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Tag: lagos

  • NRC MD jailed three months for contempt 

    A Federal High Court, Lagos Friday sentenced the Managing Director (MD) of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Fidet Okhiria, to three months in prison custody for contempt ex facie curiae (outside the court).

    Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun found Okhiria guilty and convicted him in absentia following his alleged refusal to appear before the court despite several summons.

    Justice Olatoregun, in her ruling, noted among others, that the contemnor was disobedient to the law and treated judicial proceedings with levity.

    The judge held: “I have looked at the various affidavits placed before the court and have examined the papers filed from both sides.

    “The contemnor in particular continued to disobey the law. Even if he did not have the notice between February, March till date, he ought to have been guided by his lawyer.

    “He has not given reason to disobey the court. He treated the court order with levity. I am left with no option than to convict him.

    “I hereby sentence him to three months imprisonment”.

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    Justice Olatoregun ordered that Okhiria should remain in prison custody till September 25, when the case will continue.

    The judge, on February 15, 2018 threatened to order Okhiria’s arrest for his alleged “perpetual refusal” to appear before the court in a (committal proceeding) suit filed against him by a former NRC employee Mr. Benedict O. Iheakam.

    But Okhiria, through his counsel Mr. Opeyemi Igbayiloye, sometime in March, informed the court that he was out of the country on official assignment.

    Igbayiloye tendered a 13-paragraph affidavit sworn to by NRC secretary Obiorah Emedolibe.

    Emedolibe said: “Initial non-compliance immediately was not deliberate nor attributable to the act or inaction of Engineer Okhiria but due to the misplacement of the judgment creditor’s personnel file, the retrenchment, retirement and or death of key staff conversant with the suit and the bureaucracy usually associated with the civil service.

    “Okhiria travelled out of the country to China on official duty since February 7, 2018, as part of Federal Government team on fund sourcing for the Railway Modernization projects.”

    But Justice Olatoregun ordered Okhiria to show evidence of his foreign trip, including providing his travel documents such as international passport, flight tickets and Visa.

    In another sitting, the court directed Okhiria to show cause why he did not comply with court order.

    Justice Olatoregun said: “Orders of a court must be always obeyed. He must not show himself to be above the law. Is he too big to appear in court? I give him a week to obey court.”

    In the substantive suit, Iheakam through his counsel, Mr Johnson Esezoobo (counsel to judgment creditor) sought an an order committing to prison, Okhiria and NRC Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Canise Oklahoma, for alleged refusal to comply with a 14-year-old court order.

    The order, made by Justice Dan Abutu in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/926/95, ordered the NRC to reinstate Iheakam to his employment in the NRC and pay his entitlements.

  • Lagos partners others on Research Laboratory

    The Ikorodu General Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos State, has commissioned the Joint West Africa Research Group (JWARG).

    It is in collaboration with the African Centre of Excellent for Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID) located inside the Redeemers’ University Ede, Osun State.

    The Research Laboratory was founded by the United  States Government through the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in collaboration with Nigeria military.

    Explaining the significance of the centre, the Hospital Medical Director/CEO, Dr. Olufunmilayo Bankole said, “This research Laboratory is founded by the United States Government through the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and this is the first time the Military is partnering with Civilian Agency to establish a Laboratory of this caliber.

    “For this, we are highly appreciative of the contributions of the Government of United States of America to the growth of the medical services in Lagos state and Nigeria. The contribution and unflinching support of the officers of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research involved in this project is highly commendable. This Genomics and molecular diagnostic research laboratory now offer us the opportunity to carry our test within three hours for rapid detection of a wide range of pathogens  such as Malaria parasite, Lasa fever virus, Ebola virus, Dengue and Monkey pox to mention a few”.

    Dr Bankole explained that the provision of a coordinated system to respond to these diseases is long overdue as facilities for their diagnosis are very limited and not easily accessible, as she added, “the activities of the research laboratory would make it possible to detect the emergence of the new infectious diseases. Prompt diagnosis and clinical management leads to better prognosis, hence establishment of this research laboratory is a giant stride in the history of Medical Practice in Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos State and other West African countries.”

    Going down the memory lane, Dr Bankole said since 2005, the Military HIV research Program and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Nigeria (MHRP/WRAIR Nigeria) has been working closely with the Nigerian Ministries of Defense and Health to implement HIV prevention, care and treatment through the U.S President’s Emergence Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) and President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).

    “MHRP/WRAIR’s strong partnership with the Nigerian Military, with its large network of medical facilities and well-trained personnel, has been developed through PEPFAR and PMI provides a platform to conduct surveillance, clinical and vaccine research and response to infectious disease threats.

    “For research involving human subjects, investigators at the Redeemer’s University work in collaboration with Ikorodu General Hospital, one of the 24 Secondary Healthcare Centre owned and managed by the Lagos State Government. In June 2017, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State; the African Center for Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lagos State officially sanctioning and solidifying the research relationship between the Institution and the Hospital.

    “Professor Christian Happi, Principal Investigator in ACEGID at Redeemer’s University confirmed the first case of Ebola Disease in Nigeria and was at the forefront of the diagnosis of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Nigeria during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and worked with Nigerian health authorities for the rapid and successful containment of the disease”.

    She said the Joint West Africa Research Group (JWARG) made large contributions to the ancillary research laboratory including installation and validation of state of the art diagnostic equipment and genomics sequencing capability.

    The Consul General U.S Consulate, Mr John Bray, reiterated the commitment of USA Government to health services of Nigeria, adding that the  USA Government commit One Billion Us Dollars annually to Nigeria health sector.

    He said: “the reason for the siting of Laboratory in Lagos State is because of Lagos State is the Center of Excellent. The United States believes in the health of Nigeria.

    “Bilaterally corporation between the agencies of US for International Development and U.S President’s Emergency plan for Aids Relief and Malaria Initiative have strong partnership with the Nigeria Military. Secondly the project is not just a partnership only between United States and Nigeria but it a regional relationship to Liberia and Ghana”.

    Bray said, “Nigeria is the regional hub for WRAIR, JWARG activities. Joint West Africa Research Group laboratory training is primarily based at the 661 Nigerian Air Force Hospital in Lagos. This is a Civilians, military, and Lagos State relationship which is a welcome development. It a collaboration between the Nigerian military, Walter Reed Army Institute Research, Lagos State Government, U.S Government and the Academic world.  This Excellent project is sited in Lagos State because Lagos is the center of Excellent”.

    Vice Chancellor Redeemer’s University,  Prof Debo Adeyewa, iexpressed his gratitude  fover the collaboration between Redeemer’s University, the African Center of Excellent for Genomics and Infectious Disease (ACEGID), Lagos State, the Centre of Excellent; American Military, the Center of Excellent and the Nigeria Military, the center of Excellent for this un-parallel partnership in health sector.

    Prof Adeyewa also thanked the U.S Consul General Consulate, John Bray, just as he told the Hospital management to always keep pace in the state of excellent because, “this just a beginning of greater things,” he said.

    Chairman, Lagos State Health commission, Dr. Bayo Aderiye who represented the Lagos State commissioner of Health, Dr Jide Idris, reiterated the commitment of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode towards healthcare delivery services in the State, explaining that the collaboration was as a result of great vision of government for the health of Lagosians and Nigeria at large.

    Among the personalities and delegates from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research at the occasion were: Consul General US Consulate, John Bray; Chief of Staff (CoS), WRAIR, Lieutenant Colonel, Vincent Suarez; Nigerian Ministry of Defence Heath Implementation Programme (MODHIP), Director General, MODHIP, Brig Gen N.A Hussain; Director of U.S Army Medical Research Directorate- Africa, Dr Doug Shaffer; Principal Investigator, Professor Christian Happi, diagnosed the first case of Ebola Virus in Nigeria in 2014; Dr Onikepo Folarin; Mr Dolo Nosamiefan;  Commissioner, Health Service Commission, Mrs Kemi Ogunyemi; Immediate past CMD Dr M. A Olukoya.

     

  • Photos: Tanker fire guts over 20 vehicles in Lagos

    Over 20 vehicles were gutted by fire on Thursday on Otedola bridge Lagos

    According to reports, the tanker which was loaded with PMS had a break failure.

    Although, the number or causalities is likely to be high as passengers were trapped in vehicles,  the exact number of  is yet to be ascertained.

     

    More details soon…

  • Lagos launches reading initiative, names ambassadors

    Bayode Treasures-Olawunmi, who read 23 books aloud in 122 hours to challenge the Guinness World Record for the Longest Marathon Reading Aloud (113 hours) and TV presenter, Kunle Kasumu, have been named ambassadors to drive a reading initiative of the Lagos State government tagged, LagosReads.

    Launching the initiative at the Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba last Friday, the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said the duo would drive school tours and other initiatives of the programme to encourage Lagosians, both young and old, to read.

    He said through LagosReads, the government hopes to ignite in residents a passion for reading thereby promoting a knowledgeable society.

    He said the programme would feature, book of the month, school tours, a reading competition that would reward various categories of readers (children, teenagers, and adults) once in two months, and a weekly online quiz for participants to win recharge cards. The competition is scheduled to start August.

    To participate, Bank-Olemoh said the readers have to register with libraries, public or private or school, and book clubs online on www.lagosreads.com, which will become active in July.

    “The competition is opened to every lover of books, but you must be registered with a public or private library or a book club. We have three categories for the competition – children (5-12 years); teens (13-19); and adults. The prize for adults is N200,000; teenagers, N100,000 worth of gift; and children, N70,000 worth of gifts to be done once in two months.

    “In addition, once we announce the book of the month, on weekly basis we will put out quiz questions on our social media channels to keep conversation going around books. Winners of the quizzes will win recharge cards,” he said.

    He said a committee had been inaugurated to manage the process, but noted its members would be changed regularly.

    Chairman, Nigeria Library Association, Lagos State chapter, Dr Rachel Odunlade, who is also a member of the committee, said the initiative would improve the reading, writing and speaking skills of young people.

    “This project will help them to know the right words to use at the right time. The more you read, the more you know,” she said.

     

  • Lagos launches Vision Zero

    Lagos State Government has called on residents to continually apply basic safety tips to address progression of risk and possible loss of lives and properties.

    Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations Seye Oladejo, made the call at the launch of Lagos Vision Zero organized by Lagos State Safety Commission at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island.

    Oladejo called for a paradigm shift from fault-finding to finding solutions to prevent injuries and ill health.

    The Commission, he said, is now better positioned to raise awareness about the need to rein the risks and reduce exposure to risks at all levels through civic enlightenment, monitoring and above all improve safety consciousness.

    He maintained that Lagos State like many other mega-cities around the world is also grappling with the effects of high population, thus realised the need for effective safety culture management to avoid dramatic consequences and prevent unnecessary loss of lives.

    He assured participants at the conference that the state government will continue to promote the culture of awareness, preparedness, and response at the policy level so that more lives and assets of Lagiosians can be saved.

    Lagos State Safety Commission Director-General Hakeem Dickson urged residents to support the government by keying into the Vision Zero to reduce risks to the barest minimum.

  • Lonely woman abducts two-year-old girl in Lagos

    A 35-year-old woman, Jumoke Adesida, has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a two-year-old girl in Lagos.

    The incident occurred on June 22 at 12, Kazeem Adeboye Street, Jerry Farm, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    It was gathered that Adesida, a resident of Odo-Kekere village in Ogun State, allegedly stole the child because she was lonely and needed someone to play with.

    The woman kidnapped the kid, Rokibat Raji, at her mother’s shop.

    The police said the victim’s mother, Aminat Abidoye, 38, had reported the disappearance of her child at Shagamu-Road Division, prompting the state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, to direct the Anti-Kidnapping unit to handle the matter.

    Confirming the incident, Edgal told journalists that the unit tapped into the robust community policing structure to look for the victim.

    He said: “Their efforts paid off as the missing child was traced to Jumoke Adesida, 35, in Odo-Kekere Village, Ogun State. During interrogation, Adesida confessed to the crime. She explained that she needed the child to play with as her husband has taken her only child away from her.

    “The suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”

    Similarly, five suspects – Owen Onazurulike (21), Patrick Modupe (41), Chika Amadi (31), Kabiru Azeez (31) and Jamiu Jimoh (41) were arrested at Iju for allegedly kidnapping one Murtala Babarabe.

    They reportedly whisked the victim from Shoprite, Alausa to Iju-Ishaga, where men suspected to be members of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), subjected him to trial by ordeal and extortion.

    It was gathered that policemen attached to Iju Division were alerted and they rescued the victim.

    According to Edgal, an unregistered Toyota Camry was recovered from the suspects.

  • Woman docked for flogging man with wire

    A 28-year-old woman, Aishat Akande, who allegedly flogged a man with a wire was on Wednesday docked before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, an hair dresser, who resides at 7, Somoye St., Ijaiye, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy and assault.

    The Prosecutor, ASP Clifford Ogu, told the court that the offences were committed on June 19 at Ijaiye in Lagos.

    Ogu said that Akande and others at large allegedly flogged one Mr Sunday Adeko for urinating beside a shop in their domain.

    He said that the accused and others allegedly descended on him and flogged Adeko with wire, adding that in the course of beating him, the wire heat Adeko in his eyes and blood gushed out of his eyes.

    Ogu said that during police investigation, the accused said that the residents of the area had warned passersby to desist from urinating on the spot because of it’s odour.

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    He told the court that by the act, the accused and others had taken laws of the land into their hands.

    Ogu said the offences contravened Sections 246 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr J. A Adegun, granted the accused bail of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Adegun adjourned the case until July 10 for mention.

  • Road users lament as work slows on Lagos-Badagry road

    Motorists on the ever-busy Lagos-Badagry expressway are complaining about perennial traffic gridlock on the road as reconstruction and expansion work appears to have slowed down.

    Our reporter, who visited the site reports that various construction activities such as excavations and construction of drainage had stopped midway.

    NAN reports that activities of work on the project site has reduced considerably, leading to traffic gridlock as many excavated parts of the road have been abandoned.

    This has increased hardship faced by motorists and commuters on the road.

    Our reporter however, observed that the first and second sections of the road, spanning from Orille to Festac Third Gate at Alakija, have been completed and opened for use.

    Yusuf Sani, a road user, complained about the loss of man hour on the road.

    “I have been on this spot for more than two hours and losing so much valuable time because of the work here.

    “It would be more effective if the construction company can device means to effectively control the traffic while they continue their work,” he said.

    Dele Abbas, another road user, also complained about the gridlock.

    “Expanding this road is a good idea but the suffering is becoming unbearable, even when we leave home early we still experience the go slow.

    “The construction company and the Lagos State Government should take urgent steps to stop this suffering,” he said.

    Mrs Taiwo Alabi, advised the contractor to increase the pace of the work to ensure that the project ends and delivered on schedule.

    “My advice is that the contractors should take full advantage of the absence of heavy rains to make considerable progress on this road so that this gridlock will abate,” she said.

    An official of China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), the project contractors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the work on the road had slowed down due to shortage of funds.

    “The work is no longer progressing because the Lagos State Government has refused to make payments for quite sometime now.

    “It is even surprising because money is not supposed to pose any problem for this work. A loan was secured and should be readily available, but I do not understand what the state government is doing.

    “Our presence on the road now is just for some skeletal jobs because we cannot just pull out completely, but more than 80 per cent of the workforce has been disengaged due to the situation.

    “This will most likely extend the job beyond the 2019 completion date,” he said.

    However, Mr Ade Akinsanya, the Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, said that the project was on course.

    He said that the plan was to open up the completed portions of the road for use by motorists before moving to continue work on the outstanding portions.

    “We observed that parts of the completed portion of that road was being mishandled by some residents who have started turning them into markets and some other uses

    ” We want to open those portions up for the use of motorists to protect them from such encroachments before moving to other outstanding portions of the road, and that would happen very soon,” he said.

    Akinsanya said that the issue of indebtedness to CCECC did not arise because the process of valuation, which preceds payment, was on going.

  • Lagos, Netherlands mull exploiting water transportation

    Modern water transportation system was the focus at Monday’s meeting between the Lagos State government and the Kingdom of Netherlands.

    Both agreed to develop the sector and boost its patronage.

    The Head of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Lagos, Michael Deelan, who visited the Commissioner for Transportation in his Alausa, Ikeja office, expressed his country’s interest in Lagos waterways.

    He said the state is sitting on vast resources that it would help to exploit.

    According to him, Netherlands shares a lot of things in common with Lagos in geography and proximity to the coast.

    The Dutch said Netherlands has an ICT-controlled waterway system.

    Deelan, who is also Netherlands’ Deputy Head of Mission in Abuja, said his country’s waterway was demarcated in such a way that operators could be monitored and the whereabouts of any boat would be known any time through the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

    Transportation Commissioner Ladi Lawanson said Lagos was looking at the possibility of working with Netherlands in water transportation.

    He said: “The Dutch are very good mariners. We can leverage on this to build a world-class water system policy.”

    The commissioner said Governor Akinwumi Ambode was planning to launch the state’s water master plan.

    Lawanson added that the state government was looking at the possibility of getting manufacturers in Netherlands for partnership with Lagos in water transportation.

    He said Lagos, being the commercial nerve centre of the country, had a huge population that is still growing, saying that this had put a lot of pressure on the road transportation.

    He noted that even though the government was investing in rail transportation, it would still not be enough to cater for the transportation needs of the huge population, which he said, informed the decision of government to look at ways of revamping its waterways system.

  • Teenager charged with theft of N300, 000 iron rods

    A teenager, Ugochi Aliegu, on Monday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged theft of iron rods valued at N300,000.

    Nineteen-year-old Aliegu, a resident of Bariga, Lagos, is facing a count charge of stealing, but he pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that the accused committed the offence at 3.00p.m. on June 16 at Kadupe Junction, on Pedro Road, Bariga.

    Olaluwoye said that the accused stole the rod from a construction site belonging to Mr Emeka Ogbuze.

    “He was arrested while trying to sell the stolen rods,” she said.

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    “Upon investigation, it was discovered that it was not the first time the accused had stolen from that site,’’ she said.

    The offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that stealing attracts three years’ jail term.

    “The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.J. Oghere, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Oghere said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned until July 4, for mention.