said the surety should show evidence of tax payment to the government.

    Adefioye adjourned the case till September 13.

  • Bricklayer ‘stabs’ man over noodles

    A 32-year-old bricklayer, Afeez Alawode, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly beating and stabbing Folawe Abdulrasheed with a broken bottle following a disagreement over noodles.
    Abdulrasheed of 27, Ifelodun Street, off Elliot Bus-Stop, Iju, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of assault and inflicting injuries.
    He pleaded not guilty.
    According to prosecuting Inspector Victor Eruada, the defendant and an accomplice at large, committed the offences on May 2 at Galilee Avenue, Iju.
    He said the defendant beat up and stabbed Abdulrasheed with a broken bottle twice on his left hand and stomach.
    “Alawode assaulted Abdulrasheed because he refused to buy him the noodles he requested for.”ýý
    The offences contravened Sections 172 and 244 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).ýý
    Magistrate G.O. Anifowoshe granted the defendant N100, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.
    He adjourned till June 5.

  • Bricklayer ‘defiles’ 18-month-old

    A bricklayer, Emmamuel Magbatie, 47, who allegedly defiled an 18-month-old girl in Owutu, Ikorodu, has been arrested by the police.

    The incident was said to have occurred last Wednesday in Owutu village, Ikorodu.

    Magbatie was caught by a neighbour while defiling the baby at their Owutu residence in Ikorodu.

    The bricklayer, who lives in the same house with the parents, was said to have committed the act when the mother stepped out.

    The cry of the baby was said to have attracted the neighbour, who raised alarm following which others in the area apprehended the bricklayer and handed him over to the police.

    The baby was rushed to the General Hospital, Ikorodu.

    The matter was reported to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), which called the mother and advised her to seek medical attention for her baby at the Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

    Last Thursday, the mother met with members of the DSVRT, who gave her a referral to Mirabel Centre for “appropriate medical assistance”.

    It was gathered that the medical report showed evidence of forceful entry and lacerations in her private part.

    Last Friday, officers of the DSVRT, relying on the medical report from Mirabel center, facilitated the transfer of the case file to the Gender Desk of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja where the bricklayer is held pending arraignment in court today or tomorrow.

  • Bricklayer to die by hanging for armed robbery

    Bricklayer to die by hanging for armed robbery

    AN Ikeja High Court yesterday sentenced a bricklayer, Femi Adebowale, to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.

    “In accordance with the provision of the law, you are hereby sentenced to death by hanging by the neck until death. May the Lord have mercy on you,” Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye said while delivering judgement in the four-count charge preferred against Adebowale.

    Adebowale had been accused of robbing Alhaja Amudalat Olowo-Eyo of gold jewellery valued at over N500,000, N350,000 cash and other valuables at gun point on December 28, 2012 between 1am and 2am at 10, Aiyetolu Street in Abule-Egba, Lagos.

    In her testimony, Olowo-Eyo said Adebowale and her gang threatened to waste her family members’ lives if they refused to cooperate with the robbers.

    She said she identified Adebowale as one of the bricklayers brought by her landlord for the renovation of their house.

    Her husband, she said, pinned one of the robbers down, giving her the courage to also hold on to the robber next to her.

    To free himself, Olowo-Eyo said the robber shot her twice in the chest, adding that 20 minutes later those who fled returned and rained bullets on her apartment.

    She said one of her daughters was hit in the stomach, another in the back while her son was shot in the thigh.

    Justice Ipaye dismissed the convict’s alibi that he was away in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for his pre-marriage introduction on the fateful day.

    She described as not credible, the evidence of his supposed father-in-law, who said he met Adebowale for the first time on the day of the ceremony.

    The judge held that the evidence of the complainant and her daughter, among other testimonies, were not controverted by the defence.

    Justice Ipaye said the prosecution proved the charge of conspiracy as the act was carried out by more than one person, stating that it also proved the case of armed robbery against Adebowale.