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Tag: couple

  • Couple, two others caught on CCTV ‘stealing’at Oshodi

    Couple, two others caught on CCTV ‘stealing’at Oshodi

    Four persons, includinga  couple, Segun Latoye and Toyin Samuel, have been arrested  after being caught on camera in Oshodi, dispossessing passersby of their belongings.

    The others are Jelili Ganiu, 19, and Samson Owolabi, 23.

    The couple were caught on camera thrice stealing from people.

    A statement by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS said the couple dispossessed a woman of her bag containing two mobi1le phones and an unspecified amount of money.

    “After hypnotising their victim, they fled with her belongings. The woman regained her consciousness few minutes later and reported the incident to RRS officers who contacted the person in charge of the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) mobile camera. Their pictures were shown to selected people in Oshodi who could identify them and notify RRS on their whereabouts. They were later arrested. The suspects, who claimed to be husband and wife confessed after watching their video,” RRS said.

    Ganiu and Owolabi were caught on camera stealing what looked like mobile phones from a passerby on the pedestrian bridge.

    They were monitored through the camera exchanging the stolen items with another suspect, who is  at large, before returning to the flyover.

    The suspects were trailed by RRS operatives and arrested near the bridge.

    They confessed to RRS that they stole an Infinix Hot mobile phone from a passer-by on the bridge, saying the person they gave it to,  keeps  the stolen items.

    Jelili added that the fleeing  Omo Nla sells the stolen items and they later share the proceeds.

    The suspect was quoted as saying :  ‘’Owolabi and I are conductors in Oshodi but when there is no  work or we arrive late at the park to reunite with our bosses, we steal phones, purses and other valuables from the users of the pedestrian bridge in Oshodi’’.

    Police spokesman Chike Oti said  the suspects would be charged to court soon.

  • How couple ran Igando ‘baby factory’

    How couple ran Igando ‘baby factory’

    FACTS emerged yesterday that the couple paraded on Monday by the police  for allegedly running a baby factory in Igando, Lagos State, operated from three locations.

    A 15-year-old boy and two toddlers were rescued from the couple’s home yesterday by  officials of  Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development. House 3, Alhaji Jimoh Sodiq Street, Igando,  was said to be used as an orphanage by Adeola and Binta Adebayo. The government has sealed off the place.

    The couple, it was learnt, usually kept young expectant mothers at 1, Treasure Palace Close, off Hand of Fair Bus Stop, Ikotun-Igando Road or in an undisclosed location for  months and only brought them to the ‘orphanage’ when they were about to give birth.

    A petty trader on the street, Iyabeji, said the suspects had been operating the ‘orphanage’ for years, adding that she usually saw heavily pregnant women, ‘’who disappeared after they must have been delivered of their babies’’.

    Iyabeji said the expectant mothers  patronised her shop, adding that the Matron, Iya Dupe, had worked in the orphanage since 2016.

    She said: “I never knew it was a baby factory or an illegal orphanage. You can see how quiet this street is and most of the bungalows have very high fences. So, it is almost impossible for anyone to know what happens behind those fences.

    “But I know that I usually see heavily pregnant women come from the orphanage to buy pepper and tomato from me. After sometime, I won’t see the young women again and later on, I will see new ones.

    “Also, I know that the mama (matron) who takes care of the children is Iya Dupe. She has been working for the orphanage since 2016. She doesn’t stay there. She used to complain that she wanted to leave because they were not paying her well. She said they paid her N16,000 per month and when she complained, they increased it to N20,000 and they were not regular with the payment.

    “She was here this morning. I don’t know where she has gone to. She would have told you more. The teenage boy (Chinedu Dike) you saw inside the orphanage grew up there. No one adopted him and so, all the children there see him as their elder brother.”

    The Nation saw children’s footprints at a playground constructed on the left hand side of the ‘orphanage’. Although the rooms had the smell of babies, there was nothing, not even trash on the premises, for investigators to analyse.

    Asked if she was ever brought to the ‘orphanage’, six-month-pregnant Precious Emmanuel said no, adding that she was taking to two locations.

    She said they were four expectant mothers in all, including Adebayo’s daughter, Balikis.

    Emmanuel said: “There was a house I was kept in when I came last November. After we celebrated Christmas, we were relocated to another side. Initially, I wanted to abort my pregnancy but when I got to her, she advised me to keep the baby that after I have been delivered of the baby, she would give the baby out and settle me. I didn’t understand what the settlement meant.

    “I wanted abortion because the man who impregnated me maltreated me and sent me packing. My sister also did not want the pregnancy and she asked me to abort it and return to Akwa Ibom. My sister doesn’t know I didn’t abort the baby and she doesn’t know I am still in Lagos.

    “We were four pregnant women. Her daughter-in-law, her husband’s daughter, myself and the other lady.  No one paid anyone to impregnate us. The person who brought me requested I don’t tell my sister where I was.

    “I feel like my pregnancy is seven months but the scan keeps saying six months. She usually took us for scan and she registered us with a private hospital. I don’t know the name of the hospital but I have their card.

    “She treated me fine. I usually ate normal food such as garri, rice, beans. It is not true that I used to help her sell drinks. I don’t do anything like that. I only know that Favour used to live with her before she brought her to join us. Her husband’s daughter is Balikis. She is in their house. They never brought me to the ‘orphanage’. This is the first time I am coming here. Since I got to her house, it was only the four pregnant women I saw.”

    Mrs. Adebayo, who told reporters at the Police Headquarters in Ikeja on Monday that she was from Abia State but married to a Yoruba man, changed tune yesterday.

    She  also denied  being Igbo, insisting that she was originally from Kasaid: “We came for closure of an illegal orphanage. We discovered that the home has not fully registered with the government. She put up an application, we came to access the home and we told her that the home was inappropriate for orphanage operation in Lagos State.

    “She has not met the operational guidelines of Lagos State and she was instructed not to practice. At the time we came here for inspection, there were no children. But today, you can see for yourself the condition of the two children we found here.

    “The children have been evacuated and would be taken to appropriate homes. The woman would face the law at the end of investigation. Police have commenced investigation and the public would be well briefed.

    “It has been established that the woman is operating under so many names. We would tie everything to gether and take necessary actions.

    “Already the government has warned all orphanages operating illegally in the state to come and register within 14 days. Any orphanage that refuses to comply with this directive within the given period would face sanctions. We appeal to the public to continue to provide us with useful information on orphanages suspected to be running illegal businesses.”

  • Britain’s royal couple playing by their own rules

    Britain’s royal couple playing by their own rules

    As the engagement announcement between Prince Harry and American Actress Meghan Markle continues to generate headlines, HANNAH OJO writes on what makes the upcoming union a deviation from the British royal family marriage norms.

    AS the announcement of American Actress Meghan Markle’s engagement to Prince Harry continues to generate headlines, HANNAH OJO writes on what makes the upcoming union a deviation from the British royal family’s marriage norms. An American actress, a divorcee, an advocate for women’s rights, a granddaughter of slaves—there are so many things about Meghan Markle that make her engagement to Prince Harry a deviation from the British royal tradition on marriage. Meghan, who has been described as a successful actress, is not only three years older than the charming prince, she is also an American of mixed race parentage.

    Regarded as the third most popular member of the British royal family, Prince Harry’s decision to go against the conventional choice of a bride with aristocratic background should not come as a surprise to those who have followed his antecedents. Born in England on September 15, 1984, Prince Henry of Wales, also known as Prince Harry, is the second son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Diana. As a young adult, Harry had a reputation for being rebellious. His biography on Wikipedia indicates that he was seen at age 17 smoking cannabis and partaking in underage drinking with his friends. He was also photographed at Highgrove House at a ‘Colonial and Native’ themed costume party wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform with a swastika armband. Although he issued a statement apologising for his behaviour, the impression has been sealed with the British media and he subsequently earned the toga of a ‘wild child’.

    Prince Harry’s unconventional behavior could have been a trait inherited from his late mother. Princess Diana was a non-conformist in her own right. She lived life on her terms, dating Arab men after her divorce from Prince Charles whilst raising her sons with the mantra to ‘do whatever you love’. “Like Diana, Princess of Wales, his mother, Harry has always worn his heart on his sleeve, and when he falls in love, he falls hard. “Diana always told the boys, ‘Do what your heart tells you,’ says Darren McGrady, a former royal chef who worked for the Prince and Princess of Wales when Harry was growing up. Apart from the late Princess Diana’s influence on him, which was cut short when Diana died in a car accident when Harry was about 13, a life outside the royal bubble also seem to have helped cement Harry’s unconventional choices.

    Having joined the British Army and served on the frontline in Afghanistan, his philanthropy work could also have been the glue which cemented the relationship with the American actress since Meghan is heavily involved in humanitarian works as well. Meghan is committed to charity work. She has promoted clean water campaign in Rwanda, visited Afganistan to support US forces and their families. In 2014, she was involved in a UN campaign for gender equality Meghan, 36 was born and raised in California but until recently lived in Toronto, Canada where she filmed Suits, a TV series. Her mother, Doris Radlan, is an African-American who presently earns a living as a Yoga instructor and a social worker. Her father, Thomas Markle, is a Dutch-Irish who is said to live a quiet life. In an address she delivered at the UN women conference some years ago, Meghan spoke of how her father encouraged her at age 11 to write a letter to then US first lady, Hillary Clinton, to complain against a TV advert which labelled American women as dish washers.

    The advocacy she initiated at that level made the ad to be withdrawn from the airwaves and later reworked. Being a divorcee also appears to have been a patch that has been feasted on by the British media. Meghan was previously married for two years to Trevor Engelson, an American film producer. She has also revealed in interviews that her greatgreat- grandfather was a slave. Commenting on her parent’s mixed race relationship, she had revealed that the difference in skin tone led to the family receiving racial abuse when she was younger. “Since her mother is black with dreadlocks, and she passes as caucasian, she often came under fire growing up as people questioned whether her mother was in fact her biological mum.

    “Meghan recalled how her mother was mistaken for the nanny before adding in an interview: “I was home in LA on a college break when my mom was called the ‘N’ word. We were leaving a concert and she wasn’t pulling out of a parking space quickly enough for another driver,” an article in The Sun quoted. In an article for Elle magazine, Meghan wrote: “Being biracial paints a blurred line that is equal parts staggering and illuminating.” “While my mixed heritage may have created a grey area surrounding my self-identification, keeping me with a foot on both sides of the fence, I have come to embrace that. “To say who I am, to share where I’m from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident mixed-race woman.” With her experience as an actress and an advocate, it appears Meghan comes prepared for the duty expected of royalty.

    This view is also corroborated by the royal historian Hugo Vickers, who believes the controversy surrounding her background is to her advantage. “I suppose on paper she’s everything you don’t want her to be — an older woman, a divorcée — but her more positive qualities could suit her well for the role. She has a certain worldly experience that she would need,” Vickers stated in an article which appeared in The Times. Already, Meghan Markle is being described as the ‘Black Princess’ by British Tabloid even though the specific details of the royal lineage could change that title to a ‘black duchess’. The union is no doubt a shattering of the glass ceiling for black women, especially putting into context the words of Lincoln Anthony Blades, a journalist who stated that, “There is no more prevailing image of a global white supremacy than the British monarchy”.

  • Badoo kills couple, kids in Ikorodu

    Badoo kills couple, kids in Ikorodu

    A man, his wife and two children were at the wee hours of Sunday murdered by suspected members of ritual gang, Badoo.

    One member of the family identified simply as Feyin, it was gathered, survived the attack and was being treated at an undisclosed hospital.

    The incident occurred at the family’s room and parlour apartment situated at 4, Ile Baba Shade Mosque, Oke Otta, Ajose in Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    It was gathered that two of the three children, who were minors, were raped before their brains were smashed.

    This killing is coming at a time calm was returning to Ikorodu after months of continuous attack by the murderous gang.

    Although two children were alive when residents discovered them on Sunday evening, one later passed on at the hospital, it was learnt.

    According to a resident, the couple and a daughter died before morning, while their last born and the second daughter, were found unconscious and rushed to the hospital.

    Their killers, she said, removed one of the glass windows to access the house while the family was asleep, adding that there was no burglary proof there.

    She said the incident occurred very close to the community mosque, adding that it drew the ire of residents, who stormed the palace of the monarch.

    She said that policemen were invited to evacuate the corpses when they were discovered yesterday, adding that youths in the community were already spoiling for war.

    Another source told The Nation that the incident occurred close to where the very first attack from the ritual gang was recorded in Ikorodu.

    At the time of filing this report, the identities of the victims were yet to be ascertained.

    Contacted, the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said investigation has commenced.

    He said: “Police operatives were notified of the incident and they mobilised to the scene. They found it extremely difficult to locate the house, which was situated in a thick forest. It is remotely impossible for anybody to identify a dwelling house in the area.

    “They arrived the scene eventually and discovered an open window. Five members of the family were attacked and three dies on the spot. One died while receiving treatment and the last family member is alive and responding to treatment.

    “Investigation has commenced. There is no visible trace of violence and no clue linked to the cult group was found. No stone was found at the scene, which does not fit in the modus operandi of the cult group.

    “A case of murder is being investigated by police detectives. The Lagos State Police Command is using this opportunity to call on council, Community Development Association (CDA) Chairmen, traditional rulers who know persons staying in isolated areas, which are no longer safe to come and report/identify with the police in order to stop people from packing into obscure areas without proper social structures.

    “The command also wishes to inform members of the public to come forward with useful information to aid the police and not resort to jungle justice in order not to jeopardise the investigation that may lead to the arrest of the alleged suspects who are on the command’s watch list.”

  • Couple, triplets detained in hospital over unpaid bill

    Couple, triplets detained in hospital over unpaid bill

    THE joy of Waklek Gotus, whose wife, Gotus was delivered of a set of triplets have been turned into relative sadness. Reason. The couple and their babies are currently being detained at a State General Hospital, Pankshin, Jos, Plateau State, over their inability to pay the hospital bill for the delivery of the babies.

    Medical personnel of the Pankshin General hospital, in Pankshin local government of Plateau state were said to have assisted the mother of the triplets to deliver the babies through Caesarian.

    One of the hospital staff anonymously said: “The woman was rushed to the hospital after a prolonged labour at home, it is obvious that the woman and the husband were too poor to seek medical assistance and so preferred to deliver at home.

    But when it was obvious the woman had not energy to deliver the babies on her medical doctor saw the critical condition of the woman and had no option that to deliver the babies through caesarean which was successful. If not for the caesarean this woman would have died. However, the unpaid bill become a burden on the couple as the hospital authorities would not let them go unless they offset the bill totalling N165,000.

    The distraught couple with the triplets

    The family were discharged from the hospital a week after the delivery, but have remained in the hospital for another three weeks for lack of funds. The breakdown of the bill shows, the caesarean surgery costs N75,000 and other charges put at N90,000, bringing the total to N165,000. The couple pleaded with the authorities of Pankshin Local Government for help, but got nothing, hence, the need to call on the general public for help as their bill might continue to increase daily at the hospital.

  • ‘Couples who sleep naked together are happier’

    Chances are that you are happy in your relationship if you and your partner love to sleep naked, perhaps even happier than couples you know who sleep wearing pyjamas or some other pieces of clothing.

    This is because a new study has revealed that couples who sleep naked have a happier relationship and are fond of each other.

    The study from Cotton USA asked couples what they slept in at bedtime and then asked them to rate how happy they were in their relationship.

    RELATED: How often workers have sex at work

    The results showed that 57 percent of those who slept in the nude said they felt happy, compared to 48 percent of pyjamas wearers, 43 percent of nightie wearers and a mere 38 percent of people who wore pants, bum shorts, etc.

    Stephanie Thiers-Ratcliffe of Cotton USA said that one of the leading factors for this was that the nakedness encouraged intimacy and openness, thanks to the skin-on-skin contact and the feeling of soft bedding.

    Respondents, however, note that couples who sleep in the nude would always have so much washing to do!

  • Acid attack: Court extends couple’s detention

    Acid attack: Court extends couple’s detention

    •’DPP’s report’ clears suspect’s wife

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court yesterday extended the remand order against a couple Mr and Mrs Chidi Ubochiajonjo  charged with pouring acid on a woman, Ogochukwu Nwosu.

    Magistrate J. O. Adepoju remanded the defendants for another 30 days pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    Chidi, 39, and his wife Nkiru, 40, were arraigned last March 15, on four counts of conspiracy, attempted murder, threat to kill and causing grievous bodily harm.

    According to the charge marked O/18/2017, the defendants, last October 6 at Ilasamaja Bus Stop, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos attempted to murder Nwosu, 26, “by bathing her with substances suspected to be acid” thereby causing her grievous bodily harm.

    Nkiru was also accused of sending a text message last October 7, threatening to kill Nwosu.

    According to prosecuting counsel Ochogwu Ogbeh, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), the alleged offences contravene Sections 230, 232, 245 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    They were remanded in prison custody pending the DPP’s advice.

    At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, Magistrate Adepoju said the advice on the case forwarded to her office from the DPP contained a different case number from what is on the charge.

    She directed the prosecutor to ask the DPP for another report bearing the correct charge number.

    According to the DPP’S report of May 30, 2017 signed by Mr Y. G. Oshoala, seen by The Nation, there is insufficient evidence for the charge against Nkiru.

    “The Office shall not be prosecuting Nkiru Ubochiajonjo as there is no sufficient evidence in the duplicate case file tying her to the crime,” the report stated.

    It, however, noted that “there are sufficient facts to establish a prima facie case” to prosecute Chidi.

    Defence counsel C. C. Echemazu moved an application for the defendants to be released on bail.

    He stated, among others, that the defendants had been in detention since their arraignment and for a cumulative period of almost six months since their arrest.

    This was opposed by Ogbeh, who argued, among others, that “the victim of the offence is still critically ill, battling for her life in hospital.”

    Ogbeh said after the attack, Nwosu, who worked at Computer Village in Ikeja, sustained serious burns on her face, neck, breasts, among other parts of her body.

    Magistrate Adepoju adjourned till July 14 for ruling on the application and DPP’s advice.

  • Couple seeks N2m to keep only son alive

    Couple seeks N2m to keep only son alive

    After three years of marriage, a teacher, Mr Babatope Okunola and his wife, Folashade, gave birth to their first and only child, Ireoluwa, two and half years ago.

    The joy Ireoluwa’s birth brought to his parents is gradually turning to apprehension, following the discovery last February that their child has a hole in his heart.

    Folashade, a nanny, said the diagnosis was made at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    She noted that as a result of the ailment, he can no longer attend kindergarten classes.

    Folashade said: “Early last year, I noticed that my son pants often and became dull. I took him to the hospital and was told he would outgrow the stage. Late last year, his palms and tongue started turning blue and he also became prone to squatting. By January this year his breathing rate increased and he sometimes loses his breath.  Last February, I took him to Ikorodu General Hospital, which referred us to LASUTH where various tests were run on him and the hole in the heart was confirmed.

    “We are to do the operation at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile Ife, Osun State. We should have done it last month but we don’t have the money. Our hope is to enrol him for next month’s session, but, we are to make payment this month.

    “So far, we have spent over N300,000 on his health, including a CT Scan Test  at a trauma centre in Ondo State, which cost N150,000. An X-Ray of the brain cost us N45,000 at University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State and an Echo Test at a private clinic cost us N25,000. We did another X-tray at N3000 and a TG Test at N8000, among others,” she said.

    Her husband, Okunola, said the amount his wife quoted did not include feeding, transportation and accommodation to other states.

    Okunola said the N2million required for the surgery is fixed, adding that they would spend about two weeks in Ife, because they had to be there at least a week before the operation date till a week after.

    More money, he noted, would thus be required to pay for their stay in the town as well as other miscellaneous expenses.

    Okunola added: “We would be asked to buy blood and some materials which we do not know yet. We would also need money for post-surgery care.”

    He urged kind-hearted Nigerians to help save their son’s life.

    He added: “For donations, an account has been opened for him with Heritage Bank. The account name is Ireoluwa Okunola and account number is 1400117478. His mother can be reached on 08038256009 and I can be reached on 07032202472.”

    Founder of His Marvellous Grace Support Foundation, Mrs Oluwadamisi Ladega, said she was aware of Ireoluwa’s condition and had spoken with the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Bakare about it.

    She said she and the Oba had written letters seeking assistance for Ireoluwa’s operation from the Lagos State Governor’s Office and the state’s Ministry of Health.

    Mrs Ladega said her foundation focuses on helping the less privileged, especially children and women.

  • Couple sell six-year-old daughter for N400, 000 in Cross River 

    Couple sell six-year-old daughter for N400, 000 in Cross River 

    The Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, Wednesday said they had arrested a couple for allegedly selling their six-year-old daughter for N400, 000.

    He said the suspects were arrested at Ikom Local Government area on April 26 following a tip-off.

    According to Inuwa, the couple sold the child to enable them offset their house rent and open up a small provision shop.

    “On April 26, 2017, following a tip-off, our men arrested a couple, George-Sunday Udoh and his wife Victoria, for allegedly selling their daughter at the cost of N400,000.

    “The suspects were arrested by our operatives attached to the Ikom division. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department here in Calabar and investigation is ongoing,’’ he said.

    But the father of the child, who was paraded, denied the allegation.

    “It is true that we don’t have money and things are very hard with me and my wife, but we did not sell our baby for N400, 000,’’ he said.

     

  • Couple, five others charged with stealing day-old baby

    A couple, Chizoba Ike Nwate and Ike Nwatemole, has been arraigned before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly buying a day-old baby for N500,000.
    Nwate, 35, and Nwatemole, 40, were docked with Onyinyechi Oseneye, 22, Prisca Okocha, 45, Glory Ehinmi, 35, Regina Anyanwu, 59 and Elizabeth Michael, 68.
    They are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, selling and buying a day-old baby.
    Prosecuting Inspector Julius Babatope said the child theft was planned and executed by Oseneye, Okocha, Ehinmi and Anyanwu on March 1, at Ikota on Epe-Ajah Expressway, Lagos.
    According to him, Oseneye, Okocha and Ehinmi sold the baby to Nwate and Nwatemole for N500, 000.
    The offences, he added, contravened Sections 275(a)(f) (j) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
    The defendants pleaded not guilty. Magistrate M. O. Olajuwon granted them N500,000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.
    The case was adjourned till May 8.