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Tag: Lagos State

  • FRSC seeks stakeholders’ collaboration to reduce road carnages

    The Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ) has urged commuters and transport unions to collaborate with the commission to mitigate road carnages.

    Mr Hyginus Omeje, Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC, made this appeal on Tuesday at the 2018 West Africa Road Safety Organisation ( WARSO ) Day held in Lagos.

    The News men reports that WARSO anniversary is observed annually on May 8 across the West African sub-region.

    The 2018 anniversary tagged, “WARSO in the last 10 years, Journey So Far” had in attendance FRSC Special Marshal, members of transport unions and other security agencies.

    Omeje, who noted that road crashes had been on downward trend, however, said that the number was still huge, hence the need for commuters and transport unions to do more in sensitisation.

    According to him, commuters must not be quiet when any driver is endangering their lives by violating traffic rules and regulations.

    “If you see something, say something. Passengers can do much in reducing accident and save lives but what we discover is that more often than not, passengers keep quite.

    “If you are in a bus and the driver is speeding, you owe it as a duty to raise your voice; but what we see is the opposite, passengers keep quiet.

    “At times, other passengers will even silence the one raising alarm. This is unfortunate, life has no duplicate.

    “We should all be proactive in ensuring that we mitigate road crashes.

    “It is no more news that road traffic injuries claim more than 1.3 million lives each year and have a huge impact on health and development.

    “It is the attitude of the road users that is the problem. If overloading will be stopped as well as driving under influence of alcohol, transport unions have a role to play,” he said.

    The FRSC boss said that road crashes had killed more than malaria and HIV aids or any other diseases had killed.

    According to him, the commission has been going to motor parks to dissuade drivers from taking alcohol or any substance capable of affecting their moods and psyches.

    Omeje said that the aim of WARSO was to promote and reinforce road safety activities in the region.

    According to him, the organisation supports national road safety bodies, coordinate road safety activities, promote and encourage exchange of experience and information among member nations.

    “Within the last 10 years, WARSO has lived up to expectations and mandate for its establishment.

    Read Also: FRSC to impound truck, trailers with extra head light

    “We have been able to come up with a uniform template to record road crashes in the sub-region.

    “We have been able to inculcate road safety activities in schools curriculum in member states to ensure children imbibe road safety culture in primary and secondary schools.

    “To commemorate this year anniversary, we have organised a motorised road show to sensitise the motoring public on the proper use of the highways to reduce crashes,” he added.

    He said that Nigeria had been able to support member nations in setting up road safety bodies as well as having coordinated road safety activities.

    Omeje said that road crashes had been gradually and steadily declining in the last three decades of FRSC establishment since 1988.

    According to him, in the first decade of FRSC existence ( 1988-1997 ), the FRSC records 207, 746 crashes, while 138, 974 road crashes was recorded in the second decade ( 1998- 2007 ).

    “There is a downward trend in the number killed. The number killed in the first decade was 81, 495 and this came down to 65, 098.

    “In the third decade between 2008 and 2017, road crashes came down to 112, 812 while the number killed also came down to 58, 706.

    “There is a consistent trending down, we are not yet there. The number of crashes and victims is still huge.

    “There is still much more work to be done in terms of awareness, sensitisation, infrastructure to help in ensuring mitigation of this menace called traffic crashes on our roads”

    He advised governments in the sub-region to strengthen various institutions mandated with prompting road safety to be effective.

    Also speaking, Mr Adegboyega Adekunbi, the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ), Ojodu Branch B, commended the FRSC and other traffic agencies for the sensitisation.

    Adekunbi, represented by Mr Taiwo Abiodun, the Secretary of the branch, however, urged the law enforcement agencies to always position themselves at strategic points that would curb accidents on highways.

    The News men  reports that the commission, apart from the road show, organised medical checkups and public enlightenment for transport unions at Berger Park, Ojodu to commemorate the WARSO Day.

    NAN

  • LAWMA urges Lagos residents to bag wastes for easy evacuation

    The Lagos State Waste Management Authority ( LAWMA ) on Tuesday urged residents to always bag their wastes to ensure effective evacuation.

    LAWMA General Manager, Segun Adeniji, told our reporter  in Lagos that the state government’s Cleaner Lagos Initiative had been distributing garbage bags to residents for easy waste evacuation.

    ”We have noticed that nylon bags did not get to certain areas, but areas where they get to, they are being used.

    ”Areas where they have not got to, people are expected to even buy the nylon; a roll of nylon is N250.

    ”People can buy this to ensure the cleanliness of the environment, you buy to complement what is available,” the general manager said.

    He said that the March 2017 Lagos Environmental Sanitation and Protection Law clearly stated the role of LAWMA as a regulator.

    Adeniji said that before the law, LAWMA was a fully operational organisation directly in charge of refuse collection all over the state, but with the new law, it became a regulator.

    According to him, LAWMA’s role is to make policies, monitor and supervise all those in Lagos that waste management has been concession to.

    ”What we have found out is that the job is going gradually and there is still much to be done. As a regulator we have seen a few gaps here and there and we are adjusting the gaps.

    ”The gaps showed that the equipment is not enough, they are arriving in batches. On a monthly basis, a good number of trucks are arriving.

    ”As soon as the concessionaire, that is Visionscape Sanitation Solution, has full complement of trucks, then you will see the whole places will be very clean,” he said.

    Special Adviser to the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode on CLI, Adebola Shabi, had said that as at March this year, Visionscape distributed over eight million garbage bags and over 400,000 garbage bins across Lagos.

    ”What we want from people living in Lagos is to generate your waste, bag your waste and drop them in front of the houses for effective cleaning and preventive blockage of our drainage and canals.

    ”The garbage bags and bins are meant for the waste generated, so please ensure that the wastes are packaged and kept at the front of the houses,” Shabi said.

    NAN

     

  • Court dismisses Evans N200m suit over seized trucks

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday dismissed a suit by suspected millionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (alias Evans), seeking the release of his seized 25 Mack trucks.

    Through his lawyer Olukoya Ogungbeje, Evans said the trucks were seized without a court order.

    Justice Rabiu Hadiza Shagari held that the suit lacked merit.

    Ogungbeje had argued that the police forcefully confiscated the trucks from Evans last June 15 without any court order.

    He prayed the court to award N200million as general and exemplary damages against the Police for the alleged violation of Evans’ rights under sections 36, 43, and 44 of the 1999 Constitution.

    But, the Police urged the court to dismiss the suit as the trucks were proceeds of crime and were exhibits.

    In a counter-affidavit, the deponent Inspector Haruna Idowu said he was on the team that investigated Evans’ case.

    He said the suspect acquired 11 trucks with proceeds of crime, adding that 10 of them were recovered by the police.

    He said the trucks were listed as exhibits in the criminal charges filed against Evans at the Lagos State High Court.

    “The applicant is the notorious and most dreaded armed robber and kidnapper known as Evans, who defiled police arrest for over 10 years and who had terrorised many states of Nigeria with his various gang members.

    “The applicant has no other source of livelihood except armed robbery and kidnapping as so many arms and ammunition was recovered from the applicant during his arrest.

    “The applicant had purchased various properties with proceeds of armed robbery and kidnapping.

    “The applicant purchased 11 trucks with proceeds of crime. The police recovered 10 in Lagos while they were not able to tow the remaining one from Anambra State to Lagos due to the fact that the applicant’s brother-in-law, Mr. Okwuchukwu Obiechina, and his wife had tampered with the brain box of the truck in a bid to pervert the course of justice.

    “The trucks recovered are proceeds of crime which are preserved and kept as exhibits to be tendered in the ongoing criminal prosecution of the application at the High Court of Lagos State,” Idowu said.

    Justice Shagari held that the law empowers the Police to seize assets in the course of their investigation in such cases.

    According to her, by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the Police have the right to seize and confiscate any items or properties as exhibits in a criminal case.

    The judge said the court could not stop the Police or other security agencies from carrying out their constitutional duties.

  • Pastor in police net for propagating hate speech

    Police in Lagos have arrested a 35-year-old pastor, Chris Mordi, of the Miracle of Fires Ministry, Langbasa, Ajah, Lagos, for allegedly propagating hate speech in the state.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Edgal Imohimi, disclosed this to newsmen, stressing that the suspect was arrested on May 5 at Ado Road, Langbasa area of Ajah in Lagos.

    Edgal said that the Pastor was arrested allegedly while in possession of an inciting publication titled: “Beware of Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) and Knights of the Catholic for they are occultic.”

    He said that the pastor had invited his church members for a programme where he was to make a public pronouncement on the issue before the publications were intercepted on May 5.

    “This is a case of insult to religion and propagation of hate speech which contravene Sections 124 and 168 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

    “This should be a lesson to be imbibed by all religious leaders. We must encourage and preach religious tolerance,” he said.

    He said that the clergyman would be charged to court for alleged hate speech and religious intolerance.

    Meanwhile, 10 traffic robbers who specialise in dispossessing motorists of their valuables at Charity Bus-Stop, Oshodi, were also rounded up by policemen and presented to newsmen.

    According to the commissioner, the hoodlums were traced to their hideouts where they were arrested with a toy gun.

    He added that the police was working toward arresting other members of the gang and urged victims of traffic robbers to visit the Command and identify the suspects.

    He assured that all the suspects would be charged to court.

    NAN

  • Police arraign agent for absconding with client’s N850,000

    The police, on Monday, arraigned a 40-year-old traveling agent, Babatunde Owoede, who allegedly absconded with a client’s N850,000 in  an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The accused, who resides at Ijoko, Ogun, is standing trial before Magistrate F.F George, on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The magistrate, however, admitted the accused to a bail of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    George said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in 2010 at Agege in Lagos.

    He said that the accused obtained N850, 000 from one Mr Ibrahim Yusuf, under the pretext of assisting him to obtain a US travel document, knowing same to be false.

    “The accused, claimed to be an agent and collected the money from the complainant to get him visa and ticket.

    Read Also: Police officers lament deduction under new salary platform

    “After the complainant paid him the money, the accused absconded to an unknown destination”. Awase said efforts made by the complainant to get his money or the visa and ticket proved unsuccessful, as the accused refused to pick his calls and he could no longer be traced.

    He said that eight years after committing the fraud, the accused was found and handed over to the police. The offences contravened Sections 287 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 ( Revised ).

    The newsmen reports that Section 312 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences while Section 287 prescribes three years for stealing.

    The case was adjourned to May 15 for mention.

    NAN

  • Man, 18, appears in court for stealing

    The police, on Monday, arraigned a man, Tobi Michael, 18, in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly breaking into his former school to steal items worth N55,000.

    Michael, a drop-out at Ifesowapo Senior Secondary School, Aboru, Ipaja, Lagos and  a resident of Ipaja, Lagos, is being tried for burglary and stealing.

    The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Dada Wasiu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 18 at his former school.

    He said that the accused broke into the principal’s office at night through the ceiling and stole items worth N55, 000.

    “The accused stole: six cans of malta drinks, three packs of biscuits, three bottles of orange soft drinks, 17 pieces of sweet, four pieces of school socks among other items, valued N55,000”.

    Wasiu said that the accused was arrested by the security guard while trying to jump the fence to escape, and the stolen items were recovered from him.

    Read Also: Court remands man, 44, in prison custody for murder

    The offences contravened Sections 287 and 308( 2 ) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 ( Revised ).

    The newsmen reports that Section 287 prescribes three years jail term for stealing, while section 308 attracts seven years for burglary.

    The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and the court granted him bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The magistrate, Mrs A.K Dosunmu, said the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidences of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned to May 21 for mention.

    NAN

  • Ward Congress: Ambode commends party members

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has commended the peaceful process members of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) conducted its ward congresses across the state.

    The governor, who participated in the exercise at his Ward A6 in Epe Local Government Area, said the party had displayed high level of maturity in the conduct of party activities.

    He added that members of the party who turned out in large number to exercise their civil responsibility had shown that the APC is a cohesive party.

    He said: “All our great party members in Ward A6, you have done well for turning out in this number to be part of the APC ward congresses. I want to use this medium to thank you all for the orderliness and peaceful way you conducted yourself.

    “We are members of the same family and that is why we are doing it in line with our constitution.

    The party agreed that it is either we do election or we vote by way of consensus. And that what we have done peacefully today.

    “I want to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to all our members across the state that performed this electoral process across the 337wards in the state .

    We know that the APC can get stronger if there is always peace and consensus among all our members. Like in Epe division, elections have been conducted peacefully in all other divisions. This is the most beautiful ward in Lagos State presently.

    I commend all our newly elected officials. We are very lucky to have observers from INEC who have just witnessed the process of the ward congress here.

    Chief Lanre Razak speaking on the ward congress, said APC was a disciplined party,where rules are followed.

    “Some people expect that we would have crisis riddled congress but you can see for yourself that the whole process is peaceful.

    ‘The APC has showed that it is the party to emulate. Again there is no party that is devoid of crisis. We have a good crisis management mechanism in place.

    “Our national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been given an assignment to reconcile the party, I have every confidence that he will achieve the task given to him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Two sisters in court for allegedly beating, tearing policeman’s uniform

    The police on Thursday arraigned two sisters, Favour Ajula and Oluchi Ajula in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court accused of assaulting police inspector by tearing his uniform and dragging his gun.

    Favour, a 24-year-old hairdresser; and 18-year-old Oluchi, a nurse, appeared before Magistrate F.F. George on a two-count charge of conspiracy and assault.

    The duos, who reside at Iju-Ishaga in Agege area of Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

    George said the sureties should be gainfully employed and must show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and adjourned the matter until May 14 for mention.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 13 at their residence.

    He said the sisters and one Emeka, a teenager, assaulted Insp. Bitrus Zingkur, by tearing his uniform and also dragged his service gun while performing his lawful duty.

    Read Also: Court strikes out theft case against tiler

    Awase said a man went to report to the police that the defendants were after his life.

    He added that “one Uche Prince, a co-tenant, reported the defendants to police that they wanted to kill him; and the complainant followed him to the house.

    “When the complainant tried to mediate and settle the disagreement, the two sisters assaulted him.”

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 174( b ) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015( Revised ).

    Section 174 stipulates three years imprisonment for assault, while Section 411 attracts two years jail term for conspiracy.

    NAN

  • Police arraign two suspected robbers in Lagos

    Two suspected commercial bus robbers — Sunday Ogenero and Daniel Johnson — were on Wednesday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court charged dispossessing occupants of money and valuables worth thousands of naira.

    The accused — Ogenero, 24, lives in Agausa area of Ajegunle in Apapa, while Johnson, 22, resides at Okoafo area of Badagry.

    Both are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing to which they have pleaded not guilty.

    The accused, Police Prosecutor Benson Emuerhi, told the court committed the offences with others now  at large on Feb. 28 along Apapa Expressway at 7.30 p.m.

    According to him, the accused stole one Techno phone valued at N36,000, N34,000 cash and other valuables from the complainant, Tunde Mustapha, while he was returning home from work.

    “The complainant, after the close of work, boarded a commercial bus heading towards Mile 2 area of Lagos, unknown to him that other occupants of the bus were robbers.

    Read Also: Police confirm officer’s death from Okada riders’ reprisal attack

    “The duo dispossessed him of the items but were caught by some passersby, who handed them over to the police,” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 ( Revised ).

    The newsmen report that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 411 prescribes two years for conspiracy.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. The case was adjourned until July 5.

    NAN

  • Clearing agent charged with N2.5m fraud

    A 40-year-old clearing agent, Ejike Onyinye, who allegedly defrauded a man of N2.5 million on the  pretext of investing the money in hides and skin business, was on Wednesday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    Ejike, a resident of Ejigbo, Lagos, is standing trial on charges of intent to defraud and stealing.

    He, however, denied the charge.

    ASP Roman Unuigbe, who is prosecuting the case, told the court that the accused committed the offences between May 26 and May 31, 2017 at Ejigbo.

    Roman said the complainant, Mr Ibrahim Lukman, reported the incident at the Yaba Police Station.

    The accused had on May 26, 2017, told the complainant that he was a clearing agent who intended going into the importation of hides and skin and that he needed some money for the business.

    Read Also:  Court convicts Nwobike for perversion of justice

    “The complainant gave the accused N2.5 million not knowing that there was no plan for any business.

    “The accused took the money from the complainant and ran away,” he alleged.

    The offences contravened Sections 278 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Newsmen reports that Section 285 stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing while Section 314  provides 15 years for fraud.

    In his ruling on the accused’s bail application, the Magistrate, Mr P.A. Ojo, granted the clearing agent bail in the sum of  N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Ojo said the sureties must be gainfully employed with an evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    NAN