The Nation Newspaper

Tag: parade

  • Stars on parade

    Stars on parade

    Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and President, Dangote Group of Companies Alhaji Aliko Dangote led three other bigwigs to receive Merit Award from an Islamic group, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) in Lagos. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports

    •Group honours Sultan, Dangote, others

    None of them, except the family of the late Secretary-General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Abdullateef Adegbite had a hint about the award. The letters sent to them merely invited them to Lagos for a ceremony by the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), working for the revival of Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam. Zakat is the payment of a certain percentage of income at the end of each year to promote Islamic courses.

    On January 11, the foundation honoured Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar; former Kano State Governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; President, Dangote Group of Companies Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chairman, Jaiz Bank Plc Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab. The late Adegbite got a post-humous award.

    Sultan Abubakar was honoured for his efforts to unite Muslims in the country; ensuring peaceful co-existence with faiths and persistent calls for institutionalisation of Zakat.

    Mallam Shekarau’s presence at the foundation’s function in Lagos then as Kano State governor and assistance with huge funds to build the Zakat House earned him the award.

    Aside paying Zakat, Alhaji Abdul Mutallab signed the foundation’s letter to wealthy Muslims to channel their Zakat through the foundation, which yielded positive responses. He facilitated the meeting between ZSF and former Finance Minister when Islamic Development Bank (IDB) demanded a correspondence from the ministry before sponsoring Zakat training programme in Lagos.

    Alhaji Dangote supported the foundation in a big way while the late Adegbite was said to be exemplary in all ways. Shortly before his death, he talked to people on behalf of the foundation to people to pay their Zakat.

    The Ninth Zakat Distribution Ceremony was held at the New Great Hall of the College Of Medicine, University Of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Mushin, Lagos.

    It began with the historic opening of the Baytul Zakat (Zakat House) by Sultan Abubakar at Olajide Street near the popular Babalola Bus Stop in Ilasamaja in Mushin.

    He cut the tape assisted by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari; Alhaji Abdul Mutallab; Chief Imam of Lagos Alhaji Garuba Akinola Ibrahim; Baba Adinni of Lagos Sheikh AbdulHafeez Abou; ZSF Chairman, Prince Sulayman Olagunju and its Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer Imam Abdullahi Shuaib.

    Sultan Abubakar also unveiled the plaque before leading the guests to LUTH for the main ceremony.

    On learning that Sultan Abubakar and the Emir of Ilorin were around, the residents trooped out to catch a glimpse of them.

    Others lined up from Ishaga Close Bus Stop to LUTH gate as a mark of honour for the Sultan.

    Shortly after the ceremony started with opening prayer by the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Ibrahim, a large entourage of Hausa community led by the Serikin Hausawa of Lagos and that of Idi-Araba stormed the hall. Muslim clerics in Mushin led by the Chief Imam of Mushinland and President, Council of Ulamau and Mushin Muslim Community, Sheikh Sulaimon Olanijo were also in attendance.

    Alhaji Abdul Mutallab described the day as special”in our history with the official opening of our Zakat House whose construction began in 2009 during Dr Adegbite’s reign”.

    Alhaji Mutallab, who chaired the occasion, singled out Mallam Shekarau for his “handsome” donation towards the project.

    He appealed to wealthy Muslims to pay their Zakat as at when due and also channel their Sadaqah (charity) to ZSF for an efficient and effective disbursement to the poor and the needy.

    There were lectures by the National Missioner of Al-Fatiu Quareeb Society of Nigeria Sheikh Sulaiman Adangba and Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) Prof Daud Noibi.

    Shuaib thanked the Sultan for his fatherly support over the years.

    “His concern, thoughtfulness and advice have always been inspiring and motivating. We appreciate your selfless service and servant-leadership style you have adopted since your assumption of office as the seventh Sultan,” Imam Shuaib said.

    He also acknowledged the support of the late Dr Adegbite, who he said had passion for Zakat collection and distribution during his life time.

    “We shall always be grateful to him for his candour and erudition. May Allah grant him peace of the grave and easy entry into Paradise,” he said.

    Imam Shuaib described the awardees as “five outstanding Nigerians,” whose contributions and services to humanity are appreciable.

    “Our appreciation equally goes to all our invited guests, starting with Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, (SAN); Dr Muiz Banire, the Interim National Legal Adviser to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olatunde Babatunde Adepitan, the Chairman of Mushin Local Government Area, the president and members of the CMUL/LUTH Muslim community,” he said.

    There were goodwill messages from NSCIA Secretary-General Prof Ishaq Oloyede; Adepitan, Emir of Ilorin, United Kingdom-based Imam Dr Khalid Yasir, Political Officer in the United States Consulate in Nigeria Kathrina Drayton and Dr Halimat Alimi of An Nour Eye Centre.

    An elated Sultan Abubakar enjoined Nigerians to pray fervently for the country.

    “We need prayers for our leaders to lead us right; we need good leadership in this country that can take us to the promise land,” he said.

    He called on those in government to complement the foundation’s effort to reduce poverty in the society. ‘’People should be encouraged to pay Zakat,’’ he said, adding that the body will speak with the government to institutionalise Zakat and pass it into law.

    Alhaji Sulu-Gambari praised the foundation for reviving the third pillar of Islam – Zakat.

    He corroborated Sultan Abubakar’s call for prayer.

    Prayers, he said, would go a long way to stem the rot in the society.

    Alhaji Akinola described prayers as tools to drive away evil.

    There were symbolic distribution of cheques and materials worth N90 million before the presentation of the awards.

    Guests stretched their necks to watch as big plaques were presented to the awardees while Sultan Abubakar got a giant frame, customised in his name.

    Prince Olagunju thanked the guests for coming, while the Grand Mufti, Sharia Panel of the foundation, Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’I said the closing prayer.

  • Police parade eight suspected robbers

    Abia State Police Command has paraded eight suspected armed robbers.

    It said it would not allow hoodlums to operate during and after the Yuletide.

    Speaking in Umuahia, Commissioner of Police Usman Tilli Abubakar said two men, who rob at Umuire waterside, have been arrested by his men.

    He said the suspects, Ikenna Chukwu, 23, of Aha village in Orlu East Local Government Area of Imo State and Ndubisi Emmanuel, 24, of Nkpa village in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, were arrested with three locally-made pistols, cartridges and two tricycles with registration numbers HAF 373 AQ and QR 956 MBA.

    Abubakar said the third suspect, Pa-Kings, escaped, adding that the police had launched a manhunt for him.

    He said the police also arrested three suspected robbers at Amaeke in Umuahia.

    The commissioner gave two of their names as Moses Chimezie Amuchionu of Isingu Mbutu in Osisioma Local Government and Kelvin Chinedu Goodluck of Umuchi in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government.

    Abubakar said they were apprehended with one black Toyota Camry with registration number LSD 478 BT.

    He said the suspects said they stole the car in Aba.

    The police boss said his men recovered another Toyota Camry with number plate DQ 231 DBU from Chibueze Friday of Ihie Umuduru in Osisioma Local Government, with one locally-made pistol, a master key and documents of snatched cars.

    He also paraded three other robbery suspects robbers, including Azubike Udugbor of Amuzu Olokoro, Umuahia. After interrogation, the suspect led the police to Okwu Olokoro where Chimezie Chimbo and Ugonna Ndubisi were arrested.

    A locally-made double barrel shotgun and a locally-made single barrel long gun were recovered from them.

    Abubakar displayed three AK 47 rifles and one military rifle, which were recovered in a buried bag.

    “After examination, we found out that two of the AK 47 rifles were those snatched from Inspectors Jimmy John and Kingsley Etuk, who were killed on the Aba/Enugu Expressway by hoodlums.”

    He said the suspects would be charged to court after the investigation.

  • Police parade guard who stole church’s N13m

    A 35-year old security guard, Mr Pius Edward, has been paraded by the Oyo State Police Command for stealing N13 million from the office of the Bishop of an Anglican Church in Ibadan, the state capital, where he worked.

    He was paraded recently along with his wife, Fausat, and his mother in-law.

    The state’s Police Commissioner, Mr Mohammed Indabawa, explained that the suspect burgled the Bishop’s office where the huge sum was kept and thereafter fled to a hotel in Okada village in Ogun State where he lodged with his family with the assistance of an immigration officer attached to Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

    The police boss said the immigration officer, whose name he did not disclose, was fully aware of the source of the money, assisted Edward and his family to procure travelling documents to Dubai.

    But the suspect, during investigation, was arrested at Idi-Iroko border town in Ogun State. When searched, a cash sum of N656,000 and $2,300 were recovered from him.

    Other items recovered from him, according to the police boss, are a black Honda Accord saloon car and a blue Mitsubushi Gallant saloon car. Both were unregistered.

    While speaking with The Nation, the suspect confessed to the crime, saying he was propelled by the devil.

    But Edward dismissed police claim on the amount stolen, saying he stole only N2.5 million though he agreed that the cars and some hard currencies were recovered from him.

    “The money I stole is not up to N13 million as being claimed by the police. I only stole N2.5 million from the Bishop’s office. I immediately fled to my mother in-law in Ogun State with my wife.  My wife and mother in-law did not know anything about the money. I did not even tell my wife about it. My mother in-law warned me to return the money when I told her I stole the money. I did not even tell her the exact amount; I told her it was just N300,000”, he said.

    Also paraded by the police were five persons arrested in connection with the cultivation of Indian hemp. About 458 bags of the illegal substance were recovered from them.

    The drugs were loaded in three buses and one Volvo car when the police stormed the farm located at Eleja village along Akanran in Ona Ara Local Government Area of the state and apprehended them.

    Indabawa gave the names of the suspect arrested as Stephen Osanwe, Peter Frank, John Ugoh, Macauley Akanno and George Elvis.

     

  • A parade of jokers

    SIR: Looking at most Nigerian politicians is like watching a parade of jokers.  They remind one of children running around during festivals in the village square being chased by overweight masquerades.  The exercise is for jest.  There is no far sight of a visionary hungering for a new direction.  The level of buffoonery will make it shocking to find one that can articulate his or her mandate.   Except for a few who are starting to appreciate the decency of democracy, others are gesturing like thugs in the motor park.

    The obvious desire of most Nigerian politicians is to crash the elite circle.  It is party time all the time.  It makes it understandable why some are willing to literarily spill blood to push down the wall of the exclusive club to gain membership.  Leaders who fought for Nigeria’s independence must be questioning their ambition in their graves.  Their tireless struggle to uproot the feet of the colonial masters from the Nigerian soil may appear in vain.  Their vision has been turned upside down from one form of exploitation to another.

    There is a glaring disparity between the leaders who fought for Nigeria’s independence and those who inherited the fruit of their labour.  Nationalism was at the core of the pioneers’ agenda.  Individualism drives most of the modern politicians.  Without fear of being anachronistic, the political forebears were puritanical in their struggle for the progress of the nation.  Compare their patriotism with that of some of today’s politicians who cannot seem to syphon enough of the nation’s wealth to their private accounts.

    The crop of new politicians leading the country reminds one of the spoiled children of the rich.  The flow of oil like a river and the abundance of other natural resources assure steady flow of liquidity to the nation.  The leaders are easily carried away by the surplus wealth that they lose sight and fall into the habit of squandering money as if they are monarchs.  The eyes of destitution look at them and wonder if the land of green belongs to every Nigerian.  Overcome by materialism, they stomp on the poor masses as if they are grass.  They appease them with platitudes and crummy projects without completion.

    The snail pace of advancement makes one ponder if the nation is cursed.  Nigerians have grown accustomed to politicians wobbling in glutton.  The leaders exhaust themselves with jolly, lifting the condition of the country is not their priority.  An Igbo adage says that every iron must go to the blacksmith.  The politicians and their cronies live in homes that look like maximum security prisons and move around with squads of armed officers for protection.  One may assume this infringement on personal freedom is of their making from not using their authority to appropriately distribute the nation’s immense resources.

    Government is not working in Nigeria for all.  The rich use their money to influence politicians to cushion them.  The poor resign to a life of frustration from lack of social amenities to insecurity.  Most of the world envies American system of government not because it is perfect.  Their constitution is grounded in the pursuit of happiness for all.  The classic definition of civilization requires that a nation should endeavor to make the betterment of its people paramount.  Can one say that is happening in Nigeria?

     

    • Pius Okaneme

    Umuoji, Anambra State.

  • Police parade kidnap suspects

    Two persons suspected to be the mastermind of the kidnapping of three primary school female teachers at Ekenwan village, Edo State, were yesterday paraded by the police command.

    The teachers were released after spending 14 days in captivity.

    One of the suspect is the Chairman of Ekenwan Community Development Association, Morrison Oyibo, who allegedly bought the guns used for the kidnapping.

    The other suspect, Ebimene Puwano, was said to have been arrested when attempting to collect his share of the ransom.

    Oyibo said he bought the guns from 54-year-old Joseph Otor, a blacksmith, gun manufacturer and gun repairer.

    Police Commissioner Foluso Adebanjo said the suspects were arrested immediately the teachers were released.

    He said measures have been put in place to check crimes, adding that the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.

     

  • Police parade murder, robbery suspects

    The police in Ekiti State yesterday paraded Mr. Daramola Adewale for allegedly beating his wife to death during a fight at Igbemo-Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government Area.

    Daramola, who reportedly buried his wife in a shallow grave in his family home after she died, went into hiding, but was fished out by residents of the town.

    Police spokesman Victor Olu-Babayemi said pathologists from the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital were conducting a post-mortem.

    He said based on the statements of the deceased’s two children, Daramola allegedly killed his wife with a plank after a disagreement.

    The suspect, however, denied this when reporters spoke to him. He claimed that the deceased became ill a few weeks to her death.

    The police also paraded Jimoh Akinbode, 20 and Mudashiru Ayodeji, 27, for alleged robbery. They were reportedly arrested in an uncompleted building in Iropora-Ekiti. Musa Adamu, 23, was arrested at Sabo, Ikole-Ekiti. Two others are at large.

    Others paraded included Ojo Ibikunle, 23, Kingsley Sunday, 22 and Akinyemi Lawrence, 16, who were arrested on Olokuta Road in Ado-Ekiti during a robbery. Abiodun Dayo, 20 and Ifanyi Ughamadu, 21, were also paraded.

    Aladejebi Tomiwa, a 200-level student of Estate Management, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State, was arrested in Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti with a black nylon bag containing the one short axe and a mask. He confessed that he belonged to Black Axe cult.

    Olu-Babayemi, who conducted the parade, said those accused of armed robbery terrorised the residents of Olaoluwa, Sinmiloluwa, Adebayo, Federal and State Housing Estates in Ado-Ekiti for a long time.

  • Pomp at Lagos parade, rally

    It was, indeed, a day for the children of Lagos state as they were the centre of focus at the state Children’s Day parade and rally held at the state police college parade grounds, Ikeja.

    The opening prayer was said by Aladenike Esther, the assistant head girl of Girls grammar school, Ikoyi while the welcome address was delivered by Shadeko Adejuwon, a 17-year-old SSS 3 pupil of Agidingbi senior grammar School, Ikeja.

    In his welcome address, Shadeko who represented all children in Lagos, said the over five million children in Lagos were grateful to the government for the increased infrastructural development and facilities in schools, ading that they have improved their teaching and learning environment.”We have every reason to rejoice, thank you for your vision and selfless services to mankind.”

    Pledging to read their books and pass exams, Shadeko promise that they would win all prizes when they go for competitions outside the state.

    He called on parents to support the governor by checking their books daily and attend the Parent-Teacher Forum always.

    He said he enjoyed being a child because he got preferential treatment. “You are treated like a novice. You are guided always but an adult is left on his own because it is assumed that he knows many things already. I really enjoy being a child. I will miss my childhood when I become an adult,” he added.

    In his speech, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) charged the children to work very hard in the next WASSCE and make at least 70 per cent pass in Maths and English. “You did well in the last WASSCE as we had a 37 per cent pass in Maths and English, but I want you to double that and make it 70 per cent in the next WASSCE. Your teachers and parents are very proud of you.”

    He told them that the efforts made by some bad people to harm them would not be possible if the children stay safe. “Stay safe by refusing to take things from strangers, stay safe by refusing to take vehicles that are not painted in the state colour or have registration numbers, don’t take marijuana or alcohol, don’t join cult. You can join the boys scout, girls brigade, power kids club, climate change club, road safety club and obey your parents.

     

     

     

     

  • Police parade ‘fraudsters’, ‘tanker snatchers’

    The police in Oyo State yesterday paraded three suspected members of a syndicate specialising in defrauding persons seeking visa to the United States (US) and Britain.

    Three suspected members of a gang that hijacked a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of diesel were also paraded.

    The suspected leader of the gang, Adegboyega Adepoju (55), allegedly duped people of over N2 million.

    A pastor, Mr. Ayoola Popoola, said Adepoju came to a mountain where his congregation was praying and gave a testimony that he had been praying for a transfer to Ireland and the Lord had done it.

    Adepoju allegedly claimed that he was the chief accountant of the United States’ Embassy in Nigeria.

    Popoola said Adepoju claimed that he got a phone call that he had been transferred after praying on the mountain.

    The suspect allegedly announced that he would help anyone who wanted a job at the embassy or wanted to travel to the US or Britain because he had great influence at the embassy.

    Popoola said six people fell for the deceit and gave Adepoju N460,000 to help process their papers.

    He said Adepoju gave his victims employment letters and identity cards bearing the embassy’s letterhead.

    The pastor said Adepoju wooed a young widow in the congregation, who introduced him to her family, who desired a job at the embassy or wanted to travel to the US.

    The suspect allegedly duped them of over N2 million.

    Popoola said: “He used many tricks to dupe people. He used something relevant to you to dupe you. He also bears different names, including Ibikunle, Kolapo Adewusi, Haruna Akeem and Adeagbo. He appeared in corporate dresses, making it difficult for people to doubt him.”

    Items recovered from the gang include an international passport, letters of employment, six ID cards and several passport photographs of victims.

    When interviewed by reporters, Adepoju confessed to the crime. He said he was a former staff of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), adding that he left the organisation voluntarily in 1998.

    He said he has friends living abroad who send him the invitation letters he gives to his victims.

    Adepoju said he has duped no fewer than 14 people.

    He was paraded with Atofarati Daniel and Bankole Shina.

    The suspects who hijacked a petrol tanker, marked YB 958 EPE, were arrested Saturday morning at Bethel Petrol Station in Olomi, Ibadan.

    Police Commissioner Mohammed Ndabawa said the tanker was snatched on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around 2am on Saturday and the suspects were arrested later in the day while trying to sell its content.

    The suspects are Sambaliyu Yusuf, Kabiru Akinsola and the manager of the petrol station, Babafem Alaba.

    The two cases are being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department.

  • Police parade suspected house help robbers

    THE Lagos State Police Command has smashed a syndicate which specialised in using house helps, and other domestic servants to seal their employers’ properties.

    It was gathered that the domestic servants, who are also members of the gang, are planted in the houses of wealthy clients. They monitor and dispossess of their valuables estimated millions of naira.

    Three of the suspects Freedom Maddy James (25,) her husband Maddy James (30) and Hassan Bawa (55) who allegedly stole jewelries worth over N20million have been paraded by the police.

    Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who paraded the suspects said they were arrested following a victim’s report at Area ‘F’ Ikeja.

    She said: “On the October 3, 2012, at about 2pm, one Mrs. Monday David (not real name) reported at Area ‘F’ Command Headquarters, Ikeja that on September 20, 2012 while she was looking for a house help, one John and Joseph Obong brought one lady simply identified as Rejoice to work for her. The complainant alleged that Rejoice only worked for two days and disappeared.

    “She complained to John and Joseph who brought another house help whose name was given as Comfort. She worked for only a day, ransacked the complainant’s house and stole her gold jewelleries worth about N20million and vanished. The case was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Command Headquarters, Ikeja on October 5, 2012 for further investigation”, Braide explained.

    She said with the assistance of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ikoyi Police Station, Aisha Haruna, a Superintendent (SP), James was arrested for allegedly stealing and selling jewelleries worth over N20million to Hassan Bawa for N1 3million.

    Braide said the group and others at large specialised in gaining employment as house help or driver with fake names, addresses, fake guarantors and phone numbers to rob their employers.

  • Police parade ‘killers’ of Kano lawmakers

    Detectives from the Kano State Police Command have arrested seven suspected assassins, who allegedly killed two members of the House of Assembly for N100,000.

    The slain lawmakers are: Danladi Isah Kademi and Abba Garko.

    Parading the suspects yesterday at the command headquarters in Bompai, Kano, Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris told reporters that they were arrested following a tip-off.

    Idris identified six of the suspects as: Ibrahim Lawal (22), of Layin Yarbawa, Unguwa Uku Quarters; Abdullahi (aka Mabo) of Fillin Kashew, Unguwa Uku Quarters and Sagir Yahaya of Farin Masallachi, Unguwa Uku Quarters.

    Others are: Surajo Adamu of Layin Tazarce, Unguwa Uku Quarters; Tasiu Shuaibu of Layin Yarubawa; Ashiru Mohammed of Layin Yarbawa; Unguwa Uku Quarters and Mohammed Abdusallam of Layin Tazarce Quarters, Kano.

    The police chief said the suspects confessed to committing the crime.

    He said they were sponsored by a 54-year-old Alhaji, who lives in Layin Yarbawa, Unguwa Uku Quarters.

    The suspects, Idris explained, bargained with their suspected sponsor to kill Kademi for N100,000.

    The police chief said only N30,000 had been paid to the suspects; the N70,000 balance was being awaited before their arrest.

    He said the gang leader and five accomplices are still at large.

    According to him, the principal suspect, Lawal, confessed to holding a series of meetings on how to kill the two lawmakers with the suspected sponsor at the car park in his home.

    Idris also said Garko was in the company of the suspected sponsor, with whom he prayed at Yan Awaki, before he was killed by Lawal and his gang.

    He said: “Investigations revealed that the name and GSM contact number of Alhaji was discovered in Lawal’s cell phone as well as different call logs between the duo. These clearly corroborate a grand criminal conspiracy between them.”

    The police command said it was on the trail of the fleeing suspects.

    Idris said they would be charged to court.

    Several other suspects were paraded for alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism, intimidation by anonymous communication and armed robbery.