The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Cynthia: Court fixes January 12 for final address

    Cynthia: Court fixes January 12 for final address

    The Lagos State High Court in Igbosere has fixed January 12 for adoption of final address in the trial of alleged killers of Miss Cynthia Osokogu.

    The late Osokogu was allegedly murdered on July 22, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Festac Town, Lagos, by her Facebook lover.

    Those charges with the murder are Okwumo Nwabufo (33), Olisaeloka Ezike (23), Orji Osita (33), and Ezike Nonso (25).

    They were arraigned on six counts of conspiracy, murder, stealing, reckless negligence and possession of stolen goods.

    Thursday, Ezike’s lawyer, Mr A. Nwachukwu, sought the court’s leave to file his written address.

    Justice Olabisi Akinlade had on October 27, threatened to foreclose Ezike’s right to file the address.

    She said despite several adjournments, the second defendant failed to file the address on time.

    The lawyer said the delay was due to a change of counsel. The former counsel was unable to file the address within time due to ill-health, he said.

    “The former lawyer handling this case was very ill. I was newly briefed; therefore, I needed time to study the proceedings. There were 10 witnesses in this case which I had to study their testimonies.

    “I seek the leave of this court to regularise my final written address,” Nwachukwu said.

    Prosecution counsel, including Director for Public Prosecutions, Mrs Elizabeth Alakija, did not object to Nwachukwu’s prayers.

    Justice Akinlade granted the prayer “in the interest of justice”.

    She adjourned until January 12 when a date for judgment will be fixed.

  • Ambode urges residents to become house owners through new policy

    Ambode urges residents to become house owners through new policy

    Lagos residents have been urged to take advantage of the state’s Rent-To-Own and Rental Housing policy in becoming house owners and addressing housing problems in the state.

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, represented by his Deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, made the call at the flag-off of the Rent-To-Own and Rental Housing policy in Sir Michael Otedola Estate, Odoragunshin, Epe area of Lagos.

    He said that the policy was part of his administration’s strategies to deliver decent and affordable housing to citizens.

    ”The Rent-To-Own and Rental Housing policy which is being launched today is a milestone in public housing delivery in the state to make life more comfortable and easier for our people.

    ”I urge Lagosians to take part in the process and I assure you that the selection process will be credible, fair and transparent, ” he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, Commissioner for Housing said that the current administration came up with the housing policy to increase the number of residents on home ownership ladder.

    He said 12 housing estates spread across the three senatorial districts had been dedicated to the implementation of the policy.

    ”The Rent-To-Own policy targets the low and medium income earners in both the formal and informal sectors where individuals are required to pay five per cent of the value of the housing unit as commitment fee and the balance is spread over 10 years.

    ”This programme allows the tenant to live on the property while paying towards ownership at a fixed rent within the period of 10years.

    ”On the Rental Housing policy, which is to further ensure housing accessibility and affordability in Lagos State, the tenants are however required to pay one month deposit, ” he said.

    In his remarks, Mr Dehinde Tuwase, General Manager, Lagos Mortgage Board said that interested individuals must be registered residents, tax payers and must have regular source of income

  • Lagos trains 180 French teachers

    ONE hundred and eighty French teachers from all six education districts in Lagos State have received training to update their skills.

    The training, which was organised by the Lagos State Teachers Establishment and Pensions office (TEPO), held at the Teachers Resource Centre, in Owutu, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    TEPO’s Permanent Secretary, TEPO, Mrs Sewanu Amosu said the training was essential for the teachers because it offered diagnostic help to the participants in problem areas.

    She said the government was determined to resuscitate the language because of its relevance as well as focus more on the spoken character of it than its written knowledge.

    “The ability to speak the language is a major distinctive quality of the language. We should emphasise on the oral and not just the written part,” Mrs Amosu said.

    Resource facilitator, Prof Remi Sonaiya, said Nigeria’s development is dependent on it.

    “French is a language of the elites. You can contribute to the smooth running of many international organisations and agencies. You can become as well as train diplomats, aid workers, translators, interpreters, negotiators, broadcasters, airline announcers. All these depend on the quality of your spoken French and your ability to impact.

    “Put passion in your work. You must invest in yourselves so that you can be the best you can possibly be that money cannot buy,” she said.

    Another facilitator and director of the resource centre, Mrs Rhoda Ayinde, said the training was important because Nigeria is surrounded by Francophone countries.

    “We want our French teachers to give our students the very best because they have to be current. Our Pupils need to know that the knowledge of this language can open diverse doors and opportunities for them,” she said.

  • Lagos to train 5,700 youths in agro-business

    The Lagos State Government has approved the commencement of 2016/2017 edition of the agricultural empowerment training scheme put together by National Images Incorporation.
    The edition is expected to kick-off at Oshodi-Isolo Local Council Development Area on Monday. The training scheme will move to Ikeja Local Government on Wednesday and from there to Orile-Agege and Agege Local Councils respectively.
    While briefing the reporters on the approval in Lagos, the Project Director, Mr. Bamigbade Oluwaseyi, said the objective of the scheme is to train youths in basic agricultural skills for them to be self reliant.
    He said the scheme will guild the participants on how to form a cooperative societies through which they can access credit facilities from reputable specialised financial institutions.
    “The scheme is being driven in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), FADAMA, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi,” he said.
    Mr Bamigbade said over 5,700 participants from all the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas across the state are expected to participate in the training programme. They will be trained on best practices for cat-fish production, processing and marketing, as well as soilless vegetable production and marketing techniques.

  • Robbers write Lagos residents to pay Christmas dues

    Robbers write Lagos residents to pay Christmas dues

    Some suspected armed robbers have written some Lagos residents urging them to prepare to pay season’s dues to them on a date not mentioned.

    Residents of Joseph Harrison Estate, Yaba  area of Lagos State got the letter from the bandits on Wednesday notifying them of their impending attack to collect their “dues” for the festive season.

    NAN gathered that the letter was placed on the vehicle of one of the residents and was discovered in the morning when he was about to wash his car.

    ”We are coming this week to collect our dues and to visit you tenants and landlords of Joseph Harrison Street in the week. If you like go and bring police or soldiers, we are coming to perform our duties.

    ”If you cooperate, we will not kill, but if you fail to cooperate, blood will flow,” the letter said.

    NAN check at the estate on Tuesday revealed that sterner security measures have been put in place to protect lives and properties in the community.

    Mr Bolanle  Akinyemi, Chairman,  Community Development  Association said the estate had enjoyed some peace for a long while as it was protected by guards and the police from Sabo Police Post.

    ”We are also mindful of the slum that surrounds us and we have been conscious of suspected criminals,” he said.

    ”No one has received such letter before, but there was a case in 2013 when a company in the estate was robbed,” he said.

    The chairman said they have reported the threat to Sabo Police Division and more guards have been engaged at the estate.

    Concerned residents urged the commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni to deploy more men to patrol the estate regularly.

  • Lagos raises special security taskforce

    Ahead of the yuletide, the Lagos State government, in collaboration with leadership of markets and transport unions, has set up a special taskforce with the aim of ensuring adequate security, free-flow of traffic and safe business operation around the Central Business Districts (CBDs).

    Special Adviser to Governor Akinwumi Ambode on CBD, Agboola Dabiri, stated this at a stakeholders’ forum “Curtailing traffic/removal of all impediments to free human and vehicular movement in ensuring a free Yuletide for Residents”, held at the Onikan Youth Centre. The forum was attended by market associations and transport unions.

    Dabiri urged all to cooperate with the government as any violator would be dealt with in accordance with the state traffic and environmental laws.

    “All enforcement officers from all MDAs must improve on their performances through effective harmonisation in a way that traders, shoppers as well as other stakeholders, will have cause to appreciate fully, efforts of the state government for a working Lagos CBD,” he said.

  • 2016 CAF BEACH SOCCER: LOC, Lagos unveil plan

    2016 CAF BEACH SOCCER: LOC, Lagos unveil plan

    •As tourney kicks off Dec. 13-18

    All logistics have been put in place as the Lagos State in conjunction with the Nigeria Football Federation unveil plans for successful hosting of the African Beach Soccer championship  slated for  December 13 to 18 at Eko Atlantic Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    In the same vein, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde who represented Governor Akinwunmi Ambode explained the reason they partnered with NFF.

    “Governor Ambode has recognised two components that can put Lagos State on the World map. Art, culture, tourism and entertainment on one hand, Sports on the other hand this is the reason he said he will drive city as a whole, you will see what he has been doing in the last six months that sports and entertainment has been paramount in this activities. It will be an honour to be partnering the Local Organising Committee of the NFF to make the CAF Beach Soccer competition a reality”

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu  promised fans fanfare. Other dignitaries presented at the event include NFF first Vice President and Chairman Beach Soccer LOC, Seyi Akinwunmi, and the president of Ghana Football Association and the Chairman LOC CAF Beach Soccer.

    Host Nigeria will play second game of the day against Egypt as Ghana versus Cote d’Ivoire game opened the on Tuesday December 13.

  • ‘Lagos budget’ll enjoy speedy passage’

    The Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday assured residents of a speedy passage of  the 2017 budget, to provide succour at this time of recession.

    Assembly spokesman Tunde Braimoh gave this assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Braimoh, who chairs the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, however, said the Assembly would not compromise its statutory mandate on budget scrutiny.

    “The House of Assembly promises to live up to its billing as partners with the executive to the ultimate benefit of the citizenry.

    “We assure the residents of swift passage and implementation of the budget to provide succour for the people at this time of recession.

    “The Assembly promises earnest, diligent, conscientious but scrutinising consideration and passage of the budget, subject to amendments, where necessary,” Braimoh said.

    According to him, the Assembly, has directed its committees, organs and other apparatuses to handle the budget with utmost concentration.

    He said standing committees would report back to plenary by the next adjourned date.

  • Lagos by-election: APC candidate wins Reps seat

    Lagos by-election: APC candidate wins Reps seat

    Mr Nurudeen Akinwunmi, Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday defeated his opponents to emerge winner of the Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency By-Election in Lagos.

    The returning officer of the election, Prof. Clement Aghatise, made the declaration at the INEC office in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, minutes before midnight.

    Declaring the winner, Aghatise said that Akinwunmi polled 7640 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Babatope Akinyele, candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 1771 votes at the poll.

    According to him, Social Democratic Party (SDP) polled five votes, Action Alliance (AA) had 14 votes, African Democratic Congress (ADC) had 158 votes while Alliance for Democracy (AD) had 101 votes.

    Aghatise said that the total number of registered voters was 339, 864; total number of accredited voters was 10, 051; total number of valid votes was 9689; the total number of invalid votes was 195, while the total votes cast were 9884.

    ”I, Prof. Clement Edokpayi Aghatise, hereby certify that I was the Returning Officer for the Ifako/Ijaiye Federal Constituency By-Election held on Dec.3, 2016.

    ”That the election was contested, that Mr Akinwunmi Nurudeen Olaitan of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected, ” he said.

    Some of the party representatives who spoke to NAN expressed mixed reactions to the results.

    Mr Chidi Williams, an ADC party agent, expressed dissatisfaction with the process.

    ”There were a lot of malpractices; it was not really free and fair. We had records that some people who had lost their PVCs were allowed to vote in some polling units.

    ”We want INEC to detach itself from political parties and not allow itself to do what is unethical. INEC should work more on neutrality, ” he said.

    A PDP representative at the collation centre, Mr Sunday Kudehindu, also said he were not satisfied with the process, stressing that the ruling party had continued to induce voters with money.

    Kudehindu said that INEC had not totally become an unbiased umpire.

    The APC representative at the centre , however, refused to talk to press, saying that he had received an instruction not to grant interview.

    NAN reports that the by-election was occasioned by the death of Mr Elijah Adewale, who represented the constituency at the Federal House of Representatives.

    Adewale died in Abuja on July 20.

  • Eko Disco apologises over prolonged blackout

    The management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Saturday apologised to customers over continuous shortage of electricity supply.

    A statement by Mr Godwin Idemudia, the company’s Head of Corporate Communications in Lagos, blamed the shortage on a drastic reduction in the amount of electricity coming to EKEDC from the national grid.

    According to the statement, the company could only distribute what was allocated to it from the national grid.

    “We are, therefore, appealing to all our customers to bear with us as we try to ration whatever power is given to us in the interim.

    “EKEDC highly regrets any inconveniences caused by this prolonged blackout, though most of our consumers are affected by this outage but some areas are deeply affected.

    “Areas deeply affected by the drop in generation are Ikoyi, Park View Estate, Victoria Island, Awolowo Road, Obalende, Idumagbo, Lagos Island, Oniru and Lekki areas,” the statement said.

    The statement disclosed that the outage had led to vandalism of cables and transformers by unscrupulous elements.

    It appealed to consumers within the network to be vigilant to stem the spate of cable theft and transformers vandalism.

    “We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to our customers to be vigilant over our equipment as vandals may capitalise on the outage to carry out their evil act,” it stated. (NAN)