The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GUARD

  • Guard steals N200,000 iron rods

    A 28-year-old guard, Michael Pam, yesterday appeared at a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court  for allegedly stealing iron rods worth N200,000.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ben Ekundayo said Pam committed the offence on January10 at Seaside Estate, Papa bus stop, Badore, Ajah, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant conspired with one other at large to steal the iron rods from the site of Mrs. Bukola Kuoglereh.

    “A resident of the estate, who saw Pam and his accomplice while stealing the rods, informed the owner, which led to the arrest of the defendant,” the prosecutor said.

    Magistrate A. M. Olumide-Fusika granted the defendant N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be employed, adding that one must be a relation of the defendant, and the other, a civil servant.

    The case continues on March 14.

     

     

     

  • Guard allegedly commits suicide

    A guard at the Ekiti State Scholarship Board, Abolarinwa Olaoye, yesterday allegedly hanged himself in suspicious circumstances.

    The incident occurred at the state secretariat.

    The body of the 49-year-old man was found hanging at the staircase behind the office.

    He was said to have reported for duty on Tuesday evening for an overnight duty, but it remained unclear when the act was allegedly committed.

    Olaoye’s body was suspended with a clothing material tied to the railing of the staircase.

    The Boxer MB 100 brand motorcycle with registration number ADK 210 WS, brought by the deceased to the office, was parked near the place the suicide was allegedly committed.

    The Executive Secretary of the Scholarship Board, Mr. Ayo Ajimati, confirmed that the deceased was a staff.

    Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and policemen from the nearby Iyin Road Police Station came to the scene.

    But they could not remove the body, as they said they were waiting for the family from Igogo Ekiti to arrive before taking any action.

  • Guard caught ‘stealing’ commits suicide

    •Family threatens employer

    A 25-year-old man who jumped into the Lagos lagoon on Sallah day did so because he was caught stealing about N10,000 from a woman’s bag, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The late Adesina Ajayi, a private guard attached to the Managing Director of Biotech Limited, was allegedly seen taking a dive into the lagoon from Adekunle end of the Third Mainland Bridge on Tuesday afternoon.

    It was gathered that a motorist, who earlier saw him put down the two bags he was carrying and thought he probably wanted to rest, raised the alarm after catching a glimpse of his suicide move from the centre mirror of his vehicle.

    The motorist was said to have called the Lagos State Emergency hotlines to report the incident.

    This prompted the deployment of rescuers to scene, where Ajayi’s bag containing his mobile phone and identity card of Sheriff Deputies, a private security company, were found.

    The company was reportedly contacted and it was discovered that Ajayi had stopped working there about two months ago and was attached to Biotech by his benefactor, Adekunle Philips, who he sent a text message that he would kill himself.

    Philips said he was returning from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when he received Ajayi’s message and quickly called his wife and brothers to look for him.

    Philips said: “He sent me a message that he was sorry for what he did and that in a short while he would give himself judgment by committing suicide.

    “What happened was that I received a call that Sallah day from the company I attached him to that he was caught stealing some money from the boss’ wife’s handbag. The company is situated at Alausa. So, as soon as they called me, I called my supervisor and asked him to go to the premises.

    “Ajayi stayed with that family on the island. He had been with them for about two months. I knew him while I was at Sheriff Deputies and was asked to go to Ede in Osun State and form a guard for a private university there.

    “He was one of the over 150 men who came for the job and he stood out because he was result-oriented. I took note of him and then brought him to Lagos after that assignment. I have always recommended him to people because I knew that he was good at the job.

    “Then, I left Sheriffs Deputies after the death of the chairman and decided to start my own security outfit. I left him there. I started my own outfit in March. Then, about three months ago, he called and said he was looking for a job, that if I had any opening, I should let him know. He said he was in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and was not doing anything then.

    “That was how I brought him back to Lagos, attached him and two others to the MD of Biotech. One of them was rejected because he was taking alcohol. Then, it was two of them that we left. He started off very impressively and even caught two previous guards who were stealing from the man.

    “I cannot say what got into him and what happened. But I know that we looked for him when he sent that message. He sent it to me, his father, other relatives and to the man he was attached to.

    “When he was caught, the family told him to go to the house and pack his things. Before he got home, another guard had packed his load and said they saw some native things in his bag. But when we saw the message, the MD said he had forgiven him and that he should resume work on Thursday (yesterday).

    “My wife and others, who went out to look for him, said he told them that it was too late and that my wife should forgive him. So, when they could not find him, they went back home. I went to some places I thought I could see him but did not.

    “Meanwhile, when I got that message from Ajayi, I called his father and forwarded it to him. He told me he also received a similar message from Ajayi and that they had been calling but he was not picking.”

    Philips said he received a call from Sheriffs Deputies around 10.30 p.m that LASEMA operatives had called them after they found a bag with their identity card bearing Ajayi’s name.

    “Since they know he’s my boy, they called and said that they were told someone reported he jumped into the lagoon. So, they had to call me. I kept calling Ajayi’s private number till around 11 p.m and they told me it was LASEMA and that I should come to their office in the morning. I was there around  6 a.m and I was the one who provided his father’s number for LASEMA.

    “His father and uncle came the next day from Ibadan and Abeokuta. We all had a meeting with the General Manager of LASEMA and the police (Rapid Response Squad, RRS).

    “Ajayi’s bags were examined in our presence by the RRS and LASEMA officials. They saw messages his relatives and everyone sent begging him not to kill himself.

    “The LASEMA boss said they were yet to find his body and that it might take few days before floating. He tried to manage the situation and told us why we should not publicise the incident, especially because of the circumstances that led to it.

    “His family said they were satisfied and Ajayi’s items were handed over to them by LASEMA and RRS. His father said he was not ready for any investigation or case and would be returning to Ibadan.

    “Surprising, the family started calling and threatening me, less than 30 minutes after leaving LASEMA office. His father said they will kill me. His uncles, brothers have been calling me. Some people have even called me that they were policemen from Ibadan; another said he was from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

    “Then, reporters from Ibadan have called me too. Since that day, my phone has not stopped ringing with threats coming from them. ‘They will kill me, they will jail me.’ What is my offence? That I employed their son?”

    Our correspondent witnessed some of the calls while meeting with Philips yesterday.

    A caller, who Philips said was Ajayi’s father, told him a seer told them their late son did not jump into the lagoon but was being held for ritual purposes.

    The caller, identified as Alfa Deen by Truecaller, who spoke in Yoruba, said the bag was taken to the bridge for a cover-up, asking Philips if he had any children.

    “I came here now because I do not know what to do. How can they be this unfair to me? If they had issues, why did they not ask the emergency workers and police? I have explained to them that I saw Ajayi’s message, just like them and that I was also called the way they were called.

    “This morning (Thursday) someone called me again that they were coming to arrest me at my house, that I must provide their son. I have told his father that if they have any issue, they should channel same to the government because it was the government that got his item and handed it over to them.

    “We were all shown the messages on his phone, including the ones sent by his fiancée, where she was telling him to have faith and hold on. I do not know what the issues with him were. I paid him N50,000 per month.

    “I am crying out to Nigerians now because I would not want to be dragged for something I know nothing about. I do not want my image to be tarnished as well. I am a struggling man and I have been in security business for over 20 years. On the side, I use my old car for taxi. I do not engage in questionable activities.”

    Efforts to hear from Ajayi’s father were unsuccessful.

    Calls to his mobile phone were neither received nor returned.

    LASEMA General Manager Adesina Tiamiyu said the agency was still searching for the body.

    He said: “We received a call from a motorist, whose identity could not be disclosed on Tuesday, that someone took a plunge into the lagoon.

    “The caller said he was fixing his car wiper when he saw a man carrying two bags put them down. He said he thought the man might have been trekking and wanted to rest only to see the person jump into the lagoon.

    “Rescuers were deployed to the scene and two bags were found. Upon examination, an identity card of Sheriff Deputies was found belonging to Adesina Ajayi. The company was contacted and it said the man was no longer their employee.

    “Then, we later got a call from Adekunle, through whom we were able to reach the young man’s family. We discovered that the young man sent a message to Adekunle and others. When his phone was examined, we saw messages from his relatives begging him not to commit suicide.

    “His father and uncle were in our office and examined his items before they were handed over to his father. We are still searching for his body.”

  • Guard ‘defrauds’ school of N2.45m

    The police in Lagos have arrested a school’s security man for alleged attempt to defraud his employer of N2,450,000.

    Oyekunle Abolarin, 42, a resident of 4, Shoyebo Street, Alapere, Ketu, was arrested following complaints by the school’s proprietor that the money was withdrawn from the school’s account on four occasions, between April and July.

    Abolarin, it was gathered, was a beneficiary of his victim’s benevolence as four of his children were on scholarship awarded by the proprietor.

    It was gathered that the suspect had stolen four cheques belonging to the school, which he filled and deposited in his in-law’s account for payment.

    The police said the suspect issued cheques with N900,000, N800,000, N150,000 and N600,000, adding that when the bank contacted the proprietor, she denied issuing such cheques.

    Police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), added: “Following her complaint, Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal mobilised a crack team of detectives from the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), led by s Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Vera Ameh, to fish out the brains behind the attempt to commit the felonious act to wit: stealing.

    “Through diligent investigation, Abolarin was arrested and he confessed to the theft of four different cheque leaves belonging to the school.

    “He thereafter called in his brother-in-law, Are Jerry Bankole, who provided the Diamond Bank account used in the attempt to withdraw the various amounts.

    “Abolarin told the police that he regretted his action against his employer whom he claimed awarded scholarships to his four children.

    “Both suspects are currently in police custody and are helping in further investigation of the case.”

  • Guard remanded for ‘killing policeman’

    A Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday remanded a security guard, Ayomide Ibitayo, in prison for allegedly causing the death of a policeman and injuring two pedestrians through reckless driving.

    Ibitayo, 29, is facing a four-count charge of manslaughter, causing serious harm, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without a driver’s licence on the highway.

    The accused, a security guard attached to one of the commercial banks on Lagos Island, attributed the cause of the accident to brake failure.

    Magistrate Olumide Fusika ordered that the accused be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ben Ekundayo told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 10 at 10:50 p.m. along Eko Bridge.

    He said that accused drove recklessly causing the death of Inspector John Okoh attached to the Port Command, Marina, Elegbeta, Lagos.

    He said the accused also injured Chinedu Igbo causing his two legs to be amputated and injured Wasiu Abdul on one of his thighs.

    He also said that the accused had no driver’s licence and the vehicle, a Toyota Camry, was not registered.

    Further hearing in the case has been fixed for May 9.

  • Guard charged with ‘killing colleague’

    A security guard, Victor Ojiakor, who allegedly shot dead his colleague, was at the weekend remanded at Ikoyi Prisons on the orders of an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Adegbite, who gave the ruling, directed that the case file be duplicated and a copy forwarded to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

    Ojiajor, 27, who lives at Plot 8, Road H, Ilupeju Estate, Ijede in Ikorodu, Lagos State is facing a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and murder.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Police prosecutor Julius Babatope said the offences were committed on February 11 at 3:30 pm at a sand dredging site at Obadore Waterfront in Lagos.

    He told the court that the accused allegedly shot his colleague, Frank Augustine, 28, in the stomach with a pump action rifle while trying to secure the dredger.

    About 16 live cartridges were found in possession of the accused, Babatope alleged.

    The offences contravene sections 223 and 330 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The case was adjourned till April 16.

  • Police arrest two for guard’s death

    The police have arrested two persons for allegedly killing the guard of a company in Lekki, Lagos,  during an operation.

    Daniel John, 25, and Collins Archibong, 25, were apprehended by operatives of the Lagos State Police Special Investigation Bureau (SIB), who traced their victim’s phone to them.

    The suspects were said to jumped over the fence of MP Manufacturers in Lekki and went to the security post to demobilise the guards.

    The late Abubakar Isiaka was said to have woken up from sleep and taken on the  suspects, who were demanding that they be taken to the warehouse where laptops were kept.

    The suspects stabbed Isiaka on the rib and waist and fled.

    The late Isiaka’s cry for help attracted his colleagues, who found him in his pool of blood and rushed him to a  hospital where he reportedly died

    It was learnt that the police tracked the suspects through a telecommunication service provider since they stole the late Isiaka’s phone.

    The suspects were said to have confessed to the crime during interrogation, claiming that they did not plan to kill Isiaka.

    According to a source, John said they ‘’killed Isiaka in error’’.

    “But he woke up and engaged us and at the same time held Archibong and I. He was very strong. We stabbed him because he almost overpowered us.

    “We went away with his phone and sold it for N9,000. I got N3,000, Collins got N2000 while the third person, Bassey got N4,000.

    “We had forgotten about the operation and were going about our normal work as security men at Lekki Residential Security when we were arrested,” said John.

  • Guard kills, burns retired Major in Edo

    Guard kills, burns retired Major in Edo

    A retired Major, Afisatu Ajuya has been killed and her body set ablaze alongside her apartment.

    The crime was on committed on Sunday by a guard she employed.

    It was gathered that the guard whose identity was yet to be ascertained invited eight other persons to join him to commit the crime.

    Witnesses said the suspects also made away with some of their victim’s belongings.

    They said the gang broke into the apartment of the retired Army Officer in the early hours of Sunday, strangled and set her ablaze before making away with items like electric fan, luggage, jewelleries and phones.

    The suspects have been arrested and transferred to the State Police headquarters with some of the items recovered from them.

    Police Commissioner Babatunde Kokumo said it was a case robbery, arson and murder.

    Kokumo said the suspects killed their victim and set fire on the place to make it look like the victim died from the fire incident.

  • 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.

     

  • Security guard jailed for burglary

    A 28-year-old man, Adamu Buga, is to spend the next six months at Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos for burglary.

    The Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos gave the judgment after Buga pleaded guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Mr. T. O. Shomade sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment without an option of fine.

    “This will act as a deterrent to others,” he said.

    The prosecutor, Raji Akeem, had told the court that the offence was committed in September at GAK Universal Allied Industries Ltd, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

    He said the accused, a security guard, whose address was not given, gained entrance to one of the offices by breaking the ceiling and door.

    The prosecutor said the broken ceiling and door were valued at N75, 000.

    “The accused stole N99, 250, 00 and a plasma television valued at N150, 000.

    “Efforts to locate him failed until he was seen by one of the workers, who shouted. A passerby helped in apprehending him,” he said.

    The offence contravenes sections 406, 287 and 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.