The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CRIME

  • When sleeping becomes a crime

    WHEN should a man fall asleep?

    Simple.

    So I thought until this innocuous question became a subject of hot debate for social scientists who turned it all into a matter of theoretical contestation.

    Nature seems to have settled the question, a layperson would think. We sleep at night and stay awake in the day.

    Not so simple, rejoin the experts, among whom, I must confess, I do not number myself.  Some people sleep during the day because they work at night. Among them are those in the essential services – medical personnel, fire fighters, soldiers, journalists, policemen, and many others. Others just follow the law of nature, sleeping only at night. Doctors, we must note, advise a siesta, a nap during the day. It is, according to them, a health booster

    If doctors recommend that of the 24 hours we have in a day eight should be devoted to sleeping and nature ensures that we go to bed at night, why then should there be arguments about this phenomenon? In other words, when does sleeping, a common routine, become a subject of controversy and a crime to be severely punished? Is it when it lasts more than eight hours? Is it a question of where one sleeps? How much control has a man over when and how he falls asleep?

    Dear reader, forgive the rather long preamble. We will get to the issue at hand presently. And I assure you, it is not a voyage into the minds of somnambulists, their ailment and its management. Neither is it an exploration into narcolepsy, jet lag and related conditions. No. Not at all.

    It is an attempt to comprehend the fate that has befallen a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Sunday Akinniyi , who is representing the good people of Ikere Constituency II. Akinniyi also goes by the onomatopoeic appellation, Gbosa! He was suspended indefinitely last week “for sleeping too much” at plenary in the last three years.

    Akinniyi was also accused of “pugnacious behaviour in his constituency against his people”, according to a report in this newspaper. He got the push also for being “regularly regular in absenting himself, especially when issues relating to his constituency are slated for discussion”.

    The report quoted a source as saying that the lawmaker’s suspension was to preempt his planned defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the crucial July 14 governorship election. No fewer than 10 lawmakers are said to be planning to jump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ship. When they eventually do, there is no doubt that they will be accused of “sleeping too much”.

    Will the attentive public, not excluding the mammoth clients of the state’s flagship programme, the vote-harvesting Stomach Infrastructure, not begin to query what makes the lawmakers yield so easily to sleep in, of all places, the hallowed chambers of the Assembly where the delicate business of lawmaking for the wellbeing of the people is conducted? Why should a lawmaker sleep for three years before the authorities of the House moved against him? When is “sleeping too much” indeed too much to attract such a stiff sanction?

    Akinniyi, who is reported to have fallen out with Governor Ayo Fayose, had earlier been removed as the Chief Whip on May 24 for alleged “disloyalty to the governor and other un-parliamentary activities”.

    A former deputy speaker, Mr Olusegun Adewunmi, suffered the same fate.

    There are fears that this problem of “sleeping too much” may have gone beyond the four walls of the Assembly. The indications are clear; more lawmakers who may be finding it difficult to stay awake may soon get the Akinniyi treatment. And why not? No House worthy of its mace will tolerate members who are half awake or simply snoring away the day when important and urgent matters of state are being discussed.

    The fears, as I have said, may have spread. And, irony of ironies, many are stacking the blame at the door of the very programme that has been hailed at home and abroad as the most ingenious of its kind, the Stomach Infrastructure under which indigenes are fed to their fill – free.

    The excuse being bandied all over the place is that overfeeding through this lofty government programme may have induced oversleeping, a development which the Assembly is desperately striving to curtail.

    This strange sleep problem, a keen observer of the Assembly said the other day, may have struck most of the members when His Excellency tendered the budget for ratification.

    All was quiet in the chamber as the governor placed the document on the podium and asked repeatedly: “Those who want this budget to be passed speedily say yes.”  The gallery erupted: “Yeh!”

    “If you want this budget passed speedily, say yes.” The gallery yelled: “Yeh.”

    If you want this budget passed speedily, say yes.” “Yeh!”.

    “Those who want the budget passed speedily, say yes.” “Yeh!.”

    “Those who doesn’t (sic) want this budget to be passed speedily, say no.”

    All was quiet. Fayose banged the table with the gavel he had brought to the sitting. The gallery – an assortment of youths, okada riders and artisans – erupted in jubilation.

    But the lawmakers were dead quiet.

    Many were asking after the session: “What hit the lawmakers; were they dumb and deaf?” Now they should know. Their sleeping sickness may have reached a clinically discernible stage at that time, but many, being no experts, did not notice.

    Why did it take the Assembly and its ever-dutiful leaders this long to discover that a rather strange ailment had hit the House? Complacency? Carelessness? Indifference? It is neither here nor there?

    A confidential source, who is close to the leadership of the House, has just told me that the leadership has ordered an audit of every Honourable’s sleeping habit to find out if it conforms with legislative recommendations or not. Doctors, specialists, of course, will be called in.

    Besides, a Bill to ban sleeping in the chamber in whatever guise is in the works. When it becomes law, the first of its type anywhere, it will make it an offence to snore, sleep and doze at plenary. It will be punishable by expulsion, the logic being that mere suspension will be unfair to the constituents of the affected honourable member. If he or she is expelled, the constituents will know that they are simply not being represented. This, as the popular thinking goes, is better than having a sleeping representative.

    Those who are knowledgeable about such legislation are already thinking of how to make the National Assembly adopt it to whip its sleeping and snoring members into line so that the nation can get value for what is believed to be our lawmakers’ jumbo pay.

    By the way, Hon. Akinniyi defected to the APC on Tuesday.

     

    A World Cup update

    THE World Cup is in full swing. It is too early to predict the winner. But the giants have not been finding it easy. Defending champions Germany lost 0-1 to Mexico. Brazil drew 1-1 with Switzerland. Senegal pounded Poland 2-1.

    Besides, there has been no goals drought. Is the rank of good strikers growing?

    Since the Super Eagles lost their first game 0-2 to Croatia, the fans have been restless. Every Nigerian has become a soccer expert. The coach has been tongue lashed for the 4-3-3 formula the team played. Odion Ighalo, the lone striker upfront, was easily rendered immobile by the Croatian defence.

    Off the pitch, the Super Eagles were the toast of fashion aficionados. Their jersey was rated the best. Their travel outfit was hailed as the most creative – and it is home-made, we are told.

    Back home, members of the team are the subject of ludicrous jokes. They are scorned. A friend sent me a picture of a flat plate full of pieces of meat. “The pig that predicted Super Eagles victory has been slaughtered. Here is the meat,” he wrote.

    And this on the social media: “Journalist: Why did the Super Eagles’ lose their match? Lai Mohammed: It’s part of the problems created by PDP. We inherited a poor team.”

    Yet another: “According to the news this morning, the President of China spoke about the Eagles loss at the World Cup. He said:’ Shai choi ting yang teng wong feng deng fung chan kin kong cho fungi lin.’ I agreed with him because it is for our benefit.”

    After Senegal beat Poland, some Nigerians hit the social media to claim their Senegalese origin, saying their great, great grandmas were born in that country.

    Now that attention has shifted a short while from the horrors that threaten our humanity, we should all see ourselves as winners; no losers. All the best to the Super Eagles as they face Iceland tomorrow.

  • Man in court for purchase of stolen wrappers

    The Police on Wednesday arraigned a 27-year-old man, Babayo Ahmed, in a Karu Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly purchasing stolen wrappers worth N100,000.

    The defendant, a resident of Dutse Alhaji, in the FCT, was arraigned on a count charge bordering on receiving stolen property, an offence he denied committing.

    Read Also: Man docked over alleged armed robbery

    The prosecutor, Mr Vincent Osuji, told the court that the defendant intentionally bought the wrappers from the person who stole them.

    “One Mohammed Hassan of Karu was arrested and brought to Karu Police Station on June 6 for stealing 35 pieces of wrappers, valued at N140,000.

    “In the course of police investigation, he confessed to have sold 25 pieces of the stolen wrappers, worth N100,000 to the defendant.

    “The defendant, however, denied the allegation and all efforts to recover the said wrappers proved abortive,” Osuji said.

    Osuji said that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code Law.

    The judge, Abdulmajeed Oniyangi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N250, 000, with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter until July 4 for hearing.

  • Pastor remanded for criminal breach of trust, cheating

    A Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the remand of a 27-year-old Pastor, Emmanuel Ukaegbu, in prison arraigned for criminal breach of trust and cheating.

    The judge, Inuwa Maiwada, gave the order after Ukaegbu of Abia State, pleaded guilty to a two-count charge leveled against him.

    Maiwada adjourned the case until June 25, for sentencing.

    The prosecutor, Ifeoma Ukagha, told the court that one pastor Samuel Oguche, on behalf of the general overseer of Omega Power Ministry Abuja, reported the matter at the Gwagwa Police Station Abuja, on June 2.

    Ukagha said the complainant alleged that sometimes in February 2018, the church entrusted Ukaegbu with electronic and household equipment meant for the Church, which he diverted.

    Ukagha said that Ukaegbu made away with tiger generator valued N15, 000, key board valued N70, 000, gas cylinder valued N6, 000 and a standing fan value yet unknown.

    He said all effort made by the police to trace and recover the items proved abortive.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

  • Student in court over theft of phone, laptop

    A 20-year-old student, Bawa Jeremiah was on Monday arraigned in a Daura Road Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kaduna for alleged theft of phone and laptop.

    Jeremiah, a resident of Gbangyi village in Kaduna is being tried for conspiracy and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Luka Yilgi told the court that Joseph Ikechukwu of Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna reported the matter at Sabon Gari Police Station on May 30.

    Yilgi said that the defendant conspired with one Umar Mohammed now at large and broke into the apartment of the complainant, to steal a laptop and phone all valued at N200, 000.

    He said that the defendant was caught by the complainant’s neighbour who saw him and his accomplice acting in a dubious manner.

    The prosecutor said that the defendant’s accomplice escaped with the phone and laptop while he was apprehended and taken to police station for further questioning.

    Read Also: Court remands man in court for enticing a married woman

    He said the offence contravened Sections 271 and 302 of the Penal Code Laws of Kaduna State.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Sidi, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    He said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and must submit two recent passport photographs.

    Sidi adjourned the case until June 18, for hearing.

  • Man, 27, in court over attempt to rape 60-year-old

    A 27-year-old man, Adeoye Olatomide, was on Friday docked in an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for alleged attempt to rape a 60-year-old woman.

    Olatomide is facing three-count charge of conspiracy, assault and attempted rape.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences with one other person currently at large on April 12 at 6.30 p.m along Okitipupa-Irele Junction.

    Orogbemi said Olatomide dragged the woman to a nearby bush and forcefully had canal knowledge of her.

    Read Also: ‘Killer’-wife arraigned for hubby’s death

    The prosecutor added that “Olatomide was apprehended by a passerby, while his accomplice escaped.”

    He said the offences contravened sections 356, 357 and 358, Criminal Law of Ondo State, 2006.

    However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to charges against him and the Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, ordered that he be remanded in prison and adjourned the case until June 22.

  • Men docked over robbery of N2m Rolex watch with toy gun

    An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday remanded five unemployed men in Kirikiri Prisons for allegedly robbing a man of a Rolex wrist watch valued at N2 million with a toy gun.

    The accused are Ayodele Oluwafemi, 36; Imole Otegbeye, 22; Segun Sunday, 24; Rilwan Abdusalam, 22; and Ezekiel Ayodele, 22.

    The men, whose addresses were not provided, are facing a three-count charge bordering on robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Adetunji, who gave the ruling, said the accused should be kept in Kirikiri Prisons pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    She directed that the case file should be duplicated and a copy sent to the DPP.

    The prosecution had earlier told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 3 at 10.00 p. m. along Oshodi Airport Road, Lagos.

    The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Matthew Akhaluode alleged the accused, with others still at large, armed themselves with a black toy gun and robbed the complainant, Mr Adamson Mustapha of his Rolex watch valued at N2 million in his car.

    “The complainant was on his way from the airport when the accused attacked him with a toy gun and robbed him of his N2 million Rolex watch.

    “The complainant alerted passersby and the accused were caught, realising that the gun was not real, ” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 297(2), 299(1) and 330 (a), (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Reports have it that Section 297 (2) prescribes 21 years jail term for offenders.

    The magistrate adjourned the case until July 2 DPP’s advice.

  • Crime and violence as the new class leveller

    I had a relapse of thought through the night over the armed robbery killings in Offà, Kwara State, and my line of thought goes thus: all the participants in the robbery, in some few weeks time would start buying new cars, new houses, they would have enough to settle the bills for the rent of their guns if it was rented, they now have access to more ladies, especially those who define their class by money.

    As I have said in the past that the societal deprivation of the African makes her see money as an end rather than a value and impact creating possession. Because of this default mindset of the African and by extension the Nigerian, all the robbers in Offà are getting set to paint the town and the clubs red. However, my question is this: “How do people who in the past had mocked and dissed some of these robbers for not being rich feel when the robbers now possess their former oppressor’s object of pride?”

    You probably don’t have an answer to the question and this in particular shows the limitations of our money-centric society, a society that defines every form of value, norms, humanity, success, achievement only by the exchange for money is indirectly preparing herself for doom.

    Before now, education was the class leveller, education was the last resort for the common man, it ensured parity between the son of the peasant and the children of the high, but the political and elite class never liked the parity education produces, hence they went after education through criminal under-funding, substandard entry requirements, poor motivation and a capitalist endorsements of private institutions.

    Every time you hear a public school going on strike, do not assume the leadership is not happy about it. In fact, all the news your media houses report to you about consultation between the staff unions and the leadership in government is a mere veneer to give the impression they actually don’t like the fact that schools are on strike.

    Every rot you see in our public schools, every strike especially since the fourth republic began is deliberate, because the government needs such dilapidation to ensure your mass consent.

    Because the political and elite class took away the class-levelling capacity of education, crime and violence now became the new class leveller; for all the object of the rich man’s pride, his shopping sprees in Dubai, his many wasteful parties, his protruding belly, his many mistresses and side chicks, are all the common man becomes accessible to after committing robbery and all other crimes.

    That is why in recent times armed robbery, terrorism, and violence are becoming the new tools for getting government attention. “Sebi you hate Nigerians to attain good education ni, but send your own children to schools abroad, and when they come back home, you smuggle them into CBN and other federal government hegemonic institutions. Well done: let them keep making the money, the masses you under-educate are coming for it violently.”

     

    • By Kehinde Oluwatosin

    Abeokuta, Ogun-State.

  • 500 youths renounce cultism in Bayelsa, join volunteer service

    Over 500 youths yesterday gathered in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital and denounced their membership of various secret cult groups.

    The youths, who hailed from different local government areas in the state, said they were moved to take the action following various opportunities created by the State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, for youth empowerment.

    Lamenting the evil of cultism, the youths said they were deceived to join secret associations by some of their leaders, but thanked the governor for bringing them out of darkness.

    They also vowed to assist security agencies and the State Government to fight crimes in the state.

    The youths took their stand against cultism at a brief ceremony organised by the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Volunteers (BSV), Prince Douye Koroye, at the BSV’s office in Yenagoa.

    They were received by Koroye, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Boma Sparo-Jack; Majority Leader, State House of Assembly, Dr. Peter Akpe; the Central Zone Chairman, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Tare Porri and other Dickson’s aides such as Jeremaiah Owoupele and Bonny Aya.

    Koroye declared that the youths, who took anti-cultism oaths administered by Sparo-Jack and signed denunciation forms, would be enlisted into the special squad of the state volunteer service.

    He said Dickson desired the youths to steer clear of crimes to enable them achieve their potential and contribute positively to the development of the state.

    He said the amended anti-cultism law passed recently by the House of Assembly was a demonstration of Dickson’s commitment to end cultism as it strengthened punishments for convicted cultists.

    He said persons, who voluntarily renounce cultism with a sincerity of purpose, would not be penalised, adding that the state required peace for development.

    Akpe in his keynote address urged the youths to rise above cultism to take advance of various opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

    He said Dickson was doing everything possible to destroy “the cancer called cultism”, adding that cultism is demonic since its activities take place mostly at night.

    Addressing the youths, he said: “Cultism will take you nowhere and that is why your decision to renounce it is in the right direction. It is a killer of destiny. It is a destroyer of lives. Nobody in his true senses will decide to stab and shoot people. It tells you that there is an evil force behind you.”

    Also advising the youths, Sparo-Jack went down memory lane on how he worked hard to rise from grass to grace through manual labour, trading and schooling.

    He told the youths that by dint of hard work, he rose to become the first Bayelsa State Director, Department of State Service (DSS).

    He appealed to the youths to develop their talents by taking advantages of various opportunities created by Dickson in education and other sectors.

    Porri in his part commended the youths for their bold steps and warned them against going back to cult-related activities after their denunciation.

  • Lawmaker urges youths to shun crime

    A lawmaker representing Apapa in Lagos State, Mr. Ayodeji Joseph, has urged youths to shun crime.

    He stressed the importance of skill acquisition, saying it was the panacea for unemployment.

    Joseph, who spoke at the weekend during the 1st Youth Summit organised by the Deputy Leader of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Legislative Council, Emmanuel Oputa, in Marine Beach, Lagos, said youths should engage in productive and legitimate activities.

    Oputa, who is also the councillor representing Ward ‘F’, said: “Today’s event tagged: ‘Youth Know Yourself’, is part of my efforts in contributing to the growth and development of the society by investing in our youths.”

    The guest speaker, Mr. Moses Bamgbose, identified lack of skills and competence as factors inhibiting the development of youths.

  • PTDF: Is studying in Nigeria a crime?

    SIR:  After obtaining a PIN with N1000 to apply for the PTDF Local Scholarship Scheme (LSS), I was finally shortlisted to come to Lagos and take a test on Saturday, July 8.

    Locating the test venue at 229 Ikorodu Rd, Mushin, Ikorodu, Lagos was an uphill task. I finally wrote the exam that fateful day, alongside those that wrote for the Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) to obtain Masters and Doctorate degrees in the United Kingdom and some other countries.

    PTDF released the list of the OSS candidates a bit late, causing them to carry out the induction of the OSS awardees in mid-September.

    PTDF later sent emails to some LSS scholars asking them to input details about the universities they have gained admission to study. From previous years of the award, once you received such an email, it simply meant you had gotten the scholarship. These LSS scholars were overjoyed; however, their candle light of joy was soon to develop a grim face.

    The LSS scholars were happy for the OSS scholars as they were being prepared to leave the shores of the nation by PTDF. The LSS scholars were hopeful that once PTDF was through with all the logistics for the OSS scholars, the light would beam on them.

    September crept away. Still the LSS scholars did not know their fate. October has passed and still, no word from the PTDF management headed Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau.

    Should the LSS scholars keep mum?

    It will be a dent on the youths who hope to turn this country around positively to sheath their sword of words in the face of intellectual racism perpetuated against those who decide to study in Nigeria. Is studying in nigeria a crime?

    Unconfirmed reports indicate that those who obtained the LSS scholarship in 2016 just got paid in October. Their cash was probably kept by good Samaritans within the ranks of the PTDF management for over seven months!

    Many of the LSS scholars have already begun their studies and are not happy because there doesn’t seem to be any hope from PTDF as they cannot afford the fees assuming PTDF fails to do the needful.

    It isn’t logical that PTDF would spend millions to train a Ph.D. candidate abroad and find it difficult to train a Ph.D. and masters candidate in Nigeria for far less.

    Why do we complain about the whites being racist when we ourselves are treating our citizens worse? If the management of PTDF is certain that it is not a crime to study in Nigeria, let the PTDF management led by Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau do the needful, and not make us feel like tokunbo educated individuals in our fatherland.

    We want to let the PTDF know that we do not want our funds to be cooling in the bank account of an individual and yielding interest. I expect the seasoned scholar, the executive secretary of PTDF to do what is right.

     

    • Name supplied,

    On behalf of 2017 LSS PTDF scholars