The Nation Newspaper

Tag: death

  • Four held for NURTW chief’s aide’s death

    Four held for NURTW chief’s aide’s death

    •35 others arrested for armed robbery, cultism

    FOUR persons have been arrested for the January 23 killing of Ganiyu Ayinla, aide of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos Island boss Kunle Polly.

    They were arrested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and paraded at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos,  yesterday by police chief Imohimi Edgal.

    They were paraded with  35 others accused of cultism and armed robbery.

    They are Bashiru Bashorun (a.k.a Abija), 49, Sunday Balogun (a.k.a Folori), 43, John Oladokun (a.k.a John Ibafo), 43 and Gbolahan Olomokere (a.k.a Motherless Junior), 34.

    Edgal said a wine Toyota Camry saloon car marked KTU713EZ and a pump action gun were recovered from them.

    “So far, they have all confessed to the crime and went further to mention one Ade Lawyer, who is currently at large as a co-participant in the crime.

    “This type of killing has become the trend whenever NURTW election is approaching but this present police administration in Lagos would certainly make it the last. Investigation is ongoing and further development would be communicated to the public as usual,” Edgal said.

    Of the remaining 35, Edgal said 19 were suspected cultists, 12 traffic robbers and four armed robbers. According to him, they were apprehended at Ikumole, Idimu, Wolly Boy Street, Ajangbadi and in Badagry, L agos.

    He said: “The robbery incident at Ikuomole Street, Idimu occurred when one Elegbeye Samuel, 21, and another still at large robbed a female, Damilola Ajayi, of her phone, jewellery and cash sum of N300,000. The suspect was arrested with one locally made pistol and he is helping us in our investigation.

    “Similarly, at about 6:30am, at Ajangbadi, one Emeka Francis, 26, was arrested at Wolly Boy Street, with a locally made pistol after he had robbed Sarah Eloji of her phone, gold necklace and a cash sum of N85,000 at gunpoint.

    “Two robbery suspects, Tanipinnu John, 27, and Kazeem Sikiru, 23, were arrested along Kokolowo Ilogbo Road in Badagry. The suspects were chased and arrested after their attempt to rob John Kunoso of his motorcycle marked TTD553WN was foiled.

    “Items recovered from them include one locally made pistol and the stolen mortocyle. The suspects would be charged to court.

    “The command’s undercover operatives were able to beat some traffic robbers also called “catch-in-the-air” to their game. These bandits usually pose as genuine commercial vehicle operators in order to hoodwink and rob unsuspecting members of the public. They sometimes take advantage of slow traffic or gridlock to attack and dispossess their victims.

    “Suspects arrested include Baba Mohammed, 24; Uche Nkwocha, 23; Solomon Ogunyinka, 24; Wasiu Ajayi, 25; Nwokocha Alozie, 28; Godspower Preye, 27; Akpesiri Peter, 27 and Michael Fagbenro, 20.

    “Using a commercial bus, one-chance operators robbed Fred Ubak of his valuable including Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards of Zenith and First banks and transferred N820,000 to five other banks, which they withdrew. The suspects, Iso Effiom, 27; Rolland Onyemechi, 27; Henry Anthony, 25, and Olugbenga Jacob, 49, have all confessed to the crime.”

    Edgal said a university dropout was arrested at Igbogbo in Ikorodu for impersonating a soldier.

    “He was arrested while fully clad in military uniform. His apparent lack of confidence aroused the suspicion of vigilant policemen on duty at Police Mobile Force (PMF) 63 gate. He was questioned and was found to be an impersonator, who used the Nigerian Army to perpetrate crime. The command has resolved to tap into the robust interagency cooperation existing between the police and the army,” he said.

  • Lassa fever death toll rises to 21

    Lassa fever death toll rises to 21

    Lassa fever has claimed 21 lives, it was announced on Tuesday.

    Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)  National Coordinator Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said the deaths were recorded from 77 confirmed cases.

    Ihekweazu spoke at the opening of the National Executive Council meeting of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Abuja.

    He said of the 77 confirmed cases, 10 affected health workers.

    The national coordinator quoted Dr Sylvanus Okogbeni, Chief Medical Director, Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State, as confirming that two of the health workers affected were discharged on Monday.

    He described the situation as sober, adding that it had resulted in serious emotional trauma, fear, anxiety and sometimes anger among stakeholders.

    Ihekweazu said it was high time stakeholders addressed the challenges of hemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever.

    The national coordinator said NCDC had distributed more Ribavirin drugs used in the treatment of the disease to the affected states than it had ever done in the past.

    He said government alone might not be able to supply the needed drugs to all the affected persons in the country.

    Ihekweazu said the center had produced guidelines for the prevention and control of hemorrhagic fevers, adding that the NARD members should work with their hospitals’ chief medical directors to address outbreaks.

    Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) President Prof Mike Ogrima  urged doctors in the country not to attend to patients if they did not have protective gears.

    “You have to get some level of immunity or protection before you provide services to such patients,’’ he said.

    Lassa fever is a viral infection caused by the Lassa fever virus and the disease occurs all year round but more cases are recorded during the dry season.

    It is spread through direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats, eating food or drinking contaminated water.

    The disease can be prevented through enhance personal hygiene, avoidance of all contact with rats (dead or alive) and keeping the house and surrounding clean always.

  • Death: Appeal Court reserves judgment on ex-policeman’s appeal

    Death: Appeal Court reserves judgment on ex-policeman’s appeal

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja yesterday reserved judgment on a criminal appeal filed by an ex-police officer, Julius Obanla to challenging the death penalty passed on him.

    Justice Abubakar Yahaya led two other justices of the court to reserve the judgment after counsel to parties had adopted their addresses.

    Mr Max Ogar, Counsel to the applicant argued that the trial at the lower court was shrouded in error.

    Ogar alleged that the trial judge had depended on circumstantial evidence not pleaded to arrive at the judgment.

    He said: “Without wasting the precious time of this court, there is no need for any appraisal of the testimony of the only prosecution witness, Sergeant James Danbwan, having failed to return to court for cross examination. The truth is that it is as though Danbwan never appeared before the court in the first place.

    “The learned trial judge was absolutely right for holding in his judgment of February14, 2011 that the evidence of PWI cannot be relied upon hence he was not cross examined.

    “The trial judge missed the point by a mile when he held in the same judgment that the court could rely on the statement of the accused applicant which was tendered through him without objection.

    “It is common sensical that having rejected the package from Danbwan, it was absolutely inappropriate to pick and or accept any item from rejected package.”

    He further said that the law was unequivocally clear on the legal status of expunged evidence, adding that once that happened, it no longer formed the part of the records of the court.

    “The trial judge, by his own judgment expunged the testimony of Principal Witness I (Danbwan) from his records by holding that it cannot be relied upon”, Ogar argued.

    He therefore, urged the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the trial court by discharging the accused applicant.

    According to him, the Federal Government has failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and should not have secured the death conviction.

    Ogar also went ahead to raise a number of questions which included whether the trial court could rely on confessional statement not properly admitted to convict.

    He further asked whether doubt in the testimony against an accused should be ignored by trial court.

    The Counsel to the appellant further sought the consideration of the court to ascertain whether the respondent herein discharged its obligation of proof beyond reasonable doubt in the trial court.

    Mr Mohammed Labaran, Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) said the submissions advanced by Ogar were misplaced.

    He argued that the decision of the trial was based on the accused persons’ confessional statement.

    “Where confessional statement is admitted by the court without any challenge or objection as in this case, it would amount to an after-thought for a defendant to deny the making is such statement.

    “Once admitted, the court can rely upon a confessional statement (Judicial and extra-judicial) to convict an accused even without corroborative evidence provided such confession is direct, positive and unequivocal as to the guilt of the accused”, he argued.

    He therefore urged the court to affirm the sentence and conviction of the accused applicant, adding that the trial court showed rare industry in arriving at the decision.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the applicant was arraigned at the FCT High Court on May 23, 2002 on allegation of culpable homicide punishable with death.

    The accused, a 35-years-old policeman of old No. 180, FHA, Kubwa, Abuja within FCT did shoot and kill Shagari Haruna with his official rifle No. 47 No-KO-358303.

    According to the Prosecution, the ex-police man committed an offence contrary to Section 220 of the Penal Code and Punishable under Section 221 of the same law.

    In the proof of evidence filed by the prosecution,  CSP Musa. M.Omika, Sgt. Sali Ndotti and Mohammed Sulyman were listed as the supposed witnesses

    However, when the trial commenced on February 27, 2006, the prosecution was only able to call Danbwan as it witness.

  • Lassa fever: Death toll rises to four

    Lassa fever: Death toll rises to four

    The death toll in the Lassa Fever outbreak in Ebonyi State has risen to four, Commissioner for Health Daniel Umezuruike has said.

    One hundred and thirty-nine persons are under surveillance.

    Schools have also been shut as the government scrambles to curtail the disease.

    Umezurike, who addressed reporters yesterday, said nine cases have been confirmed while three are at critical stages of treatment.

    Two among the three under treatment were a mother and child.

    His words: ”At present, the state has nine confirmed cases, four deaths and three others on treatment, including 139 persons now under surveillance.

    “Also, a mother has been confirmed positive and is being treated. We have three patients undergoing treatment and all are doing well.”

    Umezuruike, however, assured resident that the government is on top of the situation.

    Commissioner for Education, Prof John Eke, in a statement by the ministry’s spokesman, Uche Nkechi, said the decision to close all schools was taken after a woman tested positive to the disease yesterday.

    The statement reads: “In view of the fact that a mother tested positive to Lassa Fever, and she has children in the schools within the state, the Commissioner for Education hereby directs that all public and private schools be shut till January 26.

    “Parents and guardians are advised to restrict the movement of their children at home.”

     

  • Robbers chase blogger to death in Lagos

    A Woman described as a blogger was crushed by a vehicle early yesterday while trying to escape from two suspected robbers at Anthony bus stop.

    One of the hoodlums was wounded in the accident, which happened at midnight.

    The late Oluwafeyidara Adekoya was returning from church when the motorcycle riding hoodlums pounced on her.

    The Nation gathered that they attempted to dispossess her of her bag and phones but she raised the alarm and took to her heels.

    The hoodlums chased her before an oncoming vehicle ran them over.

    The rider escaped, but the hit-and-run driver ran over  his accomplice and Adekoya.

    A witness, who gave his name as Uche,  said: “She died on the spot. The other robber was unconscious but he was stabilised by the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS), that came to the scene with officials from LASEMA.

    “She was waiting to take a bus and a bike with a passenger appeared. They struggled to rob her and she raised the alarm. A vehicle later came and ran into them. While the rider rode away, the lady and one of the robbers were hit. The lady died while the guy was critically injured.

    “The suspect was moved to the hospital. I did not get his name but the lady was said to be a journalist with In-Situ Media.”

    LASEMA General Manager Adesina Tiamiyu said the injured suspect had been handed over to the police.

    He said: “Yes there was an accident involving a young woman and a man. They were knocked down by a vehicle. The woman died on the spot. We found the man unconscious and resuscitated him. He was taken to Gbagada General Hospital.

    “We were told the man was a robbery suspect and that he and his accomplice had attempted to rob the lady before they were knocked down by a vehicle. So, we handed over the man to the police for further action.”

    But police spokesman Chike Oti, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the police were investigating a hit-and-run case and not robbery.

    Oti said: “I confirm there was an accident. A woman was killed and a young man sustained injury. There was no robbery. We are investigating a case of hit-and-run because the driver fled.”

  • Guard shoots bread hawker to death

    The police in Ondo State yesterday arrested a security guard in Akure, the state capital, for allegedly shooting to death  a bread seller, Ojomo Tunji, it was learnt.

    The guard worked at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at Shagari Village junction in Akure.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the guard, Jonah Sunday, committed the crime last Wednesday.

    “The information reached us about 9.30 pm on Wednesday that the suspect killed somebody beside the filling station. We got to know that the suspect was shooting into the air, we don’t know the reason for that, maybe he suspected something. But unfortunately, as he was shooting the bullets hit a bread seller beside the filling station.”

    Joseph said the victim was rushed to the hospital where he died.

    He said the victim’s family reported the case at the station.

     

  • Libya’s death chambers

    Libya’s death chambers

    The search for the golden fleece or greener pastures did not start today. In the past, our fathers embarked on journeys to distant places to better their lot. They travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States (US) mostly. Those countries were then ever ready to welcome strangers and a lucky traveller could end up taking up the citizenship of either country. But the trips were planned ahead of time. The traveller did not just wake up and embark on the journey.

    It was something the entire family even knew about. Thus, in some cases, it was done with fanfare. “Our son is travelling to obodo oyinbo”, the proud parents will announce to wellwishers, who will in turn pray for his safe return after a successful sojourn abroad. But now, things have changed. Many of our youths travel out of the country without their parents’ knowledge. To them, there is nothing wrong in that. Their argument is that since the society has failed them, they should be allowed to take their destiny in their own hands.

    Nobody is quarrelling against that since their parents took similar actions in the past in order to make it in life. What many are saying is that these youths should look before they leap. Unfortunately, they are just taking the plunge without a deep thought. Whereas in the past, our fathers had well laid out plans before going abroad, the same is not the case today. The difference is in our youths’ craze for fast buck. They believe that the streets of London, New York and Rome are paved with gold, which are there for the picking.

    And without giving it a thought, they jump at any invitation to travel to Europe – where they believe it is very easy to make it. In the past, our fathers had their credentials with which they could further their education abroad. Again, the same cannot be said of many of our youths who are desperate to go abroad to seek better life. What better life are they going to look for without first laying the proper foundation at home? The sordid tales by returning Nigerians from Libya in the past few weeks have brought to the fore our failure as a nation.

    In many of our compatriots’ desperation to cross to Europe, they went through Libya or the Mediterranean Sea. Before leaving home, they are told that they will pass through Libya because it is an easy route to Europe. Since they are already dreaming of Europe, they accept what the intermediaries call the ‘’terms and conditions’’ of the trip. The terms are usually killing, but because they think they are smart, they do not bat an eyelid before agreeing to them and by so doing, they unknowingly sign their death warrants. It is when they get to Libya that the reality of their foolhardiness usually dawns on them, but by then, it is too late to reverse the situation.

    They end up in slave camps, prostitution houses and other dark places where life is brutish and short. They found themselves in trouble because they wanted a short cut to Europe. There is no short cut to greatness. It is either you work and pray for it or go through hell if you want to short circuit the process. It is a shame that as big as we are as a country, we cannot cater for our citizens. This is the reason for the mad rush abroad. But it is not enough reason for people to walk into fire with their eyes wide open. This is what those trying to cross into Europe through Libya or the Mediterranean are doing. They are paying a big price for their actions. A girl said she slept with 18 men in one night and was paid N15,000 out of which her sponsor took N10,000, leaving her with N5000. Yet, she did not get to Europe, the continent of her dream.

    A man said he watched Nigerian girls being raped by some Arabs. Many were impregnated, with some returning home, clutching their babies. Many are wont to blame the government for their nasty experience, like one of the returnees, who noted ‘’…the truth is this country has nothing to offer us. Those that have various degrees are on the streets, no jobs for them. The attempt to travel to foreign land is as a result of bad leadership…’’ If things are rosy at home, many would not seek to go out in search of a better life. We are a blessed nation which should be the envy of others. But we have misused our God given resources and made our citizens objects of ridicule  in Libya and other parts of the world.

    Many of our compatriots’ experience in Libya should ginger the government into action to turn things around for the betterment of society. If virtually all the returnees’ plaintive cries do not touch the government’s heart, nothing will ever move it to reshape the country for the greater good of all.

  • ‘Prosecute those behind death of Nigerian girls’

    The Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli, has asked Italian authorities to ensure that those behind the death of 26 Nigerian girls on Mediterranean Sea are identified and prosecuted.

    She frowned at the haste with which the girls were buried without disclosure of their identities and nationalities.

    Okah-Donli lamented that the girls were buried on November 17, a day after the Italian Embassy in Nigeria communicated to her during a meeting with the ambassador and through an email that the remains would be buried on November 26.

    The NAPTIP boss spoke in Italy at meetings with officials of the Nigerian Embassy, officials of sister agencies and the Nigerian community, in her attempt to unravel the mystery behind the death of Nigerian migrants on Mediterranean Sea.

  • 20 burnt to death in Imo auto accident 

    20 burnt to death in Imo auto accident 

    No fewer than 20 persons were Friday burnt to death when a tanker laden with petrol fell and exploded on the Njaba bridge close to Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    According to an eyewitness account the tanker that was headed to Owerri, suddenly lost control while climbing the hill on the Njaba Bridge and started rolling back before it capsized and burst into flames, which engulfed on an eighteen seater bus that was following behind and burnt the whole occupants to death.

    However when contacted, the Imo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Joseph Aremu, confirmed the accident but said that the casualty figure was not yet ascertained.

    He said that his men were on ground at the scene of the accident to control traffic and render assistance to surviving victims.

    Read Also: Owerri: City of statues

  • Wife stabs son of ex-PDP chair Bello to death over text messages

    Wife stabs son of ex-PDP chair Bello to death over text messages

    The police are probing the stabbing to death of Bilyamin Muhammed Bello by his wife, Maryam, in Abuja.

    Bilyamin is a son of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one-time minister, Dr. Haliru Bello.

    His wife, who is the suspect, is a daughter of former Aso Savings boss Hajia Maimuna Aliyu.

    Hajia Aliyu was recently nominated into the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    The couple before the weekend tragic incident had a one-year old daughter.

    “The FCT Police Command has commenced investigation into the matter.

    “The case has been transferred to the Homicide Section for discreet investigation,” spokesman Anjuguri Manzah stated in a text message on Sunday.

    The suspect is being detained by the police while the deceased was buried yesterday after the Janazar prayer at the Central Mosque in Abuja.

    Maryam was taken to her residence by homicide detectives for a search, fingerprints and forensic investigation.

    She was saved from being mobbed by angry siblings and relatives of the deceased husband.

    Clinging to her seven-month old baby girl, Maryam, who looked remorseful, burst into tears after being led into the flat where she allegedly killed her husband.

    According to sources, the jealous wife was uncomfortable with the text messages her late husband had been receiving from some women.

    It was gathered that a particular message from a banker made the wife to attack her husband.

    The source added: “They were at home when the wife became berserk over some text messages, including one allegedly suspected to be from a female banker.

    “After engaging in a shouting match, the wife was embroiled in fighting with her husband before heading to the kitchen where she picked a knife to stab Bilyamin three times, including on his private parts.

    “Drenched with blood, Bilyamin fought hard by crawling out of the couple’s flat to ask for help from neighbours.

    “Upon hearing his distress call, neighbours, who had heard the exchange of words and banging of doors at the flat, ferried Bilyamin to a hospital.

    “Unfortunately, the husband died in the hospital. The incident was reported to the police and Maryam was arrested by homicide detectives.”

    Maryam is a graduate with two degrees from British university.

    In a Whatsapp message on Sunday afternoon, her mother Hajia Aliyu expressed shock and feeling of loss over the sad development.

    “It is with a heavy heart but with total submission to the will of Allah that I announce the death of my son in-law, Bilyamin Bello Haliru, which sad event took place in the early hours of today.

    “Prayers will be held at the Central Mosque…

    “May Allah grant his soul Aljannah Firdaus as his permanent place of abode,” the grieving mother in-law stated.

    There had been whispers of a rocky relationship in a marriage meant to bring two prominent families together but allegations of infidelity and plans to marry another wife might have caused the insecurity in Bilyamin’s Maitama home.

    The patriarch of the family, Bello, is said to be away in the United States for medical attention.

    “We were all sad, it was just too heavy for us to break the news to our father,” a family source added.