The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ikeja

  • Legend Extra Stout unveils new 45cl bottle

    One of Nigeria’s stout brands, Legend Extra Stout, has unveiled its new 45cl bottle. The new product size was unveiled at a special celebration ceremony at Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos recently.

    Tagged: “Power Of 45”the event had hundreds of guests and consumers in attendance, as hordes of Nigerians got the chance to have a first look at the new product offering from the beer company.

    Speaking after the event, the Portfolio Manager, National Premium Lager, NB Plc, Sarah Agha expressed delight at the consumers’ positive reaction to the new product offering.

    According to her, the rich history of Legend Extra Stout is one that is replete with innovation because the brand continuously focuses on optimum consumer satisfaction.

    “This unique stout brand has undergone evolutions in times past. Since it was first launched in 1992, the brand has proven its prominence in the beer industry and has undergone various changes in its bottle shape and labeling. Now, we are introducing an all-new size, a 45cl sleek master which encapsulates our new brand narrative. Our message to our consumers is – go out and pick your size! It doesn’t matter if you are a 33cl, 60cl or 45cl guy, as long as you are true to yourself, you are a Legend.”

    The launch event was full of exciting moments as consumers were treated to breathtaking performances by some of Nigeria’s A-list performers including Timaya and Chike.

  • School: we did our best to save pupil who committed suicide

    A secondary school in Baruwa, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, has explained the circumstances under which its of a 15-year-old pupil, Favour Ekemedili, died last Thursday.

    Ekemedili was said to have consumed juice laced with sniper shortly after the first period at Sedar College, Baruwa Ipaja.

    The homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) has begun investigation into case.

    The Nation gathered that the teenager might have committed suicide over alleged maltreatment and physical assault which she complained about to some of her classmates.

    She allegedly came to school with a swollen face on a particular day.

    Proprietress, Mrs. Odeka Adedayo, told our correspondent that the school did its best to save Ekemedili, saying she was stabilising before her mother took her to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

    She explained that Ekemedili was a day student, adding she came to school that day with her juice like any other day.

    Read Also: Breaking: Driver kills four pupils, injure 10 in Anambra

    According to her, a teacher, who was to enter Ekemedili’s class after the first period saw her drinking the supposed juice and clinging to her stomach.

    Mrs. Adedayo said: “After the first period and the teacher left her class, Ekemedili came in with a pack of juice and sat close to the window. A girl that was passing went to her and asked to have some water but she told the girl that it wasn’t water and that one left her. She kept drinking it and was holding her stomach.

    “The teacher who was about entering the class saw her and asked “what is wrong with you Paloma?” She said nothing and smiled. Immediately, she threw what she was drinking from the window and tried to go to her seat.

    “She collapsed on her way to her seat and her classmates carried her to the sickbay. When they got to the sickbay, some of them went back to pick what she was drinking and gave it to the teacher. The teacher smelt it and screamed that it smelled like sniper.”

    The proprietress added that Ekemedili was taken to the hospital the school uses, and on their way, the registrar called the doctor to intimate him of the situation.

    “They were already ready with their suctioning machine and oxygen. She was placed on oxygen the moment they got there and they started sucking out the substance. For over an hour, they were bringing it out of her. She was stabilised and moved to the ward from emergency.

    “When her mother came, the school nurse left her in her mother’s care and returned to school.  So, around 3pm, the doctor called the registrar to say her mother was insisting on taking her to LASUTH. While she was at the hospital, she was not talking but was conscious. She was asked if she knew certain persons and she nodded her head affirmatively.

    “I was told she requested for food after a while. She did not say why she drank the sniper. She was not talking when she was picked from the school to the sickbay.  She was a day student. I believe her classmates will be able to say something if asked,” she added.

    Asked what happened to the pupil thereafter, Mrs. Adedayo said the mother was allowed to take her to LASUTH, adding that she later told her a stretcher fell on the girl while she was bring moved to the ward.

    She said the school, as a law abiding institution, had to report ehat transpired in its premises to the police that evening, maintaining that the management took necessary steps to rescue her.

    “We did not know what happened further. When she was left with her mother, she was already stabilizing. What the mother told us was that at LASUTH, when she was being taken in, the stretcher fell on her. We were not there and can only account for when we dropped her at the clinic the school uses during emergency.

    “We are not accusing her of anything. We only want to clear the air on this issue so that the school is not painted in bad light. Sedar College is a responsible school and we are happy the police are already investigating,” she said.

     

  • Rookie Basketball Academy wins Easter competition

    Rookie Basketball Academy has won a mini competition organised at the Nigerian Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The competition, tagged: ‘Easter Basketball Competition’ was aimed at sportsmanship among the students as well as prepare them for bigger roles in life.

    Six academy teams include Mark Spencer, Young Kings, Rookies Academy (team A and B), River Dragon, Cantonment Braves were invited to participated in the tournament.

    The host team, Rookies Basketball Academy showed supremacy over other teams.

    The team defeated Mark Spencer at the final stage of the competition while River Dragon also fought well to win 3rd place.

    Coach Tella Malik, said Rookie academy is about developing, nurturing and molding young kids into professional players who can represent the country and also play at international level.

    Malik said that since the programme started in 1992, it has impacted on many youth on the streets, trained and lectured them to become professional players, playing for MacDonald and NBA in United State of America.

    Read Also: Still dreaming big for Nigerian Basketball

    “This academy has produced great players that played for the country, outside the country in the USA. A lot of them have made good names for themselves, the club and this country,” he said of the club achievement.

    “We’ve been able to keep the young ones off the street, keeping them busy, focus and concentrate with basketball, so that they will remove their eyes from vices.

    “From morning to night, you will see them coming to train and they are ignoring vices in the society. Because kids want to burn their energy, so we let them burn the energy in good things by playing basketball.”

    He said that basketball game is an elite and intelligent game, “you cannot see a tout playing basketball that is the game is different from other sport.”

    The team is affiliated to the Nigeria Police Basket Ball Association but its coach, however seek for government and corporate body’s support as the academy has help kids learn the basic fundamental of basketball.

    The tournament is supported by Tecno Mobile, Nigeria.

  • Alleged gang-rape: Court denies two varsity dropouts bail

    An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has denied two dropouts of Babcock University, Don-Chima George, 25, and Olusegun Rasak, 28,  bail for allegedly drugging and gang-raping a 24-year-old woman in a hotel in Lekki, Lagos.

    Justice Abiola Soladoye, while ruling on their bail application, said the applicants had not provided any compelling circumstances which would warrant them being granted bail.

    “It is without doubt that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty as provided for in Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    “Notwithstanding this, the court is still vested with the duty to consider the weight of facts in the affidavit placed before it viz-a-viz the charge and proof of evidence placed before the court.

    “In exercising my discretion, I am, therefore, of the considered view that the applicants have not placed any compelling or exceptional circumstances to warrant this honourable court to exercise its discretion.

    “Bail is denied to the applicants and this honourable court shall give this case accelerated hearing,” Justice Soladoye said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that George and Rasak are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and rape.

    They are alleged, by the prosecution, to have committed the offences on Feb. 3, from 5.00a.m. to 7.00a.m. at Delankaster Hotels, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    The prosecution said the defendants, while at a nightclub, allegedly mixed the complainant’s (name withheld) drink with a substance that rendered her unconscious.

    The prosecution alleged that they took the complainant to George’s father’s hotel, where they allegedly took turns to rape her while videotaping the sexual offence.

    According to the prosecution, the offences contravened Sections 258 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    During the bail hearing held on March 27, Dr Jide Martins, the Director of Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had appealed that the court should deny the defendants bail due to the nature of the offences.

    Read Also: Court refuses to sack Kogi House of Reps member

    Martins had also noted that there was a high likelihood of the defendants interfering with the witnesses if they leave prison custody.

    He said: “An allegation of rape for a victim is bad enough, then the allegation of rape against two people well known to the victim who gang-raped her is absolutely condemnable.

    “I just want to reiterate that the two defendants will not answer the bail but will flee. There is also nothing relating to the health of the defendants that will warrant their need for bail.

    “There is no life threatening medical condition with which the defendants can justify the court’s discretion to grant bail in their favour.

    “There is also a video recording of the offence. We urge your Lordship to refuse the bail application because it lacks merit.”

    The defence counsel, Mr Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN) via a summons for bail dated March 12 asked the court to grant the defendants bail.

    Ayanlaja noted that the DPP in its counter-affidavit was objecting to the defendants’ bail application because of the social status of their parents.

    “The defendants have been in custody since Feb. 6, the parents of the two defendants are in court and they are of good parentage. The parents will ensure their sons attend court proceedings.

    “From the counter-affidavit served on us by the prosecution, it seems that the crux of the objection of my learned friends is that the applicants should suffer on account of their parentage.

    “There are no facts deposed in their affidavit except that they said they may tamper with the witnesses.

    “This will not be enough to sway your Lordship as special facts for your Lordship to hold that they be denied bail,” Ayanlaja had said.

    Justice Soladoye adjourned the case until May 15 for trial.

    NAN

  • International Breweries thumbs-up distribution partners

    International Breweries PLC, member of AB InBev,  has hosted its distribution partners across the country to a gala night at the Lagos  Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

    . The distributors were commended for their excellent performances in the recent financial year, winning delectable prizes.

    It was also an opportunity for the company’s distributors, trade partners and other key stakeholders within the distribution value chain to exchange ideas, as well as deepen business relationships.

    In her remarks, International Breweries Managing Director Mrs. Annabelle Degroot was full of praise for the company’s distributors. “We want to spend this evening celebrating and thanking our special partners in our business, our distributors. The successes we recorded in 2018 would not have been possible without your hard work and commitment,” she said.

    She urged them not to relent in their work, adding that as a very ambitious organisation keen on meeting the needs of consumers across the country, neither the International Breweries PLC organisation nor its trade and distribution partners would rest on their oars. “We are looking forward to a 2019 that will be even more impactful than 2018,” she added.

    She assured the distribution partners that in the best traditions of ABInBev, International Breweries PLC would continue to engage them closely and render support to their businesses, reminding them about the company’s commitment to its communities and sustainability in general.

    Speaking on the role and the relationship that exists between the company and its valued distributors, National Sales Director, Godwin Oche, said the distributor-partners play a very critical role in the supply chain and was appreciative of the synergy that exists between the company and its distributors.

    He added that overseeing the movements of products from factories to the points of sale and managing all attendant risks, the distributors have been able to bring real value to consumers which have helped to enhance the reach and ensure year-round availability of the leading product brands across the country.

    Speaking further, Mrs. Degroot assured the distribution partners that in the best traditions of ABInBev, International Breweries would continue to engage them closely and render support to their businesses.

     

     

  • I was blindfolded, says freed Fire Service chief

    Freed Acting Director of Lagos State Fire Service Rasaki Musibau said he could not recognise the two suspects arrested by the police because he was blindfolded by his abductors.

    Musibau addressed a jubilant crowd on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Fire Service at Alausa, Ikeja.

    The Lagos State Police Command had earlier said it had arrested two suspects in connection with the abduction.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), released the picture of the suspects.

    When asked if he could recognize the suspects, the Fire Service chief said he could not.

    “I was blindfolded by my abductors. There is no way I can recognize them,” he said.

    Musibau said the kidnappers whisked him away around 6pm, as against 8pm reported by the media, while going to Epe.

    “I ran into them (the kidnappers). They were operating freely on that road (Epe-Itoikin). Some people were lucky not to have been abducted. They just robbed them and allowed them to go. In fact, some vehicles before me were robbed at gunpoint. When I ran into them, they smashed the windscreen of my vehicle. At that point I was kidnapped; I met two other persons that have been abducted. Not quite long, they whisked us away,” he said.

    Musibau, who arrived office around 8:30am, was welcome by jubilant workers.

    They offered prayers to God for returning him alive. Praise songs and dances followed.

    He thanked them for standing by him and his family during the turbulent period.

    According to him, the abductors dropped him somewhere in Ikorodu before he called workers at the Ikorodu Fire Service Station.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspected kidnappers of Lagos fire service boss

    The Nation learnt that it was at that station he was taken home.

    Musibau said four persons were freed by the abductors, remaining three in their captivity.

    It was learnt that the families of those still in captivity are yet to pay their ransom.

    Musibau toured all the offices to greet people and express gratitude.

    Afterwards, he went to his office before leaving for the secretariat in Alausa.

    Police spokesman said Musibau and others kidnapped were freed around 11:45pm inside the forest where the kidnappers kept them, by a joint security force.

    Elkana said they were released unhurt and have been reunited with their families.

    He said: “The victims have since reunited with their families. The command’s tactical teams are still in the creeks and forests combating the places to arrest the hoodlums.

    “Water-tight security measures have been put in place across the state to forestall future occurrence. The command deeply appreciates the support of the Lagos State Government and the good people of Lagos, who stood by us and also provided useful information that facilitated the rescue of the victims. Together we will continue to make Lagos State one of the safest states in Nigeria.”

    Later in the day, the command’s image maker said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction of the Fire Service director and six others.

    Elkana said: “Following a sustained and well-coordinated operations by the Command’s Tactical teams led by the Officer in Charge of Anti Kidnapping Unit, Bulus Musa, a superintendent (SP), two members of the kidnapping gang that abducted the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaki Musibau and six others on Saturday at about 8.pm have been arrested.

    “The suspects – Blessing Bayo, 29 and Smart Alfred, 32 – all of Arogbo, Ondo State were arrested on Wednesday at about 05:30am at Ibefun along Ikorodu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway, a boundary community with Ogun State and they all confessed to the commission of the crime.

    “Two single barrel guns were recovered from them.  Investigation is ongoing; efforts are on to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.”

  • Surgeon’s new novel targets youths

    Youths have been advised to embrace discipline, hard work and consistency as virtues for a successful life.

    Wing Commander Anslem Osasuyi gave the advice at the launch of his novel titled: The Great Citadel, held at Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said youths had a faulty impression in believing that shortcuts could lead to success, which propelled him to write the book.

    “My interactions with many Nigerian youths made me to realise that a lot of them believe that you only read when you are preparing for an examination. This mentality needs to change.

    “Another point is the idea that there is a shortcut to success. My experience in the university was a tough one and yet, many of our young ones do not have the discipline to do the needful. It is my desire that this book will help to re -orient our youths that hard work and consistency are necessary ingredients for success,” he said.

    The author, a maxillofacial surgeon, who has written eight professional publications in local and international journals, said the novel was centred on his undergraduate experiences at the University of Benin. It reflects how moral values and right mentorship can prepare youths for productive lives in institutions of higher learning.

    He further explained that the 212-page novel was impactful and would encourage youths to strive for academic excellence in the face of challenges in citadels of learning.

    He added that the book was also entertaining and hilarious.

    “I hope my humble contribution will make some form of positive impact on our youths and Nigerians in general,” he said.

    The reviewer, Mrs Betty Ogbeche, who was represented by her husband, Agada Ogbeche, Chief of Accounts and Budget, Nigerian Airforce adjudged the book to be a very good literary work, detailed in plain simple English and intriguing to the reader.

    She recommends it for people of all ages, especially senior secondary school  students who stand to benefit from the message of the book that ‘hard work pays’.

    Also speaking, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, Chief of the Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force, who was represented by Air Officer Commanding Logistic Command, Air Commodore Abdulaganiyu Adeyinka Olabisi, praised the author for his effort to change erroneous poor thinking and reading culture of the youths in the society.

    “Indeed, this is a thing that is worthy of emulation as we all know dedication is the foundation of all human capital development. The book highlights the importance of hard work and perseverance in the attainment of academic excellence. It enumerates possible reports students could experience during their studies and suggests solutions to such challenges. The Great Citadel is not restricted to only academic excellence of university life, but also talks about the social activities on campus as well as campus politics. No doubt the book is a must read for young under graduates and secondary schools students preparing for university life”

    He was hopeful that the book will help revive the past eroding values of hard work, perseverance and quest for excellence among the youths.

  • Lagos “ponzi” firm shut

    Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sealed up the premises of an Ikeja, Lagos-based firm, Growing Circle International (G-Circle) for allegedly engaging in ponzi scheme.

    In a circular, SEC stated that it conducted surveillance on the activities of G-Circle after it received complaint from a member of the public.

    According to the Commission, investigation revealed that G-Circle was operating a pyramid scheme and soliciting funds from unsuspecting members of the public through various means including its website www.growingscircle.com.

    SEC stated that it sealed up the premises of G-Circle in Lagos in line with its commitment to protect the investing public.

    “The Commission wishes to inform the general public that Growing Circle International and any individual representing the company are not registered by the Commission and therefore not permitted to engage in any capital market-related activity in Nigeria,” SEC stated.

    The apex capital market regulator advised investing public to confirm the registration status of any company, individual and the products they offer before entering into any transaction with such persons. Such confirmation can be done on the SEC’s website.

  • Winners emerge in Rotary’s Spelling Bee contest

    Winners have emerged in the yearly Spelling Bee Competition held by Rotary International District 9110. They are Miss Nicole Okpala of Mayors Heights College, first position; Daniella Moseri, also of Mayors Heights College, second position and Ibrahim Olapade of Oregun Senior High School, Ikeja, Lagos, who came third.

    Eight schools slugged it out in the over one hour event. They were represented by two pupils each.  Besides Mayors Heights College and Oregun Senior High School, the other schools were Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja, Charles Lorie French College, Eko Akete Senior Grammar School, Olomu High School, David Hall School, and Oxbridge Tutorial College.  The pupils answered over 100 questions drawn from several subjects.

    Rotary International District (9110) Governor Kola Sodipo expressed satisfaction with the schools’ turnout and the contestants’ performance. He said the aim of the contest was to boost the spirit of participation and learning. He said there was no end to learning, adding that both the young and the old learn until throughout life. He reiterated that contest would help the participants to improve their vocabulary.

    District Interact Committee Chairperson Kate Wilkie said 20 schools expressed their willingness to participate in the contest. She said the participants were Interact members, a junior arm of Rotary and that the event was one of the focal areas of Rotary: education, which has as its objective improvement of pupils’ intellect. There are 103 Interact clubs, the latest being Oxbridge, she added. She advised the pupils to study hard.

    Her deputy Sola Benson said the contest was the second edition being held by Rotary. He said it was Rotary’s expectation that the winners would become future leaders.  He advised those who lost to study hard for future contest.

  • Polls: Army arrests four in Lagos

    Operatives of the Nigerian Army on Saturday arrested four persons for electoral offences in Lagos.

    The suspects who were arrested at different locations within Ikeja, Mushin and Oshodi, were said to have conducted themselves in ways capable of disrupting the electoral process.

    It was gathered that one of the suspect was held at Onigbongbo while fighting at a polling unit by operatives of the 9 Brigade, while a soldier and one civilian were arrested at Mushin for breaching movement restriction order.

    Confirming the arrests, the Commander 9 Brigade Gen. Lagbaja Abiodun told our Correspondent that another suspect was apprehended with charms at a polling unit in Oshodi while trying to cause a fight.

    He said: “We made three arrests. One was at Onigbongbo involving a young man who was causing trouble. We arrested a soldier and a civilian around Mushin. The soldier was not on election duty and he was breaching the movement restriction order. Because he was with a civilian, it was believed they had intent to cause trouble.

    “Another man was arrested at Oshodi with charms and he was causing a fight. All the suspects are currently in out barrack and would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu on Saturday evening ordered the arrest of party officials and candidates found at ward or local government collation centres in the state.

    Muazu who described the election as peaceful, noted that the officials and candidates were violating the Electoral Act by being present at collation centres and their presence could spring violence.

    He gave the order while on tour of Ward collation centres in Ikeja Local Government Area (LGA) after observing the presence of some party officials.

    The commissioner ordered them out of the centres, directing the Police officers leading security teams to arrest anyone found in 15 minutes.

    “Each party is supposed to send a representative to the collation centres. Only the party agents are to be at the collation centres. No candidates who have contested election should be here and no party chieftain.

    “Only electoral officers bringing in results and party agents are wanted here. Any candidate or party official found here has contravened the Electoral Act and would be arrested. Arrest them and bring them to my cell. I have food to give them.

    “I do not anticipate any post-election violence. The whole exercise has been good thus far. We have seen from the polling units and now visited all collation centres in Ikeja Local Government Area and the process is moving smoothly. No problems anywhere.

    “Collation has started in the four wards we have visited in Ikeja. We have seen adequate security in those areas and we have not received complaints from any of the officers over the collation exercises.

    “I have reports of few arrests made within Lagos but I cannot give you details because I am yet to receive full reports from the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs).”