The Nation Newspaper

Tag: release

  • Kidnap victim dies three days after release

    A 65-year-old kidnap victim, Mr. Paul Odili Chima, has died three days after he was released by kidnapers.

    The late Chima, who was the Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN) and President of Aboh Development Union (ADU), was abducted in Asaba, the Delta State capital, by gunmen.

    He was freed one week later, after N1.5 million was reportedly paid as ransom.

    It was gathered that the victim complained of pains, following the torture he was subjected to by his captors.

    A close family source said: “Elder Chima died three days after his release by the kidnappers. Before his death, he complained of pains all over his body and was nursing a gunshot wound that was inflicted on him by his abductors.”

    There has been an upsurge of abductions in Delta State lately, with the kidnap of former Super Eagles’ mid-fielder, Christain Obodo; Commissioner for Higher Education Prof. Hope Eghagha and the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya, among others.

     

  • MOC YET TO RELEASE ATHLETES’ ACCREDITATION LIST

    MOC YET TO RELEASE ATHLETES’ ACCREDITATION LIST

    THE LOCAL Organising Committee (LOC) for the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos has assured stakeholders that the names of accredited athletes and officials would soon be made public.

    The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that less than 15 days to the Games, the Main Organising Committee (MOC) had yet to publish the list of participants. However, the MOC only concluded the Delegation Registration Meeting (DRM) on Sunday in Abuja, an innovation in the biennial competition.

    The meeting is where athletes and officials are entered for the Games and the ineligible ones have their names removed, to check mercenaries and two states entering one athlete.

    The Secretary of the Games Services and Secretariat, Deji Aladegbemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that the MOC had yet to release the list.

    “We are relying on the MOC for that all-important document. We have been working on assumptions in the provision of logistics and accommodation but believe that the document’s timely release will help us a lot in our planning,’’ he said.

    The Secretary said the LOC had made provision for athletes and officials based on their past experiences of the festival. He explained that the LOC would be responsible for the welfare of athletes, while state governments would cater for their officials.

    Meanwhile the Assistant Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, Fred Edore, told NAN that more than 400 journalists had been accredited and that more were still being expected.

    Edore, Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), said that their accreditation cards would be released three days before the Games.

  • Court orders release of ACN members

    Court orders release of ACN members

    An Akure High Court presided over by Justice B.F. Adeyeye has ordered that the two Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members arrested in the convoy of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the party’s governorship candidate, should be released.

    They were arrested on trumped-up charges of armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

    The ACN legal team led by an Akure lawyer and activist, Titiloye Charles and Victor Olatoyegun, had approached the High Court for bail of the accused persons. This was after a chief magistrate’s court had declined jurisdiction on the matter.

    It ordered that the two accused, Folagbade Dapo and Oluwasola Sunday, be remanded in Olokuta Prison.

    Akeredolu’s convoy was attacked by LP thugs on July 28, but instead of arresting the hoodlums, the police arrested ACN members.

    The case took a dramatic turn when the police anti-robbery squad withdrew from the case, arguing that it was not properly investigated and should be jettisoned. The Attorney-General, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), took over the case.

    He said the ACN members have a case to answer and issued a legal advice directing their trial for robbery.