The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • NEMA closes collapsed building’s rescue operations

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that the rescue operations which started at the site of a collapsed three-storey building in Lagos on Thursday have ended.

    NEMA’s Public Information Officer, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, made the confirmation at the site of the collapsed building at 2/4, Richard Abimbola Str., Ilasamaja, in Isolo, Lagos.

    “As at now, 11:28 a.m., we have reached ground zero, and we are just waiting for our partner, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr Tiamiyu Adesina, to formally declare the operation closed.

    “As at now, we still have the same figure of three dead and 19 rescued alive,” Farinloye said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the crane and other heavy-duty equipment used in the rescue operations have been removed from the site, while police personnel have taken charge.

    Rescue operations commenced at the site of a three-story building which was being developed at Isolo, Lagos at about 2.45 p.m. on Thursday, following the collapse of the building which trapped many of its construction workers in its wreckage.

     

  • Man risks life imprisonment over alleged defilement

    A 23-year-old factory worker, Adejare Asekun, risks life imprisonment if convicted for alleged defilement of a minor.

    Asekun, who allegedly defiled his neighbour’s daughter, was on Wednesday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, who resides at 1, Ajano Close, Bamako Estate, Ojodu, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for defilement.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny, told the court that Asekun committed the offence on May 11 at his residence.

    Donny said the accused called the 10-year-old girl to his room on the pretext of sending her on an errand.

    “The accused shut the door behind the girl and defiled her,” he said.

    The prosecutor said that the girl told her mother and the case was reported at the nearby police station.

    The offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 137 provides that any person who has unlawful sexual intercourse of a child, is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.

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

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Davies Abegunde, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Abegunde adjourned the case until June 5, for mention.

     

  • Undergraduate jailed three years for stealing phones

    An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, on Wednesday sentenced a 20-year-old undergraduate, Innocent Onyeoziri, to three years imprisonment for stealing phones in a church.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, convicted and sentenced Onyeoziri, without an option fine.

    The undergraduate, who resides on Adaranito Street, Famous Bus Stop, Alapere in Ketu, Lagos, had admitted guilt.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie, submitted that Onyeoziri stole two phones worth N62,000 and a SIM card in a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish  on Okunusi Street, Alapere on Dec. 13, 2016.

    Ihiehie said that the phones belonged to Mr Oluwasanmi Olukunmi and Mr A. Agbolade, who reported the case along with one other person, at the Alapere Police Post.

    “On Dec 13, 2016 at 7.00p.m., the complainants were at the Redeemed Christian Church of God on Okunusi Street, Alapere for evening service.

    “During the service, Oluwasanmi was charging his phone as well as the other two complainants – Jaiyeola and Agbolade.

    “The accused came into the church and took the phones of Oluwasanmi, removed the SIM card in the phone of Jaiyeola and took the Injoo phone of Agbolade, and absconded,” he said.

    The prosecutor said that it took Jaiyeola some time to track the convict through the SIM card he used to borrow airtime to the tune of N30,000.

    “On May 10, the accused came back to the church area and was arrested,’’ Ihiehie said.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

     

  • Siblings docked over scuffle with policeman

    Two siblings, Patrick Asemokhne, 24, and Rebecca Asemokhne, 21, on Monday appeared in a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly slapping a police officer on duty and tearing his uniform.

    The duos, of no fixed address, are also accused of dispossessing the officer of some of his valuables.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count-charge of affray, assault and stealing brought against them.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Romanus Unuigbe, told the court that the duo committed the offences on May 4, at Kiniun-Ifa Street, Ifako, in Gbagada, Lagos.

    He said that the siblings got into a fight with one Iyoha Ohireme, a police officer on duty, who waved them down on a commercial motorcycle.

    Unuigbe said the duo, in the scuffle with the police officer,  slapped him on the face, tore his uniform and dispossessed him of valuables worth N205,000.

    According to Unuigbe, the offences contravene Sections 54, 172 and 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr P.A. Ojo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N250,000 each, with two responsible sureties each in like sum.

    He said that one of the sureties must be from the father’s side, and adjourned the case until June 26, for trial.

     

  • Teenager docked for defiling minor

    A 17-year-old boy (name withheld) risks spending the rest of his life in jail, if found guilty of allegation of defiling a minor.

    The accused was arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s’ Court on Monday for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s daughter.

    The accused, who is under studying a clergyman, and resides at 7, Akinsemoyin St., Surulere, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a one-count charge of felony.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the offence was committed in January at the accused residence.

    Ogu said the mother of the 7-year-old girl, sighted blood stain on her dress.

    “When the girl’s mother asked her what happened, she mentioned the name of the accused and when she undressed her, she noticed her daughter had been defiled.

    “The girl’s mother confronted the accused and he ran away from the house; hence, the case was reported at the police station,” he said.

    Ogu added that the accused was promptly apprehended by the Police.

    He said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

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

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 137 provides that any person, who had unlawful sexual intercourse of a child, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, granted the accused N350,000 bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until May 31 for mention.

     

  • Two men arraigned over theft

    Two men, Bamidele Toheed and Rasaq Iliasu, who allegedly stole cashew nuts worth N20 million from their employer were on Monday charged before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Toheed, 24 and Iliasu, 40, whose addresses were not given, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Roman Unuigbe, told court that the accused and some others still at large committed the offences on April 10 at about 8:00 p.m. at Mile 2 in Lagos.

    Unuigbe explained that Toheed worked as a driver and Iliasu as a store keeper for the complainant, one Wale Arolegun.

    He said that the accused were asked to deliver a truck load of cashew to a customer but they diverted it, sold the cashew to someone else and kept the money.

    “The complainant reported the matter to the police after all efforts he made to retrieve his money proved abortive.”

    Unuigbe said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 412 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

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

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr O.S. Aka-Bashorun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N5 million each with two sureties in like sum.

    He said that one of the sureties should be a community leader and that the other surety should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned until June 14 for mention.

     

  • Lagos enumerates 10,000 worship centres

    Lagos enumerates 10,000 worship centres

    Lagos State Government has enumerated over 10,000 worship centers into the State’s data base.

    The State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, gave the directive ahead of the forth coming Special Jumat and Sunday Service slated for May 19 and 21st in commemoration of Lagos State at 50, where he urged residents to continue to pray for the success of the state.

    He said the data of the churches and mosque enumerated have been inputted into the state website and can easily be accessed by the public.

    He said it was necessary for Christian and Muslim to pray for continuous religious tolerance and harmony, while commending the state chapter of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, Lagos Chapter (NIREC), for their contribution towards harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence among residents.

    The governor expressed his resolve to involve public initiative in state’s policies and programmes and stressed the need for more collaboration between the State and religious bodies.

    Governor Ambode said Lagos is home to many irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation, adding that it was important for all hands to be on deck in order to realise the objectives of the state.

    He said a lot has been achieved in the State in the last 50 years, noting that all this where possible because of the foresight of the past leaders as well as the peaceful coexistence experienced in the state.

  • Lagos earmarks N12.6bn for development of sports facilities

    The Lagos State Government on Friday said it had earmarked N12.6 billion for development of sports facilities this year.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Sports, Deji Tinubu, made the assertion at a Ministerial Briefing in Alausa to commemorate the governor’s second year in office.

    Tinubu, also the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, said the government had earmarked N9.6 billion for sports facilities to boost sports infrastructure and committed N3 billion for sports development.

    He said that the money was to ensure the state ranked top in sports development, adding that the government was willing to acquire the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    “There is no money for the bidding,’’ Tinubu said, lamenting the dilapidated nature of the stadium that the government was interested in.

    He said that as soon as the Federal Government gave the go ahead, the government would develop the facility; make it the best in the country and the toast of all.

    According to him, Nigerians will want to see the Super Eagles play at the National Stadium once again.

    Tinubu also said that as soon as the Lagos State Sports Commission Bill was passed into law by the State House of Assembly, the commission would be more professional.

    “It will be more specific, more dedicated, dynamic and able to keep up with the current and evolving sports trends,’’ he said.

    He added that the Lagos State Sports Commission had the vision to engage more schools in organised sports and create a standardised school sports calendar.

    It will also create a database for gifted secondary school athletes in basketball, volleyball, handball, athletics, wrestling, table-tennis and taekwondo.

     

  • Three teenagers arraigned over robbery

    Three teenagers were on Friday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly robbing one Mr Isaiah Okeimen of his possessions in his house.

    The accused: Rasak Lawal, 20; Ahmed Akogun, 19, and Friday Johnson, 18, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

    The accused, residents of Ojo area, a Lagos suburb, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Simeon Imhonwa, had earlier told the court that the accused committed the offence with others still at large, at about 1.30 a.m. on Dec. 24, 2016 at Unity Crescent, Igbede town, Ojo area of Lagos.

    Imhonwa alleged that the trio stole 2, 650 US dollars, 7  iPhones, one laptop, a wrist watch, all valued at N3. 2 million, property of the complainant, Okeimen.

    According to him, the accused were apprehended by security guards in the early hours of the day and in their possession were knife, cutlasses and planks.

    “The complainant had raised alarm that robbers had invaded his house which alerted the security guards.

    “The accused persons were eventually arrested while the other accomplices escaped,” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 295 and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The section provides up to 21 years imprisonment if convicted.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties each in like sum.

    Osunsanmi said the sureties must be a blood relation and a community leader and should provide evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned the case till July 11, for mention.

     

  • Father arraigned for raping daughter

    An incestuous father, Folorunsho Oluwaseun, who allegedly turned his 17-year-old daughter into a sex object, was on Friday granted a reprieve by an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    Oluwaseun was released on N300,000 bail with two sureties in like sum after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The 51-year-old electrician, who resides at 40, Popoola St., Offin in Ikorodu, Lagos State, is facing a charge of rape.

    Police Prosecutor Clifford Ogu told the court that the accused committed the offence between Aug. 8, 2016 and April 2017 at his residence.

    Ogu said the accused, who has separated from his wife since 2013, was awarded the custody of his three children including the girl.

    “The accused started abusing his 17-year-old daughter sexually since August last year.

    “The girl wrote in her statement to the police that any time she refuses her father’s sexual advances, he would not give her and her siblings food,” he said.

    “The girl narrated her ordeal to her mother when she visited them.

    “The woman reported the case to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team at Ikeja and the case was brought to the Police station.”

    The offence contravened Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, adjourned the case until June 5 for mention.