The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SUV

  • 13 Customs officers in trouble over seized N600m vehicles

    13 Customs officers in trouble over seized N600m vehicles

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation  Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos has made a huge catch, seizing N600 million worth of exotic vehicles.

    It made the seizure following the bursting of a smuggling ring that specialises in importing vehicles through the seaports without paying duty, The Nation learnt.

    Sources said most of the vehicles, including new 2013 and 2014 models, passed through the Lagos ports without payment of the 35 per cent duty. They added that the importers and clearing agents declared the cargoes as used cars purportedly manufactured in 2006 and 2007 to deceive the Customs and short-change the Federal Government.

    The vehicles include eight 2014 custom-built Rolls Royce, 2013 Mercedes Benz 700, Lexus GX 460, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX.L, BKA bus, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Camry, Infinity QX56, Pajero Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and other expensive brands.

    The market value of the Rolls Royce, security sources said, is about N50 million each and the importer was expected to pay N15 million duty on each vehicle. The importer, it was alleged, paid N1 million to get the vehicles out of the port.

    Some of the vehicles, sources said, had no Customs paper.

    More than 13 officers of the Customs responsible for the release of the vehicles, it was gathered, may be sacked after the probe ordered by Customs Comptroller-General Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi on the matter.

    Some of the vehicles, a source said, were released from the port at night to beat security checks.

    It was learnt that some of the importers used the new number plates on some of the vehicles to beat Customs’ checks on the road. But, unknown to them, Customs officials from the FOU Zone ‘A’ had been monitoring their movement in Lagos for days before swooping on them.

    Some officers of the zone, the source said, used the Customs camouflage, while others were deployed by the Acting Controller, Turaki Usman Adamu, in mufti to trace and track the smuggled vehicles.

    Sources revealed that the command made 336 seizures valued at N107 million in the first 25 days of Turaki’s assumption.

    Turaki confirmed that custom- built vehicles were intercepted by his officers and men, but refused to mention the number and the value. The Customs headquarters had been briefed, he said.

    The Customs chief, however, said following a tip-off, his Lagos Roving Patrol Team (LRPT) also intercepted seven trucks of smuggled textile materials from a warehouse around Oshodi, whose value was yet to be determined.

    “On Thursday, August 14, following a tip-off, the Lagos Roving Patrol Team, intercepted seven trucks of Jumbo bales of suspected textile materials from a warehouse around Oshodi.

    “The trucks have been deposited in the government warehouse for further investigation and to determine the value.

    “I am pleased to inform you that the Unit also recorded  a total of 336 different seizures of assorted offending goods valued at N107,513,308 with a duty of N42,937,110 and 19 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

    “Between January and August 14, the total amount of revenue as a result of our intervention from ports and border stations stood at N89,337,981.00. It is good to add that between first and 14th of this month, we generated N28,128,140. The amount is higher than that one generated in August last year.

    “Therefore, I am advising smugglers in the Southwest to relocate or else they would face the full wrath of the law.

    “We have spread our dragnets to all the nooks and crannies of our areas of jurisdiction and will not stop at dealing with the menace,” Turaki said.

    Turaki, who said the unit was complementing the efforts of other Customs Commands in ensuring that there was total compliance with the fiscal policies of the Federal Government on trade, however, assured that genuine and compliant importers and their representatives of  support, stressing that the unit is committed to boosting legitimate trade in line with global best practice.

     

  • Lawmaker gives SUVs to monarchs

    The member representing Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu in the House of

    Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Ayo Yusuf, yesterday distributed Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to monarchs.

    He said the gesture was part of his empowerment package for 2013, which he could not fulfil, “due to political exigencies.”

    The lawmaker said he had distributed over 500 cars, motorcycles, hair dryers and deep freezers in the last two years and built libraries and shops.

    He also said he had given scholarships to over 100 students and provided employment opportunities for  university graduates.

    Yusuf said if given another opportunity next year, he would build on what he had achieved.

    The people prayed for the legislator at the palace of the Obaro of Kabba and Chairman, Okun Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr. Michael Olobayo.

    One of the beneficiaries and the Olubunu of Bunu land, Oba Joseph Ikusemoro, thanked the lawmaker for remembering traditional rulers in his empowerment programme.

    Traditional rulers, who benefitted from the gifts, included Oba Olobayo, the Obadofin of Owe land; Oba Michael Yusuf, the Obajemu of Owe land; Oba Michael Ibinaiye, the Eleso of Owe land; Chief Joseph Oloruntoba and the Olubunu of Bunu, Oba Joseph Ikusemoro.

  • Two ‘robbers’ killed in Ogun

    Two robbery suspects were killed yesterday when robbers engaged the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Ogun State Police Command in a gun battle.

    Three others, who were injures, were arrested.

    It was learnt that policemen yesterday stormed the robbers’ hideout in Epe, Lagos State, following the arrest of a member of the gang, Ahmed Yusuff.

    Yusuff was arrested on April 25 at Dalemo-Otta in Ogun State after allegedly snatching a Benz ML Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi named those arrested as Adeyinka Olajuwon, Isiaka Salawu and Jumoke Odukoya. He said others escaped with bullet wounds.

     

    Adejobi said one assault rifle, marked 07003808; two magazines loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition; three cut-to-size single barrel pistols; two cut-to-size double barrel guns; 10 life cartridges; one axe and assorted charms were recovered from the suspects.

    He urged the public, particularly health workers, to be on the look-out for the fleeing robbers.

     

  • Policeman ‘kills’ contractor in Lagos

    Policeman ‘kills’ contractor in Lagos

    A 33-year-old building contractor, Oyoma Edewor, has allegedly met his gruesome death in the hands of a police sergeant in Lagos. The policeman with Force Number 355272 is attached to the Area ‘E’ Command, Festac Town.

    The incident, which occurred last Saturday night at the Third Gate, Festac Town, was said to have been perpetrated by a drunk policeman identified as Sergeant Otene Goodwin.

    Sources said the deceased, who was in company of his friends, was dragged out of his Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) that was being towed and shot by the policeman when he tried to affirm his right.

    It was alleged that Oyoma, owner of the SUV, had an accident with the vehicle around Lekki and had to get a towing van to move the vehicle to his Festac home.

    On getting to Festac, it was learnt that the policemen tried to stop the towing van, but its driver refused the police order.

    When the policemen pursued the van, the driver fled, leaving the deceased and his friends to handle the situation.

    Angered by the driver’s action, the policemen allegedly forced Oyoma and his friends out of their vehicles, beat them up and ordered them sit on bare ground.

    The deceased, who could not comprehend why they were being maltreated for committing no offence, was said to have drawn the officers’ attention to the fact that he was helpless since he was being towed by the van and could not stop.

    But Otene, who was said to have been drunk and off-duty, allegedly shot Oyema, who died on the spot.

    After allegedly committing the offence, all the three policemen fled the scene, fearing that a mob could attack them.

    Passersby who identified the deceased as a resident of the area reported the matter to the police after which the suspect was detained.

    A friend to the deceased, who was identified as Manuwa, while expressing his anger over Oyoma’s death, felt frustrated that the police was “twisting the story.”

    He berated the police for claiming that it was the van’s driver that was shot, adding that he was pained that the police wasted another innocent blood.

    Manuwa said: “Someone I grew up with was killed by the police. He was raised in Festac and was killed in Festac by the same people who swore to protect us. They were asked to sit on the floor which they did. While explaining to the officers what had happened, one of them opened fire on Oyoma.

    “A crowd got involved. The policeman said he suspected that Oyoma stole the vehicle. If you know Festac, you would know it is a small community. Passersby identified him as an innocent citizen. When the police realised a mob was growing, they fled the scene.

    “The word spreading now is that the policeman was drunk and off-duty. This is not the first person being killed by the police. It is very sad that this is still happening. Oyoma cannot die in vain. Now they are claiming it is the van’s driver that was shot; that is a bloody lie. They shot Oyoma; he is not a van’s driver but a building finishing contractor.”

    A senior police officer at the command said Okoro was the one who rushed the man to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead by doctors following excessive bleeding.

    Otene, who is now in police custody, was arrested immediately after the incident by the Area E Commander, Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) on the orders of the Commissioner of Police Alhaji Umar Manko.

    Police spokesperson Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who confirmed the incident, said Otene had abandoned his duty post as the Station Guard at the Area ‘E’ Command and left for Alakija area where the unfortunate incident occurred.

    She said: “The sergeant is already in police custody and the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident are being investigated.”

    Braide added: “The Nigeria Police is a disciplined organisation and will not tolerate any act of indiscipline from its men and officers. The Commissioner of Police Umar A. Manko wishes to use this medium to appeal to the public to remain calm and maintain peace as justice will definitely be done. He also assures the deceased’s family that investigations will be concluded in good time.”

    During a condolence visit to the victim’s family, Manko, who was represented by Okoro, assured his family that their son’s killer was on his own and would face the full wrath of the law.

    He said: “We are assuring you that justice must be done. We won’t say because he is our own and cover him; no way! We must do the right thing and we will carry the family and the public along with our investigations”

  • Why I stole SAN’s vehicle, by suspect

    Why I stole SAN’s vehicle, by suspect

    A suspect, Wasack Lawal, who formerly dealt in hard drugs, has told operatives of the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), why he stole a Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonging to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    The 42-year-old suspect, who hails from Ajase in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, told The Nation: “What really led me into stealing cars of people or company I worked for was the insult I got from one woman who employed me as her private driver. She is hot tempered; she used to slap me as she would do to her slave or house-help. She slapped me so hard one day that I decided that the only way to take revenge on such heartless people is to steal their cars and use the money to play big boy in town. That was how I started stealing cars,” he said.

    What led him into the net of SARS, he said, is the Land Cruiser SUV belonging to the SAN who resides in Surulere, Lagos. “The lawyer employed me at a monthly salary of N35, 000. I worked with the man for only two days before I showed him the type of driver I am. I drove his vehicle to Mowe in Ogun State and parked it in the house of Mr Ayo, who earlier bought a Fore-Runner SUV from me. Some policemen came to arrest me at my Agbado house on January 2 this year. I made only N1.8 million in three years,” Lawal said.

    A police source revealed that Lawal was employed by the SAN on December 10, last year. “When he drove the lawyer to a function on Ozumba Mbadiwe Way, Victoria Island, he disappeared with the vehicle, leaving him and his wife stranded. He reported the matter at the Bar Beach Police Station the next day at about 12.30am and the suspect was arrested on January 2 at Agbado,” the source said.

    On his life in the past he said: “I was a wrist-watch seller but when I learnt driving, I started working at a national newspaper in Lagos as a driver on a very poor salary. I got another driving job with a company that produces juice on a monthly salary of N27, 000. It was one Suraju, a fellow driver that I employed me. I was not comfortable there, so I started planning how to steal one of their cars. I eventually got one and contacted a buyer who later asked me to bring the car’s key to a place in Ikeja. When I met them, they put drug into my drink and I slept off. As I was sleeping, they took the key and disappeared without giving me a kobo.

    “I got another job at Ilupeju where I drove a white-man. After working for two days, I drove away his Nissan Path Finder SUV to Agbado. A buyer, Rasheed, bought it for N2 million, but did not pay immediately. He later gave me a Honda Baby Boy car worth N500, 000, pledging to pay the rest later, but the total cash I collected from him was N1.5 million.”

  • Youths lynch man for killing teenager in Ekiti

    •Motorcyclist dies in road crash

    Irate youths in Ise-Ekiti have lynched a man, simply identified as Austin, for killing his landlord’s teenage daughter.

    It was learnt that the late Austin, who was said to be in his late 30s, threatened to shoot his landlord’s daughter with his brother’s gun, if she dared him.

    Sources said the girl dared him and he shot her in the neck. She died instantly.

    The incident happened at Oke-Ijomu on Sunday evening.

    Youths in the community apprehended Austin, a trader, and set him ablaze in front of the palace.

    It was gathered that the youths attacked the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ise Police Station, who attempted to rescue Austin.

    The DPO is recuperating at an undisclosed hospital.

    Austin’s charred remains and that of his victim have been deposited at a mortuary in the town.

    When The Nation visited the town yesterday, many residents declined comments on the incident.

    Human and vehicular movement was scanty.

    Also on Sunday, a commercial motorcyclist was hit by a black Mercedes Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) adjacent to the State Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. He died.

    The driver ran away.

    The motorcyclist, who was in his late 20s, was riding a bike marked JER2950A Ekiti.

    He was carrying a passenger and going towards AdebayoRoad when the SUV hit his motorcycle and ran over him.

    Sympathisers contacted the authorities of the State Hospital, who sent an ambulance to the scene to convey the victim to the hospital.

    Doctors struggled to save him, but he died 10 minutes after he arrived at the hospital.

    His identity remains unknown.

    The motorcyclist’s passenger, Mr. Boluwaji Akinde, said: “He picked me at Okesa and we were going to Adebayo. After Danke Eatery, I noticed that the vehicle behind us was getting too close. I informed the motorcyclist and jumped off the bike, but he was not lucky as the SUV ran over him. I sustained injuries in my leg as you can see. The SUV driver did not even stop. He sped off.

    Police spokesman Victor Olu-Babayemi said he would address journalists on both incidents today.

     

  • Ex-Anglican Primate Akinola rescued from kidnappers

    Ex-Anglican Primate Akinola rescued from kidnappers

    Unknown gunmen yesterday kidnapped the immediate past Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Peter Jasper Akinola.

    Primate Akinola and his driver were snatched away by the gunmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital at about 3pm.

    The Primate and his driver were last night rescued from the kidnappers along Joga-Iboro Road near the border with Benin Republic, the police said.

    In what would have been one of the biggest cases of abduction, the 69-year-old former fiery cleric was overpowered by the gun-totting men at the entrance of the Peter Akionola Foundation Centre for youth Industrial Training at Kilometre 10 near Obada-Oko along the Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway.

    The former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) hails from Abeokuta. He was at the centre – which he founded to take care of the underprivileged – to inspect some projects within the office when the gunmen stormed the place.

    The gunmen reportedly stopped the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) inside which he was and ordered him and his driver out, pointing guns at them.

    They reportedly shot sporadically into the air before escaping with the cleric, his driver and his car.

    The abductors had not established any contact with the family as at last night.

    The police cautioned against referring to the incident as kidnapping. But they confirmed that the Archbishop, who will turn 70 next month, was taken away by armed one.

    The CAN last night condemned the abduction of the primate.

    CAN President Ayo Oritsejafor, Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Kenny Ashaka said:

    “It is totally unacceptable to us that Primate Jasper Akinola is kidnapped. This is a retired man of God and we wonder what kind of money the kidnappers want to get from a retired man of God. We believe that this kidnapping is for ransom.

    “We plead with the kidnappers to release him unconditionally and use the occasion of Christmas celebration to reflect on Christ’s eternal message of love, passion and humility. They should release him immediately.

    “Instead of kidnapping men of God, the kidnappers should pray for leaders, whether religious or political.

    “We are also calling on security agencies to quickly swing into action and help to track down these kidnappers. They should also ensure that Primate Akinola is not harmed while rescuing him.”

    Last Sunday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta during the Ogun State Carol Service of Nine Lessons, Rev. Akinola read the third lesson in Yoruba.

    Association Chairman Gbenga Gbesan told reporters that Rev. Akinola needed not be subjected to such experience because, he always fought for the poor.

    Gbesan said: “We appeal for the immediate release of the revered Primate without any condition attached to it whatsoever.

    “And it was for this reason that he set up the Youth Industrial Training Centre to train unemployed youth to acquire skills to enable them lived a meaningful life.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi told reporters in a telephone interview that it was early in the day to describe the incident as kidnapping, adding that security agencies had been placed on the alert.

    Adejobi said: “The fact that gunmen went away with the Bishop, his driver and his vehicle does not connote kidnap.

    “Our men at the border have been placed on the red alert, he said promising that Rev. Akinola would be recovered alive.”

  • Ultimate Search winners take delivery of their SUVs

    Ultimate Search winners take delivery of their SUVs

    Making real its promises, Nigeria Breweries Plc., has presented two Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) to Dennis Okike and Kalu Kalu, winners in the just concluded 10th edition of the adventure reality show, Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS).

    While Okike got an automatic drive Mitsubishi Pajero jSUV for coming top in the real competition, Kalu received a manual drive of the same model for coming first place in the first ever Fans’ Edition. Both guys received their vehicles on Monday. The SUVs, 3.0L GLS AT (full option), was courtesy of CFAO Motors Nigeria, official automotive partner of the show. Okiki’s prize is in addition to N10 million offered by GUS and N500, 000 given to him and other contenders each, by Governor Godswill Akpabia of Akwa Ibom State.

    Nicolaas Vervelde, managing director, Nigeria Breweries Plc, who presented the vehicles to the winners, admonished them to be worthy ambassadors of the Gulder brand.

    “As we hand over these vehicles to you in fulfilment of our promise, we implore you to drive with care, obey traffic rules and remain good ambassadors of the Gulder brand,” said Vervelde.

    DennisOkike emerged winner, beating the duo of Edmund Umeabuani and Ifunanya Onike to find the 10th Symbol. Kalu beat two other contenders in the Fan’s Edition finals to find the keys. The Fans’ Edition is an innovation in the GUS, which enables viewers to participate in a virtual search, with a chance to win prizes.

    The show was held in the jungle of Usaka, Akwa Ibom State, same venue for last year’s event.

  • Lawyer held for ‘defrauding’ friend

    A lawyer and car dealer has been arrested by operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU)in Lagos for allegedly defrauding his course mate in the university.

    It was gathered that the suspect converted to personal use the money he got from his colleague to buy a car for him.

    In a petition sent to the officer in charge of the SFU, commissioner of Police (CP) Tunde Ogunsakin, the petitioner alleged that in May in Abuja he met the suspect, who told him he was into car dealership.

    “He told me he can assist me to get a good car and since we had known for long, I trusted him and gave him money to get one for me”, he said.

    The complainant said he gave the suspect N1,035,000 out of N1.2million agreed upon for a Mercedes Benz ML 320 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), with an understanding that the balance will be paid when the vehicle is delivered.

    The petitioner said the suspect prevailed him to sell the only car he had to complete the money for the SUV.

    After collecting the money, he said, the suspect stopped picking his calls.

    The Nation learnt that following the petition, detectives swung into action and arrested the suspect. On interrogation, he allegedly confessed to crime.

    Police said the 40-year old suspect from Edo State is licensed to import vehicles.

    SFU spokesperson Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the suspect admitted that he used the complainant’s money to solve his personal financial needs. He claimed to have deposited N180, 000 for the vehicle in a car shop in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

    The suspect told investigators that he had financial challenges following the seizure of two of his vehicles by the Customs, adding that he used the petitioner’s money to solve his problems.

    He admitted that he treated the complainant shabbily, adding that he scanned pictures of the said vehicle with colour and chassis number to deceive him. The suspect said he did all this to buy time and to know if he can get money to complete payment for the car which is still in Cotonou.

    Isintume-Agu said investigation showed that the suspect intended to defraud the complainant from the onset since the money he collected was diverted to other use.

    “He also forged some vehicle documents and purportedly issued a fake number plate “DGL 724 CC” for the said vehicle just to deceive the complainant”, she said.

    Investigation, she said, is ongoing, adding that the suspect will soon be arraigned in court.

  • UNAAB identifies two students crushed to death by SUV jeep

    The Management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) yesterday identified two of its students crushed to death by a reckless driver.

    The deceased were Ridwan Babatunde and Aromire Sheriff, 100-level students of the department of Water Resources Management, College of Environmental Resources(COLEM)

    The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole, condoled with the parents of the deceased, member of staff and students on the death of the two promising students.

    The students were mauled by Sorts Utility Vehicle on Friday evening shortly after disembarking from the varsity’s bus.

    They died on the spot.

    In a statement yesterday by the Acting Head of Public Relations, Adewale Kupoluyi, the VC said he received the news with shock and disbelief, and became quite sad when it dawned on him that it was true.

    The management did not name the killer – driver but said the reckless driver was neither a lecturer nor a staff of the institution.