The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Illegal

  • Govt to crack down on illegal encroachment

    Govt to crack down on illegal encroachment

    Over 280 illegal properties in Mayegun waterfront scheme, Eti-Osa Local Government of Lagos State, will be removed for contravening the law, it has been learnt.

    Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Yacoob Alebiosu, said a seven-day ultimatum would be given to the affected persons.  He urged them to remove the properties before the notices were served.

    ‘’They will also be required to provide relevant documentation and approvals to justify their occupation of the properties in question.’’

    A statement by the Director of Public Affairs in the ministry, Dupe Ileyemi, said the illegal properties were discovered during a recent inspection visit to the area.

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    The statement said the commissioner directed a detailed technical assessment of the Mayegun waterfront scheme to determine the extent of development and encroachment in the area. The assessment revealed that of 280 properties, 208 were buildings in stages of construction, while 72 were undeveloped plots.

    The commissioner said Mayegun waterfront scheme, established in the 2000s, was divided into three sections: Parcels A, B, and C.

    He said:‘’Parcel B, which is the focus of this investigation, contains a mix of gazetted village excisions, valid certificates of occupancy and encroached properties.

    “This unlawful activity must come to an end; the government will no longer condone or accept people encroaching on government properties. We are currently cleaning Okun Ajah, then Mayegun. We will serve them contravention notices and thereafter the government will take appropriate steps.”

  • ‘PLASU VC sack illegal’

    ‘PLASU VC sack illegal’

    The termination of the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University, Bokkos,  Prof. Bernard Matur Malau, by the state government has generated serious concerns from the host community with Bokkos youths describing the action as illegal and inconsiderate.

     Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Tuesday dissolved the varsity’s Governing Council and removed the vice chancellor,

      Mutfwang also sacked the heads of other tertiary institutions, including Plateau State Polytechnic in Barkin Ladi, College of Education in Gindiri, College of Health Technology in Zawan, and Pankshin.

      Malau was appointed by former Governor Simon Lalong in February last year.

      The termination of the appointment was conveyed in a statement signed by the Secretary to State Government, Samuel Jatau.

      But the Butura Youths Association rejected the sacking of the VC and demanded his reinstatement.

     The association, in a statement signed by its Youth President, Marshal Sule and Secretary, Tabai Machanan Kawai, said the removal of the vice chancellor is a cog in the wheel of academic progress.

      It said under Prof.  Malau, tremendous progress had been made in academic, infrastructural and human capacity development.

    The statement reads: “This action, purportedly initiated by the Executive Governor of Plateau State, as conveyed through a memo issued by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, on various social media platforms, has sparked widespread apprehension and disapproval.

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    “For the sake of clarity and adherence to due process, it is imperative to reference the legal framework governing the removal of a vice chancellor as stipulated in Section 3(8)-(11) of the Principal Act, duly amended. This provision vests the authority to remove the vice chancellor in the Governing Council, subject to specific grounds such as gross misconduct or incapacity to fulfill the duties of the office. Importantly, the process outlined mandates a fair and transparent procedure, including the constitution of a Joint Committee of Council and Senate to investigate allegations and provide a platform for the accused to defend themselves.

    “Any decision reached by the council is subject to appeal to the Visitor, ensuring accountability and safeguarding the rights of all parties involved.”

    The association said the decision to remove the VC from office “is not only unjust but also poses a threat to the stability and progress of PLASU. It is evident that this action is motivated by factors beyond the scope of academic merit and institutional integrity”.

    It urged the relevant authorities to reconsider the decision and reinstate the vice chancellor.

  • Illegal intrusion

    Illegal intrusion

    • The police must not only condemn roadside seizure and searching of citizens’ phones, erring cops must be promptly punished

    It is official and just as well: no policeman has the legal right to pounce on and conduct a roadside search on citizens’ phones.  By police procedure, only the police cyber unit can do that; but even then at the appropriate station, after lawful arrest.

    “No policeman has the right to search your phone,” Fayoade Adegoke, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, declared. “If a policeman suspects anything on your phone, he will take you to the station to search the phone.  We have a cyber department that deals with all that.”

    For starters, in a democratic, 21st century Nigeria, it is scandalous that the Lagos State police boss had to formally pronounce what should have been pretty trite and routine.  Nevertheless, this clarification is spot on, given the ringing abuse by police cadres that play rogue on the road, feasting on citizens’ panic — particularly the youth.

    Still, it must be stated, and clearly too: it is not that the police have absolutely no right to search phones, particularly when there are reasonable grounds to suspect the bearer of crime.  Indeed, many phones are snatched and therefore products of crime.

    But the stress is on how such searches are abused — by overzealous police officers; or cynical and criminally minded cops — so much so that it is pretty much becoming routine; with bully cops pouncing on innocent citizens. 

    Indeed, the EndSARS protests, which claimed many lives, police and citizens included, resulted from such wanton abuse.  It started with profiling any youth that boasted an iPhone as either a Yahoo boy or girl, or a sundry criminal that must be humiliated.

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    After, the iPhone became a prime object of police extortion, with the owners, criminal or innocent, easy preys to material lusting by rogue police cadres — the suspect to buy his way out; the innocent but panicky to buy his freedom.  When SARS became an

     epidemic, a thunder of rage struck — and it was ugly in our eyes!

    Which is why it is shocking that less than four years after the EndSARS violence (it started on October 8, 2020), it would take a public announcement by the police commissioner to warn errant police(wo)men.  It’s the essential contemporary Nigeria, with near-zero institutional memory: only riveted on the present; the past is dead and buried; the future is in the womb of time!

    Even then, why would police cadres ignite yet another spurt of citizen anger when they witnessed the last volcano that not only consumed police personnel but also torched police hardware and choice facilities?  That may be because the police authorities have not been walking their talk in sanctioning erring police cadres.

    So, the police must tackle the problem anew — and make a public show of such misfits-in-uniform.  Again, Lagos CP Adegoke has earned praise for giving the public a clear line to report police misdeeds.

    “If you feel you have been cheated by a policeman or a policeman engaged in corruption, kindly report the policeman to his DPO,” he directed. “If the DPO is not forthcoming, report to the Area Commander.  I believe your case will be solved but if you still feel cheated,” he added, “please report to me directly.  My phone is open to all Lagosians.”

    That’s the point, though.  Inasmuch as a three-layer report line showcases admirable checks and balances, that a complaint could hit the CP’s desk before remedy could be cause for concern.  A prompter, more efficient and more effective format is called for, given how routine these abuses have become.  The CP must ponder this unease.

    But beyond what the police do or choose not to do, citizens must take the matters into their hands, without breaking the law.  They must continue to exert pressure, any time such abuses are sighted.  They must maximise the use of IT — the social media — to bring every abuse into the open and insist on justice for the cheated. 

    That way, everyone will be put on notice; and the police stand a chance of being rid of their bad eggs.

  • Clampdown begins on illegal motor parks in Abuja

    Clampdown begins on illegal motor parks in Abuja

    • Task force seizes 19 commercial vehicles, one Okada

    Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike’s joint task force on illegal motor parks yesterday seized 19 commercial vehicles and one commercial motorcycle at Banex plaza in Abuja.

    The development is to curb the menace of ‘one chance’, kidnapping, traffic congestion and get rid of criminals.

    The affected vehicles, our correspondent gathered, were illegally picking and dropping off passengers at the road corridor, therefore obstructing free flow of traffic.

    The FCT minister task force comprises Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Directorate of Road Traffic Services, FCT VIO.

    Deborah Osho, head of Operations in FCT VIO, answering questions from reporters, decried the traffic congestion on the road caused by illegal commercial taxi drivers.

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    She said: “The task force was constituted by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. What you are seeing now is clearing the road corridor on the popular Banex road, Wuse II that has been taken over by illegal commercial taxis. The illegal commercial taxis took over 50 per cent of the road corridor, picking and dropping  passengers. Meanwhile, there is an approved park where they can pick and drop their passengers, but they don’t use it, most of them prefer to use the road corridor, therefore blocking the free flow of traffic on Banex road.

    “About 19 vehicles were seized along Banex road and one commercial motorcycle”.

  • Navy seizes boat for illegal bunkering

    Navy seizes boat for illegal bunkering

    The Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Beecroft has apprehended a large boat involved in illegal bunkering activities at Igboelejo community, Lagos State.

    This was disclosed in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Sub Lieutenant H. A. Collins.

    According to the statement, the accomplishment was made possible by the intelligence that was obtained by the cutting-edge Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, the Falcon Eye Alignment.

    It added that the boat contained 205 drums of substance suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol and other related products.

    “Nigerian Navy ship BEECROFT patrol team in a decisive response to intelligence received on October 5 through the state-of-the-art Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, the Falcon Eye Alignment, thwarted an illegal bunkering activity within the Igboelejo community of Lagos State.

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    “The patrol team vectored to the specified area and successfully apprehended a large blue fiber boat suspected to be engaged in illegal bunkering.  The vessel contains 205 drums of a substance suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other products. Regrettably, the perpetrators abandoned the boat and fled upon sighting our patrol team.

    “The NNS BEECROFT patrol team acted with precision, securing the vessel and promptly transporting it to the Base. Investigation and necessary actions to ensure appropriate handling of the incident is ongoing.

    “This operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral E.I. Ogalla, to sustain maritime security and eradicate illicit activities as well as activities that can trigger fire hazard in coastal communities and within our maritime domain,” the statement said.

  • Illegal toll on food items to go, says official

    The National Association of Produce Dealers (NAAPD) is to partner the 57 councils in Lagos State to tackle the collection of illegal toll on food items on the highways.

    Its National Secretary, Kingsley Chikezie, broke the news at an interactive session involving NAAPD,  the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Heads of Department of Agriculture and Social Services in the 57 councils on the implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on illegal and multiple levies and taxes on agriculture produce on highways, parks and markets.

    Chikezie said the law stated that no person,  tax officer or representative of government could collect any levy on the road, except in the market.

    The association, he said,  had the government’s backing to work with law enforcement agencies to stop the collection of such fees.

    The association, he said,  was working on a tripartite agreement with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria on the stoppage of illegal tolls on farm produce across the country.

    ‘’We want those illegal toll collectors to leave the roads and come to the market, as it amounts to double taxation. Our action is masses oriented. In the midst of the mobility and funding challenge we face, we want to ensure that nobody goes to the highway to collect tolls on agricultural produce,”  he said.

    When these ‘’illegal tolls’’ are removed from the roads, the prices of foodstuffs would be reduced “because as it is today, most of the prices of food are high in Lagos because of multiple taxation.”

    Head of  Lagos State Board of Agricultural and Social Service Bola Onigbajo, said the government would partner the association on the issue.

  • Gani Adams: Council of Yoruba Obas in Diaspora is illegal

    The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, yesterday described as illegal, the Council of Yoruba Obas in the Diaspora.

    He said the group was neither known to law, nor to the customs and traditions of the Yoruba race.

    In a letter to all Southwest governors he warned that if nothing is done urgently to caution and sanction its promoters, the “highly-revered” Yoruba traditional institution may go extinct soon.

    He said the governors as the number one citizens of their states, and “‘protector of our traditional institution’, any immediate or remote threat to our age-long monarchical system must be nipped in the bud through all legal means.”

    Explaining why the group should be stopped,  Adams said it was a taboo to replicate the role of an Oba or question his authority.

    “That is why he is referred to as ka-bi-o-osi  (Kabiyesi). In Yoruba land an Oba is not only a king, but a sacred king. As the custodian of history and culture, words of an Oba remain sacred and any attempt to desecrate age-long customs of the people must be crushed without any delay.”

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    He noted that Obas must have royal blood, among others, and that this custom dates back to centuries “but the activities of ‘Council of Yoruba Obas in the Diaspora’, if not checked immediately, threaten this age-long tradition.

    “…members of this group, who reside mostly in Europe, North and South America, are standing logic on the head due to their inordinate ambition. In some countries in these continents, these characters now install themselves as Obas.”

    Adams emphasised that “the coronation of a Yoruba Oba in the Diaspora is alien to our culture and tradition. In fact, it is an absurdity.

    “An individual can be the leader/coordinator of a Yoruba group in a foreign land, but not to be crowned as an Oba….the promotion of our culture is legitimate but the usurpation of the powers of Yoruba monarchs by some shadowy groups or individuals abroad is sacrilegious.”

    He called on the governors to immediately intervene and stop this ‘cancerous spread’.

    “If anybody is parading himself as an Oba in Diaspora, please, call him to order.

    “Let me also explain further that the issue of Yoruba Oba in the Diaspora does not affect all our royal fathers in the Republic of Benin. They were being delineated by the Berlin Conference of 1884/85. They all have their roots in Yoruba land, including that of Oyotunji in North Carolina in America.”

     

     

  • Group decries 350 million illegal fire arms in circulation in Nigeria

    A non-governmental organization, Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errant (CURE-Nigeria), yesterday in Kano raised the alarm that about  350 million illegal fire arms which represents  over 70 per cent of it in circulation across the West African region are currently in circulation in Nigeria.

    Speaking during a Summit on Justice Reforms and Human Rights organized by CURE-Nigeria in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), North-West zone and Kano State Ministry of Justice, Executive Director of CURE-Nigeria, Mr. Sylvester Uhaa hinted that out of the 500 million illegal arms and light weapons in West Africa, it is regrettable that a whopping 350 million of the arms, representing 70 per cent are in Nigeria.

    According to him, the situation, explains the unprecedented rise in crime, as well as violence and killings across the country.

    He pointed out that, ‘’this has led to more arrests, leading to overcrowding, as all the three elements of the criminal Justice system are overwhelmed and unprepared to handle the crisis.’’

    Uhaa added that, “this is why we are backing the current efforts of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to mop up illegal fire arms and light weapons from the country.”

    Furthermore, he lamented that many of these prison inmates would die in these facilities, without anyone being held accountable, because their families are not even aware that they are held in these facilities.

    According to him, our law enforcement agents violate the basic legal provision, which mandates them to assist an arrested person to contact his family or next of kin or a counsel, following the arrest.

    He added that, “reducing the number of pre-trial detainees will resolve prison overcrowding, limit the spread of disease, reduce poverty, save tax payers money, and spur development.

    “The present cohort of over 50, 000 pre-trial detainess is a terrible waste of human potential that comes at a considerable cost to a country like Nigeria that is struggling to provide access to education, health, water, housing for its population, pay its work force, and improve basic infrastructure.

    “The money used to feed innocent people in prison can be used to renovate our schools, pay pensions and provide electricity and other social and welfare programmes for our citizens.”

    He further stated that, “following the unhealthy development, CURE boss, therefore, called on all the arms of the Criminal Justice system to comply, with the provisions of Section 293 of the ACJ Act, 2015, which provides for a detention time of 56 days and Section 35(4.5) of our 1999 Constitution, which provides detention time 24 and 48 hours to eliminate prolonged pre-trial detention in Nigeria and respect human rights and the rule of law.

    On a final note, he also regretted that the ancient City of Kano to date, is having the highest number of pre-trial detainees in the country, and called on the appropriate authorities to address the challenge by reducing the level of poverty in the country.

    The Controller Nigeria prison, Magaji Ahmad also decried inability of the prisons to cater for the inmates as a result of over population in the prisons.

    According to him, the state prisons lack facilities to cater for persons with mental illnesses as well as women and children.

    Magaji, called on relevant stakeholders to abide by the provisions of the law as it relates to arrest, persecution and detention which at the end, would ensure that prisons in the state as well as the country at large would be decongested.

  • Illegal structure owners in Agege get quit notice

    Lagos States Government yesterday served a seven-day notice on owners/occupiers of illegal structures and containerised shops around Abattoir and Oko-Oba in Agege to remove them forthwith.

    Chairman of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said over 2500 illegal structures including containerised shops were served ‘removal order’ within abattoir and Fagba by railway side, Agege.

    The shanties, he said, were occupied by miscreants and hoodlums who terrorise people.

    He said: “It is an eye-sore with miscreants and hoodlums freely smoking and selling Indian hemp including prostitution by underage boys and girls around the area”

    Oko-Oba railway line including Estate, he said, could no longer sleep with their eyes closed because of the miscreants.

     

  • Omo-Agege’s suspension illegal, AGF tells court

    THE suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) by the Senate is illegal, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has said.

    Malami, who is the third defendant in the ongoing suit brought by Omo-Agege challenging his suspension from the Senate, spoke through his counsel, Mr. Dayo Apata. The case is before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Apata, who is the Solicitor-General of the Federation, in his submission, said the role of the AGF was to defend and protect the constitution, adding that he had to react to any issue that had  to do with the constitution.

    “According to Section 4(8), 39, 40 of the Constitution and Articles of the African Charter on Human Rights, all the actions of the Senate relating to the suspension of the plaintiff (Omo-Agege) are unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.”

    The solicitor-general urged the court to hold that the Senate’s actions were unlawful.

    Mr. Mahmud Magaji (SAN), counsel to the Senate and the Senate President, in his submission, urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the senator had himself, participated in the suspension of other senators.

    “The plaintiff is not an ordinary senator but a lawyer and a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

    “He has participated in several committee meetings leading to the suspension of other senators such as Ndume. So, he who lives by the sword, should die by the sword.

    “He who has participated in the suspension of his colleagues cannot now run to the court for protection.

    “He swore to an oath to be bound by the rules of the Senate, including the standing orders,” Magaji said.

    Mr. Alex Iziyon (SAN), counsel to Omo-Agege, prayed the court to consider what had been done by the Senate as an affront to the dignity of the court.

    Iziyon argued that the court had the powers to pull down what has been done by the Senate.

    He said this was on the grounds that while the matter was still pending in court, the Senate went ahead and slammed the 90 legislative days’ suspension on his client.

    Having listened to submissions from all the counsel, the judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, adjourned the matter until May 10 to deliver judgment.

    The court refused an application by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah, Chairman and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and other Petitions.

    The senators had applied to be joined as parties in the suit but the court refused on the grounds that they were not necessary parties in the suit.

    Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN), counsel to both senators, had urged the court to allow them to be joined as parties by virtue of the fact that they were chairman and vice chairman of the committee.

    “They are necessary parties in this suit because it is the report their committee produced that the plaintiff seeks to impugned and set aside.

    “Moreover, whatever decision the court takes will affect them and members of the committee because their personal conduct is being questioned,” Erokoro said.

    Omo-Agege filed the suit to challenge his suspension from the Senate.

    He asked the court to among other reliefs, grant an order restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with his rights and privileges as a senator.