The Nation Newspaper

Tag: relocate

  • ‘Female lawyer billed to relocate to UK the day she killed husband’

    A Lagos High Court, Igbosere heard yesterday that the female lawyer, Udeme Otike-Odibi, was billed to relocate to the United Kingdom (UK) the day she allegedly killed her husband, Symphorosa Otike-Odibi, because of the frosty relationship between them.

    Her close friend, Mrs Mureen Offor, who is the fourth prosecution witness, made this known yesterday at the resumed proceeding of the court in her trial.

    She was led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, before Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

    Mrs Offor told the court that in the early hours of May 3, at about 12:04 am, she received a text message from Udeme that she had done something terrible. That she could no longer take it anymore.

    Offor, who was praying at the time the message dropped on her phone, said she abandoned the prayer and sent a message back to her that “I thought we have packed your things for the trip and have talked about the issues before. I thought we agreed that we should not take any action until later.”

    “Our agreement was that you should first travel and take care of your health, and  come back later to address the relationship with your husband and see if the marriage will work out,” because she has thyroid issues”..

    The witness said the defendant sent her a second message that said: “I have tried”.

    At this stage, she said she stopped praying and started calling her, but that she didn’t respond, adding that that must have been around 12:08 am.

    Offor said when she finished praying  around 12:30am, she sent Udeme another message that read: “‘You are not answering me.’ I sent again, she didn’t respond then I went to bed.”

    The witness said at about 4am, she received a call from the defendant’s mother informing her that Udeme and Symphorosa had been fighting, and she was worried and wanted to know whether she should come to Lagos.

    “I told her that Udeme was billed to travel to the UK that morning. That she should wait and let me make calls to know what was going on. I wanted to call Udeme’s sister, whom she was to live with in the UK, but I didn’t have her number. Then I tried an intimate friend of ours to ask if she had Udeme’s  sister’s number, but she said no.

    “I then called Symphorosa’s younger brother, Andrew. That was around past 5am, he didn’t pick, so I kept trying Udeme’s number. Then Andrew called and I apologised for calling him that early, he said he thought it was a mistake.

    “I told him that I received a call from Udeme’s mum, he said he also received a similar call from his mum the previous day that Udeme and Symphorosa were fighting, so he said they are adults and should be able to resolve their issues,” Offor said.

    Offor said she and Andrew were saying she had a flight to catch. That she ought to have gone to the airport as it was getting late. Then Andrew said he had already arranged for transportation for her.

    According to the witness “after I ended Andrew’s call, Udeme’s mum called and she was hysterical that Symphorosa was dead. I started screaming. I wasn’t hearing what she was saying anymore, it was my husband that came to collect the phone from me.

    “My husband received the call from Udeme’s mother that Symphorosa was dead and Udeme was taken to hospital. She said she called Anwuli, Symphorosa’s sister, so I got her number from Udeme’s mum and called her. She said her brother is dead and Udeme has been taken to hospital.”

    The witness further said there was a certain time the defendant told her that she wasn’t happy the way she was being treated, adding that she didn’t feel that Symphorosa was concerned about her health challenge.

    “She had returned from the UK before Easter and we saw. She said Symphorosa wasn’t eating at home, so she didn’t bother to cook his food. I then advised her to be cooking for him even if it’s a small portion.

    “On May 2  I saw Udeme, she had called me in the morning and asked me to come and assist her in packing her things, so I drove to their home at Diamond Estate, Shangotedo. We packed all the things she needed for the trip and we went to get some things from Shoprite and also watched a movie.”

    Offor, who said she had known the defendant since 1992 when they were both employed by Diamond Bank, added that she was also her chief bridesmaid when she wedded in 1996.

    She said that since they met in 1992, they had been close friends, adding that she also knew the deceased back in their university days at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

    “I had known the deceased for over 30 years. We met at UNIBEN and he was my elder brother’s friend and was even my elder brother’s best man when he weeded in 1998,

    ” The deceased and the defendant got married in October 2014. I attended their wedding, I was aware that they were having issues in their marriage and Udeme wasn’t happy. I knew because she confided in me late last year that she was travelling to the UK. That she wanted to take some time off,” she said.

    During cross examination by the defendant’s counsel, Mr Oluseye Bamgbose, the witness said the defendant was a very peaceful person and that for the 26 years that she had known her, she had never seen her in any argument with anybody.

    Justice Akintoye adjourned the case till October 30 for continuation of trial.

     

  • Bonded terminals get 21-day ultimatum to relocate

    Lagos State Government has given 21–day ultimatum to owners of bonded terminals in Ajegunle in Ajeromi-Ifelodun area to vacate their current locations.

    Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Prince Rotimi Ogunleye also gave owners of the trailers parked on various streets in Ajegunle and Olodi-Apapa to vacate the streets within 48 hours.

    He said the bonded terminals are located in the areas designated for residential, saying their operations are in conflict with the state’s Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law.

    He said the illegal citing of the terminals had disrupted the socio-economic activities of Ajegunle and environs.

    Ogunleye in company of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Yinka Akinrinde had earlier met the owners of the terminals in the office of Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal at the State Police Command, Ikeja.

    Companies affected by the deadline include Don Climax Bonded Terminals which has three of the sealed site and Queena Bonded Terminals.

  • Relocate police and prisons HQ in Awka

    Sir: During the British colonial era, certain important institutions of colonial administration were located on the outskirts of the communities under the British occupation as a matter of deliberate policy both for administrative convenience and security. This policy was adopted throughout Nigeria until independence in 1960.

    Some of the major colonial institutions include the Nigeria Police Force, courts, and prison services.

    However, since the attainment of independence, the then regional governments thought it wise and expedient to promptly re-locate these government institutions to more conducive environments as a result of rapid urbanization and population explosion. The advent of the present state structure compelled many state governments to follow the footsteps of the erstwhile regional governments.

    This write-up essentially is a clarion call to the Anambra State government to take urgent and decisive action to re-locate two federal establishments within the Awka Capital Territory namely: the Nigeria Police State Command Headquarters as well as the Nigeria Prisons Services State Headquarters both presently located at Amawbia along the ever busy Nnamdi Azikiwe Avenue in the heart the capital territory.

    The two establishments have lately constituted themselves as clogs in the wheel of progress to Anambrarians especially the motoring public who daily suffer untold hardship and trauma consequent upon the permanent closure of one lane of the ever busy dual carriage way that traversed the capital territory.

    This important urban road is often completely closed to the public by police authorities during important events with attendant restriction of movements within the axis of the Police State High Command Headquarters at Amawbia.

    As the 2019 general elections are fast approaching, the people of Anambra State are set yet again for another period of untold hardship when the Police High Command will begin to mobilize their men and materials for the elections. Expectedly all the access roads or routes leading to the police headquarters will be sealed off completely to the general public especially vehicular movements ostensibly on security grounds.

    It is worthy of mention that the Anambra State government in recent past took prompt and wise action in relocating of the state command headquarters of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) from its former location along the ever busy Amawbia single lane by-pass to its present expansive and serene environment along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway. It should take a similar action in respect of the police headquarters and the prisons state headquarters. Both should be moved to more conducive and serene environments in the overall interest of Ndi-Anambra.

     

    • Nze Nwabueze Akabogu (JP) Enugwu-Ukwu Anambra State.

  • Govt urges residents on Ogun River to relocate

    Lagos State Government has advised residents living along the plains of Ogun River to be on the alert and take necessary precautions as the management of  Oyan Dam has commenced seasonal water releases from the dam.

    Commissioner for the Environment Babatunde Adejare explained that the controlled water releases from the dam was a pragmatic approach of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority to prevent overflow and possible integrity failure of the Oyan Dam, which could spell doom for people around the catchment area of the river basin.

    Adejare stressed that the controlled release of water from the Oyan Dam was the outcome of the collaboration between the state and the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority to forestall possible collapse of the dam.

    “The controlled water releases have become expedient as a result of the weather forecast and the continuous heavy rainfall, which is likely to resume later in the month,” he said.

    He, therefore, advised those residing along plains of Ogun river in Lagos State such as Ajegunle, Owode-Onirin axis, Owode-Elede, Isheri North, Ogolonto, Irawo, etc., to be careful and take precautionary measures, which may include vacating their residences temporarily.

    He urged people in these areas not to hesitate moving to higher grounds once they notice gradual accumulation of rising water as the state is not ready to lose any life during the period. He stressed that the advice must be re-echoed before the rain begins to put those concerned on the alert.

    He emphasised that primary and secondary channels in the state are being maintained and dredged to contain flood related challenges that may occur.

    Adejare urged Lagosians to be safety conscious during this period and take safety measures such as avoiding going out during the rains except only when  necessary, and be conscious when driving and not to overspeed.

  • Ogun community to relocate 304 years old drums, others

    THE Alaye Ode of Ode-Remo in Remo North Local Government of Ogun State, Oba Adetunji Osho, yesterday, said he would relocate the town’s valuable artefacts to a safer haven for posterity.

    The monarch, who spoke to reporters in Ode-Remo, preparatory to the inauguration of his palace, added that the culture and tradition of a people should be protected from extinction.

    According to him, the need for ‘’safety” of the “artefacts,” among other things, informed building of phase 1 of a new palace.

    The traditional Prime Minister (Lisa) of Ode Remo, Chief Richard Olubodun, said the 304-year-old drums, the Alaye’s two original crowns, among others, would be taken to a safer location.

    Olubodun noted that the “crowns, which are venerated and adorned on occasions because of their place in Ode Remo traditional institution, are jealously guarded from the public”.

  • Lagos to relocate Olusosun, other dumpsites

    The Lagos State Government  plans to relocate dumpsites in the city.

    The Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota and Solos dumpsite will be shut by the end of the year, to pave way for a new waste management regime  from January 1, next year.

    The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, broke the news last Tuesday during the monthly media parley in his Alausa, Ikeja office.

    According to Adejare, the new waste management regime will be “holistic and cover every aspect of waste management.”

    The Nation gathered that the effort is part of the ministry’s master plan  to re-engineer waste management in the state.

    Adejare said the state has  declared a “final zero tolerance” for violations of environmental laws especially those infringing on the right of way- either of the roads,  walkways, rail lines and drainage channels. The  government, the commissioner said, would demolish all illegal structures and attachments outside  designated markets to ensure free flow of storm water and  avert flooding.

    With its ever-rising population, Lagos,  he said, could not afford to compromise safety by allowing obstructions of access to markets, rail lines, roads and drainages. To do otherwise would amount to allowing flood  water to stagnate and cause malaria and other diseases, the commissioner said.

    He warned that it would no longer be business as usual for street traders who  obstruct traffic, commit heinous crimes and endanger public safety, adding that street trading does not befit the hard-earned reputation of the state.  He regrets that street traders and hawkers, Adejare said had been degrading the environment, parks and gardens, as well as encouraging crimes and  causing traffic gridlocks.

    “Our state is a centre of excellence and we shall not allow a few  unscrupulous groups or persons that indiscriminately dump refuse on our  roads and blocks our drainages to go without stiff sanctions. Their habits portend dire consequences for our health, traffic, safety and  security of our people,” he said, adding that  the buyers and sellers would face  the same sanctions.

    The government the commissioner said, was aware that people must make a living, but this should not be at the expense of the lives  of others.

    He said fines, seizure of goods, non-custodian penalties community service involving washing of public  toilets, cutting of grass, sweeping of roads, cleaning of drains and carting away of refuse to dump sites were some of the proposed.

  • Relocate from Kogi, Bello warns kidnappers

    Relocate from Kogi, Bello warns kidnappers

    Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello has declared war on kidnappers and cultists in the state. He warned kidnappers and other undesirable elements to relocate.

    The governor spoke at the weekend in Lokoja following the abduction of the traditional ruler of Elete community in Ajaokuta local government area, Chief Aminu Ahmed.

    The monarch was reportedly kidnapped last Friday by suspected hoodlums on the Ajaokuta-Lokoja road while returning from Adogo around 9pm.

    Governor Bello noted that efforts to reduce crime were yielding positive result, and vowed to ensure that those behind the dastardly acts are fished out and prosecuted.

    Bello, who hinted that he donated 12 operational vehicles to the law enforcement agencies to combat crime, urged them to step up action by embarking on the aggressive manhunt of criminals.

    He admonished communities to be vigilant and report suspicious activities to the law enforcement agencies.

  • Diezani plots to relocate from UK

    Diezani plots to relocate from UK

    Embattled ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke,  is on the verge of leaving her present abode in the United Kingdom for the Commonwealth of Dominica  where she reportedly acquired the citizenship.

    Mrs.Alison-Madueke  is currently  under investigation  in Britain for alleged corruption while in office.

    Investigators in the UK and  Nigeria were shocked by the discovery that she had secretly  acquired the citizenship of the small Caribbean country  of only 72,000 people.

    But sources in the UK said  the National Crime Agency (NCA) was already  keeping monitoring   her movement.

    It was learnt that the lid was blown open by some anti-corruption and civil society groups in the UK.

    Alison-Madueke’s  new  citizenship was confirmed in a May 29, 2015 approval letter by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit,according to a document obtained by one of the groups.

    The  letter also claimed that the ex-Minister has been  appointed  that country’s  Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Republic.

    Although the letter indicated that the appointment was without salary package, she is expected to help in promoting and marketing Dominica as a trade and investment domicile.

    In the diplomatic passport, DP0000445, the Dominican Government said Diezani should be allowed to “pass freely without let or hindrance and afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.”

    Issued on May 21, 2015, the diplomatic passport is expected to expire on May 20, 2020.

    The granting of citizenship to the ex-Minister, whose passport indicated was born on 6th of December, 1960,  has attracted diplomatic concerns.

    “I think the NCA is suspecting that she acquired the citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominica with the intent to relocate to this country. This has opened a fresh bend into our investigation,” a source said last night.

    “It is not impossible that she had planned to escape to Dominica ahead  of the inauguration of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari because her appointment ought to be effective from June 1, 2016 for an initial period of three years.

    “She has been placed under stricter surveillance in the light of the latest development.

    “While the diplomatic aspect is being handled by the appropriate quarters, I can tell you that the NCA is collaborating with many agencies to bring her to account for any allegation against her.

    “The NCA  is conducting extensive investigation into the oil deals during the tenure of Diezani, irrespective of her ongoing treatment for cancer.”

    The International Corruption Unit (ICU) of NCA on October 2 arrested Diezani and four others.

    All the suspects are being investigated  for alleged bribery and money laundering.

    “On Friday, October 2, the National Crime Agency’s recently formed International Corruption Unit arrested five people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering offences.

    “All five people arrested were released on conditional police bail later that evening, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas.

    The investigation commenced in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit and transferred to the NCA earlier this year.”

    The Press and Public Relations Officer of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. Joe Abuku, had said: “Five people between the age range of 21 and 60 years were arrested by the NCA for bribery and corruption, but they have not given us the details of those involved.”

    The EFCC also raided the posh Asokoro residence of  the ex-minister  and retrieved some documents and expensive jewellery.

    One of the clues on the ex-Minister which the EFCC is looking into is the alleged spending of $6.9 million to buy three 40-feet mobile stages for use during mass public speaking events.

    The cost of the  stages was  allegedly inflated and  there is no evidence  yet  that any stage was purchased at all.

    It was learnt that the process of procurement of the three mobile stages was neither known to extant Nigerian laws and due process regulations, nor were the offices of the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General of the Federation in the know.

  • Jonathan’s kinsmen protest plot to relocate project

    •Youths threaten war

    Youths and kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday protested an alleged plot by the Nigeria Content Management Development Board (NCMDB) to relocate a project in one of their communities.

    NCMDB was said to have acquired land at Emeyal community during the administration of Jonathan to establish an  Oil and Gas Park.

    But following the exit of the President, some “forces” were said to have mounted pressure on the content board to move the project to another local government area.

    Sources said some people working for the state government   were making moves to take the project  to Toru-Orua, Governor Seriake Dickson’s community in Sagbama Local Government Area; others said the governmrnt had nothing to do with the moves.

    Investigation showed that the move to relocate the project unsettled Ogbia; various youth groups have been threatening a showdown.

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ogbia clans, Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), the Ogbia Brotherhood and Emeyal Youth Group have held a series of meetings on the matter.

    They were said to have written a protest letter to the Executive Secretary of the agency’s board, warning against any plot to divert the project.

    The letter was signed by IYC Chairman for Ogbia clans, Osaanya B. Osaanya; President, Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC), Daziba Apiri; Secretary-General, NDYM, Isaac Amakuro; President, Emeyal Youth Group (EYG), Victor Otobo and the National Union of Ogbia Students (NUOS).

    In the letter, the stakeholders expressed appreciation about the decision of the agency’s board to locate the oil and gas park in Ogbia, the local government area where oil was first struck in commercial quantity in Nigeria.

    They expressed concerns over speculations that the board was under pressure to move the project to another local government area.

    They said: “Ogbia youths want to inform the board that the project is welcome in Ogbia and advise the board to remain resolute to the Act that established it and keep politics out of its operations.

    “Ogbia youths will resist any attempt from any quarters, no matter how highly placed the individual may be, to remove the oil gas park out of Ogbia because the project stands to develop Ogbia and its environs.

    “It is an established fact that the board has acquired a portion of land in Emeyal community in Ogbia and pray for the board to continue the project in Ogbia.”

  • Beyonce, Jay Z relocate to L.A

    Beyonce, Jay Z relocate to L.A

    After losing a choice estate to a higher bidder in Los Angeles, singing couple – Beyonce and Jay Z – remain resolute with their decision to relocate to the Hollywood city. Although they are yet to get another place, they are currently living in a hotel in Beverly Hills, and have enrolled their daughter, Blue Ivy, in school, while looking for an estate to buy on the Westside of L.A.

    Reports say they have already discreetly looked at a number of homes, but so far, none fit the bill. However, the tuition for three-year-old Ivy, for a toddler program at an elite private school is put at $15,080 a year.

    In their determination to move, Ivy was admitted halfway through the school year, which is unusual, as the school generally accepts students at the beginning of the school year.

    As for why they are moving, sources connected with the couple say they want “a change in lifestyle.” It will be recalled that Bey and Jay spent the summer in a $200K a month rental, near Beverly Hills.

    There are indications they will keep their New York home.

    The couple lost their first choice to a former Minecraft mastermind, Markus Persson, who swooped in andsealed the deal for $70M.