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Lagos begins online registration of unemployed persons

The Lagos State government has started online registration of jobless people to enable it develop appropriate intervention programmes.

The exercise, under the auspices of the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, will also provide data and profiles of jobless youths, with a view to training them.

Unemployed youths are advised to register online at http://wealthcreation.lagosstate.gov.ng/employment-registrationlagos.

During registration, residents will be expected to provide pertinent information, including education level and skills.

Speaking at the commissioning of the job registration/labour exchange centre at Ojo Local Government Council, the Commissioner, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosimi-Etti, said the comprehensive data generated from the exercise would enable the ministry to map out strategies to deal with the problem of unemployment. He said employers looking to fill vacancies can explore the state database for people who are prepared, enthusiastic and job-ready.

He said the interventions would be private sector-led and that the government would encourage individuals to visit the job exchange and registration centres to be established in five divisions to collect relevant information on employment opportunities in which such individuals could seek employment.

The commissioner promised to establish the job registration/labour centre in five divisions of the state, adding that the centres will be manned by counseling and data capturing officers.

Speaking before commissioning the centre, the Lagos State, Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode reiterated the government’s commitment to helping people get work and that there are a range of schemes available to increase people’s skills and give them the experience and training they need to get a job. Represented by Special Adviser, Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, the governor said his administration will support youths in their bid to succeed through vocational education.

He urged youths in the state to embrace technical and vocational education in order to become quality entrepreneurs and compete with global businesses.

May 18, 2016
Lagos remits N67b pension contribution in 10 years

The Lagos State Government has paid total pension contributions of N64 billion from April 2007 to March 2016 into its active employees Retirement Savings Account (RSA) managed by the 10 Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) approved by the State, Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Folashade Onanuga has said

She made this known at the 10th Retirement Benefit Documentation Seminar for employees who are due to retire from the Lagos State Public Service between July and December this tear.

She said that to date, on a total number of 10,334 retirees, accrued pension rights of about N48 billion has been paid by the state government.

She also said that the state government’s funding of employees’ pension rights under the contributory pension scheme is approximately N112 billion, adding that from August, 2015 to April, 2016, the sum of N13.7 billion naira was paid to 3,069 retirees.

She further stated that the commission is set to pay another batch of retirees this month.

She noted that the commission ensures that all accrued pension rights in terms of entitlements for years spent in service before the commencement of the CPS are credited into the RSA accounts.

While reminding soon-to-be retired employees that their service is drawing to a close, she said their comfort out of service is premised on their taking some steps to guarantee prompt release of their terminal entitlements.

She stated that the programme is designed to further enlighten participants on the best way to prepare for their retirement and ensure quick access of their terminal benefits.

She stressed that early processing of their accrued pension rights by employees of PFAs depends on how early they begin documentation.

May 18, 2016
How Lagos fire rendered me homeless, by Ola Balogun

It is impossible to write the history of theatre in Nigeria, especially the film segment, without Dr. Ola Balogun taking a prominent spot. The late Hubert Ogunde, the late Ade Love and many more were able to make their early films because of his technical inputs. This film maker made great films but a Lagos fire which last year made a great damage to his life has seen him relocate from Lagos to Cotonou, where he is trying to pick the pieces of his life. In a piece he made available to this paper, Balogun relived this ordeal and many more.

The fire incident and life after

The fire to which I fell victim at my former residence in Yaba a year ago destroyed virtually all my belongings – books, musical collections and film equipment – leaving me penniless and homeless, and forcing me to relocate to Cotonou in Benin Republic to try and eke out a living as best as I could.

I define this devastating fire (which I believe was probably deliberately set to my residence by some evil folks) as a divinely ordained piece of luck, in the sense the universal genius William Shakespeare taught the whole of mankind when he coined the immortal phrase: “Great are the uses of adversity”…

I am happy to testify that even though I arrived in Cotonou virtually destitute a year ago after narrowly escaping death in the inferno that swept through my residence in Lagos, I have managed to build a new life for myself after enduring several months of great suffering, hunger and loneliness, culminating in a harrowing period during which I ate no food whatsoever for one entire month due to extreme poverty, barley surviving on occasional sips of tap water…

Fortunately, like the legendary phoenix, I survived it all, discovering amazing depths of resilience and fortitude in the process within my inner self!

In the aftermath of this cleansing period of intense hardship, I have been born again as an artist and am currently experiencing an amazing degree of heightened creativity and productivity…

Let the ancestors be praised for all I have learnt during the wonderful experience of suffering I have been through!

I am also immensely happy to be able to testify that here in my new abode in Cotonou (every part of black Africa is my homeland!) I have been working in collaboration with a wonderful beninois architect to design and build an African cultural centre that has been conceived to serve the needs of the entire African continent.

This amazingly gifted gentleman and I have now completed the preliminary drawings of the envisaged African Cultural Centre, and I am hoping to be able to buy enough land to host the actual building from my current earnings within the next few months, in the fond hope that I will somehow manage to live long enough to see this dream come true for the greater benefit of the entire youths of black Africa, in obedience to the teachings our great contemporary African heroes Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba and Steve Biko, who willingly gave their lives so that Africa would rise to be great again in the not too distant future.

Nigeria and the arts

It has long been obvious that Nigeria as a nation has no respect for those of our compatriots who have chosen to dedicate their lives to creating works of art:In fact, Nigeria is a country with no cultural policies, in which no serious attempt has ever been made to support the arts since our supposed emergence as an independent nation half a century ago!

Genuine Nigerian artists, painters, intellectuals, authors and film makers have been left to starve by the roadside, with no meaningful support from governmental authorities or even from members of the public.

Examples that illustrate the sad fate of leading Nigerian artists make depressing reading.

Coming to the field of film production, my dear brother and colleague Francis Oladele passed away unlamented in Oyo close to a year ago, with no serious attempt to immortalise his work. When the late Jab Adu travelled to meet his ancestors about a month ago, hardly any befitting tribute was paid to his stellar performances as a stage actor and film actor over the years. I didn’t ever get to hear that Jab had passed away until I happened to make a brief visit to Nigeria ten days ago!

Should we talk about the shabby treatment that has been meted out to past giants of Nigerian plastic arts and literature, such as Ben Enwonwu, Erhabor Emokpae, Cyprian Ekwensi and a host of other illustrious representatives of the Nigerian artistic community, whose extraordinary talent and hard work has helped to spread Nigeria’s fame all over the world?

What percentage of the current generation of ‘yankified’ and thoroughly deluded Nigerians who spend most of their time watching English football matches on television and endlessly visiting a multiplicity of internet sites and gossiping endlessly via web chat devices has ever heard of any of the names enumerated above, listened to their music or seen or read any of their works? Probably not up to 5%!

Freedom Park and me

To my immense surprise and disappointment, only two self-proclaimed young film makers showed up at the Freedom Park on the evening of Monday, May 9th 2016 to watch the screening of a documentary film entitled “The magic of Nigeria” on Nigerian art and culture, which I wrote and directed over thirty years ago. (As a result of misguided zeal, I had intended this screening to serve as a basis for a workshop that would enable me to explain some of the practical aspects of professional film making to any aspiring film makers willing to learn from me).

To begin with, I was quite taken aback to observe that the event was scantily attended, notwithstanding the fact that notice of the screening was widely circulated though the auspices of Freedom Park itself and of the Goethe (German Cultural) Institute. Without wishing to be immodest. I think it would also be pertinent at this stage to mention that this particular film has been shown to wide acclaim in many parts of the world over the past three decades, including at the New York museum of Modern Arts.

When I was asked to share my thoughts about my documentary film on Nigerian art and culture on the fateful night that it was screened at Freedom Park to an audience that included folks like my senior colleague Tam Fiofori and other distinguished members of the Nigerian artistic community like Miguel Enwerem, Jahman Anikulapo and others, I believed that I was being helpful to young film makers by pointing out that film making is a profession in the same way as carpentry or architecture, and that those who wish to excel in this field therefore have to make an effort to watch and study the works of accomplished film makers from all over the world, as well endeavour to serve practical apprenticeships under the guidance of leading Nigerian film professionals, as has been the norm for many centuries now in most professions all over the world.

I went further to point out that even if the new generation of aspiring film makers might claim not to have access to the films that were made by my own generation of film makers, they could learn by paying close attention to the work of accomplished contemporary film makers like Tade Ogidan and Tunde Kelani, as well as from the professionalism of Liz Benson, Osuofia and Mercy Johnson in the field of acting….

When the floor was subsequently thrown open for general discussion at Freedom Park on the night of May 9th, a shocking development ensued when the only two individuals in the audience who defined themselves as young film makers got up to make largely irrelevant comments.

The first to speak was a young man who asked me why I haven’t posted my films on Youtube for he and his colleagues to watch on the internet. As gently as I could, I explained in response that it would be sheer madness for me to do so, as this would only lead to large scale pirating of my work. To illustrate the point I was making, I gave the example of the musical soundtrack of my award winning film “Black Goddess”, which I made the mistake of authorising a British company to market, only for the music of my film to end up being widely circulated and sold world-wide via the internet by a variety of unknown companies and individual who have never paid me one cent of royalties…

This was when a young lady who belongs to the generation of my grandchildren, and whom I had never seen before or heard of in all my life, stood up and castigated me in shrill tones for allegedly “rubbishing” her work, following which she declared that she never wanted to know me or hear from me about anything.

I frankly confess that as I listened to her rant, I was at a total loss to understand if this young lady was in her right senses, or if she had smoked some substances that leads to delirium before standing up to speak.

The said young woman (whose identity is unknown to me) then went on to boast that she held a Master’s degree in film production from an American University, and that she had nothing to learn from Ola Balogun or from any other Nigerian or African film maker.

It was at this point that I rose and walked out of the venue, leaving her to continue unimpeded with her nonsensical utterances.

I definitely do not need to listen to sit down anywhere listening to the idle boasts of this kind of young person, who appeared to have derived immense pleasure from spouting totally unfounded allegations that a man old enough to be her grandfather has been criticising and rubbishing films she claims to have produced, whereas I have never in my whole life heard of this confused girl or known anything about her existence!

However, there is no wahala! The young lady should go ahead and produce the films that she claims she knows how to make for the people of Nigeria and of the entire world to watch and admire.

May 18, 2016
10,289 candidates jostling for admission into Lagos model colleges

No fewer than 10,289 candidates on Saturday sat for the Lagos State 2016 screening test into the 15 Junior Model Colleges and Upgraded Secondary Schools in 28 centres across the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, disclosed this to newsmen after monitoring the exercise.

Odeyemi was accompanied by the Director, Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr Oluwafemi Hassan to monitor the examinations across the state.

They visited Government Junior Grammar School, Iyana-Ipaja, CBT centre at the Examination Board Complex and Vertland Junior Model College, Agege, Lagos.

Odeyemi expressed satisfaction in the smooth conduct of the examination at the centres visited.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is an improvement compared to the 8,900 candidates that sat for the test in 2015.

The permanent secretary said the examination was conducted both in the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode and the Paper Pencil Test (PPT) mode.

He said 54 out of the candidates sat for the computer mode, while the rest sat for the PPT.

He said more pupils sat for the CBT mode this year compared to 17 candidates who opted for the CBT pilot scheme in 2015.

“We have not done badly in the conduct of the examination, some centres started early, while a few others started late due the late arrival of candidates.

“Generally, it was a well conducted examination, but the observations and complaints from some parents will be look into and be corrected in future examinations.

“The number for the CBT mode is increasing because of the awareness in schools; it also shows that parents too are embracing ICT.

“Government will continue to invest in education and train our children acquire ICT knowledge from kindergarten.

“Candidates will be placed in schools according to the cut- off marks,’’ he said.

The permanent secretary said the state government was preparing to adopt the CBT mode in primary and secondary schools in the state.

He said the Lagos State Ministry Science and Technology had been directed by the state governor to provide ICT centres, equipment and facilities in schools across the state.

He said the state would switch over to the CBT mode of examinations as soon as the facilities were on ground, adding that the world had gone beyond manual mode of examinations.

The Director, Lagos State Examination Board, Mr Oluwafemi Hassan, also told newsmen that more students were developing interests in computer based examinations.

He said that in 2015, the 17 candidates who sat for the examination passed and gained admissions into the model and upgraded schools.

He said an Optical Marker Recognition sheet, with embossed pictures of the candidates was used for the test.

“The CBT mode is not easier than the PPT, the questions are the same but we randomized it in the computer mode so the candidate cannot cheat or assist each other.

“The CBT mode has eliminated examination malpractices and delayed results; with this mode, students get their results almost immediately after the test.

“Last year, we had 17 candidates for the pilot scheme, and this year we have 54 candidates, which shows that our pupils are becoming aware of the computer-based- test mode of examinations,” he said.

A parent, Mrs Mariam Yakubu, however, complained that the picture and name of her daughter was omitted from the list of candidates at Vetland Junior Secondary School.

Yakubu said the print-out given to her daughter after registration stated the centre but other information missing.

She urged the state government to investigate the complaint so that her child would not be denied admission on errors not caused by her.

May 18, 2016
Lagos to fight ocean surge with N36b

•Three Islands created on the lagoon

Lagos State Government has earmarked N36 billion for the construction of 18 groynes (sea breakers) to check of ocean surge between Goshen estate and Alpha Beach in.

Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya said each of the groynes would be cost N2billion.

He said the contract was awarded in November 2012 and divided into three phases because of funding.

Akinsanya explained that phase 1 of the project, which is the construction of three groynes started in January, 2013 and had been completed, adding that phase 2, the construction of 12 groynes was awarded in June 2013. Work began in January 2014.

He said: “As at the beginning of this administration 4km stretch of the shoreline was protected and in the last 12 months, 6.0km has been successfully protected while work is still on going. Total percentage of work done so far on phase 2 is 80%. Also the phase 3, which is the construction of three groynes of the project, has been awarded and work has commenced on it.”

Akinsanya said the government has approved the development of three islands-Diamond, Orange and Gracefield Phoenix-in the state.

He said the Diamond Island development, which would rival Banana Island involved the reclamation of Ilubirin foreshore by SPA Dredging Company Ltd, adding that the reclamation of phase 1 comprising 48 hectares had been completed. The reclamation of phase 11, he added would soon begin.

The development Orange Island, he said, is envisioned as a fully serviced community, which is about 450 meters off the Lekki phase I.

“The reclamation of phase 1, measuring approximately 150 hectares has been completed and a road alignment has also been reclaimed which makes it accessible by driving from Freedom way. The Project, upon completion will not only add to the existing stock of land mass but add to the ground rent and other taxes accruable to the State which will boost internal generated revenue,” he said.

The commissioner explained that the Gracefield phoenix is a joint venture with the government granting exclusive right to Gravitas Investment Limited to reclaim 100 hectares of land inside the Lagos Lagoon at the northern end of Chevron way and northern offshore of the Ajiran land.

“The island is to be known as Gracefield Phoenix Island. So far, about 30 hectares of land have been reclaimed to a height of 1.8 metres above mean sea level. It is now possible to drive from Chevron Drive to the Gracefield Island. They have also reclaimed over 30 hectares presently and achieved a finished height of 1.8 meters,” he added.

May 17, 2016
Cocaine trafficker sentenced to 12 years

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court 10, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on Monday May 16, 2016 sentenced a thirty-one (31) year old technician, Michael Nwobodo to twelve years imprisonment with hard labour.

The convict who attempted to escape on the day of arrest will now spend twelve years in prison custody with hard labour.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of cocaine, an offence punishable under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.

Justice Okon in his judgement observed that the illicit drug trade was not abating and that measures must be taken to stop the criminal act.

NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) commended the ruling, adding that the agency will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the fight against illicit drugs in the country.

“This will serve both as a deterrent and a corrective measure to the convict and others who are involved in narcotic production, trafficking and abuse. The Agency will not relent in partnering with stakeholders in apprehending and prosecuting drug traffickers” Abdallah stated.

It will be recalled that the convict who was arrested on February 29, 2016 with eighty-one wraps of cocaine weighing 1.350kg on his way from Dubai attempted to escape by breaking through a glass wall at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja.

He was later arrested and treated for the injuries he sustained. The 81 wraps of cocaine were concealed in Parker Whisky packs along with boxes of chocolates inside a duty free bag.

Michael Nwobodo reportedly told officials that he was not under the influence of narcotics but only tried to escape because of fear of going to prison.

NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan said that more passengers coming from Dubai had been found with cocaine at the Abuja airport in recent times.

May 16, 2016
Mob lynch suspected female kidnapper in Lagos

A suspected female kidnapper was on Monday beaten to stupor by an angry mob for allegedly abducting a child.
The woman who was stripped and almost set ablaze was alleged to have attempted to kidnap a school pupil before she was discovered.

It was alleged that children have been missing in the neighbourhood for about a month, the last being a pupil of Wisdom School who was kidnapped not far from the school premises.

The irate crowd which descended on the woman at the market beat her until she was bleeding and confessed that she sold the last child she stole at Ilorin.

At that point, the crowd, it was gathered assembled fuel and tyres to set the suspect ablaze but policemen from the division intervened.

The police team was however attacked while trying to rescue the woman, with the patrol van’s windscreen allegedly shattered.

Angry that the police stopped them from killing the woman, the crowd moved to the police station threatening to set it on fire.

When The Nation visited the scene, an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and several police vehicles were stationed on the road to disperse the crowd.

RRS Commander, Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Owode Oniri, Alao Segun, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) were both on ground to avoid attack on the station.

May 16, 2016
Photo: Ambode receives Folawiyo petroleum

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), with the Group Managing Director, Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Yinka Folawiyo during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Monday

R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with the Chief Operating Officer, Tunde Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Mobolaji Musah; Group Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Yinka Folawiyo and Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo during a courtesy visit to the Governor by Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Monday

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), receiving a sample of the Crude Oil discovered in the State by the Group Managing Director, Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Yinka Folawiyo during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Monday

May 16, 2016
‘There’s no division in Lagos Assembly’

Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, in this interview with Oziegbe Okoeki, explains the activities of the House in the past one year and other issues.

How has the Lagos State House of Assembly fared in the last one year?

In the last one year, we thank God Almighty for sustaining the House. The House has been very peaceful. Members have worked together in unity and notwithstanding that we have eight honourable members from another party within us, the leadership of the House has been able to unite members, to work with a common purpose and vision. We have been able to make laws in conformity with current realities. As a result, we are having not less than six private member bills. Some of the bills for the establishment of cancer center in the state, property protection bill, Lagos neighbourhood surveillance corps and others. The House has also been able to ensure the regularisation of the membership of some commissions, screened the governor’s nominees for commissioners. The plenary has been regular and to a large extent, we’ve been able to work strictly with time. Within a short period of about eight months, the House has been able to go back to the constituencies to interact with the constituents, to engage them in a town hall meetings. We’ve shown appreciation for diligence, honesty and sincerity by the Lady who found money at the airport and returned it. The House has also been critical of national issues like the fuel scarcity, calling on both the federal and state governments to do something to ease the sufferings and pains of citizens. The House also added its voice to the case of kidnap of some students in Ikorodu which collectively with other efforts led to the rescue of the girls. We are working on so many bills which are at different stages of passage. We have passed into law about six bills which include wealth creation and employment law; the LASU law to resolve the crisis there; the LASIEC and local government tribunal law etc.

The amended LASIEC and local government tribunal laws are expected to pave way for the conduct of local council elections. are there other constraints?

I won’t say there is any constraint as much. But, election at whatever levels, is a serious business. The Lagos State Electoral Commission, I am sure, is bidding time to be able to organise a credible election, where the voter registers are available and are true reflection of the citizens. We should not for the sake of holding election jump into it, without putting every factor that would account for a successful and well organised election in place. I am sure with the law in place, we will not be too far from the elections to the local governments. The amendment itself is a reflection of how practical the Lagos State government is prepared.

With eight private members bills from the lawmakers, which is unprecedented, what do you think is responsible for this?

We have been saying that a legislature to grow, it must have experienced people. Now we have three fourth timers, six third timers, we have like 11 second timers. So we have people in the legislature who are experienced in the art of lawmaking. With the training that the House has received, individual members now know how to go about sponsoring a bill and looking critically into the society, to see which area they feel needs legislative advocacy, to take care of some of the things. So I see that as one reason why we have more of the bills. The more experienced hands you have in the House, the more alive the Assembly will be in its legislative responsibility. We are also looking critically at laws that have been passed before now and bringing them into conformity with present realities through amendments. Constitutionally, members of the Assembly are elected to make laws, review laws and repeal laws. The reason for the high-turn-over is because over time the House has been trained, we still have very credible and experienced hands in place.

You are doing your third term, two of which was spent as ordinary member. but now you are a principal officer. can you explain the difference ?

There are a lot of differences. As a member of the leadership cadre of the Assembly, there are more responsibilities. As a member, I came into the Assembly, do what I have to do, go back to my office. I can leave anytime. But now, as a majority leader, who needs to attend to the complains of most members, deal with committees separately and the rest of it; it imposes more responsibility on me. I have to come very early, to be available to members, I have to leave so late when I am sure that all the members might have left and there will not be any issues to be raised by anyone of them. My work as a majority leader does not end in the office; I don’t have the time of my own any longer. I have to attend to issues as the Speaker may want me to, I have to take up issues as any honourable member may raise. I have to take issues as any committee may raise. These are responsibilities that I am saddled with and I have to discharge them with passion and commitment. It also gives me sense of responsibility realising that the success or otherwise of the legislature falls partly also on my shoulder, because I have to ensure that there are materials for the House of Assembly to deal with at each plenary. I have to ensure that we don’t pass a law that has already been passed. If there is a bill, we must critically look at the bill to ensure that there is no conflict between the bill and the constitution and some other laws of similar nature.

You have be described as the engine room of the House. how comfortable are you with this description?

The description of a person could better be explained by those who are describing the person. You can not be a mirror of yourself. But, I know the Speaker of the House has described me as the engine room of the House and I guess what he was referring to is the fact that I occupy a particular position that is so sensitive to the House as the House must hold its plenary three times a week. So preparing for plenary also will mean that materials for the plenary must be ready. So the office of the Majority Leader is so sensitive, an office that no legislature can dispense of it. And I think that is what they mean by engine room. The description is a kind of encouragement to me and it will make me to continue to do that which will make me look good in the estimation of the people and also to be in good reckoning of the people.

Has the office not distracted you from your constituency?

It has the potential of doing that but I am not allowing it. Because you can’t be at two places at the same time. You see I have a movement which I put in place after my first election. Some of them are people who have been with me and with whom we have been sojourning in this political terrain. Some of them are people who I later identified as having very good community development ideas and whom I invited to be part of this political evangelism of self-determinism; to this political vehicle to achieve many goals. There has been a lull, because when you do something every year for eight years, you need to evaluate your success and find out if you can improve on it. That movement has also been going through transformation and regeneration, packaging it more with a view to creating a better link even beyond this country for my constituents. So I am not allowing this office to prevent me from attending to my constituents, rather I want it to further embolden me, strengthen me to attend to my constituents.

May 16, 2016
“I spent my money on prostitutes”

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command over the weekend arrested two suspected pickpockets operating in Maryland and Mile 12 areas of the metropolis.

The suspects, Taoreed Ashimiyu, 24, and Kayode Jolaade, 34, were allegedly caught in the act by policemen after they had successfully removed three phones from commuters in different BRT buses.

Upon their arrival at the RRS headquarters, the duo reportedly confessed to the crime, saying that they were experts in robbing commuters in Mile 12 and Maryland.

One of the suspects, Taoreed, who hails from Yemetu, Alawada in Oyo state, said that he spent the proceeds from stealing on prostitutes.

“I have not spent a dime from my proceeds in stealing on anything tangible. I womanise a lot and I spent my monies on both young and old ladies. I smoked indian-hemp and drink all sort of hard drinks,” he said.

Taoreed revealed that before his arrest, he had removed two mobile phones from commuters during a rush at the Maryland bus-stop, adding that his third attempt led to his arrest.

“My accomplice caused my arrest today. Before he joined me at Maryland, I had stolen two phones successfully.

” But when he came around, we had to be moving in pair. People who had known him in the area were monitoring us ,unknown to us,” Taoreed stated in his confessional statement.

May 15, 2016