The Nation Newspaper

Tag: obstructing

  • LCC prosecutes 100 for obstructing free flow of traffic

    No fewer than 100 persons have been arrested and prosecuted by the combined security team of the Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC) on the Eti-Osa, Lekki-Epe Expressway for obstructing the free flow of traffic on the highway in the last two months.

    The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the company, Mr. Solomon Tolofari, made this known  in a statement. He said they were arrested and prosecuted at the Ikoyi Special Offences Magistrate’s Court for offences ranging from hawking, careless crossing, plying prohibited roads, begging and obstruction of traffic flow on the expressway.

    Tolofari noted that the combined security team of the company comprising the police, Man O’ War and the LASTMA had to intensify its operations to rid the Eti-Osa, Lekki-Epe Expressway of miscreants and traffic offenders to enhance the free flow of traffic along the corridor.

    “Among those prosecuted, the commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as okada riders, were the most notorious as they were arrested for plying the prohibited Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe expressway. However, five arrested under aged beggars were cautioned and released after some hours of retention at the Man O’ War Office due to their young age,” he said.

    Tolofari reiterated the resolve of the company to zero tolerance to activities of miscreants and hawkers who constituted a menace to traffic flow on the expressway.

    He advised motorists plying the expressway to obey traffic rules in order to enhance the free flow of traffic and prevent accidents on the expressway.

  • TRACE warns against obstructing traffic

    The Ota division of Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has warned commercial drivers against picking and dropping off passengers on the road, especially at the Tollgate/Sango, Ogun State axis of the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway, thereby obstructing traffic.

    Divisional Commander Adekunle Ajibade said the Corps would increase its partnership with the police, military and other paramilitary groups to ensure that causes of crashes along the axis were curbed. He added that any driver caught disobeying traffic laws will be prosecuted.

    Ajibade addressed reporters in his office. He was reacting to the death, last week, of an hawker at Ota. Four others were injured in the accident.

    According to him, a diesel truck (KRD 755 XH) coming from Ota suffered a brake failure and rammed into a yellow  bus (APP 295 XT) and a tricycle (TTD 318 VV).

    The hawker was pinned to a vehicle why trying to run to safety. The truck driver would have maneuvered his way, had the road been free, he added.

    Ajibade urged traders and hawkers to leave to the road to ensure the free flow of traffic. “Obey traffic rules for your safety,” he pleaded.

  • Police arrest 11 for obstructing traffic

    The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 11 traders for obstructing traffic on the Old Park/Holy Ghost axis and New Market axis in Enugu.

       Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the police officers from the Central Police Station, Enugu, made the arrest between last Monday and Tuesday during their traffic clearance exercise.

      He urged market leaders to warn their members against obstructing traffic.

    Amaraizu said: “As part of the effort toward ensuring a free flow of traffic in Enugu, the command is reminding the public that it is an offence to block roads with wheel barrows and display goods on the road, thereby causing traffic jam.’’

       He said anybody found committing the act would be punished. “Those committing such unpatriotic act will be apprehended and arraigned, in line with the relevant sections of the law.’’

  • FERMA warns against obstructing Apapa port canals

    FERMA warns against obstructing Apapa port canals

    The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has warned that illegal structures on drainage channels in Apapa/Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, could cause flooding.

    Mr Shakunle Oyekunle, a representative of the agency spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos at the weekend when he visited the ongoing rehabilitation sites on the Apapa/Tin Can Island Port section of Apapa/Oshodi Expressway.

    He said the illegal structures will block the waterways, cause flooding and constant degeneration of the dual-carriage road.

    Oyekunle said the agency decided to address the root cause of flooding along the axis due to predictions of heavy rainfall and flooding by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    He said: “We tried to locate the problem and we discovered that most of the cross drains along this section is silted as a result of illegal structures built on the other end of the road occupied by sand dealers.

    “The sand dealers are occupying those places illegally; the area where the major surface water on the road is supposed to flow straight into the canal is being hampered by these people. Their activities are destroying most of the Federal Government infrastructure, including roads on this axis, and we cannot allow it to continue because the two major ports in the country are here.

    “We will continue to carry out constant de-silting of the drains and rehabilitation work to make the roads good and stop traffic congestion.”

    He said the surface and underground drainage channels on both carriageways will be cleared regularly to avert flooding.

    According to him, the agency will liaise with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on how to evacuate the illegal occupants.

    Oyekunle assured that FERMA will restore all the critical sections on the highway after the drains had been cleaned up, lamentng that water had destroyed the road pavement.

    He expressed happiness that the ongoing Apapa Trailer Park project was nearing completion as it addresses the challenge of indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles.

    He observed that indiscriminate parking of vehicles could also aggravate flooding and road degeneration.

  • Three jailed for obstructing police

    Three men have been sen tenced to six weeks’imprisonment for obstructing a police officer from performing his duties.

    The defendants Muhammed Yusuf, Usman Idris and Lawal Hassan were among 11 accused persons arraigned before Chief Magistrate M.O.A. Ogunsanya of an Ogba Chief Magistrate Court, Ikeja.

    They were charged with three counts of conduct  likely to cause breach of peace, for unlawfully obstructing an officer from performing his duties and disorderly behaviour.

    Police procecutor Femi Alabi said the accused persons committed the ofence on August 10, 2015. The eight others, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, are: Ibrahim baba, Bashiru Abdulahi , Salisu Gambo,Abdulahi Usman,Kayode,Abbass Salisu Rufus and Hamed Lawal.

    The convicted persons, were, however, given an option of N10,000 fine.

    Those who pleaded not guilty to the charge where ordered to be remanded in prison custody pending when they would perfect their bail conditions.Chief Magistrate Ogunsanya imposed bail condition of N50,000 and two sureties  like some for each of the accused persons.

     

    She adjourned to September 3.

     

     

  • Man jailed for obstructing policemen

    An Ikpoba-Okha Area Customary Court sitting at Oregbeni, Edo State, has sentenced Roland Imafidon, 27, to a two-year imprisonment for allegedly obstructing some policemen who were on official duty.

    Police Prosecutor, Kingsley Enadeghe told the court that policemen attached to Ugbekun were on their way to arresting some suspected kidnappers when they were attacked by the convict and others currently on the run.

    He said Roland joined the others to assault Abiodun Sanya, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP).

    Roland admitted gripping the policeman, but said the boys that beat him up ran away. He pleaded guilty.

    President of the court, Mrs. Elizabeth Dele-Ogbeide condemned the attack on the policemen on lawful duty, adding that the two-year jail term was with hard labour and with no option of fine.

  • Man arraigned for obstructing motorcyclist’s arrest

    A 29-year-old man, Chibueze Nwobodo, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly obstructing the arrest of a commercial motorcyclist and assaulting a police officer, Adebayo Rasaq.

    Nwobodo and others at large, are facing a three-count charge of obstruction, assault and resisting arrest. He pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecuting police Inspector Roman Unuijse told Magistrate A.O Komolafe that the defendant assaulted Rasaq, who was enforcing the new Lagos traffic law.

    The prosecutor alleged that Nwobodo prevented Rasaq from arresting a commercial motorcyclist on a restricted route. The defendant’s action led to a scuffle between him and Rasaq on November 20 at 8:15 am, on Oba Akran Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Unuijse said it was wrong of the Okada rider to ply Oba Akran Road, which is one of the restricted highways in the state.

    According to him, the defendant committed an offence contrary to Section 172 of the Criminal Law No 34 Vol. 44 and punishable under Sections 117 and 121 of the Criminal Law No 34 Vol. 44 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    The defence counsel, Godwin Ohakwe, told the court that Nwobodo was taking his son to school when he was apprehended by the police.

    He claimed that his client was pushed down and he (Nwobodo) fell into a pool of water, a situation which led to a fight between him and the police officer.

    Magistrate Komolafe said it was wrong of Nwobodo to ride an Okada on a restricted road.

    He granted him N50,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The Magistrate ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed; have evidence of tax payment for three years and their residential addresses must be verifiable. The matter was adjourned till December 17.