The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MAN

  • Man, 26, attempts to defile girl, 8

    A 26-year-old man, Sylvanus Chidiebere, charged with alleged attempt to defile an eight-year-old girl, has been granted a N200,000 bail.

    Mrs Olufunke Sule-Amzat of the Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court ordered Chidiebere to provide two sureties as part of the bail conditions.

    The sureties, she said,  should be employed and should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the unlawful sexual harassment charge.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Benson Emuerhi said the defendant committed the offence on March 21 at 3, Adeoye Street, Bolade Oshodi, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant was arrested by the police after the case was reported by the victim’s mother at Akinpelu Police Station.

    “It was later transferred to the Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, for further investigation,’’ he said.

    The prosecutor said the defendant sexually harassed the girl by spilling sperm on her cloth while trying to defile her.

  • Tobacco: Health Ministry, MAN tackle FG on N35m fine

    The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has kicked against a penalty clause in the draft National Tobacco Control Regulations.

    The bill was sponsored by the Federal government but the Industry, Trade and Investment Ministry was against a penalty of N35m for the issuance of license for tobacco or tobacco products businesses (manufacturers, importers and distributors) pursuant to Section 29 (1) and (2) of the NTC Act.

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) also supported the Ministry in the rejection of the clause on the ground that the fine would be counter productive as it could lead to market contraction and loss of margin squeeze.

    This would naturally impact negatively on the volume of input purchased from farmers and eventually lead to disengagement of workers.

    The Simon Arabo-led Committee on Delegated Legislation organized an interactive session with stakeholders on Thursday the bill which is currently with the National Assembly.

    However, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire and Environmental Rights Action /Friends of the Earth (ERA/FoEN) threw their weight behind the bill.

    ERA/FoEN’s Deputy Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi said it has become extremely important for Nigeria to pass the bill into law in order to curb the usage of cigarettes and several new tobacco products in the country.

    He maintained that the passage of the draft regulation represents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to give the needed impetus for the smooth enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 (NTCA).

    Read Also; Approve draft National Tobacco Control Regulation, NASS urged

    While opposing the N35m penalty, the representative Ministry of Trade, Francis Alaneme said, “This stringent measure will eventually lead to job loses and possible relocation of affected companies to neighbouring African countries as was the case with Dunlop and Michelin.

    “The massive job loses and social backlashes occasioned by the pull out of these manufacturing companies from Nigeria to Ghana and other neighbouring countries was as a result of unfriendly policies and harsh business environment.”

    MAN expressed same concern with emphasis on the fate of field workers if the bill is passed into law with the clause

    The Health Minister however, justified the licensing of tobacco dealers, noting that it is global best practice to take that path because of the wider positive effects on the society

    He said: “Licensing is an important strategy to control the supply chain of

  • VAT increase will raise misery index, says MAN

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has  said any increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) will be inappropriate.

    Its Director-General Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir told The Nation at the weekend that increasing VAT could send a wrong signal that the government was not sensitive to the plight of low and middle-income earners. An upward review of VAT is akin to the government taking back what was given, especially now that the N30, 000 minimum wage has been agreed on, he said.

    The government has denied planning to raise VAT from 5%.

    Ajayi-Kadir insisted that if VAT was increased, the economy will be in a more vulnerable state, as Nigeria’s misery index will go up. He also said given the lopsided income distribution pattern, low per capita income will be affected.

    The MAN chief’s view is that the burden of tax increase will be shifted to consumers who are already experiencing hard times due to low purchasing power. the inventory of unsold items has soared, he noted, reducing the profitability of manufacturing firms, with many factories shutting their operations.

    Ajayi-Kadir also said increasing VAT rate would worsen the already high unemployment rate, which is above 23 per cent.

    He said MAN, as a strategic stakeholder in the development agenda, appreciates the need for the government to generate more revenue to fund its developmental initiatives amidst declining revenue from oil.

    The MAN chief, however, said the government should be caution in the drive for improved revenue, considering that the economy has just exited a recession.

    He argued that the nation’s precarious macro-economic condition requires palliatives that would improve investment and not higher tax burden.

    According to Ajayi-Kadir, the prevailing high lending rate, double digit inflation, low per capita income, and high unemployment rate, among others, are already limiting the economy’s competitiveness.

  • Man allegedly beheads brother

    Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-Old man, Gambo Sa’idu of Badakoshi village in Gwaram Local Government, for allegedly beheading his elder brother.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect allegedly killed his brother over cows.

    Confirming the crime, police spokesman Abdu Jinjiri said: “One Gambo Sa’idu used cutlass to behead his elder brother, Haladu Sa’idu, 40.”

    He said the police at Gwaram Station received the report around 2pm on Wednesday and arrested the suspect on the scene.

    Read also: Kano/Jigawa Customs impounds foreign rice, others worth N45m

    Jinjiri said the suspect had been detained at Gwaram Police Station, adding that investigation was on.

    He said the case would be transferred to the State Criminal and Investigation Department (SCID) after which the suspect would be arraigned.

    The spokesman alleged that the suspect killed his brother because he envied him for having more cows than other members of the family.

     

  • Man stabs cousin to death over N500

    A 26-year-old man whose name was simply identified as Chidiebere at the weekend in Aba, stabbed his cousin identified as Chisom, 27, to death over N500.

    Chisom, until his death last Friday, reportedly lived with his aunt (Chidiebere’s mother) who operates an eatery in the Ogbor Hill axis of Aba and was said to have shared the same room with his assailant.

    It was gathered that on Thursday last week, Chisom’s aunt had gone to the market to buy things and asked the deceased to take charge of business while she was away.

    Immediately the mother went out, Chidiebere was reported to have entered into the shop and demanded that Chisom should give him N500 he learnt someone who owed the mother had paid.

    The deceased was reported to have refused to give his cousin the money, insisting it was for his mother.

    Chidiebere was said to have insisted the money must be given to him and after a heated argument, the deceased capitulated and gave his cousin the money.

    When eventually Chidiebere’s mother came back from the market, Chisom was said to have narrated to her what happened.

    A source close to the family said Chidiebere who became infuriated on why his mother was informed of development, vowed to deal with his cousin.

    The source further stated that the deceased did not take the threat as anything serious and in the night, after supper, they went to bed.

    At about 1.00am, Chidiebere was said to have awoken, reached for a dagger he hid somewhere in the room and stabbed his cousin who was fast asleep, close to the heart twice.

    The incident was said to have happened around Ebiogwu street, Ogbor Hill and as neighbours managed to bring badly injured Chisom to a clinic in the Federal Housing Estate, doctor at the clinic pronounced him dead.

    After stabbing his cousin to death, Chidiebere went back to their house to sleep not minding the consequences of his action.

    It was while he was still sleeping that youths from the Federal Housing Estate stormed the house, apprehended and later handed him over to the police at the Azuka police station.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was away when our reporter visited his office.

    However, a senior police who would not want his name mentioned, confirmed the incident and said the matter has been transferred to Umuahia.

  • Man, 28, charged with sexual assault

    A 28-year-old man, Ekene Marinze, who allegedly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old, on Thursday appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    Marinze, whose address was not provided, is facing a count charge of sexual assault, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that Marinze committed the offences from October to December 2018 on Adebimpe Street, Mile 12, Lagos.

    Ihiehie said that the defendant sexually assaulted the teenager  by touching her breasts and rubbing her entire body with his hands.

    “The complainant, who is a neighbour to the defendant, cautioned him to stop but he didn’t, and was always harassing her sexually.

    “ She later told her aunt,” Ihiehie said.

    He  noted that the offence contravened Section 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, granted the defendant  bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She ordered that one of the sureties should be related to the defendant while both sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned the case until March 26 for mention.

  • Man accuses landlady’s son of causing wife’s miscarriage

    A man, Sodiq Tijani, yesterday alleged that his wife lost her five-month pregnancy after being beaten by his landland’s son.

    Tijani, who petitioned the Public Advice Centre (PAC), Alausa, Ikeja, over the matter, accused the police of perverting justice.

    He told The Nation that his wife suffered a miscarrage  on February 25 at their Iju-Ishaga, Lagos home after being pounched by the boy.

    The boy and his friend desended on him and his wife when the landlady asked them to quit the house after refusing to collect their rent.

    “I was already packing my belongings since I did not want trouble when my landlady ordered some people to throw my belongings out. I told them to be patient. That I was already packing out since she had refused to take the rent.

    “But they slapped me. Her son brought his friends on six bikes and they beat me up. Landlords in the neighbourhood intervened, saying that was not how to evict a tenant, but she refused to listen.

    “Her son and his friends beat me up. They hit me with stones. While this was happening, I did not know that the woman’s younger son had gone inside, brought an iron and broke my door.

    “My five-month-old expectant wife was inside packing, but he (the son) wanted to throw out our things. My wife refused and he beat her up. My wife said he used the iron to hit her, he punched her and she fell down. When he saw that she had fallen, he left our room,” Tijani alleged.

    He said he saw his wife on the floor when he entered their room and she narrated what transpired.

    “The incident happened at night, so I went to the police to report. They said we should come in the morning that it was late. In the morning, policemen came to arrest the landlady.

    “My wife could not sleep that night. So in the morning, we took her to a private hospital. There, the doctor said my wife had a forced miscarriage. He brought out the dead baby.

    “We went back to the police station and were given officers to follow us to the hospital where my wife was. They saw the condition of my wife, saw the dead baby and took my wife’s statement.

    “We went back to the station and the officers gave us a police report. We took my wife back home from hospital, but she still complained of stomach ache. Consequently, we returned her to the hospital. They ran a scan and the result showed that there were still remnants of the baby in her womb. They said unless they were removed, she would not be comfortable. She was bleeding by that time, so we rushed her to the General Hospital at Ifako-Ijaiye where they did another scan and discovered that the placenta was the problem,” he alleged.

    Tijani said he was, however, disappointed after he returned to the police station for the case and was told that the landlady had been released.

    The police, he claimed, told him that he was not serious about the case, adding that they ignor his explanations that he had to ensure his wife was well first.

    The PAC is expected to seek the opinion of the police and the Attorney General on the matter.

     

  • Man allegedly kills 99-year-old aunt

    The police in Ogun State have arrested a 29-year-old man, Owolabi Adewale, for allegedly killing his aunt, Ebunola Aroboto, 99.

    The suspect was said to have killed the woman at Maraisa Lane, off Igan Road, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State after suspecting that she was responsible for his spiritual problems.

    The incident reportedly occurred on Monday.

    Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said Adewale claimed the deceased usually used her magical powers to change lottery numbers whenever he was sure of winning.

    He said: “Adewale’s arrest followed a distress call received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ago-Iwoye Division, Ade Adedoyin, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), that a middle-aged man had killed his aunt.

    “On receiving the call, the DPO led his detectives to the scene where the suspect was arrested. The cutlass he used in committing the murder was recovered from him.

    “The suspect admitted killing the old woman with a cutlass, claiming he had a feeling that she was responsible for most of his spiritual problems.

    “He said he was a regular player of Baba Ijebu lotto and that whenever he was sure of winning, the deceased would use her supernatural power to change the winning number.

    “The body of the deceased has been deposited at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode mortuary.

    “Police Commissioner Ahmed Iliyasu has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Wale Abass, to take over the case and ensure the prosecution of the suspect.”

     

  • Man steals gold wristwatch

    A 34-year-old man, Mustapha Jamiu, was yesterday arraigned before a Surulere Chief Magitrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a gold wristwatch.

    He was also said to have beaten up the victim and pushed him into a gutter on January 1.

    Jamiu of 76, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Anthonia Osayande said the defendant committed the offence  with others, who are at large.

    She alleged that Jamiu and the others assaulted Mr. Ndukwe Elechi after stealing his gold wristwatch worth N25,000, a Samsung  phone worth N70,000,  a pair of eye glasses valued at N18,000 and a neck chain worth N28,000.

    The prosecutor said Elechi was injured on his right hand when the defendant and the others pushed him into the gutter.

    Chief Magistrate Oluyemisi Adelaja granted the defendant N100, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    She said the sureties should be employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case continues on March 18.

  • Man allegedly kills colleague over N47,000

    The Niger State Police Command on Tuesday arrested a suspect, ThankGod  Emmanuel, of Sauka – Kahuta area of Minna for allegedly killing his co-worker, Tita Komla.

    Komla and Emmanuel were said to be colleagues at a construction company in Minna.

    The Nation gathered that Emmanuel engaged his victim in a physical combat and killed him with digger after robbing the victim of N47,000 cash.

    Emmanuel confessed to have used the digger to inflict injuries on Komla’s head which eventually killed him before dumping the body inside the gutter.

    He said: “I killed him so that nobody will know that I stole his N47,000, I used digger to inflict injuries on head and he died instantly.

    Read also: Are you an idiot, a tribesman, or a citizen?

    “I least suspected that police will identify me as the one that killed the deceased, it is unfortunate. ”

    The suspect was apprehended by a team of policemen attached to Tundun Wada Division after receiving information from one Tete Joe who said Emmanuel called him that his brother (Komla) had been killed by unknown persons.

    Police spokesman, Muhammad Abubakar, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect confessed to have committed the crime.

    Abubakar also said that the deceased died from injuries on his head, adding that the suspect would be prosecuted soon.