The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ejigbo

  • Ejigbo torture: Suspect slumps in court

    •Trial begins March 20

    Trial of 10 persons alleged to have tortured three women at Ejigbo, Lagos two years ago was stalled yesterday when one of them slumped in court.

    Ahmed Adisa slumped and was rushed to the hospital about an hour before  their case

    Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye subsequently fixed the case for March 20.

    Other defendants are Isiaka Waidi, Saheed Adisa, Lateef Tijani, Oloruntoyin Dauda, Adekunle Adenuga, Azeez Akinosun, Jimoh Busari, Buhari Yusuf, and Abdullahi Harun.

    They were charged to court by the Lagos State government for their involvement in the torture and molestation of the women.

    They are accused of conspiracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, malicious administering of poison, obtaining money by false pretences and deprivation of liberty.

    When the case was called, a defence counsel, D.I Chukwuma, told the court that Adisa, the fourth defendant, slumped and has been taken to the hospital.

    “My Lord, the fourth defendant slumped about an hour ago and has been taken to general hospital.”

    Earlier, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija told the court that the defence counsel had been served with the processes as directed by Justice Ipaye at the last sitting.

    But Chukwuma and another defence counsel, Kayode Adewuyi protested that Tijani, Dauda, Adenuga and Harun, were charged with same offence for which they are standing trial at the Magistrate’s court.

    They argued that it would be an abuse of process if they are arraigned again for the same charges at the high court.

    “The defendants are already facing similar charges before a competent court of law, at the Magistrate’s court. The next sitting in the matter is coming up on March 18. It will be an abuse of court if the same matter is brought before another court,” he said.

    But Mrs Alakija said she was not aware of the proceeding in the Magistrate’s court having withdrawn the charges.

    “We don’t have any proof of what he said. I don’t want to presume that it is the charge I withdrew from the magistrate’s court which our Legal advice ceased. So, I really don’t know what he is talking about”.

    Justice Ipaye adjourned the matter till March 20, for prosecution to withdraw the other matter in the Magistrate’s court properly.

    According to the charge, the defendants were alleged to have taken part in a trial by ordeal of their victims, Nike Salami, Ajoke Agomo and Juliana Agomo, causing them grievous harm.

    They were said to have detained their victims against their will.

    The charge said the defendants beat up their victims, stripped them  naked and rubbed pepper on their bodies. They also allegedly supervised the insertion of sticks and noxious substances into  their private parts on the purported claim that the women stole pepper.

    The prosecution alledged that the defendants attempted to kill their victims.

    They were said to have obtained N50, 000 from one Fima Agomo, a relative of the victims, for the supposed payment of traders whose pepper were purportedly stolen.

    The offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 44, 171,  127(1), 128(b),  241, 243, 270, 228(2), 259, 312(1)(a), 405 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

     

  • Ejigbo sodomy assault: Victims recount ordeal, name culprits

    Ejigbo sodomy assault: Victims recount ordeal, name culprits

    Two surviving victims of the Ejigbo, Lagos market assault have recounted how they were tortured by men suspected to be members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), even as more facts began to emerge on how the dastardly act was executed.

    The women, Ajoke Agoma and her daughter Nike Salami who were arrested, tortured and sodomized for allegedly stealing pepper at the market on Tuesday identified their gang saying they were lucky to be alive.

    The youngest victim, 12-year old, Nike Salami acknowledged that she went with her sister, Juliana (now late) to the market to pick pepper worth about N50 but were latter arrested by security men guarding the market led by the Baba Oloja of the market.

    Nike said: “ We went to the market to take some pepper worth N50. The next day, some people came to our house and said I should take them to where my sister works. Then they took my mummy and myself, removed our clothes and began to beat us.”

    According to the teenager, the men took them back to a building inside the market which had a reputation of being used as torture chamber by the security men and subjected them to the worst forms of abuse.

    “ They accused us of stealing baby clothes but we denied. Then they started beating my sister and then put some Chelsea ( dry gin) into pepper and poured it into her virginal. They held my leg up and inserted sticks into my virginal too.”

    But the case assumed an interesting dimension when she identified some of her tormentors as Tirin, as shown in the video wearing jeans, Ajibola, wearing Ankara fabrics and Abolore. She also revealed that Tirin had on some occasion waylaid her on the way to the market to pressure her into becoming his girlfriend.

    “Many times he would stop me on the way and I will curse him. He said he would come and take me in my mother’s house and the last time he said I will fall into his hands one day.”

    Nike’s mother, Ajoke who was a nursing mother at the time of the incident was also tortured but not shown in the video. She confirmed that the gang was led by the Baba Oloja and that they threatened to kill them if they did not come up with the sum of N150,000 as bail fines. She said the family was subjected to about eight hours of torture.

    “Nike is my daughter, on that day Baba Oloja led some men to the house. He slapped me so hard I urinated on myself. They took us to the market, removed my clothes, my underwear and poured pepper into my virginal. I kept screaming and they said they will kill us all.”

    According to the victims, the Baba Oloja later led the gang to chase them out of the uncompleted building they were living in the night of the incident. “ Later that night, they came again and chased us out. All of us scattered everywhere, I had a baby I was nursing at the time and the baby died that day because we had nowhere to sleep,” Ajoke said.

    The father who was also present said he too was arrested by the men and was not released until his son Kehinde paid the sum of N50,000 to Baba Oloja.

    “ They have destroyed my life, my daughter is dead leaving four children behind. I am ruined, I want justice for my family ,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Juliana was said to have died from her injuries the second month in her fathers village of Toppa in Bagagry.

  • Hoodlums attack principal, teachers

    THE police were drafted in yesterday to restore peace in Ejigbo, Osun State when a school principal and two teachers were attacked by unknown hoodlums.

    The hoodlums were said to have attacked the principal of Baptist High School for allegedly sending home a female pupil last Friday over her mode of dressing.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums, who stormed the premises as early as 8.00 am, demand reasons for the principal’s action.

    The situation was said to have degenerated into a scuffle.

    The Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyesosin, has intervened and ordered that the principal and the teachers, who were injured during the fracas, be taken to his palace for safety.

     

  • Ejigbo gets fire service station

    To reduce the huge losses associated with fire incidents, the Kehinde Bamigbetan-led administration in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, has begun the construction of the first Fire Service Station in the council area.

    Bamigbetan said the sad experiences from past fire incidents in the area gave birth to the project, which is situated opposite the council’s secretariat.

    According to him, the station, now ready for roofing, consists of five rest rooms, information office and two offices with toilet facility.

    He said it also comprises six columns upon which the steel roofing shall be constructed to serve as shelter for fire bus.

    Bamigbetan, who said the project is being financed by the council, assured that it would be commissioned before the end of the year.

     

  • Ejigbo Council celebrates with march past

    Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, (LCDA), Lagos, Kehinde Bamigbetan celebrated the Children’s Day with pupils of different schools in the LCDA.

    The event was held at the open square of Ejigbo police station.

    For the pupils, it was a joyous day as they did a march past with music supplied by the Boys Brigade (Fifth), Isolo and Boys Scout of Nigeria (Ejigbo chapter).

    The Supervisor for Education for the council Ayotunde Ojo, who welcomed the pupils, noted that without education, every child’s future is wasted.

    “Education is power, education is light and education is knowledge. No one can attain some things in life without education,” he said.

    To become great, Ojo urged Bamigbetan to acknowledge the children as their day comes up once yearly. Head Teacher, Low Cost Housing Estate Primary School II, Mrs Adedoyin Dada, and the Principal, Ejigbo Junior High School, Mrs F. O. Adesoye, who representing both primary and secondary schools in the LCDA, gave words of exaltation. The duo urged the children not to engage in truancy.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ejigbo Police Station, Inoma Abbey, a Chief Superintendent of Police, admonished the students to be tidy and punctual. He urged them to stay in class during school.

    Earlier, Bamigbetan, who thanked those who attended the event, urged the children as a new generation of freedom fighters, to stand on what is right and be good ambassadors of their country.

    Bamigbetan said parents and teachers must endeavour to enlighten the children on what true democracy is so that in future, the nation will further improve politically.

    The schools were: Low Cost Housing Estate Primary School; Jakande Estate; Imakiyo Primary School; Our Saviour Private School, Ifoshi Primary School, Folarin Nursery and Primary School; and Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Nursery and Primary School.

     

  • Lagos CP pledges to track down council chairman’s kidnappers

    Mr Umar Manko, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, has pledged not to rest until those who kidnapped Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, the Ejigbo Local Government Chairman, were fished out.

    ASP Damasus Ozoani, the deputy police spokesman at the state command, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Ozoani said that information received by the police indicated that the local government chairman was kidnapped around 11p.m. on Monday.

    Ozoani said the police were making efforts to unravel the circumstance surrounding Bamigbetan’s abduction, adding that they would try their best to rescued him.

    “The police are investigating the matter; we do not want to do our investigations on the pages of newspapers in order not to jeopardise investigators’ work,” he added.

    “We do not have the identity of the kidnappers and the driver of the vehicle used for the kidnap took to his heel.’’

    Meanwhile, sources close to the state government alleged that the suspected kidnappers had demanded 1 million dollars in ransom for his release.

  • 15-month-old baby needs N2.5m to live

    15-month-old baby needs N2.5m to live

    With his birth came the usual excitement. People gathered, ate, drank and made merry. He was a little bundle of joy in his parents’ arms. His birth further strengthened family bonds. He was even named Israel, with the biblical notion that he would be the apple of God’s eyes as His first gift to the family.

    That was the picture at the home of Mr and Mrs Akin Toriola in Ejigbo, Lagos State. Mr Toriola, his father, is a local electrician. His home was blessed with a baby boy, little Ayoola Israel, on May 23, 2011.

    The Toriolas were understandably eager to see their first child grow up well and healthy, with the prospect of becoming a responsible member of the society. Against all expectations, this bundle of joy has become a source of agony for the Toriolas. And it was neither the fault of the little Israel nor that of his parents. Israel, born 15 months ago has not shown any sign of “growing up well and healthy.”

    Mr and Mrs Toriola noticed that their son who was full of life at birth,“was not breathing well, wasn’t eating well, and did not cry normally.”

    That problem has continued. Even when he cries, the breathing remains very abnormal. He also continues to lose weight.

    Not comfortable with the unwholesome situation of their son, The Toriolas started making medical enquiries on little Israel. They told Newsextra that “when the baby was three months old, we were asked to go and do some chest X-ray on the baby. That we did at Isolo General Hospital.

    “We also went to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba Lagos where one Dr Okoromah referred us to Clinique De-Mercy & Services Limited at Gbagada, Lagos for echocardiogram and electrocardiogram (ECG) tests. These are medical tests that measure and record electrical activity of the heart. Results of the tests showed that little Israel has a hole in his heart which manifests in his physical appearance that suggests a case of Down Syndrome.”

    A medical report on little Toriola which was signed by Dr B. A. Animasahun, Consultant Paediatrician/Paediatric Cardiologist, on August 17, 2012 reads:

    Medical Report of Ayoola Toriola Age 15 months:

    “The above-named presented with history of breathlessness noticed since birth, associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections necessitating hospital admissions. There is history of excessive sweating and he has been failing to thrive. No history of squatting but bluish discoloration of the lips.

    “Examination revealed a small for age child, with prominent heart sound on the right hemithorax, tarchycardic, cyanosed, with SPO2 in room air of 73%. He has a grade 2/6 ejection systolic murmur maximal at the right upper sterna border with a grade 3/6 diastolic murmur maximal at the right sterna border.

    “A diagnosis of dextrocardia with a cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) was made. Echocardiography confirmed, Dextrocardia, Double outlet right ventricle, large posterior upper muscular ventricular septal defect L-R and severe pulmonary artery hypertension.

    “He has been tablet furosemide and syrup captopril. He requires surgical intervention abroad.

    “…Patient and mother will also require a return ticket, international passport, some amount as pocket money.”

    Based on the tests carried out at Clinique De-Mercy &Services Limited at Gbagada Lagos, the hospital recommended a heart surgery to be carried out in a hospital in India. The sum of N2.5m is required to effect the heart surgery (all expenses included) which the cardiologist said must be carried out as quickly as possible to save the life of little Israel. This sum of money is too hard for his parents to afford.

    Therefore, Mr and Mrs Toriola Akin are crying to kind-hearted Nigerians, people who treasure the future of our children, Nigerians who appreciate that children are precious gifts from God Almighty, Nigerians who can imagine the pangs of labour that a woman goes through during child birth and the pains a mother or father could go through in the event of losing a child to death and Nigerians who can cheerfully choose to be Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus Christ to carry His cross on the way to Golgotha.

    The word cross is symbolic here. Whenever and at whatever point in time you help in reducing the burden or pains of a fellow mankind, it will be on record that you clothed, fed and gave water to Jesus Christ and the Prophets to drink. History and destiny would certainly smile at you.

    A little help and sacrifice towards ensuring that a dying little soul survives will surely make a lot of difference.

    Hear Mrs Toriola, a petty trader and mother of little Israel: “In tears, I beg fellow Nigerians to help in seeing that my child lives normal life again. When I remember the pangs and pains of labour, I wish I could have provided the money a day after the discovery of this defect in my child’s heart. But since my husband and I could not afford the huge amount of money required in exchange of my son’s life, I run and cry to you my fellow Nigerians to help in ensuring that this little Nigerian lives to be useful to himself and the country. I am confused.”

    It is not inappropriate for Mrs Toriola to feel disappointed and be confused at one point in time or the other when she feels that the days of her only child are numbered if nothing is done fast.

    For more information, the following telephone lines could be contacted: 08026306066 and 08032069949.

    Payments can be made into the following bank account details: TORIOLA AYOOLA ISRAEL 0063147567 ECOBANK.

    Since little Toriola’s health deteriorates daily, the Toriolas appeal to Lagos State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), public-spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations to provide financial help to enable them to take little Israel to India for the surgery as soon as possible so that the life of this Nigerian would be saved.