The Nation Newspaper

Tag: trader

  • Trader held for allegedly sodomising boy

    30-year-OLD trader, Zainu Mohammed, has been apprehended by the Child’s Right Agency for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old boy at Kaswan Gwari market, Minna, Niger State.

    Zainu, who sells kolanut at the market, was caught by a passer-by, beaten up and taken to the agency.

    The victim, a primary five pupil, who hawks sachet water (pure water) at the market, told The Nation that Zainu accosted him when he went to the toilet.

    “He covered my mouth and defiled me,” he alleged.

    The victim said the passer-by saw them and shouted, attracting people.

    “The man ran away and jumped into the premises of U.K. Bello Arts Theatre. He was unlucky, as he was caught by people, beaten up before being taken to the police, who handed him to the agency.”

    When The Nation interrogated Zainu, he denied having carnal knowledge of the victim, saying they only met at the toilet.

    He said: “I did not have sex with him. I went to the toilet and the boy was there already. I was talking to the boy. That was when people saw us and started shouting thief, thief. I ran into the premises of U.K. Bello Arts Theatre, but I was caught and beaten up.”

    The agency officials said the suspect confessed on tape that he committed the offence.

    The Director-General, Mariam Kolo, said the victim admitted that they ‘did it’, “so the suspect’s denial holds no water.”

    She said the case would be sent to the CID for investigation, adding that it will act as a deterrent to others.

  • Trader remanded for ‘theft’

    A Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court at the weekend remanded a 25-year-old trader, Suleiman Mohammed, for alleged theft of phones and N115, 000.

    Mohammed, 25, who lives at Tsamiyar Dila in Sokoto is facing a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft.

    The Chief Magistrate, Abubakar Adamu, ordered the remand of the accused in prison following the prosecution’s request to allow the police conclude investigation into the matter.

    He adjourned the case till March 19 for hearing.

    The prosecutor, Umar Rabi’u, had told the court that the offences were committed on February 2, at Tsamiyar Dila, Sokoto.

    He said the accused unlawfully entered into the home of Umar Mohammed and stole a Tecno phone and two Samsung phones valued at N100, 000.

    Rabi’u said the accused also stole N115, 000.

    He said the offences contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

     

  • Trader ‘smashes neighbour’s head on wall’

    A trader, Ugochukwu Chukwuekezie was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos  High Court for alleged manslaughter.

    Chukwuekezie was docked on a one-count charge of killing his neighbour, Comdavies Okeke,  by banging his head on the wall.

    Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DDPP) Mrs A. Oshinusi said the defendant committed the offence around 8pm on December 5, 2015, at 10, Okoluwa Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos.

    Oshinusi said a fight broke out during an argument between the defendant and  Okeke. The defendant allegedly hit Okeke’s head on a wall.

    Okeke slumped and was rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 227 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Chukwuekezie pleaded not guilty.

    Justice M. A. Okikiolu did not take Chukwuwuekezie’s bail application because of a disagreement between Oshinusi and defence counsel, Mr R. Asuquo.

    The court was told that the defendant was first arraigned before Justice Sybil Nwaka, who now sits in Ikeja.

    The case was transferred to Justice Okikiolu following Justice Nwaka’s transfer to  Ikeja.

    According to Asuquo, the defendant filed his application on December 12, 2017.

    But the prosecution claimed that it was only aware of the defendant’s December 9, 2017 application which was refused by Justice Nwaka.

    Justice Okikiolu remanded Chukwuekezie in Ikoyi Prison and adjourned till March 19, for “proper direction.”

  • Policeman, trader, villager killed in Benue

    Policeman, trader, villager killed in Benue

    IT was another orgy of violence in Benue State at the weekend as a policeman was killed and another missing when security men and armed militia clashed.

    A villager was also killed in a village. In another,  a trader was murdered.

    The police confirmed the killing of one of their men during armed militia attack on Yogbo community in Guma Local Government.

    The police also said they shot and killed three armed militia men although their members took away their bodies.

    Police spokesman Moses Yamu, in statement, confirmed that a villager was also killed.

    He added that Yogbo community came under attack from over 200 armed militia, who overran the settlement yesterday.

    He said a combined team of soldiers and riot policemen deployed in Yogbo repelled the attack .

    However, a member of Yogbo community told our correspondent on telephone that  the attackers were Fulani herdsmen, who came with their cattle.  He said they also set many houses ablaze.

    Also in Anyiin village, the country home of former Governor Gabriel Suswam, a trader simply named Abuchi, was murdered, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen. He was killed on Gbeji – Anyiin road yesterday .

    His body was discovered in the bush by policemen near Ayoo Udu village and deposited at the NKST hospital mortuary in Anyiin.

    Sources said Fulani militia opened fire at traders, who were in a pick-up vehicle while returning from a local market. Many people were injured.

    Yamu said he was yet to get in touch with the DPO in Logo for details.

    Also yesterday, Governor Samuel Ortom said he had been sleeping and waking up stronger every day in the face of blackmail and intimidation from high places.

    Speaking at Chapel of Grace, Benue Peoples House, Makurdi during a thanksgiving service to mark the state’s 42 anniversary, Ortom said he was always strengthened by the overwhelming support of Benue people. He expressed the hope that the state and Nigeria would emerge victorious in the end.

    He described comments credited to Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris that the killings in Benue were as a result of the Anti-Open Grazing Law as unfortunate and worrisome, especially as it is coming from the number one law enforcement officer.

    Ortom called for prayers for both the President and other leaders in the country for God’s wisdom for the desired leadership direction.

    He advised Benue people against taking laws into their hands, saying their weapon must be prayers. He advised against rumour-mongering, which he said aggravated tension and trauma.

    In a sermon, Chaplain Benue Peoples House, Evangelist Daniel Unongo, who preached on the theme: “Behold my servant,” said no powers of the devil would subject the destiny of Benue to ridicule.

    The state’s anniversary cake was cut.

  • Trader to spend Yuletide in prison for stealing

    An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State yesterday sentenced a 49-year-old man, Chidi John, to one year in jail for stealing a bag containing recharge cards worth N225,000 and N25,000- cash

    Magistrate O. Sule-Amzat, after listening to the prosecution and defence attorneys convicted and sentenced John of 16, Nhdshe Close, Otukpo in Benue, to one year imprisonment.

    The convict had at his arraignment pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing brought against him.

    Sule-Amzat held that the convict should serve out the one year jail term without an option of fine.

    Earlier, the prosecuting Sergeant, Lucky Ihiehie, had told court that the convict committed the offence in March at 21, Church Avenue, Mile 12, Lagos State.

    Ihiehie said the complainant, Miss Ngozi Okwudilli, reported the case at Mile 12 Police Post.

    “The complainant sells recharge cards at the above address and met the convict early this year when he came to Lagos and also tried to befriend her.

    “The complainant said the convict trades in yam and he came to her house in March to introduce his business to her,” Ihiehie said.

    Ihiehie said the complainant went to prepare food at the back of her house for the convict but by the time she returned into the main building, she could not find him.

    He said the convict had stolen her bag containing recharge cards of various networks valued at N225, 000 and a cash of N25, 000 and had run away.

    The prosecutor said that the convict was later apprehended.

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

     

  • Trader remanded for allegedly defiling minor

    A Birnin Kebbi Magistrates’ Court in Kebbi State has remanded a 25-year-old trader, Faruk Abubakar, in prison for allegedly defiling a six-year-old girl.

    The Magistrate, Mr. Abubakar Atiku, said the court could not rely on first information report to hear the case and asked the prosecutor to seek advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

    He ordered that the accused be remanded in prison till December 20, for hearing.

    The prosecutor, Felix Obeke, told the court that Faruk allegedly defiled the minor, about 7 pm, on November 5.

    He said the suspect, a resident of Rumbukawa in Gwandu Local Government, accosted and defiled the girl while on an errand to buy animal feeds.

    Obeke said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code.

    He said investigation was yet to be concluded.

    The accused denied the charge.

  • Respite for Ogun traders

    Respite for Ogun traders

    In order to improve the living condition and cushion the effects of the current economic recession in the country for market women and traders in Ogun State, a non-governmental and socio-cultural group, Paseda Women Forum (PWF), has made available the sum of N10 million as free-interest soft loans for them. The gesture was aimed at improving the lot of the women folk.

    Thousands of market women and petty traders drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state thronged Onikolobo, venue of the event, to benefit from the free-interest soft loan made available by the former Ogun State gubernatorial candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria, (UPN) Otunba Rotimi Paseda.

    Addressing the beneficiaries of the maiden edition of the scheme at the occasion, the President of the PWF, Mrs Yemi Layeni, stated that the initiative was borne out of the need to ameliorate the poor living conditions of market women and petty traders who have been at the receiving end of the present excruciating economic conditions.

    According to her, the loan scheme is a sign of good things to come from the initiator of the programme. He added that “the loan scheme was designed for both medium and small business enterprises with a view to assist owners of medium and small-scale enterprises and to banish poverty.

    We are targeting over 5,000 traders to benefit from the first phase of this scheme.

    Layeni, who expressed gratitude to this laudable scheme that will eradicate poverty among women the folk, said: “I want to appeal to the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the loan and refund it within two months, so that other applicants can benefit from the scheme.

    “This is the scheme’s maiden edition, while subsequent ones will be taken to the doorsteps of the beneficiaries at the three senatorial districts across the state.”

    The Coordinating Director, Paseda Legacy Foundation (PLF), Mr Babatunde Folarin, urged the beneficiaries of the scheme not to regard the loan as a national cake but a new lease of life to touch their lives by reinvesting the money to boost their trades.

  • Trader killed in road crash

    Trader killed in road crash

    •Another injured

    A trailer yesterday killed a trader on Iyana-Isolo Bridge.

    The incident occurred a few minutes after 4 p.m as the vehicle was descending the bridge.

    The trailer, The Nation learnt, had a brake failure.

    It clamped the woman’s leg as she alighted from a tricycle to run to safety.

    Another trailer was said to have injured a man on the same spot earlier in the day.

    The woman, The Nation learnt, shouted after the trailer hit her, which attracted the attention of passers-by.

    The trailer had crushed her to death before help got her way.

    The tricycle driver escaped through the other way.

    The accident led to a traffic snarl from the bridge back to Isolo.

    Policemen were deployed in the area to ensure normalcy.

    Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) evacuated the woman’s body, which was wrapped in a big polythene bag beside the road.

    Passers-by gathered to catch a glimpse of the body.

    They were not deterred by the presence of the policemen, who chased some of them away to allow SEHMU officials carry out their duties.

    Marked KTU 514 ER, the SEHMU ambulance was driven to the station where the children of the deceased converged.

    Though they appeared calm, the children were seen discussing whether to bury the deceased yesterday or allowed SEHMU officials to keep her  remains in a mortuary.

    One of them, a woman said: “I am confused; I don’t know what to do. Must these drivers put a faulty trailer on the road, thereby causing irreplaceable damage to road users? Why can’t the driver fix the vehicle’s brake before putting it on the road? See what his negligence and wicked action has cost us.”

    The family later agreed to get a casket at Idi-Araba for the burial of their mother yesterday.

    “There’s no point delaying her body and depositing it in the mortuary. We have agreed to bury her today (yesterday),” the daughter also said.

    An eyewitness said the woman boarded the tricycle to Mushin in front of the Isolo campus of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).

    She said: “The accident occurred some minutes past 4 p.m. The woman, having learnt that the brake of the trailer coming from the rear had failed and another trailer in front of the tricycle had developed a fault, tried to escape. Immediately she jumped out of the tricycle, the trailer hit her on the leg and she shouted. That was what attracted us to the scene. But before we got there, the trailer had crushed the woman. The driver escaped through his side. Both of them might have died if they had remained in the tricycle because the trailer had destroyed the tricycle beyond repair.”

    The trailer driver, it was learnt, manoeuvred the vehicle towards the culvert, to avoid further deaths and damage at Oye Bus Stop.

    The remains of the woman were taken away for burial.

  • Banker, trader charged with $40,000 theft

    An Access Bank Plc worker, Beatrice Nwanna, and a trader, Okwudili Onyetube, were yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding a man of $40,000.

    Nwanna 33, who is attached to the Ladipo branch of the bank and Onyetube, 41, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe on a four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

    Prosecuting counsel Henry Obiazi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), alleged that the defendants committed the offence sometime in February 2015, at Okota.

    He said Nwanna conspired with Onyetube and one Daniel, who is at large, to defraud the complainant, Obinna Ezenwaka, under the pretence that ýthey were going to give him the naira equivalent of his dollars.

    The complainant said the first defendant approached him that she could help him get the dollar equivalent of N20.6million, which is $100,000, but she failed to do so.

    “He said after the first defendant collected the N20.6million from the complainant, she stopped picking his  calls and also refused to return the naira nor the dollar equivalent, after several search for her, she later came to pay $50,000.”

    The offence, the prosecutor said, was punishable under Sections 411, 314 (1), (3)ý and 287 (5) (a) of the Criminal law of Lagos State 2015.

    The duo pleaded not guilty.

    Their counsel, Lanre Adaramimo, urged the court to grant them bail in liberal terms, but the prosecutor objected to the request.

    The prosecutor warned that the defendants would jump bail, as Daniel, who was supposed to be charged with them, escaped from police custody yesterday morning before he could be brought to court.

    He pleaded that the defendants be granted bail that would ensure they came to court for their trial.

    Chief Magistrate Komolafe granted them N3million bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    The sureties, she said must be employed. They are also to have affidavit of means, proof of bank account, show evidence of three years tax payment and verifiable addresses.

    The case continues September 19.

  • Trader ‘drugs guards, steals N3.5m vehicle’

    A 23-year-old trader, Emmanuel Agbasi, who allegedly drugged two security guards and stole a bus valued N3.5million, was yesterday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, who lives at Egbeda area of Lagos, appeared before Magistrate O. J. Awope, on a four-count charge of conspiracy, burglary, damage and stealing.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ezekiel Ayorinde, said the accused committed the offences on April 9, at College Road, Ifako, Agege, Lagos.

    He said the accused and others still at large conspired to drug two security guards and stole a vehicle valued N3.5million, property of F.M. Best Bargain Supermarket.

    “The accused, who claimed to be one of the customers of the company, gave the two security guards Orijin drink to consume.

    “The guards drank it that evening and slept off; by 2:00 a.m., the accused burgled the company, damaging four iron doors valued at N400,000.

    “He entered into the managing director’s office, took the key of the Ford bus, and drove it away.

    “The accused was later arrested and handed over to the police,” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 287, 307 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    Mrs Awope adjourned the case until June 23, for mention.