The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Robert Egbe

  • 13,000 more CCTV cameras for Lagos roads

    13,000 more CCTV cameras for Lagos roads

    The Lagos State government has said it will install 13,000 more surveillance cameras around the metropolis to improve the Monitoring and Surveillance Unit of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

    The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr Adesina Tiamiyu disclosed this in a meeting on Tuesday with all the Heads of Emergency Response Team (ERT) at Alausa Secretaria.

    He said: “Over 13,000 Cameras will be installed in the major flash points across the State.

    “This means that the Agency, apart from calls from Lagosians to report emergency cases, analysts can adequately monitor from the Command and Control Centre activities across the State to activate emergency response where and when necessary. These combined efforts can only make Lagos safer.”

    The General Manager also disclosed that His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the establishment of additional three Dispatch centres at Lekki, Ikorodu Road and Badagry.

    “This will complement the existing dispatch points located at the LASEMA Response Unit, Cappa Oshodi and the Command and Control Centre, Alausa, thereby improving the response time of emergency management in the State,” he said.

    Mr. Tiamiyu also stated that the Agency is stepping up the activities of Monitoring and Surveillance Unit in preventing and mitigating against unnecessary loss of life and property.

    He added: “The operation will include monitoring and surveillance activities in domestic, industrial and public facilities in the state which is a paradigm shift from the orthodox strategy of waiting for emergency to occur and then respond,”

    He noted that this was a practical way to reduce emergency/disasters “thereby reducing the huge expenses borne by the state government on emergency intervention and relief assistance to victims of various emergencies in the State.”

    Tiamiyu urged the public to partner with the government in mitigating, preventing and reducing hazards, risks and vulnerability by ensuring that distress calls on emerging hazards and risks are relayed to the Agency through the toll-free line 112/767.

  • Turkish school: Police uncover kidnappers’ location, identities

    Turkish school: Police uncover kidnappers’ location, identities

    • Kidnappers’ families in Ondo, Delta, Edo contacted

    The police have discovered where the kidnappers who abducted 10 students and staff of the Nigerian Turkish International College are keeping their hostages, The Nation gathered on Tuesday.

    A top police source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the identities of the kidnappers had also been uncovered.

    The location, he added, was in the creeks, but detectives who were on the abductors’ trail could not on their own access the place for fear of endangering the captives.

    “We know the exact location in the creek where the children and members of staff are kept but we cannot storm the place because the lives of the children are in danger.

    “We would not make the mistake of attempting the creek because there is no how the kidnappers will not see us coming and they may end up killing their victims. We need the assistance of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian Army, who we think, have the wherewithal to penetrate the creek through the air,” he said.

    Another police source disclosed that the identities of the abductors were known.

    He said, “We have met with families and relatives of some of the kidnappers who are currently speaking with them. We have gone to Ondo, Delta and Edo States to consult with their families. I think the families are cooperating and are assisting us in talking to them.

    “But if this option fails, we will not have any other reason not to use our plan B, which we can’t disclose but will yield positive results. The identities are well known and they know we know them. But we are using wisdom for the sake of the innocent children.

    “We are not happy that they are playing with the lives of innocent children. They are taking the joke too far and the whole world is watching. The most annoying thing is that one of the students is a sickle cell anaemia patient and she is seriously sick at the moment.”

    Also, the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) yesterday urged the police to make a formal request for assistance in the rescue operation.
    NAF Director of Public Relations (DOPRI), Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, said: “This is not a problem. The police should go to the appropriate authorities and put their request forward to the Air Force. It is not an issue. They know the procedures.”

    Meanwhile, the school’s spokesperson, Cemal Yigit debunked insinuations that it had foreknowledge of the abduction.

    He said suggestions that the management of the school was not serious about security issues around the school were unfounded and that nobody warned the school authority before the kidnappers’ invasion.

    “No such information. It is false,  just rumors. Don’t give credit to such information. Like the victims, the school itself is a victim as well, so the security agencies are attending to the matter to the best of their capacities.”

    Gunmen stormed the school on Friday night and abducted 10 students and staff. They include a Turkish Mathematics teacher identified as Miss Deria; the House mistress, Miss Rashida Ibrahim and the cook identified as Miss Shekura.

    Others were female students, Rebecca Agu in Senior Secondary School (SSS) 2 Nwosu Teslie in Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1, Zainab Olatubosun in JSS 2, Rodia Amina and Aderitan Alnad, both scholarship students of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB and two unnamed persons.

    It was learnt on Monday that the kidnappers had reduced their demand of N1.2 billion ransom to N750 million.

    Relatives of the Nigerian victims were requested to pay N50 million each while N200 million was demanded as ransom for that of the Turkish Mathematics teacher, Miss Deria.

  • Photos: Court charges ex-Rep with stealing

    Photos: Court charges ex-Rep with stealing

    Former House of Rep member, Nze Chidi Duru, being led out of Court
    Former House of Rep member, Nze Chidi Duru, being led out of Court

     

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    [news_list display=”tag” tag=”Nze Duru” orderby=”popular” count=”5″ show_more=”on”]

  • We paid N15.1m to free Oniba – Witness

    We paid N15.1m to free Oniba – Witness

    • ‘Militants obtained ransom twice’

    The trial of four suspects in the kidnap of the traditional ruler of Iba Town, Oba Goriola Oseni, commenced yesterday at a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, with a revelation from two witnesses that the abductors allegedly obtained double ransom worth N15.1million.

    First to fourth defendants Duba Furejo, Ododowo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh were arraigned for the alleged offence before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on October 24.

    They are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, armed robbery, felony and kidnapping preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.

    At the commencement of proceedings Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), who led a team of counsel for the state, obtained leave of court to exclude the public from the trial.

    In an oral application, Kazeem alleged that the defendants were likely part of a criminal enterprise and that it would serve the interest of justice as well as the safety of the witnesses for the matter to be closed to the public.

    The court granted his request despite the objections of Chief Selowei Baidi for the first and second defendants, Mr J. O. Egwuaroje for the third defendant and fourth defendant counsel, Anthony Onwueze

    Justice Taiwo ruled there was nothing prejudicial about the application and assured the defence of a fair hearing. She ordered all journalists in court to identify themselves by their official Identification cards in order to be allowed to cover the proceedings.

    Led in examination by Kazeem, Oseni, 73, testified as the first prosecution witness and narrated how at about 8pm on July 16, he was kidnapped while watching TV in a room at the palace and held in captivity for three weeks in an unknown riverine camp.

    He described his abductors – about nine in number – as shirtless, heavily armed men wearing only black trousers and said they accosted him as he went to investigate a noise from his sitting room.

    “‘This is the king,’ the gunmen said. I said, ‘what can I do for you?’ Then they grabbed me. I was putting on only a boxer short because I was preparing to take a bath. My Oloris (Queens) came in and asked them where they were taking me to but they fled when the gunmen released bullets into the decking of the room,” Oseni told the court.

    He said the gunmen dragged him out of the palace and began shooting sporadically as they left the main gate, killing his security guard and a motorcyclist in the process. They also shot at one of his Oloris, he alleged.

    “They started pushing me and shouting ‘trek, trek’, till I fell and injured my arm. My toe nail was also forcibly removed, so they carried me,” Oseni said.

    The men, he continued, took him to a speedboat where he was driven away to a riverine camp with about 50 militants. The next day he was driven in another boat to a bigger camp with six houses and more of the militants.

    He pointed at the first, second and third defendants in the dock as being part of his alleged abductors, but explained that the fourth defendant was one those that used to visit the camp.

    He said they demanded N500million ransom but his family paid N12million and then another N3.1million to younger group within the kidnappers, totalling N15.1million following which he was released.

    “At my age, the second defendant abandoned me in a boat in the middle of a stream and asked me to paddle away. I managed to paddle the boat till I got to a place where I met some women. They told me I was at Iba Express Way. They bought me a T-shirt which I wore in my boxers and that’s what I wore to the palace,” he added.

    The Oba’s son Prince Kazeem, who testified as the second prosecution witness, said he delivered both ransom money of N12m and N3.1m to the militants at a canal near Igbehinadun in Iba.

    He said they negotiated the ransom from N500m to N40m but they couldn’t raise that amount, especially after the government refused to pay any ransom.

    The militants, Kazeem added, gave him directions to the drop off point on phone after warning him not to tell anyone.

    Justice Taiwo adjourned the case till November 18, for the continuation of the trial, following a request by the prosecution for time to present more witnesses.

    The defendants and others at large were accused of conspiring to commit the alleged offences on July 16, at the traditional ruler’s palace in Iba.

    They allegedly murdered ‎a security guard, Sunday Eniola Okanlawon and a commercial motorcyclist, Joseph Okeke and also attempted to murder the monarch’s wife, Olori Abosede Oseni.

    According to the charge, they also robbed Abosede of her mobile phone while armed with guns.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections ‎233, 230, 299, 297 (2) (b) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State C17, Vol 3 Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

  • African Peace Commission seeks good global relations

    The African Peace Commission has urged global leaders to create guidelines for good international relations that will preserve the world’s resources for future generations.

    In a statement on Thursday, the commission which represents ‘peace, love and progress’ said it was re-organising itself to “promote peace across the continents and to be a humanitarian partner by shedding light where there seems to be darkness”.

    It urged Africans to maintain their integrity, “embrace the fear of God” and also recommended the development of an African health community in all regions of the continent.

  • Alleged N22.8b fraud: Amosu, others’ trial stalled

    Alleged N22.8b fraud: Amosu, others’ trial stalled

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday adjourned till Monday the trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.) and 10 others, facing trial for an alleged fraud of N22.8billion.

    The court made the order following doubts cast by one of the defence counsel, Norrison Quakers (SAN) on the identity of an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), witness, Mr Mojeed Olatunji.

    Quakers demanded that Olatunji should produce his international passport.

    Olatunji, a compliance officer with Skye Bank Plc, had commenced his testimony before the court on Thursday and the court fixed Friday for his cross-examination.

    However, the proceedings were stalled when Quakers questioned the identity of the witness and demanded that he tendered his passport to prove that he was the same person that signed a letter he had earlier presented to the court.

    When the witness could not present the passport, the lawyer asked trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, to adjourn the case to enable the witness to produce the document.

    In spite of objections from prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, who argued that the development was a ploy by the defence to delay the matter, the judge granted the adjournment.

    According to the judge, it is in the interest of justice to grant the adjournment and though a trial must be conducted without unnecessary delay a defendant must be given enough time to defend himself.

    He, therefore, adjourned the case till Monday for the continuation of trial.

    Amosu was arraigned on June 29 this year by the EFCC alongside two senior serving Air Force officers, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga and seven companies.

    Companies named in the charge are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.

    The EFCC accused them of conspiracy, stealing, money laundering, concealing of proceeds of crime and conversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Airforce to their personal use around March 5, 2014, in Lagos.

    They were also accused of concealing “proceeds of crime” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).

    However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, a development which made the trial judge, Justice Idris to grant Amosun, Adigun and Olugbenga bail in the sum of N500m each with two sureties in like sum.

    The witness, Olatunji had told the court on Thursday that Skye Bank Plc received an enquiry from the anti-graft agency on January 30, 2916, demanding for the  Nigerian Air Force operational account, which the bank in return, furnished the Commission with the Account Opening Package that includes signatories to the account, mandate, and statement of account, customer’s instructions with some transaction in the account. The Certified True Copy (CTC) of these documents were tendered and admitted as exhibits.

    The EFCC’s witness also stated that on September 11, 2014, there was debit of N2409,367,700 billion, while on September 15, 2016, the sum of N959, 750, 015, was transferred from the Account to NAF Special Emergency Operation (NSEO)

    The witnesses also stated that on September 18, 2014, the account was debited the sum of N893,295,605, while on September 24, 2014, the sum of N556,321,894, was transferred to NSEO. He added that on December 5, 2014, March 16, 2015, and May 15, 2015, there was an inflow of the sum of N4, 597, 837, 900; N1 billion, N1. 246, 052, 850 and N2. 886, 518, 800, from the office of National Security Adviser and  Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), into the NAF’s account with his bank. Adding that on June 2, 2015, there was a payment of N1,689,498,494 billion from NAF’s account to NAF Samal Lafia account.

    Olatunji further stated that on July 10 the sum of N1.072,111,675 billion was paid into the account from CBN.

    He also stated that between December 11, 2014, the sums of N N2. 274, 400, 173.38 billion, was debited inti the account of NSEO, while on December 12, one Emeka withdrew the sum of N11, 250, 000.
    And between March 18, 24 and May 19, 2015, the sum of N695,215,729; N304,784,271; N719, 206, 592; N572,446,258, and N1.247,303,186, were paid into the accounts of NSEO with a new generation Bank.

    The Skye Bank official, who was led in evidences-in-Chief by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo further stated that the sum of N1.639,215,614; N11.8 million; N896, 205,650,; N793, 292, 825; N652, 719, 825; N419, 392,560, were transferred from NAF’s account to NSEO’s account, between May 22, 2015, and July 14, 2015. While the sum of N7.908, 857.61 was withdrawn by one Sergeant Agbogidi Murphy on September 9, 2015.

    The prosecution witness said that all the transactions were carried out following January 28, 2014 directive of three signatories into the account. And the three signatories to the NAF’s account, Vice Marshal Adigun, Commodore Gbadebo and POC Ifeogu.

    In one of the counts, the defendants were accused of indirectly converting a sum of N3.6bn belonging to the Nigerian Airforce to their own.

    In another instance, the EFCC alleged that Amosun and the others stole N323,319,283.81 from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force between March 21, 2014, and March 12, 2015, to purchase for themselves a property situated at No.1, River Street, Wuse II Abuja.

  • Edo poll: KOWA calls for cancellation of results

    Edo poll: KOWA calls for cancellation of results

    • LP, NNPP objects

    The KOWA Party on Thursday called for the cancellation of the Edo State gubernatorial election results following reports of violence and irregularities in certain areas.

    KOWA’s agent at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Benin City, Thompson Osadolor had raised called for the cancellation  following the commission’s cancellation of results in areas where ballot boxes were snatched or card readers not used for authentication.

    He said that since it was obvious that such issues including the open inducement of voters at polling units occurred at different places, INEC should out rightly cancel the entire results and bar parties found culpable from contesting a new election.

    His submission was however countered by agent of the  New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Joyce Edekere and her Labour Party counterpart.

    According to Edekere, NNPP would not back the call for cancellation because it was unnecessary.

    “We’re not joining the call for a cancellation of the elections because we think there’s no justification for such. The elections were fair and INEC gave direct answers to the questions that were raised about elections.”

    Similarly, Labour Party said the elections were generally peaceful, free and fair, insisting that it was baseless to demand cancellation, considering the resources and time put into achieving the outcome.

    “This election was very peaceful. On as much as there were a few issues in some places, INEC has done the accurate thing by cancelling the results of the places affected. We do not see the need for cancellation and we do not support the call.”
    Of the 18 Local Government Areas result announced, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 13 leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with five.

    Earlier, both PDP and Action Alliance (AA) agents demanded that the votes for Etsako Central released by INEC be recounted on grounds that it differed from the copy they got at the collation centres.

  • I’m happy card readers worked – Ize-Iyamu

    I’m happy card readers worked – Ize-Iyamu

    The People’s Democratic Party Candidate in the Edo gubernatorial election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Wednesday praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the organisation of the polls at his polling unit in Iguododo, Orhiomwon Local Government Area (LGA).

    The PDP candidate said the card reading machine was functional and described the elections as peaceful in the areas he visited.

    “The process has started, the turnout is impressive, the security people are around, INEC officials are around, so we’re praying to God that what we’re seeing here is what is playing out.

    “I’m happy that at least in my place the card reader has worked. We hope it’s working in other places too.
    So, with what I’ve seen here I’m impressed, even though because of network difficulties I’ve not been able to find out what is happening elsewhere.

    “But now that I’ve voted we’ll try and phone all those places just to know what is happening. Here, at least, you can see that it’s very peaceful, orderly, the turnout is impressive.”

  • ‘Police frustrating confidence in judiciary’

    The chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu-Ode branch, Mr. Adeniyi Lawal, has said the attitude of the police in Ogun State towards enforcement of court orders is eroding the public’s trust in the judiciary.

    Lawal stated this in his welcome address at the 19th Annual Bar Lecture of the branch held recently at Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

    The event featured the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, represented by Justice Olanrewaju Onafowokan of the Ijebu-Ode High Court, Mr. Muhammad Dele Belgore, SAN and Sir Jadegoke Adebonajo Badejo SAN, among others.

    Lawal said some policemen in the state had been “subjecting the judgments of High Court Judges to scrutiny,” and used the opportunity of executing judgments, “to exploit successful litigants.”

    This, he observed, “frustrates the confidence of the ordinary man in Nigerian justice system.”

    He appealed to the Ogun State CJ to assist the NBA in calling the police to order.

    Belgore, who delivered a lecture, advised lawyers to make use of “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis in their day to day business because it facilitates rational decision making.”

    “Lawyers should focus on their strength to minimise their weaknesses and the threats that they face in order to take the greatest possible advantages of the opportunities available,” Belgore said.

    21st century clients, he added, require better service with lower fees and “they want their lawyers to be more proactive in their transactions.”

    Belgore admonished lawyers to be technologically savvy and to acquire new skills which, according to him, include leadership, analytical innovation and creative thinking skills, entrepreneurship, multiple ways of communicating, collaboration, teamwork and networking, cross-cultural awareness and empathy.

    The event also featured the presentation of a posthumous award to the Late Prof Safiriyu Abiodun Adesanya SAN while Sir Badejo was invested as one of the patrons of the branch.

  • Police nab South African cocaine trafficker’s Nigerian accomplice

    Police nab South African cocaine trafficker’s Nigerian accomplice

    A Nigerian suspected of having sponsored a South African woman, Lerato Lekganyane, who was allegedly caught with 1.21 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on May 20, has been arrested. 
    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed this on Tuesday at Lekganyane’s trial before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, Lagos. 
    The unnamed Nigerian man and Lekganyane will be arraigned, (she for the second time) before Justice Kuewumi on August 4.
    Lekganyane was said to have been apprehended by NDLEA officials at the MMIA while attempting to board a Johannesburg, South Africa-bound plane with the illicit substance concealed in two packages inside her bra.
    Prosecuting counsel, Mr. Augustine Nwagu, had told the court that Lekganyane acted contrary to Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
    The accused had earlier been arraigned and pleaded guilty to one count of cocaine trafficking pressed against her by the agency, after which Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned till yesterday for review of the facts of the case and sentencing.
    Yesterday, however, Nwagu informed the court that he needed to amend the charge sheet as Lekganyane’s accomplice, a Nigerian, had also been arrested and brought to court.
    He said, trying Lekganyane and her accomplice would ensure smoothness of the trial.
    “I was informed this morning that the person that sponsored her for this trip has been arrested and they even brought him to court this morning, but I told them that I could not file the charge now. I will be applying for a very short adjournment to enable me to amend the charge and join the second person that they have just arrested,” the prosecutor said.
    Defence counsel, Chief (Mrs.) Lilian Omotunde opposed Nwagu’s application.
    She said: “I am objecting to this application made by the prosecuting counsel in view of the fact that the matter was slated for review of facts today and the defendant has already pleaded guilty. She is a foreigner; she has accepted her guilt. I expected my colleague to have gone ahead for the review.
    “A few minutes ago, I was informed that a Nigerian who is the mastermind is in court. If it pleases Your Lordship, I will be applying that we go ahead with the review of the case. My learned friend knows what to do with the mastermind that has just been arrested.”
    In a short ruling, Justice Kuewumi said the prosecution was entitled to the right to amend its charge if it wished.
    He adjourned till August 4, 2016 for further proceedings.