The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • Court jails man for stealing church offering

    An Oredo Special Grade Magistrates’ Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, on Wednesday sentenced Henry Godspower to three months imprisonment for stealing church offering.

    He was alleged to have broken into the Greater Liberation Ministry Church located at James Watt Road in Benin City to carry out the act.

    Henry was, however, apprehended and consequently arraigned by the police on a two-count charge of stealing and felony.

    Read Also: Businessman arraigned for allegedly stealing N1.8m

    He pleaded guilty to the charges.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Patrick Agbonifo told the court that the convict stole N3,520 from the church.

    He said the offences were punishable under sections 415 and 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48, Vol 11, Laws of the defunct Bendel State now applicable to Edo State.

    Magistrate Ivie Akhere sentenced Henry to three months imprisonment without an option of fine.

  • Delta communities now battleground for cultists

    Four communities in Udu Council Area of Delta State have reportedly become battleground for rival cults in the past two weeks.

    The Nation gathered that the clashes, involving sporadic shooting and theft mostly in the evenings, have allegedly left several people injured and a few dead.

    Some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they now live in fear and do everything possible to be indoors before 7pm.

    A hairdresser, who lives at New York Street, Owaseh, recalled what happened on August 28.

    Read Also: Four feared killed as suspected cultists resume clash   

    “I was very lucky that day. I had just got home when people started running outside. There were gunshots. Now, one has to be home by 7pm, otherwise only God knows what will happen,” she said.

    Another resident, a young man, implored the government and commissioner of police to rescue them.

    He accused some community leaders of being members of the cults.

    “Many of the chiefs and some youths belong to cults. So, who will really kick against it? Unless the police commissioner does something that can tackle cultism, I’m afraid, you will come here one day and find out that they have killed all of us,” he said.

    Other communities being terrorised are Ovwian, Orhuwhorun and Ekete.

    It was learnt that two vigilance group members were allegedly killed on Monday night at Ekete in connection with the clashes.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke said operatives were taking steps to end the reign of terror in the area.

    He said the command was scheduled to meet the Chairman of the council, Jite Brown.

    A senior police officer, who preferred anonymity, said: “The way things are going, the command may have to declare curfew because of the violence.”

  • NURTW members protest Oluomo’s emergence as caretaker committee chair

    Some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State on Wednesday marched on the premises of the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja.

    They protested the emergence of Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the union.

    The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: ‘We say yes to union constitution, we want the government to save our soul in Lagos’, ‘We say no to Lagos NURTW, we say no to imposition’, ‘We say no to self-imposition as NURTW Lagos State chairman’, ‘We say no to thuggery in Lagos NURTW’, and others.

    NURTW National President Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa appointed MC Oluomo as the caretaker chairman, Lagos State chapter of the union.

    Read Also: NURTW officer faults Lagos chair on endorsement of successor

    It was gathered that Baruwa issued a statement on Tuesday dissolving the executive committee of the state chapter hitherto headed by Comrade Tajudeen Agbede, who is now Baruwa’s deputy, and replaced it with an 18- member caretaker committee led by MC Oluomo.

    MC Oluomo, the chairman of Oshodi branch, Lagos chapter of the union, is one of those contesting for the Lagos State NURTW chairmanship.

    Speaking during the protest, one of the leaders, the Chairman of Ojuwoye NURTW branch, Ademola Olanrewaju, alleged that MC Oluomo’s emergence would cause chaos.

    “A meeting was held yesterday and after the meeting, it was decided that MC Oluomo should emerge as the chairman of the caretaker committee.

    “Directly or indirectly, they are trying to impose him on us because there was fracas in Abuja and both parties were supposed to be dealt with, but MC Oluomo’s group was exonerated.

    “What we are agitating for is that we don’t want MC’s government in Lagos State.

    “Lagos State has given us the little it can in terms of empowerment, by giving us what to eat.”

    At press time, no government official had addressed the protesters.

  • N437m fraud: Three BDC operators get N60m bail

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday granted three Bureau-De-Change operators N20 million bail each with two sureties in the like sum, following their arraignment for an alleged N437million fraud.

    Justice Nicholas Oweibo remanded the defendants – Jimmy Ibrahim, Obianuju Tessy Umejesi and Uche Madubuko – in prison custody pending their perfection of the bail terms.

    One of the sureties must be a landed property owner in Lagos, while the second surety must be a Grade Level 12 officer with Lagos State of the Federal Government, the judge said.

    The trio were arraigned on August 22 by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos on a five-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and fraud.

    Read Also: BDCs prepare for FATF evaluation visit to Nigeria

    Each defendant pleaded not guilty, following which the judge adjourned to hear their bail applications.

    At the resumed hearing of proceedings yesterday, Mr. Adekunle Adesanya (SAN), U. G. Ezeaba and Agnes Uzulor, prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail “in the most liberal terms.”

    But prosecution counsel Mr. Chukwu Agwu opposed them, arguing that others involved in the alleged offences are at large and granting the bail applications may jeopardise police efforts to arrest them.

    But, in a bench ruling, Justice Oweibo held: “In line with Section 36(5) of 1999 Nigerian Constitution and Section 162 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), each defendant is hereby admitted to bail in the sum of N20million with two sureties in the like sum.”

    He adjourned till October 3 for trial.

    The SFU, in a charge marked FHC/L/292c/19, alleged that the defendants committed the offences while operating under the names of Regis Bureau De Change, Jayjibs Ventures, Johim Ventures and Jajibs Bureau-De-Change.

    It said the trio, sometime in January, fraudulently obtained N437million from a firm, with a false promise to supply $1.2 million, which is the United States’ dollar equivalent.

    One of the operators, Jimmy Ibrahim, was said to have in April, May and June this year, issued three United Bank for Africa (UBA) cheques, numbered: 77046252; 77046253 and 77046254 from account number 1015196430i, with the total value of N73million, as part payment of the sum, but they were dishonoured for insufficient funds.

  • ‘Estate agent to be prosecuted for N65m fraud’

    An estate agent, who allegedly defrauded 262 prospective tenants of N65 million at Alapere, Ketu, Lagos, will be prosecuted, Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN) has said.

    He said in a statement on Wednesday that he has taken over the prosecution of the agent.

    Lagos State Government in the statement titled: “Beware of fraudulent estate agents/developers”, advised residents to be careful by making enquiries before concluding property transaction with an agent.

    The statement said: “The Office of the Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice is concerned about the increasing incidence of fraudulent offences of obtaining money by deception committed by fraudsters disguising as property developers and estate agents.

    Read Also: Lagos to prosecute developer

    “A complaint has reached our office concerning an estate agent alleged to have fraudulently received N65 million from 262 prospective tenants at Alapere, Ketu.

    “The Office of the Lagos State Attorney- General took over the prosecution of the case against the estate agent on September 3 and he shall be prosecuted.

    “The public is warned to be meticulous by making enquiries before concluding any property transaction with an agent.

    “In view of the prevalence of these dubious schemes as evidenced by the growing number of cases being handled by the state regarding victims defrauded of millions of naira by estate agents under the guise of letting out non-existing houses in Lagos, the public is assured that the government is committed to protecting the rights of citizens who fall victim of such fraudulent act, while the perpetrators will be prosecuted.

    “The Justice ministry will collaborate with the police formations to ensure such ongoing cases are investigated and reports are forwarded for prosecution.”

  • ‘Teenager stole my trousers while I was bathing’

    A 19-year-old ticket vendor, Emmanuel Abraham, on Wednesday appeared at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing a pair of trousers from a man bathing.

    The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing a four-count-charge bordering on conspiracy, breach of the peace and stealing.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Kenrich Nomayo alleged that the teenager entered the bathroom of Mr. Adewale Adewumi while he was bathing and stole his trousers worth N3,000 from where he hung it.

    Read Also: Man burns son to death for allegedly stealing N500

    Nomayo also alleged that the defendant entered the room of Adewumi’s co-tenant, Mr. Samson Ajuwon, and stole iPhone 6 worth N45,000, a Tecno phone valued at N8,000 and another phone worth N40,000

    He added that the teenager stole a Nokia phone worth N5,000, another Tecno phone valued at N7,000 and N180,000 cash.

    The prosecutor said the defendant committed the offences with others at large on August 28 at 7am, at 13, Oredola Street, Ifako Ijaiye, a Lagos suburb.

    He alleged that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by illegally squatting in an abandoned building, smoking a substance suspected to be Indian hemp and posing threat to the community.

    Chief Magistrate Mrs. T. A. Ojo ordered that the defendant be kept in police custody.

    She gave the order after the defendant told the court that he was not aged 19 but 15.

    The alleged offences contravene sections 168, 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State,   2015 (Revised).

    The court adjourned the case till tomorrow.

  • Razak rates Sanwo-Olu high

    A member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State, Chief Lanre Razak, has advocated prompt payment of taxes and other charges by Lagosians, to enable the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration implement its THEME agenda, provide infrastructure, houses, electricity and other amenities.

    He rated the governor high in service delivery in the first 100 days, saying a strong financial base is imperative for the government to accelerate socio-economic development, raise the people’s living standard and achieve the ‘Greater Lagos’ project.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Razak, the Balogun General of Epe and ex-Commissioner for Public Transportation, said Governor Sanwo-Olu has not only constituted his executive council (exco), but also raised the bar in governance by addressing challenges such as gridlock, refuse disposal, deplorable roads and insecurity.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu condemns attacks on MTN, Shoprite

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu, through Executive Orders targeted at traffic management and environmental sanitation, has ameliorated the chaotic vehicular situation as well as poor refuse collection and evacuation that were the lot of the state prior to his assumption of office.

    Sanwo-Olu, during electioneering campaign as APC’s governorship candidate, promised to anchor his administration on the five major pillars of THEME- traffic management and transportation; health and environment; education and technology; making Lagos a 21st century economy and entertainment & tourism as well as other programmes.

    Assessing the governor’s performance so far, Razak said besides constituting a formidable exco that will drive the administration, Sanwo-Olu has impacted positively in such critical areas as rehabilitation of many bad roads, improved traffic situation engendered by well- motivated personnel of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), resuscitated work on the abandoned Mile 2-Badagry expressway and elevating the state’s security architecture to safeguard lives and property.

  • Abiodun flags off free medical services in Ogun

    Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has flagged off a medical outreach with a promise that his administration would provide a beffiting Primary Healthcare Centres in each Ward across the  State.

    Prince Abiodun who disclosed this at the flag off ceremony  held at Ilisan, Ikenne Local Government Area, said health care was one of the critical sectors his administration was paying attention to, adding that Primary Health Centres would be made attractive to treat minor ailments.

    “We will ensure that a beffitinog Primary Healthcare Centre is made available closer to the people. Primary Healthcare Centre is the first port of call when one falls ill. Only cases that cannot be attended to can go to secondary health institutions”, he said.

    The Governor disclosed that rehabilitation and provision of modern equipment to the State Hospital, Ilaro, has begun, adding that similar work would be carried out in other States hospitals across the State.

    Read Also: AbdulRazaq approves N232m for nutrition, primary health care

    “We are strengthening the health sector as a matter of priority. There is significant intervention going on at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, which used to rank as high as the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). We are expecting the report of the Administrative Panel report tomorrow and we will implement the report to reposition the hospital to what it used to be”, he noted.

    He said the free medical outreach was to underscore the importance of health as the administration was poised to make the state the biggest economy not only in Nigeria, but in Africa.

    While calling for support and cooperation of the people, Prince Abiodun said his vision for the State was driven by passion to partner the private sector for the economic development that would lead to individual prosperity.

    Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Efundayo Ayinde, said the outreach would provide  eye surgery and other medical services free of charge in the Health Camps across the three Senatorial Districts. He called on the people to take advantage of the Programme.

    Also speaking, Chairman, Illisan Community Development Association, Mufutau Oyegunle, said the community has been looking forward to such opportunity. He appreciated the State governernment for the laudable programme which he said would be of great benefit the less privileged.

  • Samsung donates to IDPs

    Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHIN) has donated electrical equipment, clothing and other relief materials to the victims of herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents’attacks in Jos, Plateau State.

    SHIN’s gesture is coming less than one year after the Korean ship building giant funded eye surgeries for 102 Nigerian patients with cataracts. The patients, who were at the risk of blindness, recovered their eyesight with Vision Care, an organisation under the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    Since 2015, Samsung has worked with Vision Care in the yearly Eye Camp to give free cataract surgeries to individuals who cannot afford the treatment.

    In this latest gesture, SHIN said a missionary group from Korea constructed a school in Jos for the villagers in Rhizha, where four missionaries are teaching about 560 children and also providing counselling to victims, mostly women, suffering from the trauma from Boko Haram insurgents’ attacks.

    As part of its humanitarian assistance, SHIN said it has continually donated to the missionary group for many years and lent a helping hand to the community and its people.

    SHIN said the villagers have suffered from attacks by herdsmen with many losing their family members and livelihoods to these acts of violence. However, these acts of violence have not deterred the missionary from creating this initiative to assist the community.

    The missionary group from Korea has been able to construct a church and a school, while Samsung has donated electrical goods, including television sets, which will be used in the school by the children.

    Samsung has also donated other electrical items for the benefits of the entire community. Items, such as clothing, were also delivered to the villagers.

    In a letter of appreciation to SHIN, a member of the Korean missionary, Jae Seo, said: “I have been working in Nigeria since 1991 as a Korean missionary. Among our works here in Northern Nigeria, one of our joys is that we see a big progress of the children at our school.  At present, we have 88 students and soon on September 25, more students will join us. Our school is still at the baby-stage since it is only three years old. We have hardly any electronic equipment.

    “Thank you for your donation of 10 laptop computers, 10 TVs and 10 refrigerators along with 100 pieces of T-shirts and caps. All of us at EMS Rija Academy say, ‘Thank you so much for your generous donations’.”

  • Don seeks inclusion of internet usage in Civic Education curriculum

    The Internet has eased the research process – enabling users to gather data for various purposes.  However, due to misuse and high level of plagiarism, Professor of English and celebrated author, Akachi Ezeigbo, has said secondary school pupils need to be taught to respect intellectual property and acknowledge sources in school.

    In her assessment of the 612 entries submitted for the 2019 Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools, Prof Ezeigbo, the chief examiner of the competition, said responsible use of the internet should be included in secondary school curriculum.

    She said: “The fact that almost any material is available and accessible via a click makes a compelling case for us to introduce the teaching of responsible Internet usage in the secondary school curriculum. We recommend a review and expansion of the syllabus of a subject like civic education to include teaching students to understand that plagiarism violates Intellectual Property (IP) rights, and that referencing the literatures they consult as they make their points is a key aspect of their academic development.”

    Winners of the competition, Esigbone Ferdinard of Roshallom International Secondary School, Egbeda, Lagos; Oluwaseun Aremu of Shepherd International College Ado-Ekiti; and Adeola Ifeoluwa of Chrisfield College, Itamaga, Ikorodu and their schools, would be presented with prizes today during the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture holding at the Shell Hall Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    The lecture, which has as theme: Justice as an Instrument of enduring peace in nation building, would be delivered by activist lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

    First woman to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Folake Solanke, will chair the lecture.

    Ezeigbo urged the organisers of the competition initiated in honour of Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the presiding bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), to publish the winning essays in book form as it does for the adult lecture.  She said doing so would provide reference material for teachers, who she said have acknowledged their usefulness in teaching writing and rhetoric.

    The top three winners would be rewarded with N100,000, N75,000 and N50,000 each.  In addition to the N100,00 grand prize, Eisgbone would get a laptop and plaque, while his school would get three computers and a printer. Second placed Oluwaseun would also get a plaque while her school gets two sets of computers and a printer. For coming third, Adeola will also get a plaque and her school, a computer set.

    Four other finalists will get a consolation prize of N20,000.  They are: West Tamunonye of Christfield College, Itamaga, Ikorodu, and Anazia Rita from Roshallom International School who tied at fourth position; and Ajayi Ibukun of Fit-Charis International School and Olaitan Olajuwon of Chrisfield College, Itamaga, both took the fifth position.