A trader, Bobby Uba, was yesterday charged before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court for allegedly hypnotising a 20-year-old student and withdrawing N57,000 from his bank account.
Uba, 38, who lives in Maruwa Ghetto in Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, was docked before Magistrate Martins Owumi on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, obtaining by false pretence, assault and breach of peace.
Prosecuting Sergeant Femi Adeleye said the defendant and others at large, committed the offence at about 7am on May 11, at Eko Hotel Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Adeleye said Uba saw a student, Rashidi Abdullahi, along the road and beckoned on him. When Abdullahi was within reach, the defendant allegedly hit him on the chest, causing him to lose his senses.
Abdullah, on the defendant’s request, allegedly handed over his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, pin number and his Itel 503 phone valued at N18,000. Abdullah also led the defendant to a Sterling Bank ATM portal, where the defendant withdrew N57,000, from his account.
“The complainant regained consciousness after Uba left and made a report at the Victoria Island Police Station,” the prosecutor said.
Adeleye said on May 19 the defendant tried to defraud a woman in the area, using the same trick, but he was seen and recognised by Abdullahi who raised the alarm and passersby apprehended him.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 411, 314, 287 and 168 (d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Owumi granted him N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned till June 15.
Tag: trader
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Trader withdraws N57,000 from ’hypnotised’ student’s account
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Trader ‘steals’ N20m jewellery
A trader, Usman Hassan, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for allegedly receiving stolen jewellery worth N20million.
Hassan, 41, was accused of conspiring with others at large to receive the jewellery from Kelechi Mbagwu, knowing same to have been stolen.
Prosecuting Sergeant Cyriacus Osuji said the jewellery was the property of a businesswoman, Ifeoma Duyile, adding that they were transferred to Hassan last April 22.
Responding to Magistrate O.O. Oshin’s question, the prosecutor narrated how the jewellery were stolen.
He said: “On April 20, at about 10pm, Mrs Duyile and her husband went out to visit a neighbour within their estate in Lekki, Lagos, leaving their housemaid at home with their doors securely locked.
“On their return, they found all their doors open and the maid missing. Her two phones were also switched off. All their gold jewellery and other valuables worth N20million had been stolen.”
Hassan, who listened to the charge in pidgin English, pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Oshin granted him N500,000 bail, with two sureties in the like sum, one of whom must not be less than a level 10 civil servant.
She adjourned till May 22. -
Trader robbed in Apapa
A woman was yesterday robbed of an undisclosed huge amount by two men in Apapa, Lagos.
The men abandoned their Toyota Camry car popularly known as Big for nothing and fled on a motorcycle to evade arrest.
The woman, a trader, was robbed at Annex Bus stop, Apapa, after she left the bank.
The robbers, who fled towards Kofo Abayomi, Apapa, abandoned their car and snatched a motorcycle when they run into traffic jam.
An eyewitness, Ifeanyi Ikechukwu, said: “The robbers drove a grey Toyota Camry car and robbed a woman selling snacks and recharge cards near Mobil filling station at Annex Bus stop. She was said to have gone to the bank to withdraw money for her business, especially recharge cards.
“The robbers drove through Kofo Abayomi and on meeting traffic, they used their vehicle to hit a commercial motorcycle. They immediately disembarked and snatched the bike from the owner and drove off on it. Although other commercial motorcyclists chased them, they were not able to catch up with them.”
Policemen from Apapa Division have since taken away the vehicle.
A source said police would investigate to ascertain the vehicle’s owner.
He said: “If the vehicle belongs to the robbers, the particulars will make it easier for us to arrest them. But if it doesn’t, we will still go to the vehicle licensing organisation to get the details of the owner and ensure they are informed.”
Also yesterday, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives foiled the theft of some cables in Ogudu.
It was gathered that the thieves jumped into the nearby bush on sighting the RRS patrol van.
The vandals were said to have drawn the concealed cables from the connecting point at the base of a lamp post before the operatives stumbled on them.
According to the police, the patrol team leader contacted Lagos State Electricity Board officials in charge of the area to take over before continuing with their routine patrol.
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Trader accuses IKEDC, NSCDC of assault, wrongful detention
•NSCDC: she stabbed power firm’s official
A petty trader, Mrs. Ayodele Ediale, 35, has accused Ikeja Electric (IE) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of unjust treatment but NSCDC denied the claim, saying the woman was never maltreated.
Mrs. Ediale was paraded last month for allegedly stabbing an IE official, Stephen John Enyinna, during a disagreement at 6, Ayodola Street, Alimosho
The woman, who said she was detained for four days and later charged to court without being given fair hearing, denied committing the offence.
At the Public Advice Centre (PAC), Alausa, where she and her husband went to seek justice, she appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to look into her matter.
She claimed, she was severely beaten up by Enyinna, who also used his helmet to hit her on her stomach and other parts of her body for “being rude.”
She said: “It is really sad how people who think they have power trample on others. At no point did I stab him. In fact, he was the one who slapped me and started beating me that I answered his boss rudely. I had to fight back when the beating was too much before neighbours saw what was happening and pulled him away.
“What actually caused the problem was that they had disconnected light from my mother’s house about three weeks before January 16. They had presented a very high bill which my widowed mother and stepmother couldn’t pay.
“The men from IE office in Alimosho are always coming in batches to harass and extort the women, who had pleaded to pay the exorbitant bill in instalments.
“So, I was at my mother’s house that January 16 when two IE workers entered the compound. I was outside with my step sister but my mother was inside. When they came, they asked who disconnected the light and where the wire was?
“This disgusted me and my stepsister. We replied that such questioning was rhetorical and Enyinna Stephen went wild saying we were being rude to his boss and instantly slapped me.
“I was infuriated and held onto his clothes as my sister tried to calm me down. Stephen continued to abuse and assault me, he incessantly hit my breasts and other parts of my body with his helmet.
“After the brawl and scuffle, neighbours came around to my rescue. They dragged him out and locked our gate. I felt abused and started throwing stones at him, as my mother and neighbour calmed me.
“Within an hour, some NSCDC officers came to my place armed with guns. I was surprised to see them and even more shocked to see Enyinna bleeding. They dragged me to their office and detained me after I was asked to write a statement.
“I was still wondering why I am the one being detained instead of the man who assaulted me, then it occurred to me that he might have slit his arm intentionally so that he can get away with his crime against me.
“Then, on January 18, I was paraded before newsmen and called a thief. I even tried to cover my face but NSCDC operatives brushed my hands off and shouted at me.
“I was maltreated and wondered what crime I committed. At this point, I was advised to start pleading with the Ikeja Electric’s counsel. And that’s when I started apologising for a crime I didn’t commit. I and my husband knelt down to apologise to Stephen (Enyinna) at the NSCDC headquarters in Alausa.”
NSCDC spokesperson, Mary Kehinde-Bada said from pictures and witnesses, testimonies, Mrs. Ediale stabbed Enyinna with a broken bottle.
She said: “It’s untrue that we perpetrated injustice against her. We are in partnership with the electricrity companies because we protect their installations. Normally, when they go out to the field, our men usually escort them.
“But that day at Alimosho, none of our operatives went with them. So, when the incident happened, the officials called for backup and that was how our people got there. From our investigation, the woman broke a bottle and stabbed the official wirh it. We have picture evidence and also have testimonies from witnesses. It is also not true that she was denied bail. She was granted administrative bail but didn’t meet her bail condition.” -
Trader remanded for turning beggar into ‘sex machine’
An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday remanded a trader, who allegedly defiled a 13-year-old female beggar.
Thirty-two-year-old Ibrahim Usman, a resident of Ojoo, Ibadan, is facing a count charge of defilement.
According to the prosecutor, Mr Lucky Ihiehie, Usman committed the offence in December 2016 in Ibadan and was arrested on Feb. 5 at Mile 12.
Ihiehie said that the trader took the victim from where she was begging and turned her into a `sex machine’.
“The accused took her to his sister’s house in Ibadan and had sex with her twice at night. He told her to start living with him in his sister’s house.
“He brought her to Lagos on Feb. 3 to buy some things for his business at Mile 12, but on Feb. 5 one of Hausa leaders saw them.
“After series of questions, it was discovered that the girl had been passing through a lot in the hands of the accused.
“She was taken without her parents’ knowledge and was being defiled every night by the accused,’’ he submitted.
Ihiehie said that the victim told the police that since she met the accused, she had not been the same.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The trader, however, pleaded not guilty.
The magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, remanded him in prison custody, and ordered that the victim should be taken to an orphanage until the next adjourned date, March 3. (NAN)
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Trader divorce from’irresponsible’ hubby
A 31-year-old trader, Oluwatoyin Ibikunle, yesterday pleaded with an Agege Customary Court to dissolve her 14-year-old marriage because of constant beating by her husband.
Oluwatoyin, who hails from Osun state, said her husband Okiki Ibikunle was irresponsible.
“My husband is irresponsible; he has turned me into a punching bag, I am no longer interested in the marriage.
“He keeps threatening my life, embarrassing and harassing me.
“He is so abusive, always raining curses on me and accusing me of having illicit affairs with different men.
“He made the police to arrest me and l slept in the cell for two days before l was released,” she said.
The petitioner, a mother of four, said her husband was not taking proper care of her and their children.
Oluwatoyin pleaded with the court to separate them, saying: “I am no longer interested in the union; the love I have for him has faded.
“l also want my husband to give me custody of the children for good and proper upbringing”.
She denied her husband’s allegations, saying they were fabricated stories.
According to her, she moved out of their matrimonial home because of constant beating that sometimes lead to injuries.
Ibikunle, a 44-year-old driver from Oyo State, denied the allegations and described his wife as wayward.
“My wife is not submissive and she is wayward; she is not a good wife.
“She enjoys doing things l do not like and she moved out of our house two years ago.
The respondent said that his wife used to be honest, faithful and straightforward, but suddenly changed after he lost his job and she started keeping bad friends.
He further alleged that the petitioner started keeping late nights and received strange calls late at night.
“I couldn’t talk much because l was not working and couldn’t provide for the house financially.
The respondent accused the wife of infidelity having caught her on several occasions with different men at different hotels.
“On several occasions my wife lied that she was going for parties and left the house for days.
“There was a time she went for a party and did not return claiming she slept over at her sister’s house which l later discovered were all lies”.
He said that he confronted her on a particular day when he saw her with one of her male friends.
“She told me to my face not to disturb her that the man has been of immense help to her”.
The respondent told the court that he made efforts to resolve the issues between both of them which were fruitless.
“I later realised her family were supporting her because she credits her father and family member accounts with money she gets from her male friends”.
He also said his wife did not care about the welfare of the children as all she was good at was her business and relationship with men.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during mediation the children did not want their parents to live separately.
The Court’s President, Mr Philip Williams, then admonished the estranged couple and told them that they did not love their children.
“If care is not taken, you will ruin the life of these children and turn them to societal nuisance,” he said.
The case was adjourned to December 1 for judgment.
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Police arrest man for raping daughter in JSS3
The Police in Lagos State, have arrested a man, who claimed to be a trader, for allegedly raping his 15 year-old daughter and administering drugs on her to prevent pregnancy.
The spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
Badmos said that the Gender Unit of the command was investigating the suspect, Uchena Elumadu for a case of defilement.
She said that a neighbour, who resides at Martins Street, new Oko Oba, Agege Lagos, reported the case to the police.
She said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on different occasions, raped the JSS 3 student who is his daughter.
The police image maker said that Elumadu usually administer drugs to prevent his victim from getting pregnant after having intercourse with her.
“The victim said that her father, on countless occasions wakes her up in the middle of the night to rape her, mostly when her mother is on night duty.
“The mother is a casual worker in one of the outfits attached to airport.
“On the night of Sept. 19, the mother discovered the suspect having intercourse with the victim and raised the alarm and one of their neighbours reported the case to the police,” Badmos said.
She said the victim had been admitted at the Police Cottage Hospital, Ikeja Police College, where she is receiving treatment in partnership with Mirabel Centre LASUTH.
The spokesperson said that medical examination was being carried out on the victim.
Badmos said the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Owoseni, had directed that the father, who admitted raping his daughter on three occasions be charged to court.
“The commissioner has vowed that the command will no longer tolerate cases relating to domestic and sexual abuse in the state,” she said.
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Court nullifies Alaba trader’s election
Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos High Court has voided the election of Mr. Felix Nwagu as chairman of the General Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA) in Alaba International market in Ojo.
In her ruling, Justice Adesanya said: “On the totality of the foregoing, meaning the claimant’s claim, statement of defence, cross- examinations, the filed defence reply and witnesses, judgment is entered for the claimant, Mr Joseph Emeziem, against GDEA, Nwagu, Mr. Chinedu Arinze and Mr. Obiora Olikagu. A declaration that the selection of Mr Nwangu as the chairman, elect is irregular, contrary to GEDA’s constitution and is null and void.
“That the subsequent swearing in of the second defendant (Nwagu) as the General Chairman of GEDA by its electoral committee of 2013 and issuance of certificate of office to him is accordingly set aside.”
Reacting to the ruling, the claimants counsel Henry Onyeaghana Abohor said it was binding on the parties, adding that the high court has a unit to enforce the judgment, which he noted, will continue to subsist until set aside by the appeal court.
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How hoodlums invaded Ladipo market, by trader
A trader injured during last Thursday’s violence in Bakkasi section of Ladipo Market at Mushin, Lagos, yesterday relived how he was attacked by hoodlums.
Chinonso Chukwuanni told The Nation that he was terrified on hearing gunshot and seeing a large crowd wielding machetes and bottles.
He said: “I was in my shop that fateful day, trying to attend to a customer when I heard gun shots. Terrified by the gun shots, I ran out of my shop to escape and I saw a large crowd invading our market. They were wielding machetes and bottles, firing sporadically into the air. I ran towards the Toyota Expressway but got injured in the process.
“What surprised me the more was that when I looked closely at the hoodlums, I saw some of them in army uniforms with no name tags. Everybody was just running around without a particular direction just to escape the stray bullets.
“A fellow trader who was not so lucky was hit in the face; he is still in coma in the hospital. Several others sustained injuries and we don’t know why this is happening. Most of the victims were traders in Ode Aladura section of the market known as Bakkasi.”
Another trader, Chukwuma Uroko, called on the Lagos State Government and the Commissioner of Police to ensure that the hoodlums and their sponsors are brought to book.
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Trader arraigned for alleged forgery
A 37-year-old trader, Chukwuma Nwankwo, accused of manufacturing fake products has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.
Nwankwo, a resident of Amoo Street, Agege, Lagos, is being tried for alleged forgery.
Prosecuting Sergeant Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 17 at Balogun Street, Agege, Lagos.
He said Nwankwo fraudulently presented himself to be the manufacturer and owner of Alteco PTE Limited, with the intent to defraud the original owner of the company.
“The accused was producing fake superglue, using the forged trademark, design and logo of Alteco, the original manufacturer of the superglue.
“The complainant had earlier received series of complaints from users that his product was no longer effective, unknown to him that there was an impostor,” he said.
Olatunde said the complainant, however, saw the fake product in a store and pretended to be interested in selling the product, and got the address of the accused from the store owner.
“The complainant with some policemen traced the address of the accused and caught him with cartons of the fake products,” he said.
The prosecutor alleged that the accused, by his actions, had deceived the public into believing that the product was the same as the original.
“And at the moment, several of such fake products are in the market nationwide,” he said.
He said the offence contravened Section 363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, which prescribes a 14- year jail term as penalty for offenders.
The accused pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Aka Bashorun granted him N100, 000 bail with one surety in like sum.
Bashorun adjourned the case till September 15.