The Nation Newspaper

Tag: stealing

  • Navy arrests six Bangladeshi for stealing diesel

    Navy arrests six Bangladeshi for stealing diesel

    Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory of the Nigerian Navy in Calabar have arrested six Bangladesh nationals and 16 Nigerians for allegedly diverting 22 metric tonnes of diesel in an illegal Ship to Ship (STS) transfer along the Calabar water channel.

    Commander NNS Victory, Commodore Salihu Ibn Danhu Jibril, the vessel, NV Princess Oge, which brought the product from offshore Lome to deliver to a tank farm in Calabar was discovered carrying out the illegal activity and immediately arrested.

    Addressing reporters on board the vessel along the Calabar Channel before handing over the suspects and vessel to the Nigerian Police yesterday, Jibril said the Princess Oge was a bunkering ship given permission to deliver and discharge cargo in Calabar.

    “Along the way, she was found to have found transfer to ship transfer illegally to another ship and consequently we arrested the ship.

    “She was arrested and brought here and having conducted our investigation and found their operation in line with our harmonised standard procedures for illegal activities in the marine environment, we are formally handing over the ship, crew and cargo to the Nigerian Police for further investigation and prosecution.

    “The suspects include 22 persons of different nationalities. We have six from Bangladesh and 16 Nigerians.

    “The vessel was given permission to move AGO cargo to Calabar. In line with extant regulations, we are handing them over to the police.

    “The quantity that was diverted illegally was 22 metric tonnes missing from the initial cargo that she was supposed to deliver from what she took at the port of intake.

    “The port of intake was offshore Lome, and is supposed to one of the tank farms in Calabar.”

  • Our Girls; ‘Corruption aka stealing’

    Our girls are still missing since April 15, 2014. Work for their release.

    Smug politicians point to the USA and its perpetual Democratic vs Republican wrangling and Presidential Vs Congress face-offs as excuses for today’s National Assembly (NASS) antics. Practiced since 1766, the USA has a formidable country and proud citizenry. Some faceless Nigerian officials, unilaterally manipulated that USA Presidential system for the worse and the system imposed on Nigeria by the imposed ‘1999 Constitution’ has achieved little development advances even since ‘democracy’ in 1999- a need for change -restructuring!

    Since 1999, even a visionary Presidential and Ministerial leadership set against a reactionary cantankerous NASS weighed down with mostly selfish interests have achieved zero or even negative development. Do some politicians have a ‘Secret First Amendment to the Oath of Office – the decision to abuse their oath by demanding ‘money for votes’ in most Houses of Assembly – allegedly in the past some politicians’ favourite toy for self-enrichment? Are politicians deprived of this corruption in this government? Is this why the budget took forever to pass?

    What is the ‘Development Score Card’ for the federal government since the 80s using an apolitical yardstick? The federal government system as practiced since 1980s has failed every single United Nations (UN) and all other international development indices – an abysmal failure resulting in the renewed demand for ‘restructuring’  i.e. true federalism, fiscal federalism, removal of many items on the exclusive List, a proper US government system or better a UK parliamentary system, unicameral parliament with dissolution of the senate or joining of the two and halving the total number, sitting allowances only for politicians and which are paid by their states to keep them focused; Value Added Tax (VAT) spent where it is made, land use changes, re-nationalization of all past oil-blocks with new negotiated limited leases e.g. 5-10 years with much more going to LGA and nation.

    In addition, if the judiciary is [an ass], corrupted, unresponsive, unreliable, slow [justice delayed is justice denied], and indecisive [the last hope of the common man], there will be negative development i.e. minus development and a loss of ‘Happiness’ and even the perpetual ‘Hope’ – all key ingredients of ‘Gross National Happiness Index’, a UN measure of development. We await a generation of politicians who love Nigeria more than themselves and will put their vision of Nigeria above themselves and their pockets.

    Corruption, aka stealing, in the 60s used to be at 10%. How do we explain or exist financially in 90-100% corruption today? Corruption, aka stealing thrives on secrecy. Is corruption a drug that the corrupt, aka thieves, must be weaned off slowly?  No. From the child stealing food in the kitchen to the minister taking cuts from inflated contracts, corruption, aka stealing, can be stopped immediately.

    Everyone: Corruption can stop today. A personal decision – ‘Today – To be or not to be- A corrupt person, a thief? That is the question’! Buhari cannot answer for you. Is Buhari to stop corruption as if ‘CORRUPTION, aka STEALING, IS A LEGITIMATE RIGHT OF TRUSTED OFFICIALS TO MANIPULATE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS AND CONTRACTS WITHIN THEIR CARE’? He does however need a well led and widely deployed army of ‘honest’ proactive CID, EFCC, ICPC and tax people, under close scrutiny themselves, to intimidate you into stopping corruption on fearful, if not moral grounds. When the corrupt get caught, we rise to their defence. They entangle the country in reality TV court drama, smiling at every ‘adjournment’ opportunity and becoming ‘corruption, aka thieving celebrities’. And now we plea-bargain for the return of part of our stolen money. Imagine what the huge funds returned so far would have done for Nigeria if properly spent  on salaries as and when due, services and infrastructure. Perhaps these ASUU, NARD and the subsequent strikes would never have been necessary and the pain to workers avoided? This is the huge ‘Lack of Development Cost of Corruption’ affecting every Nigerian. Corruption, stealing, is an iceberg destroying and sinking Nigeria’s Titanic development. We see only 5-10% of any iceberg with the 90-95% still hidden behind the ‘smiles and lies’ of the corrupt, aka thieves! In this country the wheels of government are held back by the corrupt and greased for movement only after a greasy bribe -corruption.

    Just as INEC cannot stop you from ruining elections, Buhari is back but cannot stop you from being corrupt, a thief. Only you can stop that. However Buhari has responsibility to install ’Zero Corruption Strategies’ and act on the ‘N400b Corruption National Bureau of Statistics report’ and  institute ‘Weekly Corruption Perception Reports’ among all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) especially the ones dealing with roads, ports, drugs. After two years in office it is unacceptable that ‘2017 New Corruption’ still exists on our streets! These MDAs must be cleaned up or government will lose the next election. President Buhari will not police corruption at every customs border, Police or FRSC checkpoint or NAFDAC license application or raid. However he must challenge, query, suspend and sack heads of MDAs if they fail to halt corruption for ‘Zero Corruption on My Watch Target’ in public perception. If Buhari questions his MDA heads, the heads will question their subordinates who will repeat the process down to the checkpoint, border and drug raid. All this can be achieved in one month.

    NB: Nigerians discover a new generation of untainted ‘I LOVE NIGERIA’ KNOWLEDGEABLE CANDIDATES for 2019.

  • Mechanic arraigned for ‘stealing’ noodles

    A 20-year-old mechanic, Adeka Michael, has been arraigned at a Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court in Aso Pada, Nasarawa State, for allegedly trespassing and stealing one carton of Indomie noodles.

    Michael, a resident of Yelwa in Mararaba, is facing a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft.

    The prosecutor, Agabi Auta, told the court that the defendant, who pleaded not guilty, committed the offences on August 28 at Mararaba.

    He said the matter was reported by Saidu Kabiru of Kano Street, behind NEPA office, Mararaba, at ‘A’ Divisional Police Station, Mararaba.

    Auta alleged: “About 3:30 pm., the defendant trespassed into the complainant’s shop at Mararaba.

    “When the complainant stepped out, the accused stole a carton of Indomie noodles, valued at N3,500 and his phone of N12, 000.’’

    The prosecutor said the complainant caught the accused with the items.

    The offences contravene sections 287 and 348 of the Penal Code.

    The judge, Mr. Albert Maga, granted the defendant bail at N50,000 with one surety.

    He adjourned the matter till September 25 for hearing.

  • Labourers arraigned for ‘stealing’

    Two labourers, Timilehin Arogundade, 22, and Babatunde Oludasa, 23, were yesterday arraigned at an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for allegedly stealing 80 bunches of palm fruits valued at N50,000.

    The defendants of no fixed addresses are standing trial on a two-count charge of felony and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused on August 7, around 6:30 a.m., at Igbo Igbonran village in Okitipupa, conspired to commit the offence.

    He said they were employed as labourers to work on the farm belonging to Mathew Philip.

    The prosecutor alleged that they stole 80 bunches of palm fruits ready to be processed into palm oil after being paid their wages.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mr. Banji Ayeomoni, granted the accused bail at N20,000 each and a surety each.

    He adjourned the case till September 19 for further hearing.

  • Seven in court for ‘stealing’ diesel

    Seven men, aged between 21 and 65,  have been arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State for allegedly stealing diesel, valued at N600,000, property of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.

    The accused — Lateef Taiwo, 50; Akinola Philip, 65; Kunle Moruf, 50; Musa Sodiq, 23; Joshua Akinola, 45; Ibrahim Mustapha, 21 and Ayodeji Ayeye, 39 — are facing a charge of theft.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Police prosecutor Caleb Leranmo said the men committed the offence on September 1 at about 4 pm., at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.

    Leranmo, an inspector, alleged that the accused stole 3,636 litres of diesel, valued at N600,000, property of the university, an offence which contravenes Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2012.

    He asked the court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble witnesses.

    Counsel to the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th accused — Messrs. Ayokunle Okunade and Emmanuel Sunmonu and counsel to the 7th accused, Mr. Emmanuel Adedeji — urged the court to grant them bail, promising that they will not jump bail.

    Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye granted them bail at N200,000 each with two sureties.

    He adjourned the case till October 4 for hearing.

  • Security guard in trouble for stealing

    A 27-year-old security guard, Peter Obeh, has appeared at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing a phone at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

    The accused is facing a charge of stealing.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Obeh, an aviation security guard at the airport, while working at Air Peace Airline’s counter, allegedly stole a Samsung Galaxy Note phone, belonging to Mr. Taofiq Tijani.

    The prosecutor, Simeon Imhonwa, told the court the accused committed the offence on June 13.

    He alleged the accused was caught by a team of aviation security officials attached to MMIA.

    “The accused was arrested on the third floor at the open bay of MMIA and could not give a satisfactory account of the stolen item.”

    The offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).

    Chief Magistrate Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi granted the accused bail at N500,000, with two sureties.

    She said the sureties must be employed, with an evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.

    Mrs. Osunsanmi adjourned the case till October 23 for trial.

     

  • Man charged with stealing N10m property

    A 23-year-old man, Dominic Bassey, who allegedly conspired to steal property worth N10 million, has been arraigned at a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, wilful damage and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Ibijoke Akinpelu, told the court the accused committed the offences between April 17 and 20 at 3, Chief Sylvester Ojei Close, off Adeyemi Alakija Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.

    Akinpelu alleged Bassey and two others at large, entered a site at Chief Sylvester Ojei Close, belonging to Nuel Ojei Holdings Ltd., where they vandalised and stole property worth N10 million.

    She said Bassey and his accomplices stole 60 bags of Dangote cement, armoured doors, bundles of electrical wires and damaged armoured cables.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 287 (7), 348 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).

    The Magistrate, Mrs. A. F. Adeeyo, granted the accused bail at N1 million, with two sureties.

    She adjourned the case till October 4 for trial.

  • Four arraigned for ‘stealing’ N1.4m phones

    Four men — Richard Ekpong, Albert Oguda, Abiodun Lawal and Idris Ibrahim  — who allegedly broke into a shop at Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, and stole phones worth N1.4 million, were yesterday arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Ekpong, 20, is a student; Oguda, 21, unemployed; Lawal, 22, a trader and Ibrahim, 32, a businessman.

    The accused, who live at Ifako-Agege, Iju-Ishaga, Agbado Crossing and Ishaga, were brought before Magistrate J.A. Adigun on a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing.

    They pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail of N250,000 each, with two sureties.

    Adigun said the sureties should be employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.

    The prosecutor, Godwin Awase, said the accused committed the offences on June 26, at Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said they conspired to break into the shop of Mrs. Mary Botire to steal phones, valued at N1.4 million.

    “The accused burgled the complainant’s shop,” Awase said.

    He said the accused destroyed the burglary proof where an air conditioner was fixed, to gain access to the shop.

    “The accused came with sophisticated weapons, destroyed the burglary proof, removed the air conditioner and entered through the hole to steal,” the prosecutor said.

    He said when they were arrested, they had already shared and sold the phones at cheaper prices.

    The offences contravene sections 287, 306(2) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).

    The case was adjourned till September 11 for mention.

  • Driver jailed for stealing employer’s car

    A Grade 1 Area Court in Kubwa, FCT, yesterday sentenced a 28-year-old driver, Peter John, to three months’ imprisonment for stealing his employer’s car.

    The convict, who lives at Gbazango, Kubwa, Abuja, was convicted for theft.

    The judge, Mohammed Marafa, however, gave the convict an option of N10,000 fine.

    He said although the convict was a first offender, he deserved to be punished, warning him to desist from crime.

    Marafa ordered that the car be released to the complainant, Christopher Josephine.

    The prosecutor, John Okpa, told the court Josephine of Pent Estate, Kubwa, reported the matter at Kubwa Police Station on July 12.

    He said the complainant employed John as a driver and entrusted her Toyota Camry car, valued at N800, 000 to him to use in taking her children to school.

    Okpa said John stole the car, adding that it was recovered from him by the police at Ankpa in Kogi State.

    He said the offence contravened Section 289 of the Penal Code.

    John pleaded guilty and begged for leniency, saying he lost his father and brother at the time he stole the car.

    He said he has a wife and children, who depend on him.

  • 26-year-old arraigned for ‘stealing’ diesel

    A 26-year-old man, Oluwafemi Ogunkunle, was at the weekend, arraigned at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly stealing 15,600 litres of diesel.

    The defendant, a fuel attendant, who lives at Lafenwa Itele, Ogun State, is being tried for stealing.

    The prosecutor, Clifford Ogu, said the offence was committed on August 9, at Cryslad Avenue, Agege, a suburb of Lagos.

    He said when the account was audited, it was discovered 15,600 litres of diesel, valued at N2.574 million, was not remitted to the company’s account.

    “Fingers pointed at the accused, because the missing money was detected at the diesel pump he was attached to,” Ogu said.

    He added that the case was reported at the police station and the accused was arrested.

    The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Mrs. Taiwo Akanni granted the accused bail at N500,000 with two sureties.

    She adjourned the case till September 4 for mention.