The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MAN

  • Police: we’ll ensure justice in man’s murder

    The police in Oyo State have said they will ensure that justice is served in the death of a man, Lowo Oyediran, who was allegedly stabbed to death by his wife, a lawyer at the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice.

    The deceased’s family, at the weekend, raised doubts over the ability of law enforcement agents to ensure fairness and justice in the case.

    The suspect, Yewande, was on Friday remanded in Agodi Prisons after she was arraigned before the Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of murder.

    A relative, who pleaded for anonymity, expressed fears that the victim may not get justice because of the suspect’s status in the ministry.

    He called on Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Commissioner of Police Leye Oyebade to ensure that the family gets justice.

    Police spokesperson Adekunle Ajisebutu said no one is above the law.

    Ajisebutu said: “How can someone say that? The police are on top of the case and let me tell you that nobody, no matter how highly placed, is above the law.

    “The law is no respecter of person. I can assure you that in this case the law will run its course unhindered. “

    At the couple’s Akobo, Ibadan home yesterday, neighbours evaded questions; some ran away on sighting visitors.

    The gate was locked as the house was deserted.

    The late Oyediran, a native of Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State, was allegedly stabbed twice on Tuesday morning at their home.

    He was said to have been stabbed in the arm and back and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

    The victim, after the initial treatment, was brought back home by some neighbours, including his landlord, who waded into the disagreement between him and his wife.

    After everyone had gone to bed, his wife allegedly stabbed him again in the neck while he was asleep.

  • Olubadan: A man worthy of emulation, says Ajimobi

    Olubadan: A man worthy of emulation, says Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday described the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, as a man who lived a meaningful life worthy of emulation in all spheres.

    Ajimobi, who was represented by Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo, spoke at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Aremo, Ibadan, during the service of songs organised in honour of the late monarch.

    The monarch, who died on January 19 at 101, after spending nine years on the throne will be buried next Friday with President Muhammadu Buhari expected to attend.

    The governor, in his tribute said: “Everybody knows that Oba Odulana lived a meaningful life and he had contributed immensely to the development, not only of Ibadan land, but of Oyo State and Nigeria. Everybody should emulate him.

    “Based on what people have said about him here, even though most of us here were not born when the testimonies given about him took place, we should all emulate him because one day, everybody would die, whether you are a governor, a deputy governor or whatever.

    “So, let us live our lives as if we are going to die the next day”, the governor urged.

    The Provost of the Cathedral, Ven Adewale Adebiyi, who drew his sermon from Luke 12: 16-22, urged the people to open their hearts to Christ as everyone would be called to account for his deeds anytime he dies.

    Many people also gave testimonies about the late Oba, among them Senior Chief Emiola Adesina, who described the deceased as “an honest, selfless, brave person; lover of his fellow men, a devour Christian and a disciplinarian”.

    Another Senior Chief, Lateef Oyelade spoke of Oba Odulana’s sterling attitude worthy of emulation.

    He disclosed that when he crossed from the Seriki Line to the Olubadan Line, he had to give certain amount of money to all the existing chiefs, but that the deceased who was then a senior chief declined collecting his.

    In attendance were Rev Segun Okubadejo, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, High Chief Lekan Balogun, High Chief Eddy Oyewole, Dr. Lekan Are, Amb Olu Sanu, among many others.

  • MAN advises Fed Govt against EPA

     •Berates NSC’s introduction of ICTN levy 

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has advised the Federal Government against signing the European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), saying it runs against  the nation’s industrialisation objectives.

    Giving the advice, MAN President Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs said  signing the agreement would heavily disadvantage local manufacturers and harm the economy.

    He said this was because the nation’s infrastructure is not developed and cannot compete with the developed economies’, or with their products because of differences in the operating environment and cost of funds.

    Jacobs, who spoke with The Nation in his Lagos office, gave instances of countries which closed their borders to imported items until they became self-sufficient in certain products. He listed the countries to include India, China, Britain and Malaysia. He, therefore, urged the  government to borrow a leaf from these countries.

    He also said the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) levy reintroduced by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) should be scrapped.

    Cargo tracking is a global initiative put in place to monitor and verify cargoes on transit. It is mandatory for all International Maritime Organisation (IMO) member-countries. In US, it is called 24-hour rule; in Europe it is known as EU Advanced Cargo Declaration; China, 24-hour Advanced Manifest Regulation, etc.

    The policy was first introduced in Nigeria in 2010 and implemented through the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). However, it was discarded by the Federal Government in 2013 on the request of the operators in the manufacturing sector due to additional cost to cargo clearances at the ports. However, attempts to re-introduce it has not gone down well with MAN

    In a related development, the MAN boss disclosed that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has granted manufacturers a 25 per cent reduction on all administrative charges. He said the association recorded remarkable success in its collaboration with SON, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Government.

    He added that SON had eased importation by issuing annual import permits to manufacturers while also exempting them from the mandatory SON Conformity Assessment Programme in respect of importation of spare parts, machinery, raw materials as well as packaging materials.

    Dr  Jacobs also said there had been improvement in the implementation processes of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) in conjunction with the Nigeria Customs Service, as MAN members have been profiled for special clearance and admission to the Fast-Track system.

    He added: “A Conflict Resolution Committee has also been set up, made up of the Nigeria Customs and MAN officials to sort out and resolve any issue arising from PAAR  for those that had queries or were not satisfied with the valuation of their imports.

    “The NCS is also addressing the issue of high charges arising from arbitrary upliftment of the values of members’ imports. In fact, the Comptroller General of Customs ordered immediate release of members’ cargoes that were hitherto detained following our interventions.”

    He listed other achievements of the association as securing government’s position on a home-grown policy that promotes import substitution and patronage of made-in-Nigeria products; the partnership the association formed with strategic stakeholders on the maritime value chain to oppose the implementation of ICTN that would have further added to the cost profile of manufacturers.

    He added that the association also partnered relevant agencies to establish the MAN Centre for Entrepreneurial Development, an entrepreneurial academy for aspiring manufacturers.

  • Train crushes man to death in Kano

    A man suspected to be drunk was on Wednesday night crushed to death by moving train in Sharada area in Kano.

    An eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Thursday that the incident happened around 8:00 pm.

    According to the witness, who requested anonymity, the deceased might have slept off on the rail track when the moving train crushed him to death.

    NAN learnt that residents of the area saw the mutilated remains of the man the following morning.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, DSP Magaji Majiya, said the matter was yet to be officially reported to the police.

    He said that he heard of the incident from people who called to find out from him.

    Majiya said he had directed the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area to investigate the matter.

  • Man commits suicide in Ondo

    Man commits suicide in Ondo

    A 42-year-old man identified as Ayo Boye was Thursday found hanged on a tree behind a block industry at Adofure area of Akure, Ondo State capital.

    According to the owner of the block industry, who identified himself as Olanrewaju, his workers called him on phone to inform him about the incident, stressing that on getting to his office, he also saw the lifeless body of a man hanged on a tree

    Olanrewaju said, ” When I saw this I and I cannot identify the man I called my police friend who advised me to quickly report the incident at a police station”

    It was gathered that the deceased came from Abuja to Akure to attend a church service at a popular prayer center located in the area and a few meters away from where he took his life .

    The founder of the prayer centre, Pastor Samson Oluwamodede, claimed ignorant of the incident as he said, ” there are many people that worship in my church, and there is no way I can recognize everybody ”

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the State Mr. Femi Joseph, who confirmed incident said the wife and relatives of the deceased had been contacted and his remains had been deposited at the State Specialists’ Hospital, Akure for autopsy.

    He said “We found a Nokia handset and a sum of N2, 500 on him, we found a copy of bible on him but we are not certain that he came to worship at the prayer center.

    Joseph said the reason the deceased took his life was still unknown to the command but the command had commenced investigation on the matter.

  • Man ‘kills’ trader with screwdriver

    A man, Kingsley Adams, has been accused of stabbing a trader, Ifeanyi Ezeagwu, to death at Vesper Market, Ijanikin in Lagos State.

    Adams was alleged to have killed Ezeagwu by stabbing him with a screwdriver on the neck at noon on April 30, 2014, after a dispute.

    He was eventually arrested by the police and arraigned Tuesday before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere.

    Lagos State prosecutor, Mrs. Rotimi Oduntola, told the court that the single count charge of murder preferred against the defendant by the state contravenes and is punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    But when the charge was read to the defendant in English, he pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor then‎ urged the court for an adjournment to commence the trial.

    Justice Adebiyi upheld her request and adjourned the case to April 18, 19.

     

  • Man killed, property destroyed in Ondo auto crash

    Man killed, property destroyed in Ondo auto crash

    Aggrieved youths in Iwaro-Oka,Akoko Southwest local government of Ondo state Thursday barricaded the ever busy Oka-Akoko-Abuja road in protest against the incessant carnage on the highway.

    Sources said a trailer lost control at Oke-Maria and killed a man identified as Sunday Mogaji inside his house.

    This development reportedly gingered the irate youths in the area to troop out in anger and blocked the road against motorists plying the major highway.

    According to a youth leader, Idowu Komolafe “we are not happy with the daily occurrence of road mishaps at Oke-Maria which had already claimed many lives without remedy-

    “We have been pleading with the authorities concerned to find solution to the rampant carnage,but no success.

    “It is unfortunate that many innocent lives have been wasted on regular basis and youths are mostly the victims, we cannot continue like this“

    The Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Oba Adebori Adeleye symphatised with the victims, urging relevant agencies to assist in solving the problem.

    The Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)Jimoh Basiru confirmed that one person died, while his corpse has been deposited at Ikare-Akoko Specialist Hospital.

  • Man held for alleged theft

    Man held for alleged theft

    A 26-YEAR-OLD man, Chukwunonso Onyewe, was yesterday arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for absconding with his friend’s belongings worth N200, 000.

    The defendant, a resident of 2 Romukurushi Road, Port-Harcourt, pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Inspector Richard Odijie said the defendant committed the offence last November 28 around 5a.m.

    Odijie said the defendant passed the night with his friend, Kehinde Solanke, at Lekki Phase 1, Eti-Osa, adding that while the friend was asleep, he absconded with some items worth N200,000.

    He said the accused stole two cell phones, a gold necklace and N22,000 cash all valued at N200,000.

    The prosecutor said that the defendant was apprehended through the help of another friend, a female, who chatted with him on a social media platform (WhatsApp).

    Magistrate M.B. Folami granted the defendant N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the matter till February 8.

     

  • Soldier, man arraigned for alleged anal sex

    Soldier, man arraigned for alleged anal sex

    Two men including a soldier were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for alleged sodomy.

    The soldier, Innocent Egbuna, 33, and Jide Ajayi, 21 allegedly had anal sex inside a Nissan Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked KSF 914 AC, on Ajao Road, Ikeja

    The defendants are standing trial on three counts of conspiracy and act of gross indecency under Sections 136, 166 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos.

    While Egbuna claimed to be a resident of 22, Support Regiment, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State; Ajayi, who is unemployed, resides on 28, Owodunni Street, Onipanu, Lagos.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Joseph Ajebe said the offences were committed on January 18, adding that the defendants were caught by an anti-crime patrol team at Ikeja.

    “They were found inside a parked Nissan SUV with registration number KSF914AC having anal sexual intercourse. Ajayi said Egbuna accosted him and told him to have sex with him, promising to give him substantial amount of money and that he will also take him to the club to have a nice time. Ajayi agreed because he was frustrated and did not have money to fend for himself,” Ajebe said.

    The defendants however pleaded not guilty and were granted N100,000 bail each with two sureties in the like sum by Chief Magistrate Alexander Komolafe.

    He adjourned the case till March 7.

     

  • MAN, LCCI express concern over new electricity tariff

    MAN, LCCI express concern over new electricity tariff

    The Organised Private Sector (OPS), including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has expressed concerns over the new electricity tariff planned to begin on February 1 as supply has not improved and the pending court order.

    The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr Frank Jacobs, said the body is waiting to see whether the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) would disregard court order by going ahead to implement the new tariff in February. He said any attempt to implement the tariff would force some manufacturers out of business.

    He said: “It is not all the manufacturers that can set up a power plant. Many are using power from the grid for production together with generators. Do you know how much the 45 per cent increase in tariff translates to in naira in a week, month, quarterly, and yearly? It is a lot of money, and I do not think the sector can cope with this,” he added

    Jacobs said the situation is appalling, as many operators have been forced out of business in the last 10 years, due to inadequate power supply.

    Director-General, Lagos LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said the new tariff would worsen the condition of the operators of the OPS in the country, if urgent measures are not taken to address problems bedevilling the power sector.

    He said despite the removal of fixed charges in December, last year, by the commission, consumers are still groaning under huge cost of accessing electricity for production activities.

    Also some corporate and individual consumers are not oblivious of the fact that they will face difficulties meeting their energy obligations as from February this year. Already, consumers are groaning over what they described as ‘making frivolous payment’ in form of bills to the power distribution companies (DISCOs) since they are unable to access power regularly.

    Some consumers, who spoke to The Nation, expressed concerns over the new tariff, that have been increased by 45 per cent, by the commission, to reflect the cost of producing electricity in the country.

    A lawyer,  Mrs. Ponle Oluwarotimi, said consumers are heading for a more challenging period, going by the  decision of NERC to implement the new tariff, albeit, disregarding the order of the House of Representatives stopping NERC from introducing and implementing its tariff.

    She said the country is experiencing poor power supply, coupled with the fact that the economy is bad. “For the Commission to justify the 45 per cent increase in tariff, there must be an improved power supply in Nigeria. Given the fact that the sector is in a dire strait, with no hope of improving soon, consumers must be ready to pay huge bills, while at the same time, experience poor power supply,’’ she said.

    She said the situation is unhealthy for the economy that is struggling to grow.