The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ikoyi

  • Man who jumped into Lagos lagoon identified as FRCN staff

    The man who got drown after he reportedly jumped into the lagoon in Lagos on Friday has been identified as a staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

    A staff of FRCN, who pleaded anonymity, said that the deceased was a driver attached to an Assistant Director in charge of Information Communication Technology unit of the corporation.

    The source said that the deceased was newly posted from the FRCN Training School located in Shogunle to the Broadcasting House in Ikoyi, Lagos

    The source, however, described him as a gentleman.

    Tunji Disu, Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), told NAN that his men got to the scene almost immediately and invited marine police and local divers who recovered the corpse from the lagoon.

    “The deceased parked the vehicle he was driving on the Third Mainland Bridge and told other occupants of the vehicle that he wanted to urinate

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    “The occupants were shocked as he dived into the lagoon,” said RSS Commander, Disu, Assistant Commissioner of Police. RRS had earlier tweeted on its tweeter handle @rrslagos767: “A man has jumped into the Lagoon from 3rd Mainland Bridge.

    “RRS riders got to the scene almost immediately and radioed for assistance from the Marine Police, LASG rescue Boats & local divers who recovered the corpse.

    “The remains have been taken to Ebute Ero division.’’

    NAN recalls that on Oct. 3, 2018, a middle-aged man drowned after reportedly jumping into the lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge inwards Lagos Island.

  • Court voids sack of Unity Bank’s ex-director

    A National Industrial Court, Ikoyi, Lagos State, has ordered Unity Bank Plc to pay all entitlements and benefits pertaining to the office of a subsisting Executive Director of the bank, Mrs Arese Alonge, for wrong termination of her appointment.

    In a judgment delivered by trial judge, Justice John Dele Peters, the court held that Unity Bank had not followed the mandatory provisions of sections 262 and 266 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) in the purported termination of Alonge’s appointment.

    The judge voided the sack.

    The claimant instituted the suit in Lagos and the trial was conducted in Lagos before the trial judge was transferred to the Ibadan Division of the court.

    The judgment was delivered in Ibadan on September 27.

    Section 262 provides that for a director to be removed, he or she must be served a requisite notice of a meeting, while Section 266 provides the procedures for removal of directors.

    Justice Peters said: “I note that for reasons best known to the defendants, they chose not to address the issue of service of requisite notice of meeting on the claimant; the pleadings of the defendants are silent on this.

    “Exhibit AA8, which is the letter conveying the alleged board’s decision to terminate the appointment of the claimant, did not state the date of the alleged meeting where the decision was taken.

    “I find and hold that the claimant was entitled to be served but not served notice of the board meeting, as required by law.

    “I declare that her removal was in violation of the provision of CAMA, particularly Section 266(1) and (2), and the violation renders the meeting invalid by virtue of Section 266(3).

  • Senator Tinubu urges Nigerians to unite ahead of 2019

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, on Thursday urged members of All Progressives Congress ( APC) to unite ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Tinubu made the call at the Eti-Osa Ward E located at Oyinkan Abayomi drive in  Ikoyi area of Lagos where she participated in the Senatorial and House of Representatives primaries in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that  Senator Oluremi Tinubu was declared unopposed in the list of aspirants released by the National Working Committee of the APC and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena.

    Tinubu, who represented the district two times at the Senate, was being returned for a third term.

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    The Senator commended the people of her constituency for returning her unopposed.

    She promised she would not disappoint her supporters and urged them to unite ahead of the 2019 elections.

    ”As we embark on the imminent elections, our politics should epitomize patriotic labor and selfless service to the community.

    ”Our vote is our right, hence, we must exercise this right within the ambit of law by refusing to be a party to vote buying or selling, and ensuring a peaceful election devoid of violence, chaos and upheavals.

    ”Together, we must ensure that our democratic process is sustained and that we embrace government efforts to transform our economy and make Nigeria a better place for all, ” she said.

    NAN reports that as at 1:09 p.m., when Senator Tinubu arrived,  there were no electoral officers on ground for accreditation and to conduct the election by affirmation.

  • How Catholic Knight ‘swindled’ man of N92m

    A Catholic Knight, Paulson Ogbonna has been arrested by the anti-fraud unit of the Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Ikoyi for allegedly defrauding a young businessman of N92million.

    Ogbonna, a Knight of St. John and parishioner at St. Timothy Parish in Ojudu Berger in Lagos, allegedly presented himself as a senior army officer who could assist his victim, a winer, recover about N77million owed him by his clients.

    After swindling his victim identified as Francis Obinna of some millions as money for court processes with the help of a member of his syndicate he said was a lawyer; Ogbonna deceived the young man that he would give him contract to supply wines at all Army Officers’ Mess in Nigeria.

    The suspect also lured the victim into a supposed importation of building materials with promises to provide links of military topnotch who will award juicy contracts to him.

    According to Police Commissioner Nkem Okoro who paraded the suspect before reporters, Ogbonna used all available avenues to milk the victim of his money.

    Okoro said: “The victim had supplied products to some of his clients worth N77million and it was difficult recovering the money.

    “After several failed attempts over a period, a man who identified himself as a Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army offered to assist him with the recovery and also get him registered with big companies, but ended up making various monetary demands until the victim could bear it no more.

    “We had the suspect arrested and got court remand order to detain him. We are investigating the matter and have invited his wife as well as the woman who introduced him to the victim.

    “His wife was invited because she’s a signatory to one of the accounts the victim paid money to and also a director of the company.

    “We have also written the army and established he was an impostor. We want to be sure that it is not a syndicate and want to establish if there are financial transactions from the accounts the victim paid money into to yhe woman who linked them up. If there are, we will trace dates and investigate reasons.”

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    The police boss warned those engaged in fraudulent practices to desist or face prosecution.

    He said: “Those who engage in fraud-related activities must watch out. Those who hack accounts, intercept letters, emails from personal and corporate domains; those who are changing account numbers and addresses should stop forthwith or be arrested. We have the wherewithal to trace and track persons who are into these criminalities.”

    Narrating his ordeal, Obinna said he made payments into Best Way Construction Company, Paulson Okechukwu Ogbonna, Icarl International Ventures, Peesab Energy Resources Limited, Lazarus Maduforu, Peesab International Investment Limited and other individuals at the instance of the suspect.

    Obinna said most of the payments were made through mobile transfers noting that the suspect usually objected and directed he went or sent someone to the banking hall to deposit the money.

    “I knew him as a Colonel. It was Madam Chika, my client that introduced him to me. Months after I knew him, he said he has been promoted Brig-Gen. and we celebrated it. I even bought things and took to his house for the celebration. I never knew he was fake.

    “When we called him, he fixed a meeting at Bonny Camp but while we were on our way to Victoria Island, he called and said he had doctor’s appointment at Ikeja and that we should meet there instead.

    “We met and he told me that as an army officer, he won’t be able to help recover a loan for me. He said he was a lawyer as well and that he would introduce me to a barrister friend of his and they will work together. Then, he told me to give them a list of all those owing me, thr amount, their addresses and contacts, which I did.

    “I did not suspect anything bad. In fact, I believed him especially because one of those very hostile customers, who have threatened me with a gun when I went to demand for my money started calling me to plead for time. Other debtors were also pleading for time that my lawyer came to them with officer.

    “That was how I believed the man and I was just doing anything he said. From there, he started telling me how he will give me links to be supplying all the Mess in Nigeria drinks. Some people dressed in military camouflage used to come and load drinks and they will give me cheque.

    “The whole thing was so real. He kept demanding money and I kept sending. I became suspicious when I started demanding for the contracts or imported goods and he was posting me. I went to Bonny Camp to look for him and I was told there was no such officer. I also started asking some friends to help me make findings and it became clear that I have been duped.

    “It is just so difficult to run to people for help in Nigeria. If a 58-year-old man who is old enough to be my father can defraud me, I do not know if there is any hope for Nigeria. He has children. He has a wife; he has a community, and he is a Knight in the Catholic Church. Still he defrauds people, even his parishioners. I am neck deep into debt. He has crippled my business and ruined my life.”

    But Ogbonna denied defrauding the victim claiming that he only tried to assist him with his business, register him as a contractor and help him obtain a license.

    He denied ever representing himself as an army officer, adding that he was a Civil Servant at the Ministry of Defence, Moloney Street and was in the Department of Estate Management as a Senior Technical Officer.

  • Ambode commissions ferry terminal, multi-level car park at Ikoyi

    To harness the potentials of water transportation so as to ease traffic congestion on Lagos roads, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday commissioned an ultra-modern Ferry Terminal and a Multi-level Car Park as well as the headquarters of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in the Falomo area of Ikoyi.

    The unveiling of the edifice which was delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with MTN Nigeria, the governor said, was for the overall benefit of residents and signposts the readiness, willingness and ability of the state government to take full and effective control of its waterways.

    Ambode was represented at the ceremony by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem.

    He said completion of the project, which started seven years ago, was an eloquent demonstration of the appreciation and recognition of the efforts of the state government toward the overall development of water transport sector in the State.

     

  • Court remands three for ‘theft of $46,940 helicopter parts’

    An Ikeja High Court in Lagos Thursday remanded in prison three businessmen, Anietei Obong, Akaninyene Okpoho and James Dottie, following their arraignment for alleged theft of helicopter spare parts worth $46,940 (about N16,898,400).

    The Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi docked the trio before Justice Oyindamola Ogala on a five-count charge of stealing, conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose, forgery of incorporation documents and uttering of false incorporation documents.

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    It alleged that they sold the parts to a United States buyer.

    Prosecuting Counsel Benneth Benedict alleged that the trio stole the parts from Bristol Helicopters Nig. Ltd premises at the General Aviation Terminal, Muritala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, from 2016 to 2017.

    Benedict said: “The defendants stole by fraudulently converting to their use and benefit, several helicopter spare parts.

    “The spare parts include – integrated instrument display, transceiver, valve kit, NG dual indicator, symbol generator and tail rotor servo.”

    He listed the other spare parts to include tail rotor blade, fuel control unit, antenna radar and display unit.

    Benedict added: “The businessmen conspired to effect the unlawful and unauthorised sale of the several helicopter spare parts to one Mr. Frank of Great Lake Air Support, a company in the United States.

    “The defendants forged a registered company incorporation name as well as documents entitled ‘Sales Invoice’ and ‘Export Invoice’ in the company name of Sammy Global Ltd.

    “They used the false documents to export and sell the several spare parts to Frank, their U.S.-based buyer.”

    In another instance, the prosecutor alleged that they uttered the false documents through the use of computer systems stationed in Lagos.

    According to him, the offences contravened sections 383(1), 390(9), 465, 467(2)(i) and 518(6) of the Criminal Code, 2004.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Benedict prayed the court to remand them in prison and fix a date for trial.

    But counsel to Obong and Okpoho, Mr Alli Abbah, and counsel to Dottie, Mr Tope Temokun, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable them to apply for bail.

    Ruling, Justice Oyindamola remanded the defendants in prison and adjourned till September 11 for ruling on their bail applications.

  • Ikoyi, VI, others to face water shortage

    Some parts of Lagos may be without water as the State Water Corporation (LSWC) embarks on a four-days repair of its major pipes, its Groups Managing Director (GMD) Muminu Badmus, said yesterday.

    The repair, which started on Saturday on pipes on Carter Bridge-Iddo axis, would end on Wednesday, Badmus said.

    He said: “The water leakage at Carter Bridge is 600mm diameter pipe between Oyingbo and Iddo Motorway would be affected. This will lead to disruption in water supply to major parts of Lagos metropolis.

    “The parts of Lagos that will experience disruption in water supply during the repair are: Lagos Island, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Surulere, Yaba and Ebute Metta.

    “We are soliciting for the cooperation of the general public during the repair as we are working to ensure steady water supply in the state and to serve you better,” he said.

    Badmus said the corporation embarked on the repair before the closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for repair to avert traffic gridlock.

    “The repairs on the pipes are necessary at this period to ease traffic movement in the area before the closure of the Third mainland Bridge on July 27,” he said.

  • Southern Sun Ikoyi hosts clients

    IN appreciation of it’s loyal customers for their patronage, Southern Sun Ikoyi recently treated its customers to an exclusive mid-year quarterly corporate cocktail, which also marked the unveiling of the hotel’s newly added meeting and boardroom facilities.

    Celebrating the refurbished new look of the hotel and speaking fondly about the support from clients and partners at the corporate VIP cocktail event, Mark Loxley, the hotel’s General Manager, thanked guests for their continued business support and patronage to the hotel and prayed for a better second half of the year.

    He reiterated that the cocktail event is a simple gesture to the local business communities and clientele of southern sun Ikoyi in appreciating the support provided to the Hotel within the business environment in which they operate.

    Mr. Loxley said: “We are excited to showcase the recent enhancements to the hotel, with the addition

    of one board room and two meeting rooms which was a necessitated need due to growing demand for

    exclusive business meetings at the hotel”.

    He further stated that “the new development was a perfect opportunity for valued long-term partners and new guests to experience our dedication in delivering the Southern Sun Ikoyi signature in comfort, hospitality and brand values.”

    Ensuring that the taste buds of guests at the corporate VIP cocktail event were not left disappointed, Chef Alex and his team treated guests to a delicious array of sweet and savory bites, including fresh prawns, juicy steak burgers, fine wine and champagne alongside assorted cheeses and much more, as they relaxed and networked over glasses filled with finely blended juices.

    Also in attendance amongst the special guests from the diplomatic community gracing the evening’s occasion included Mr. Azwianewi Mbedzi, the Vice Consul Political from the South African Consulate General in Nigeria, who particularly expressed great delight at the opportunity to meet and mingle with esteemed individuals from Lagos thriving business community.

  • Macron unveils French cultural centre at Ikoyi

    …Centre an asset to cultural landscape in Lagos -Ambode

     

    French President Emmanuel Macron Wednesday officially unveiled a French Cultural Centre, Alliance Francaise at Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Macron said the centre was part of the measures to scale up the relationship between France and Nigeria.

    He also assured of the commitment of the government and people of France to development of infrastructural projects in Lagos.

    He said, “Thanks very much for being here; thanks very much for making this possible and to Mr. Governor, we spoke Wednesday and this morning together in the car.

    “Going to shrine together Tuesday and going to French Alliance now. It’s much more, quite much more calm and reasonable but at the end of the day, I think both of us (Governor Ambode and I) did share the same views that we can do tremendous things together.

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    “Your State – Lagos, is one of the main challenges of not just Nigeria but the whole of Africa. I mean this huge city, there is tremendous challenge about how to make people living together in peace, in a better place and I want France to be part of this story and I do want my country and my people being part of this experience.

    “It means belonging to same values, sharing cultures, languages, literatures, music, movies, building together projects, having common economic projects and so on, and this eco system will be not just possible but stronger staying in this place,” Macron said.

    Welcoming President Macron to the state earlier, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode expressed optimism that the historic visit will go a long way to break any barriers between Nigeria and France as well as foster greater collaboration for economic, social and cultural growth.

    The Governor said the State Government was delighted to host Macron, a well-respected global leader, adding that it would also signal a new era between both countries, especially for Lagos where talents in the arts and creative industry abound.

    “On behalf of the government and good people of Lagos State, I welcome His Excellency, President Emmanuel Macron, President of France, to the commercial and cultural capital of Nigeria and indeed West Africa.

    “We are delighted and honoured to be hosting a President of one of the world’s Super Powers; a permanent member of the United Nation’s Security Council with veto rights, a prominent member of the G8 and the World Trade Organisation and a champion of Global Climate Change.

    The Governor said he was particularly delighted that Macron’s visit to Lagos began on a cultural and entertainment note, adding that the French Cultural Centre and Alliance Française based in the State had always been an asset to its cultural landscape in the same way that Trace Television had also become an invaluable addition to its music and entertainment sphere.

    Ambode said he was very optimistic Macron’s visit and activities would boost the State’s quest to become the culture and entertainment capital of Africa, just as he said that the state government would seek to establish collaborations with France and play an integral part of the Year 2020 African Cultural Season in Paris as envisioned by President Macron.

    “With the exceptional characteristics of our State as the most populous, vibrant and indeed the fifth richest economy on the African continent, Lagos is the undeniable destination for business and pleasure in Africa. The new Lagos experience is being enhanced daily as we continue to create an enduring infrastructural and security architecture for the business of tourism and cultural arts to thrive. This also creates a platform for our local talents to feel a sense of belonging and encouragement.

    “Mr. President, this momentous State Visit shall signal the dawn of a new era between France and Nigeria especially for the myriad of talents that have made Lagos their home,” the governor said.

    He said Macron’s emergence as the President of France has inspired many youths in Nigeria, who constitute 60 percent of the country’s population, adding that Lagos was providing avenues for youths to explore their creativity and talents.

  • Tablets for pupils in Ikoyi, Obalende

    Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State has distributed tablets to pupils.

    The devices, the council Chairman, Fuad Atanda-Lawal, said were in fulfilment of his promise to give the pupils solid academic background.

    The gesture, he said, was in partnership with Softcom Limited.

    Education, he said, had shifted to personalised learning.

    “The benefits of mobile devices as teaching tools mean they are becoming a common part of the educational experience in classrooms, from primary schools to tertiary institutions. We want to take advantage of this growing trend to improve our children’s access to accurate information and build a future of well-educated individuals. We are glad to have a partner in Softcom Limited, who understands the challenges and are keen to provide solutions,” he said.

    The initiatives, Atanda Lawal said, would solve the problem of illiteracy and semi-literacy.

    Softcom’s Chief Executive Officer Yomi Adedeji said: “Aside from the primary to secondary school syllabus on the devices, we have built the tablet to also include other content like leadership, business, and communication guides we believe will contribute towards the holistic education of the students from a young age.

    “We are happy to be to play a role in providing these children with the tools to succeed in education, and in life in general. We share in the local government’s passion to empower these kids, and hope this is a partnership that extends for many more years to come.”