The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MAN

  • Man in court for alleged murder

    A 20-year-old man, Basit Yusuf, was on Wednesday arraigned at a Magistrates’ Court in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly killing Saliu Jamiu.

    Yusuf, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

    The police prosecutor, Insp. Monica Ikebuilo, told the court that the accused committed the offence in Ado-Ekiti on Nov. 7.

    She alleged that the accused had earlier threatened to kill Jamiu if he failed to procure a motorcycle for him.

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    Ikebuilo said that some days after the threat, the body of the deceased was found in a canal in the Odo-Ado neighbourhood of Ado-Ekiti.

    “The accused was later then apprehended by the police when he tried to escape,’’ she said.

    She said that the offences contravened Section 324 and 319 (1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2012.

    The prosecutor then urged the Court to remand the accused in prison custody, pending legal advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The plea of the accused was not taken.

    In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Omolola Akosile, ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison and adjourned the case until Dec.13 for mention.

    NAN

  • Man allegedly commits suicide

    A young man, said to be from Rivers State, has allegedly committed suicide at NEPA Line in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

    The deceased was a worker with a Federal Government agency.

    The Nation gathered that people became aware of his death when his colleagues visited him in his home about 10am yesterday, as he didn’t report for work.

    The deceased’s neighbours refused to volunteer information to The Nation on the circumstances surrounding his death.

    Police spokesman Odiko Macdon said he was yet to be briefed.

    He added: “However I will call the division concerned to ascertain the authenticity of the information and if it is true, investigation will be carried out to ascertain what transpired.”

  • MAN urges caution in ratifying free trade pact

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Federal Government to be cautious in ratifying the proposed African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement.

    MAN President Mansur Ahmed said the Federal Government should not only consult, but study and understand the implications of the free trade agreement before ratification.

    He made this known in Lagos  when he received the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, who paid him a courtesy visit.

    AfCFTA was designed to create a continental trade bloc of 1.2 billion Africans, with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about $3 trillion.

    The agreement commits African countries to phasing out tariffs on 90 per cent of goods, with 10 per cent of “sensitive items” to be phased out incrementally. It will also liberalise trade in services, while also signaling a step towards building strong regional value chains.

    The agreement is seen as an important milestone in promoting Africa’s regional integration and helping to increase intra-African trade by more than 52 per cent, worth about $35 billion per year.

    But, Ahmed said with Nigeria’s experience in exporting goods to other West African countries, under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), the continental free trade agreement may not be any better.

    “The position of MAN on AFCFTA has been very clear from the beginning. Nigeria is the largest economy in West Africa and the largest population. The impact of any major agreement to do with trade clearly will have greater impact on Nigeria than any other country.

    “So, we owe it to ourselves and to our economy that we should be very conscious of the potentials of not only the opportunities, but also the risks to our economy.

    “We need to study this very carefully to anticipate where there is likely to be risk to the economy or to the welfare of the people and to make sure that we agree on mitigating actions that will minimize these risks,” he said.

    Ahmed noted that the ETLS has not been effective as it should be and up till today, exporters are having tremendous problem exporting even from Nigeria to Ghana.

    “If therefore, this is our experience within the West African sub region, we cannot take it for granted that the AFCFTA will be any better.

    “So, we want to make sure that we consult, study and understand how it is going to affect us and we take measures up front to make sure that we mitigate the risks and maximise the opportunities for our economy,” he stated.

    Ahmed said the economy is presently going through challenging times hence, there could be no better time than now to fully diversify the economy.

    MAN’s latest warning came on the heels of the recent constitution of a committee for Impact and Readiness Assessment of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area by President Muhammadu Buhari to address risks associated with signing the AFCFTA agreement.

    Earlier, Bello said the NSC’s visit was to solicit the buy-in of MAN to jointly agree on framework for collaboration in addressing some of the challenges in the port sector.

    He said the council has been supporting programmes geared towards improving port efficiency and reducing cost as well as simplifying procedures and processes for the clearance of goods at the ports.

    Bello, who reiterated the need for diversification of the economy, also noted that exports procedures need to be streamlined.

    “For long, we have been talking about the fact that the economy needs to come out from being import dependent to an economy that can manufacture, export and process agricultural produce and make sure we earn the foreign exchange.

    “So, in line with the Federal Government’s effort, NSC has keyed into this project by ensuring that the export procedures are streamlined and reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.

    MAN and the NSC have agreed to set up a joint committee with focus on reducing cost to make the nation’s port more competitive, promote ease of doing business, review some trade policies at the port as well as improve port infrastructure.

     

  • Man gets N.1m bail for alleged stealing, assault 

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 to John Onwuegbula for alleged stealing and assault.

    Onwuegbula, 45, allegedly stole two landed properties’ documents valued at N400, 000.00, property of Chidi Victor Ezeji.

    He also allegedly entered into the land and property of Ezeji and demarcated it, in an attempt to sell it.

    The suspect also reportedly assaulted one of his victims, which caused him harm, just as he threatened his life to intimidate and cow him to drop any form of legal action against him.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge preferred against him, which borders on stealing and assault.

    Magistrate Sokari Andrew-Jaja adjourned the matter till November 21 for hearing.

  • Man, 75, jailed for defiling minor

    A 75-year-old man, Boyi Okoiyawo, has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment without an option of fine by an Igarra Magistrates’ Court in Edo State, for defiling a 10-year-old girl.

    The convict was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Nosa Musoe, who described the convict as not truthful and lacking integrity.

    During the trial, the court was told that the incident occurred in April 2017 when the convict lured the victim to his home under the guise of sending her on errands.

    Medical examinations conducted at the General Hospital, Igarra showed that the victim had been sexually assaulted.

    The victim’s father, who gave his name as John Sule, said he was happy about the imprisonment of Okoiyawo, who defiled his daughter last year.

    “The adjournments could not weaken my resolve to get justice and I am happy that the court finally found Okoiyawo guilty and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment without fine.

    “My special appreciation goes to the Brave Heart Initiative (BHI) team for its support.”

    Mr. Roland Aiyejina, the coordinator of Ososo Vigilance Group, hailed the court for standing on the side of justice and BHI for remaining steadfast despite pressure from emissaries and community leaders mobilised by the rapist’s friends to stop prosecution.

    BHI Founder Priscilla Usiobaifo said one of the objectives of the group was to facilitate the recovery of abused children and women from gender-based violence.

  • Man gets six months for drug possession

    A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced Lawal Mohammed, 25, to six months’ imprisonment for alleged possession of illicit drugs.

    Counsel to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Charles Nwagua said the defendant committed the offence on March 10 at Dadinkowa village on ABUAD Road, Ado-Ekiti.

    He alleged the defendant, without lawful authority, possessed 500 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD.

    According to him, the offence contravened Section 19 of the NDLEA, Act. Cap N30, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Uche Agomoh said counsel to the defendant had pleaded for leniency, adding that the defendant didn’t waste the time of the court by pleading guilty.

    “The record before us showed that the accused was a first offender, who was lured into the act by peer group.

    “The defendant appeared very remorseful on every of his appearance in court during his trial.

    “The court, therefore, finds you guilty and convicts you accordingly.

    “You are hereby sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.”

    She said the judgment would teach the defendant a lesson and act as a deterrent to others.

  • Man docked for sleeping with stepdaughters, impregnating one

    A man identified as Mr. Cyril Ogolo is currently being interrogated by personnel of the Aba Area Command of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) after he allegedly slept with his twin stepdaughters of about seventeen years respectively.

    Our reporter gathered that while the mother of the twin girls just delivered a baby for Ogolo, one of the twins is however, carrying three months pregnancy for her stepfather, who is an indigene of Opobo, in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State and a spiritualist/herbalist based in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

    Our reporter learnt that the mother of the twins left the biological father of the twins: Mr. Maduabuchi since 2010 and has since been living with her lover; Ogolo with the twins who have been going to school from his house until recently that they just finished their secondary final examination; WAEC.

    Sources close to the family who would not want to be named said that the father of the girls, Mr. Maduabuchi died and was buried last year after efforts to bring back home his wife failed.

    According to one of the sources, the twins had resisted Ogolo’s several attempts to sleep with them, but after he was said to have his way when efforts made by the girls to draw the attention of their mother to the actions of their randy father failed to yield fruit.

    It was said that the matter was reported to the Azuka Police Station off Ikot Ekpene-Aba Expressway when the twins absconded their house to take refuge at a friend’s house in Uyo because they could not face their mum’s rot.

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    A police source who spoke to our reporter said that the matter was initially reported at Azuka Police Station before it was transferred to the Aba Area Command where the matter is being investigated.

    According to the police source, Ogolo had petitioned one of the Pentecostal Churches where the wife worships, accusing them of aborting the baby one of the twins is carrying.

    The source however said that upon the strength of the petition by Ogolo, they subjected the twins to medical test only to discover that one of them is carrying three months pregnancy for the stepfather.

    The source stated that Ogolo when questioned by the investigating officer, confessed sleeping with the girls and being responsible for the child one of them is carrying.

    The source added that Ogolo would be charged to court as soon as investigation into the matter was concluded.

  • Man, 57, in court for assaulting police officer

    A 57-year-old man, Mark Ijesha, who allegedly assaulted a police officer on lawful duty, on Friday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Ijesha, whose address was not provided, is being tried on a four-count charge of assault, obstruction of official duty, conspiracy and breach of public peace.

    Ijesha who pleaded not guilty, was said to have thrown a stone which hit the policeman on the neck.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Mike Unah, told the court that Ijesha and others still at large, committed the offences on Sept. 10, at No 82, Giwa St., Aboru Oke-Odo, Lagos.

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    He said that the accused assaulted Insp. Idowu David while performing his lawful duty.

    “Ijesha deliberately threw a stone at the officer and hit him on his neck and caused breach of public peace by his conduct,” Unah told the court.

    The offences contravened Sections 174 (a) 246 (a) (b), 411, 350 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Magistrate, Mr A.A Fashola, granted Ijesha bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    He adjourned the case till Nov. 28, for trial.

  • Man, 30, remanded in prison for ‘assaulting his father’

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday remanded Clinton Doneh for allegedly assaulting his own father, Chief Roland Doneh.

    The 30-year-old suspect reportedly assaulted his father at Elekahia Housing Estate in Port Harcourt Local Government Area at 9 p.m on September 9.

    He was charged with four-count charge bordering on assault and threat to life.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Wilson Isaiah, told the court the suspect violated sections 86, 451, 355 and 390(9), of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Volume 2, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

    Clinton pleaded not guilty to the charges and he was not represented in the sitting by any lawyer.

    The documents obtained from the court showed that the suspect allegedly stole two stabilisers valued at N60,000, jewellery valued at N100,000, a generator valued at N85,000 and N28,000 cash, totalling N263,000, all property of his father.

    The suspect’s father was absent in court.

    The court’s document also alleged that the suspect “wilfully and unlawfully damaged his father’s ivory chain door valued at N50,000 and sat on his father’s body, hitting him on the ground”.

    The magistrate, Sokari Andrew-Jaja, ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison custody.

    He adjourned the matter till October 17 for bail consideration.

  • Man flogs stepson to death

    •Another impregnates daughter

    Men of the Edo State Police Command have arrested Matthias Otabor for allegedly flogging his three-year-old stepson, Destiny Meshack, to death.

    The police said the incident occurred at 8 Obanosa Street, off 2nd East Circular Road, Benin, the state capital.

    Police Commissioner Babatunde Kokumo said Matthias used a belt and cable wire on the boy until he collapsed and died.

    He said the boy’s body had been deposited at the Central Hospital’s mortuary in Benin.

    Kokumo addressed reporters on the incident when he paraded 76 suspects arrested for alleged murder, cultism, kidnapping and rape.

    Among the suspects was Friday Moses, who allegedly impregnated his 13-year-old daughter.

    It was learnt that some youths at Ologbo in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area took him to the police station after catching him the act.

    The girl, who is over five months’ pregnant, said her father started sleeping with her when she was seven.

    She said her father threatened to kill her if she exposed his sexual exploits.

    Her father denied having carnal knowledge of his daughter.

    Moses said: “She told the police that I am responsible for her pregnancy and I told them that I am not. But they did not believe me. They started beating me. And because of that, I admitted that I did it.

    “You should not take whatever my daughter says.”

    Kokumo said the suspects would soon be charged to court after completion of investigations into their cases.