The Nation Newspaper

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  • My husband wants to use me for ritual,’ policewoman tells court

    A customary court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has dissolved a marriage after listening to the plea of a policewoman who accused her husband of planning to use her for money ritual.

    Sgt. Wuraola Babalola petitioned a Mapo Customary Court in the city, seeking the dissolution of her marriage of 14 years to Oladimeji.

    The petitioner alleged that Oladimeji used different kinds of charms whenever he wanted to sleep with her, News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    She also said Oladimeji has turned her into his punching bag.

    “At any slightest opportunity, he strips me and prevents my relatives from seeing me. He puts charms in my private part whenever he wants to sleep with me. He also surrounds my plate of food with charms, saying he uses it to protect me.

    Read Also: Seven held for ‘kidnapping’ in Adamawa

    “He has also buried different kinds of charms in the house chanting my name. My first child saw him do that. I have evidence of all the charms and how he maltreats me on my cell phone.” Oladimeji was not in court to answer to the allegations.

    The bailiff informed the court that he had on several occasions served hearing notices on Oladimeji, who lives in Oluyole Estate in Ibadan.

    After listening to the testimony of the petitioner, Chief Ademola Odunade, the President of the court, dissolved the marriage, on grounds of threat to life.

    He granted custody of the three children to the petitioner and ordered the respondent to pay N15,000 as the monthly feeding allowance.

    The arbitrator ordered the clerk of the court to ensure that a copy of the judgment is sent to Oladimeji.

  • Five held for real estate ‘scam’

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested five men suspected to be real estate scammers.

    They were nabbed at the point of exchange of money and keys while trying to lease out someone else’s duplex in Lekki Phase II to a house seeker for N4.5 million

    Abolade Oladimeji, 43, Ademola Ayo, 45, Emmanuel Fabiyi, 65, Hakeem Ademola, 49, and Sunday Ayodele, 52, advertised the property on an online platform (jiji.com).

    Leader of the gang, Ademola said he had been using his knowledge of computer to post for sale and lease non-existing landed property, apartments and buildings on various websites. He added that they lure unsuspecting public with attractive prices.

    Ademola said in early September, he posted a vacancy of a four-bedroom duplex in Lekki Phase II which attracted so many people amongst whom was one Obi.

    RRS quoted him as saying: “Immediately he called me through the contact on the advertisement, I knew he was genuine. I mobilised my colleagues and allocated roles to each of them to make the deal seamless. Oladimeji conducted himself as the estate lawyer. He discussed at length with our client on the legal angle as well as visitation before payment. “Ayo was in charge of taking the client on house or land inspection. Fabiyi played the role of a principal-agent and sometimes acted as site engineer while Ayodele assisted Fabiyi to make him look like a big man who is well-groomed and seasoned in the business.

    Read Also: Alleged $8.4m, N4b fraud: Court insists Pinnick, others must appear

    “After the inspection, Obi requested to pay us with a cheque. Initially, we rejected as our mode of payment is through bank transfer. This is to avoid too much contact as we have dedicated account owners who connive with various teams of fraud syndicates that receive deposits into their accounts and collect 30 per cent of the proceed. After much deliberation on the mode of payment, we agreed to collect the cheque.”

    According to RRS, Obi suspected something was fishy.

    “He did a little research which took him to the real landlord of the estate. Together, they played along with the fraudsters while a police team was briefed on the development,” police said.

    A decoy team of the RRS ambushed the fraudsters and arrested the five of them at the various positions at the venue of cheque collection.

    Fabiyi, popularly called Baba said: “my age has been so instrumental in the various scams we have perpetrated. Unsuspecting victims get convinced that a man of my age wouldn’t be a scammer. This makes them want to do business with us and part with their hard-earned money for land purchases, rent or lease of properties.”

    Baba said the police made them repay N3.2 million in one of their recent scams.

    He added that the gang had been involved in many successful property scams both in Lagos and Ogun State.

    While pleading never to return to the business if allowed to go, he stated that his family had warned him not to get involved in any fraudulent deals again.

    He lamented being a disgrace to his wife and children as a father.

    “I am a shame to my family as an elder in the church and a grandpa. My children warned me to desist from fraud after I was arrested last year but I didn’t listen to them,” he said.

    Commissioner of Police (CP) Zubairu Muazu advised Lagosians to be more careful while dealing with estate/property agents and always request to see the owner of the property, and also verify the identity before parting with their hard-earned money.

  • ‘Cultists’ arrested for ‘murder’

    The police in Lagos have arrested two suspected members of the Eiye, Aiye cult groups for alleged murder and attempted murder in Bariga in the metropolis.

    Babatunde Fadairo, 22, an alleged Eiye leader, was said to have led five other alleged members of his group to stone an Aiye kingpin Ahmed Sauls, 32, to death on September 26.

    The incident occurred at New Garage in Oworonshoki around 5:15am, police said.

    Read Also: Cultism: Police arrest cultist for murder of final year student

    Also, Osonye Henrise, an alleged Aiye leader, was arrested around midnight of September 25 in Bariga for attempted murder of one Bosiga, an Eiye member.

    He was said to have made moves to kill his arch rival at Araromi Street following the murder of his leader Adekunle Adesanya alias ‘I don tey’ the previous day at Edo Evans Street.

    Police said investigation was on and the suspects would be charged to court.

  • NITT can design made-in-Nigeria vehicles, says Amaechi

    Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi has said the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) in Zaria, Kaduna State, has the capacity to design “made-in-Nigeria” vehicles.

    A statement yesterday in Zaria by is Director of Public Affairs, Mr Paul Mshelizah, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the minister spoke this during a familiarisation and facility tour of the institute.

    It was during the repositioning retreat organised by the institute.

    Amaechi said: “NITT has all it takes to design a car. I am sure the institute could convince the Federal Government that it has what it takes to design a made-in-Nigeria car.

    “From design, to engine to body, then funding will not be an issue. We can create patency for NITT.”

    The minister expressed satisfaction with the facilities but advised its management to ensure proper use and adequate maintenance of the equipment.

    Amaechi also advised the NTT to seek accreditation from National Universities Commission (NUC) to run certain diploma programmes toward metamorphosing into a full-fledged university of transport and logistics.

    The minister pledged the ministry’s support to create more faculties in the institute.

    He called for a holistic perusal of the institute’s enabling law to know the scope of its mandate.

    At its biodiesel laboratory, Amaechi urged the institute to expand the project aimed at producing made-in-Nigeria vehicles by establishing a feedstock farm for renewable energy.

    He told NITT to factor into the 2021 budget the acquisition of about “200 hectares of land” to start the project.

    The minister suggested that in subsequent budgets, personnel and other logistics for effective operation of the feedstock farm might be captured.

    Read Also: Innoson: we enjoy huge patronage from Fed govt

    This, he said, can attract private investors to cue into the project.

    Interacting with NITT N-Power automobile participants, the minister admonished them to be disciplined in everything they do.

    Amaechi assured them of Federal Government’s commitment towards the success of the N-Power scheme, adding: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is interested in lifting people out of poverty.

    “As potential entrepreneurs, you can create jobs by training a number of people in your workshop.

    “I, therefore, enjoin you to utilise optimally the skills acquired through the scheme for personal gain as well as for the country at large.”

    Speaking on behalf of the NITT N-Power participants, Mr Abdulazeez Owoseni-Salihu hailed the social investment programme of the present administration, especially the N-Power scheme.

    Owoseni-Salihu noted that the scheme had not only empowered the beneficiaries but also changed their mind-sets toward self-sufficiency.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to “kindly” provide N-Power graduates with “contemporary machines to enable them go into the field to practice the skills acquired”.

    Amaechi, who answered reporters’ questions at the end of the facility tour, said: “I am satisfied with the facilities. All they need is just governance.

    “In terms of equipment, they are doing well. But as professionals, they must put the equipment to use.

    “The Federal Government will ensure that areas where you have infrastructure are properly funded.

    “But you need to show that you are not only able to transfer knowledge but also able to supervise the trainees so that we can create employment.”

    NITT’s Acting Director-General, Dr Bayero Salih-Farah, explained that the institute was accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to run Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes.

    He said NITT had entered into affiliation with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to run postgraduate and Master’s degree programmes.

    The acting director-general thanked the minister for not only attending the event personally but also visiting the institute’s headquarters in Zaria.

    NAN reports that the facilities inspected included the new office of the director-general, main auditorium and the state-of-the-art facilities at the Transport Technology Centre (TTC) among others.

  • 19 pregnant girls rescued in another baby factory

    Barely a week after a-week-old baby was recovered from an illegal trade syndicate in Isheri-Osun, a Lagos community, the police have rescued 19 pregnant women at another baby factory.

    The victims between ages 15 and 28 were said to have been kept at four different locations in Isheri-Osun and Ikotun where they were being ripped off their babies and sold N300,000 or N500,000 depending on the sex.

    Four kids were also rescued in the operation led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Chike Ibe, a Chief Superintendent (CSP).

    The Nation reports that policemen and officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs earlier in the year stormed another baby factory at Igando and rescued malnourished children, pregnant women at the facility that also ran an alleged illegal creche.

    While some of the expectant mothers knew their babies would be sold, others were brought to Lagos with promises of job only to be turned to baby making factories.

    It was gathered that some of the victims were abducted from their home states and brought to the locations where men allegedly took advantage of them.

    Those who said they accepted to sell their children to the syndicate claimed they were not offered the money promised, it was gathered.

    He said the victims were brought from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo States.

    According to Police Spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), detectives acted on a tip off at about 4pm on September 19 and stormed 14, Adisa Street, Ayanwale in Ikotun, 32 Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun, 29, Olugbeyohun Street, Olakunle Bus Stop Abaranja and 4/6 Anomo Street, Abaranja.

    READ ALSO: Soldiers, NAPTIP raid baby factory

    He said the places were suspected to have been used for child trafficking, adding that two suspects Happiness Ukwuoma, 40 and Sherifat Ipeya, 54 were arrested in connection with the case.

    “The suspects did not receive formal medical training but operate as nurses. The suspects are natives of Imo and Epe, Lagos States. The command has launched a manhunt of the principal suspect Madam Oluchi from Mbano in Imo State.

    “She is a mother of five. The young women were mostly abducted by the suspects for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling the babies to potential buyers. The girls were tricked with employment as domestic staff in Lagos. The suspects sold boys N500,000 and girls N300,000.

    “The Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Zubairu Muazu, has visited the scene and ordered the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) to take over the case.

    “The command is working with other agencies and stakeholders in rehabilitating and resettling the pregnant girls and the babies. Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court,” he said.

  • Ezeli eyes Olympic Games with D’Tigers

    Former NBA champion Festus Ezeli is eyeing a spot in the D’Tigers team to next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

    Ezeli, who won the NBA trophy with the Golden State Warriors in 2015, was in Abuja at the weekend to support the Power Forward Basketball Championship.

    Ezeli, who has been out injured for about two seasons, disclosed that he was close to full fitness after recovering from a nagging knee injury. He also stated that he is now able to run without pains and he is in line to make a comeback with Portland Trailblazers.

    He stated that playing for the Nigerian national team has been his dream and would work hard to achieve his aim at next year’s Olympic Games. “I have always said I wanted to play in the National team but injury put paid to that but I will resume playing soon and I hope to get into the Nigerian team in time for next year’s Olympics.

    Read Also: FIBA rankings: D’Tigers’ progress excite Kida, Ahmedu

    “The Nigerian team has grown stronger and I have teammates in the team. The team did well in the World Cup where they got an Olympic ticket and this shows that we have a team we can be proud of,” he added.

    He also said that winning the championship with Golden State Warriors was a big achievement, considering that he was told he couldn’t play basketball. “I can’t put how I felt into words. It was surreal, I didn’t want to sleep because I could wake and find out it wasn’t real,“ he added.

    Ezeli, enjoined the students who took part in the Power Forward event, to be hardworking, persevere and give their best at all times, assuring that these attributes would take them to the top.

    Using himself as an example, Ezeli said they can get to the top if they take their craft seriously and study hard in school. “I started playing basketball at the age of 16 after getting to the US at 14. They said I couldn’t play but someone spotted me and taught me the game and the rest is history.

    “I am sure you can also attain greater height, not only in basketball, but in everything you set out to do,” he added, while commending ExxonMobil and Africare for supporting the event.

  • ‘States attaching conditions to minimum wage implementation’

    The Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN) at the weekend accused some governors of threatening to abandon the new minimum wage if their states’ statutory allocation is not reviewed upward by the Federal Government.

    Speaking with The Nation, its President, Comrade Abdul Gafar Mohammed, said the union was  disturbed that workers were being subjected to another round of negotiations after the new minimum wage had been okayed.

    “In the labour movement, we are disturbed and concerned with the continuous over politicisation of the minimum wage issue, which before it finally became law was unfortunately turn into a complex  debacle with state governors threatening not to pay.

    “They have  given conditions that unless the revenue sharing formula is reviewed upwards, they will not comply with the law.

    “We have had to use everything at our disposal to get the bill sent to the National Assembly  and had to deploy even greater pressures in getting to different arms of the National Assembly to pass the bill into law,” he said.

    Mohammed urged employers in the private sector, who still pay below the approved benchmark, to comply with the new law.

    He urged the Federal Government to confront headlong the hydra-headed monster of inadequate power supply that had crippled the nation’s industrial , social and economic growth.

    He said: “The privatisation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) would have been meaningful, if the needful were done. It could have been profitable if those companies that bought over the electricity sector have thought of building their own power plant from the scratch.”

    Mohammed said unemployment continues to be the number one problem in the nation, adding that the challenges of national development is to manage the economy in such a way as to promote job-led growth rather than the present situation of jobless growth.

    “In our country, many graduates and skilled youths are roaming the street in search of job. All the  promises by the government to create jobs have not yielded any dividend. It is a shame that the government is politicking with the unemployment by releasing spurious figures of jobs they have created only on the pages of newspaper,” he said.

  • 2019 IAAF WC: Oduduru hits semifinal in 200m

    Divine Oduduru has qualified for the semifinal of the men’s 200m after recording one of the fastest time among the losers at the 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.

    He finished fourth with a 20.40secs behind Great Britain’s Adam Gemili (20.06), Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev (20.27) and Netherland’s Taymir Burnet (20.37) in the first heat in the men’s 200m.

    Among the seven heats, Oduduru remains the fastest among the losers even better that third place finishers in some of the heats.

    Oduduru’s nearly missed competing in the 200m but a quick appeal from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to IAAF ensured he took part.

    Read Also: Ndidi scores as five-star Leicester beat Newcastle

    Okagbare and Oduduru failed to show up for the 100m on Friday and they were expected to be prevented from competing in the 200m, but a quick appeal by AFN saved the day as the sprinters were given the go-ahead to compete.

    Just like Oduduru, Okagbare will take to the track today as she competes against her rivals in the women’s 200m with the top three advancing to the semifinal.

    In the women’s 400m, Patience Okon-George and Favour Ofili will battle it out with the best in the world for places in the semifinal.

  • Ndidi scores as five-star Leicester beat Newcastle

    Wilfred Ndidi produced a Man-of-the-Match performance yesterday  as Leicester City produced a clinical performance to trash 10-man Newcastle 5-0 at the King Power Stadium.

    The win puts Leicester in the third position with 14 points, two points behind Man City who sits in second place and seven points behind leaders, Liverpool who they face on Saturday.

    The Nigeria international hit the scoresheet with the fifth goal in the final minute of the game, converting from Ben Chilwell’s cross.

    It was Ndidi’s second goal of the season having already scored in the Foxes 1-1 draw against Chelsea earlier this season.

    Earlier goals from Ricardo Pereira followed by a brace by  Jamie Vardy as well as the own goal by  Paul Dummett  helped Leicester to its biggest ever Premier League win.

    Meanwhile, other Nigeria Internationals in action yesterday  included William Troost-Ekong who played the entire match but  got a yellow card in  Udinese’s  1-0 win over Bologna.

    Anthony Nwakaeme and John Mikel Obi started for Trabzonspor with the former Super Eagles captain getting a yellow card  while  Nwakaeme scoring the last goal in the 4-1 thrashing of Besiktas.

    In Greece, Super Eagles prospect Chuba Akpom started from the bench in PAOK Thessaloniki FC 2-2 clash with AEK Athens. Anderson Esiti was on the bench and didn’t play any part.

  • Elumelu seeks $2.5b Japanese investment for Africa

    Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has asked Japan to invest $2.5 billion representing  five per cent of its $50 billion commitment to Africa.

    Elumelu, African investor and philanthropist, spoke at the seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.

    “At TICAD 2016 in Kenya, Japan pledged $30 billion for Africa. This year you have generously increased this to $50 billion. If we invested just five per cent in Africa’s new generation of entrepreneurs, following my Foundation’s robust, proven model of getting capital directly to those best placed to catalyse growth and create real impact, we could touch 500,000 lives, across the 54 African countries, broadening markets, facilitating job creation, improving income per capita, and laying the key foundation for political and economic stability”, Elumelu said.

    Read Also: Elumelu challenges global leaders to empower African entrepreneurs

    His statement captured his vision of a relationship between Japan and Africa, which prioritises economic and shared prosperity. He outlined the three key pillars of a bold and transformative structure: investment in infrastructure, partnership with the African private sector, and investment in Africa’s youth.

    He urged Japan to learn from the example of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which champions empowering African entrepreneurs, as the most sustainable means of accelerating the development of Africa. The Tony Elumelu Foundation, in just five years has assisted over 7,500 African entrepreneurs across every African countries, with seed capital, capacity building, mentorship and networking opportunities through its $100 million Entrepreneurship Programme.