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Tag: lagos

  • Woman divorces husband for starving her sex for 2 years

    The five-year-old marriage between a 35-year-old trader, Bilikisu Azeez and her husband, Olusesi, was on Friday dissolved by an Igando Customary Court in Lagos on grounds of sex-starvation.

    Bilikisu had told the court that her husband, Olusesi, starved her of sex for more than two years, a development which, she said, had affected her health.

    “My husband has been starving me of sex since he married his youngest wife; he has turned me to an abandoned property.

    “I have been falling sick in and out of hospital, during my last visit to the hospital, I was told that it was because I have not had sex for long that is why I experience frequent sickness.”

    She also accused her husband of not caring for her and the only child of the marriage, saying “my husband does not take care of me, I feed and clothe myself.

    “He refused to enroll our only child, who is over four years old in school and has failed to pay his medical bills; I always run to my mother for the hospital bill.”

    Bilikisu, who also accused her husband of battery, said he had beaten her publicly which resulted in her fainting.

    According to her, the trouble started when her husband brought in a third wife.

    She continued: “There was joy, love and peace in the house until he came with another wife, who has been fighting me also.”

    She urged the court to dissolve the union so that she can move on with her life.

    Read Also: Advice for women: Sex is food

    Olusesi, in his response to the allegations, accepted that he starved the woman of sex.

    “She once denied me of sex and since then I abandoned her.

    “Yes, I starved her of sex, it is tit for tat because there was a day I entered her room to sleep with her and she left the bed to sleep on the floor.

    “I made an attempt eight times to sleep with her, but she refused. So since that day, I just put her aside after all she is not the only wife I have,” he told the court.

    The 45-year-old building contractor also consented to the dissolution of the marriage, saying he too was no longer interested in the marriage.

    The court president, Mr Akin Akinniyi, while delivering the judgment said that it appeared that the estranged couple were tired of the marriage as all efforts to reconcile them had failed.

    “Since both parties consented to the dissolution of their marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

    “The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Mrs Bilikisu Azeez and Mr Olusesi Azeez dissolved today.

    “Both of you henceforth cease to be husband and wife, each of you should go on his or her separate ways unmolested.

    “The court wishes both of you well in your future endeavour. Any squabble between both of you from now on shall be treated as criminal.

    “Any violation of this judgment will be regarded as contempt of court and will attract imprisonment without option of fine,” Akinniyi ruled.

  • Agency warns Lagos, Ogun, Osun, 31 others to prepare for flood

    THE Nigeria Hydrological Agency (NIHSA) has warned 34 states in flood prone areas to prepare.

    NIHSA, in its 2018 Annual Flood Outlook, said the states are at risk of river and coastal flooding this year.

    It projected flooding in 318 local government areas and about 78 are at high risk.

    The states with high risk of river flooding include Sokoto, Niger, Benue, Anambra, Niger Delta, Anambra, Ogun-Osun, Cross-River and Yobe.

    The agency said Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo may likely experience coastal flooding due to rise in sea level and tidal surge, which will impact fishing and coastal transportation.

    Major cities like Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Yola, Abuja, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Calabar, Jos, Owerri, Oshogbo, Ilorin, Awka, Abakaliki and Birnin-Kebbi are expected to experience flash and urban flooding due to poor drainage system.

    Other cities include Kano, Yenegoa, Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti, Lokoja, Lafia, Nsuka, Gombe, Suleja, Karu, Nyanya, Abaji, Onitsha, Sapele and Hadejia.

    Minister of Water Resource Suleiman Adamu said going by the prediction, water levels on the River Niger and Benue among other major rivers would rise and remain high during the rainy season.

    “We can manage these extreme events in such a manner that their deleterious effects are mitigated and become less devastating,” he said.

    He expressed concerns that some dams were getting silted up and the storage capacity was reducing, causing water to be spilled through the waterways.

    The minister urged the River Basins, which are the custodians of the dams to provide necessary warning, adding that dams are usually regulated, except if there was serious threat based on the volume of water the dam can hold.

    He lamented that communities and government agencies had not been taking the flood outlook seriously, leading to loss of lives yearly.

    Adamu maintained that the government could only do the prediction by providing necessary information, adding that it was left for the states, local governments and communities to take necessary actions.

    He stressed the need for people to stop building in flood prone areas and stop giving illegal building permit.

    The minister called for building of drainages, cleaning up of storm water drains on an annual basis to allow water to flow, creation of artificial flood plains and ensure maintenance of natural flood plains.

    Acting Director General, NIHSA Olayinka Ogunwale projected that the severity of flood in 2018 would not be as bad as what was experienced in 2017 and would not be up to that of 2012.

     

     

  • Agency warns Lagos, Ogun, 32 others to prepare for flood

    The Nigeria Hydrological Agency (NIHSA) on Thursday warned 34 states in flood prone areas to prepare for flood.

    The agency said these states are at risk of river and coastal flooding this year.

    NIHSA stated these in its 2018 Annual Flood Outlook.

    It projected flooding in 78 local councils across the country.

    The states with high risk of river flooding are – Sokoto, Niger, Benue, Anambra, Niger Delta, Anambra, Ogun-Osun, Cross-River and Yobe.

    Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Ondo States may likely experience coastal flooding due to rise in sea level and tidal surge which would impact fishing and coastal transportation.

    Major cities like Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Yola, Abuja, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Calabar, Jos, Owerri, Oshogho, Ilorin, Awka, Abakaliki and Birnin-Kebbi, are expected to experience flash and urban flooding due to poor drainage system.

    Read Also:  How Lagos flood forced many from their apartments, crippled business activities

    Other cities that will experience urban flooding are – Kano, Yonogoa, Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti, Lokoja, Lafia, Nsuka, Gombe, Suleja, Karu, Nyanya, Abaji, Onitsha, Sapele, and Hadejia.

    The Minister of Water Resource, Suleiman Adamu, said going by the prediction, water levels on the River Niger and Benue among other major rivers, would rise and remain high during the rainy season.

    “We can however, manage these extreme events in such a manner that their deleterious effects are mitigated and become less devastating,” he said.

    Adamu expressed concerns that some dams in the country were getting silted up and the storage capacity was reducing thus causing water to be spilled through the waterways.

     

  • Lagos pays N11.8b compensation to property owners

    Lagos State Government yesterday said it has commenced payment of over N11.8billion as compensation to owners of properties demolished to give way for construction of roads, flyovers, ramps and other critical infrastructural projects across the State.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Lands Bureau, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule who said this at the ongoing briefings by ministries said the payment was for properties demolished for projects including the Abule-Egba road expansion, Epe Road expansion, Lekki International Airport, Pen Cinema flyover, ultra- modern bus terminal in Oyingbo and upgrading of Muritala Mohammed International Airport Road.

    She listed other projects to include Mechanic Village, Gbagada Phase1, Ojokoro Specialist Hospital, construction of Freedom Road/Drainage channel, reconstruction of Agri-Ishawo Konu-Arepo Road, among others.

    Onabule said following the approval of the projects, the State’s Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development moved to these areas to determine the Right of Way (ROW) for the proposed projects, while the Lands Bureau carried out a reconnaissance survey and detailed enumeration of about 1,880 properties and claimants affected by the development including residential, commercial, petrol filling stations and religious centres.

    “I can confirm to you that in line with the provisions of the Land Use Act 1978, which is the enabling law for the revocation of Right of Occupancy (C of O) and payment of compensation thereof in the country, interest in the affected properties have been promptly revoked and enumeration of these properties completed and payment of over N11,814,844 billion approved as compensation for property owners on the Alignment/Right of Way for construction, re-construction/dualisation of roads, flyovers and ramps aimed at alleviating traffic gridlock and other forms of infrastructural development of Lagos is ongoing,” she said.

    The Special Adviser added that it recorded about N10.2 billion drop from its annual revenue generated from land transactions in 2017.

    She explained that the state’s Lands Bureau generated only N10.5billion from land transactions last year, representing over 50 percent short of the N20.7billion it generated in 2016.

    Onabule blamed the sharp reduction in the revenue on the inability of the Bureau to commence the sales of new scheme, adding that revenue generation would improve when the sale of the new land schemes begin.

    According to her, the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration has so far lived up to expectation in prompt payment of compensation on acquired land and titles revoked for over-riding public interest, however adding that payment is done after due presentation of all necessary documents by a claimant proving true ownership of the property.

    She urged affected residents to speed up their verification processes and forward their documents evidencing ownership of properties, valid means of identification, four passport photographs and other details to facilitate prompt payment.

    Onabule said that the quest by the present administration to ensure that Lagosians obtain title documents with ease, the Governor signed a total of 727 Electronic Certificate of Occupancy (E-C of O) in the year under review, thus bringing the number to 5, 172 of such certificates in the last three years.

    Onabule expressed concern on the issue of encroachment on government schemes, warning the Omo-Onile to desist from selling land that falls under government acquisition.

    “It is most disheartening to say that a very large number of government schemes in the state are being confronted with the problem of encroachment. We as a government have persistently advised members of the public to ensure they do proper charting and verification on properties before consummating transactions on land,” she said.

  • Lagos improves water supply

    The Lagos State government has improved water production and supply to residents with over 10 million gallons per day (MGD), Environment Commissioner Mr. Babatunde Durosimi-Etti has said.

    Durosimi-Etti spoke at a ministerial press briefing in Lagos.

    The commissioner said the commitment of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration to meeting the water demand of the residents contributed to successful projects in the sector.

    He said: “The government, through Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), has embarked on and completed rehabilitation of waterworks as part of its efforts to provide potable water.”

    Attributing improved service delivery to the huge investment of the government in the sector, the commissioner listed some of the completed projects, which resulted in boost in water supply in the last one year, to include: “Rehabilitation of Ishasi Waterworks of 4MGD to serve corridor of Mile 12, Owode, Barracks, Alaba International, Old Ojo Road, Ajangbadi and other adjoining communities; rehabilitation of 48 mini-waterworks situated in parts of Lagos, including Ikeja, Surulere, Onikan, Epe, Iponri, Badagry, Lekki, Victoria Island, Ajangbadi, Dolphin, Ikoyi, Badore, Apapa, Ikate, Shomolu, Alexandra, Magodo, Meiran, among others.”

    He said: “Imeke Iworo Mini Waterworks of 2MGD will complement the 4MGD Ishasi Waterworks and serve parts of Badagry and other adjoining communities. The 45MGD Iju and 75MGD Adiyan will produce and supply at their optimal capacity. Akute intakes will supply fresh water to the major treatment plants of Iju and Adiyan and so on.”

    Durosimi-Etti added that other projects are refurbishment of generators, installation of 33KV panel and accessories, repair of leakages and burst pipes in Lagos metropolis as a result of activities of road construction and telecommunications outfits/companies, introduction of Geographical Information System (GIS) and asset management for operational efficiency and management of infrastructure and water supply system, deployment of over 17,000 units prepaid meters in Lekki, Ikeja, Magodo, MKO Abiola Garden, Surulere, Yaba/Ebute Metta, Iwaya, Victoria Island, introduction of payment options, LWC mobile payments, ATM/POS, Internet, bank branches, etc.

     

  • Behold, Lagos new judges

    The number of high court judges in Lagos has risen to 59, following the swearing in of three new judges last week by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. ADEBISI ONANUGA profiles them.ofiles them

    Lagos State Governor  Akinwunmi Ambode has sworn in three new  High Court judges.

    They are Justices Abiola Soladoye,  Yetunde Pinheiro and Olukayode Ogunjobi.

    While Justices Soladoye and Pinheiro were appointed from the judiciary, Ogunjobi was appointed from private legal practice.

    Their appointment bring to 59 the number of judges in Lagos.

     

    Justice Soladoye

     

    Justice Abiola Oladunni Soladoye (59) rose through the ranks to the position of Chief Registrar, a position she held until her elevation to the bench.

    She is  a 1985 law graduate of the Holbon Law Tutors Greyhound England where she obtained her LL.B and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986.

    She was appointed a Magistrate in 1997. As the Chief Registrar, she  served as the Probate Registrar, the Official Receiver, the Tax Master and the Sherriff of the High Court of state.

    Prior to becoming the Chief Registrar, she had served as Deputy Chief Registrar (Legal),  Deputy Chief Registrar (Administration), and  Registrar of Titles, Land Registry.

    As a Magistrate, she was appointed to serve on various committees, including Criminal Justice Committee of the UN-ODCCP Pilot Court project in collaboration with state Judiciary, among others.

    Before  joining the state Judiciary, Justice Soladoye did the National Youth Service Corps Scheme (NYSC) with the law firm of Ogunsanya & Ogunsanya  & Co in 1986 and worked there till 1988 before joining  Haisha Investments Company Limited as Company Secretary and Head of Legal from 1988 till 1995.

    She was sponsored by Ford Foundation to work with the Continuing Legal Education Association of Nigeria as an Administrator between 1995 and 1997 before joining the state Judiciary.

    She has attended several professional training and seminars both locally and at internationally.

    She is an associate of some professional bodies, including Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria) and Soroptimist International.

    A former Vice-Chairman of the Magistrate Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, and member of the Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committee, Lagos State.

     

    Justice  Pinheiro

     

    Justice Yetunde Pinheiro (48),  is a law graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, where she obtained her LL.B in 1991 and Masters in Law (LLM) in 1996. She  was called to the Bar in 1992.

    Justice Pinheiro rose through the ranks to become a Chief Magistrate, having served in various magisterial divisions. As a magistrate, she delivered an average of 150 judgments and 250 rulings yearly.

    Prior  to her appointment as a magistrate, Justice Pinheiro  observed her NYSC programme between 1992 and 1993 and did her primary assignment as Solicitor/Legal Assistant at Agip Oil Plc.

    Her experience in the oil firm increased her interest in private practice. She resigned and joined the law firm of Idowu Sofola & Co, Lagos in 1994 as a Litigation Counsel.

    Justice Pinheiro has attended various conferences, workshops, and seminars.  She attended a labour training course at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies in 2016; the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association Conference, University of Brighton in September 2010; Stakeholders summit on ‘Improvement of Case Flow Management Across Criminal Justice Institution’ (2009);  workshop on ‘Promoting Ethics and Integrity at the Magistrate Court’ (2008); Forensic Workshop Series 1 (2009); Interactive Workshop on ‘Administration of Criminal Justice Law’ (2008); ADR Workshop for Magistrates on LMDC Law and Practice Directions on Mediation Procedure (2008); and Computer Appreciation Programme (2008);

    Others were ‘Handling the Criminal Case-Nigerian Magistrates’, National Judicial College, Reno, Nevada (2007); Stakeholders summit on ‘Magistracy and Justice Sector Reform’ (2007); ‘The Magistracy in the 21st Century-The Way Forward’ (2006) and ‘A three-day workshop on ‘Reforms of Civil Procedure Rules (2002), among others.

     

    Justice  Olukayode Ola Ogunjobi

     

    Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi (58)  is a 1986 law graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife where he obtained a LL.B.  He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.

    He took part in the NYSC programme between 1987 and 1988 in Aba, Imo State (now Abia State)  and has been in private legal practice since 1989.

    In 1991, Justice Ogunjobi established his law firm, Kayode Ogunjobi & Co. His experience spanned over three decades.

    He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch and the International Bar Association (IBA).

    He is an attorney with experience in Civil and Criminal Litigation at the state and federal high courts, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    Justice Ogunjobi was a member of the Law and Educational Publishers’ Editorial Team for 44million Volumes of “Encyclopedia  of the Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria’’. He is also the author of “Pleadings in Civil Procedure: A Reference Practice Guide”, an authoritative text for lawyers in civil litigation.

    He is a member, Executive Committee, Environmental Research Law Institute(ERLI) and a Director, Civil Forum Initiative (CFI), two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) concerned with Environmental Protection and Civic Education.

  • Police begin screening of recruits in Lagos, FCT

    THE police yesterday began screening of new recruits in Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from among the 133,324 applicants shortlisted for the exercise nationwide.

    In Lagos, no fewer than 1,113 applicants were listed for exercise. Also in the FCT, 1,265 candidates started undergoing the screening.

    The presiding officer for the screening in Lagos, Okon Otoyo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who spoke at the Police College, Ikeja, venue of the screening, said some of the applicants reported at the venue as early as 7.30 a.m.

    At 10a.m., some senior police officers took them on how to fill forms. The officers gave out some other instructions.

    Some applicants, ignorant of what they were expected to bring to the venue, were seen buying plastic canvass, white T-shirts and shorts when they got to the college.

    Otoyo said: “We have started the screening. We have 1,113 applicants to be screened in Lagos and it will take one week.”

    Some of the candidates, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were looking forward to having a bright career in the force.

    Some, however, decried the high cost of training kits such as canvass and shirts, which they bought in front of the college.

    “We were not told what to bring to the venue; someone only called me requesting me to check for my name on the internet; luckily, I found my name.

    “There was no instruction on what to bring apart from certificates.

    “It was when we got to the Police College that we discovered that some of our colleagues were putting on white-and-white kits.

    “Normally, I can’t buy plastic canvass more than N600, but because of emergency, I bought mine N1,000. Some of my colleagues bought theirs more than N1000,” one of the applicants said.

    Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Training, DIG Emmanuel Inyang, during the inspection of the exercise in FCT, assured the citizens that the screening would ensure that accidental discharge becomes a thing of the past in the Force.

    He said: “We are here today for the screening of the successful candidate, who are willing to join the Force. This screening is a screening of documents to make sure that they meet up with the qualifications.  We will proceed to physical screening thereafter to make sure they have the correct height, correct chest measurement,  no flat feet, no bad dentition,  no knock-knees, no tattoo and to make sure that they are not deformed in anyway because we want to have the best for Nigerians.

    “When we finish with the physical screening, they will be subjected to aptitude test, which would be conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board to ensure transparency.”

    He added: “After the test by JAMB, we are going to invite medical personnel to conduct another medical screening. The personnel will carry out various test like X-ray, blood test and others to make sure that they are well and fit for the job.

    “When that finishes,  we are going to invite another doctor who is an optometrist to make sure that their sight is unquestionable and that their vision is okay because you need to be able to see very well before you can use gun.

    “We will not stop there, for the first time, we are going to invite a psychiatric doctor, who is going to do mental evaluation to make sure they are okay mentally and to make sure that they are not on drugs.

    “So a case of accidental discharge is going to be a thing of the past. We want to give Nigerians the best”, he said.

    On when the screening would be over, Inyang said: “The screening exercise should be over by early June because training will start in the month of June.”

  • Three docked over alleged snatching of election materials

    Three men, who allegedly snatched election materials during Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward Congress in Badagry, Lagos, on Monday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in the state.

    The accused are Oke Sunday, 37; Epi Ajose, 45; and Raufu Tijani, 23.

    The accused, who have no fixed addresses, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and breach of the peace.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, ASP Roman Unuigbe, told the court that the accused and others still at large committed the offences at 11.30a.m. at Local Authority Primary School, Badagry.

    The prosecutor said that the accused disrupted the election by snatching materials for its conduct.

    Unuigbe said that Messrs Gusanu Paul and Abdullahi Bashiru reported the case at a police station.

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

    Ojo ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed.

    He also directed that the sureties should show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned until June 6 for hearing.

  • Lagos begins N6b compensation payment

    The Lagos State government has begun the payment of compensation to owners of properties that gave way for Right of Way (RoW) for the various construction works across the state. Over N6 billion has been earmarked for the payment, which is being handled by the state’s Land Bureau at Alausa in Ikeja, the state capital.

    The exercise, which started last Friday at the Land Bureau office, will run till May 11 at Alausa before it returns to various zones in the state for continuation.

    When our correspondent visited the venue of the exercise, over 100,000 recipients were seen sitting peacefully as they awaited their turns for the verification.

    For instance, Mr. Oluwakemi Olanrewaju, a beneficiary, said the process had been transparent and “everything has been alright”.

    Explaining the process, Olanrewaju said upon the verification of the required documents, an official writes the amount to be paid on a piece of paper for the recipient secretly and then the recipient is told to expect credit alert within a few days.

    According to him, the money is paid directly into the individual account.

    He said: “I am very happy with the process. I thank Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for what he has done for us. The process is very easy; there is no inconvenience for anybody here. The officials have taken care of us very well and even provided us with refreshment. This is the first of its kind that I am seeing from any government. You don’t need to have any connection before they attend to you and nobody has asked us for any form of gratification.”

    Olanrewaju, whose house on Ishawo Road in Ikorodu Local Government Area was affected by the construction, said although it cost more than he was given as compensation, yet he was satisfied with the gesture because of the sincerity of the administration.

    He added: “It is better than getting nothing; at least, this government has not left us out in the cold or rendered us homeless and hopeless. So, I am happy.”

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, said over N5 billion will be disbursed.

    The governor’s aide noted that once the requirement has been met, the payment is as good as done.

    She said: “All we need is to confirm that you are the authentic owner of the property. We use your bank BVN number also for identification.”

    Mrs Onabule said Governor Ambode is concerned about the rightful owner getting his dues.

    She said the compensation list was long.

    At Pen Cinema in Agege, over 167 properties had been enumerated; at Ishawo Road in Ikorodu, over 600 properties were enumerated and on Murtala Mohammed Way in Ebute Meta, over 500 properties had been enumerated.

    Mrs Onabule noted that to arrive at the amount to be paid to individuals, the government involved members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), including its land and field officers in the Lands Bureau, to assist it.

    She said: “Compensation is an ongoing exercise and we will continue to pay compensation for any property we acquire. Even people that do not have registered title documents on their properties are getting compensating. That is the directive of the governor, because he doesn’t want anybody to be rendered homeless.”

    The Permanent Secretary for Lands Bureau, Bode Agoro, said the money for the payment of compensation had been approved and saved in a bank.

    He urged claimants to be patient, adding that everybody wouldbe paid because the money is available.

  • Disagreement over dirty naira note turns bloody in Lagos

    A disagreement between a commercial motorcyclist and his passenger over a dirty naira note turned bloody  yesterday in Lagos as irate youths beat the cyclist to a state of coma. The cyclist, Okon Akpan, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had conveyed his passenger, Titilope Fatai, from Okokomaiko to Iyana Iba market, for a fee of N200.

    Trouble however started when Fatai paid the cyclist with a N500 note  but when Akpan gave his passenger her N300 balance, made up of N200 and N100 notes, the lady returned the N100 and requested for replacement on the grounds that it was “too dirty”. A heated argument soon ensued as the cyclist insisted he did not have a neater note to replace the one rejected  by his passenger.

    As Akpan tried to leave without reaching an accord, the lady slapped him and he in return, started beating her. Unkown to the cyclist, the lady was popular among the street urchins in the area, who in turn, reacted by also beating Akpan to a state of unconsciousness, and thereafter dispersed. His fellow commercial motorcyclists had to come to his rescue, after which they took him to an undisclosed hospital.