The Nation Newspaper

Tag: worker

  • ASUU demands release of kidnapped UI worker

    ASUU demands release of kidnapped UI worker

    The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan (UI), Dr Deji Omole, has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, to rescue Dr Beatrice Fabunmi, who was kidnapped in Ondo State.

    Dr Fabunmi is an ASUU member who works at the Kenneth Dike Library in the university.

    She was allegedly kidnapped at Oba-Akoko on her way to her mother in Ibilo, Edo State, last Friday.

    Her husband, Prof Martins Fabunmi, who was also kidnapped, was shot and released.

    The kidnappers are demanding N5million for her release.

    Omole said: “Where will ordinary Nigerians pass that they will be safe?

    “Our roads are death traps and since we cannot afford plane tickets, we endure the hardship only for us to be kidnapped again. This is evil and must be stopped.

    “The Inspector General of Police needs to track down those kidnappers in Ondo State and other adjoining states.

    “We in ASUU are demanding the unconditional release and safe return of one of our own.

    “The state must guarantee the security of its members.

    President Muhammadu Buhari should order security agencies to ensure Dr Fabunmi’s release within 24 hours.”

    Omole added that although the case had been reported to the police, it  was not treated with the  attention it deserves.

    “If ‘big men’ or their children are kidnapped, all the newspapers will be awash with the report but when the ‘poor man’ is kidnapped, he becomes another victim.

    “The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, should step up his act and check this insecurity.

    “The Federal Government must not force Nigerians to rise in self defence, if their security cannot be guaranteed by the state.”

  • CBN worker freed from abductors’ custody

    CBN worker freed from abductors’ custody

    Abductors have released Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) worker Nelson Amuwa after about one week in their custody.

    Amuwa was kidnapped by three gun-totting men on January 15 at about 10.30pm off Channels Avenue, River Bank Estate near OPIC Estate in Ogun State.

    The abductors hit his car with theirs, drawing him out before grabbing and driving away in their car. They later called his brother to demand N15 million ransom.

    He was let off by his abductors at the weekend after an undisclosed amount had been paid.

  • Abductors of CBN worker demand N15 million

    Abductors of a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) worker Nelson Amuwa have demanded a ransom of N15 million.

    Amuwa was kidnapped on Friday at about 10.30pm off Channels Avenue, River Bank Estate, near Opic Estate in Ogun State.

    The three gun-totting men forced Amuwa out of his car. They left the engine running. His two phones were not taken.

    The abductors later called his brother to demand N15 million ransom. The case, which  was reported at the Ojodu police station, is said to have been transferred to the Eleweran Police Headquarters in Abeokuta .

  • College worker found dead

    A member of the staff of the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Ms Evelyn Ajagun, has been found dead in her apartment at Palmgrove Street, Oka in Ondo town.

    Sources said the decomposing body was discovered at the weekend.

    It was learnt that neighbours forced her door open when a strange odour was traced to her apartment.

    A student said the last time they saw Ms Ajagun was last Tuesday.

    She noted that the circumstances surrounding her death still remained a mystery.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Enu Owa, Adekunle Omisakin, said preliminary investigation showed that the deceased was probably sick and had no one to attend to her.

    He said the incident occurred because her neighbours were students, who had travelled home for the New Year break.

    Omisakin said the remains have been evacuated to the Ondo General Hospital morgue.

  • Kwara worker missing

    There is fear in Oluseyi, in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, following the mysterious disappearance of a 30-year- old civil servant, Olaniyi Muyideen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that Muyideen is a computer operator at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) attached to Irepodun Local Government Education Authority, Omu-Aran office.

    He was said to have left his home about 7am on September 30, leaving his door unlocked. His mobile phone and other items  were inside his room.

    A man, simply identified as Femi, who claimed to be his landlord, told NAN last Friday when Muyideen’s parents called from Ilorin to enquire about him. He found that his door was unlocked.

    He said neighbours’ fears were further heightened when a search party, organised to ascertain Muyideen’s whereabouts, found his slippers, clothes and underwear at an uncompleted building a few metres to his home.

    Femi said the matter had been reported to the Divisional Police Command in Omu-Aran.

    “I thought he had left for Ilorin from the office on Wednesday to visit his parents. It was his usual practice.

    “It was when his parents called on Friday asking about him that I noticed he left his door unlocked and I raised the alarm,” he said.

    The Secretary, Irepodun Local Government Education Authority, Mr. Bisi Dosunmu, said his office was working with the police and the town’s vigilance group to ascertain Muyideen’s

  • Worker ‘steals’ firm’s bus

    A worker with China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Isaac Shalegh was yesterday arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s court in Lagos for allegedly stealing the firm’s Toyota Hiace bus.

    Shalegh, 29, was docked alongside Bem Takpa, 38; Tor Matthew, 30; Sefa Akuhwa, 34; and Tevershima Ahura, 32, on a seven-count charge of conspiracy, dishonest conversion and duplication of keys, stealing, and receiving of stolen goods.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Adegoke Akinlade said the offence was committed on August 1, about 5pm, at Iya Calabar beer parlour in Ebute Meta, Lagos

    He alleged that ýShalegh duplicated the key of the bus marked KTU878AX and facilitated its removal by Matthew and Takpa, from where it was parked.

    Akinlade said Akuhwa received the bus and defaced it.

    The offence, he said, contravened Sections 278, 326, 337, 409 and 413 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The matter was adjourned till October 28.

     

  • Worker wins Commonwealth scholarship

    A research fellow in the Department of Computer Science of FUNAAB, Mr. Oluwatimilehin Salako, has won a Commonwealth scholarship tenable in the United Kingdom during the 2015/2016 academic session.

    Salako was one of the 387 applicants that were offered the scholarships, funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DfID).

    The Executive Secretary, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, John Kirkland, noted that successful candidates were those with strong academic backgrounds, having demonstrated in their applications a clear and realistic plan of study as well as the likelihood of tangible development impact after the end of their fellowship period. Kirkland said the gender balance in selecting the candidates was taken into consideration, advising nominating agencies to continue to put forward, strong female candidates.

    Oluwatimilehin Salako holds a B.Sc degree in Computer Science (First class honours) from FUNAAB. He teaches practical classes as well as undergraduate students’ tutorials.

    He won the FUNAAB Senate Prize for First Class graduates in the Department of Computer Science, College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS).

  • Osun worker had depression, says doctor

    The family doctor of a sanitation officer in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State has refuted the report linking his patient’s suicide attempt to unpaid salaries.

    Last week, a newspaper reported that Olufemi Owolabi attempted to commit suicide because he had not been paid.

    But Dr. Ishaq Opakunle said Owolabi had clinical depression, which sometimes lead to suicide.

    He said tests carried out on Owolabi and inquiries from his family showed that he had attempted  to commit suicide in the past.

    The doctor said he gathered from the family that depression led his patient to relocate from the North some years back

    Opakunle said: “He (Owolabi) looked unkempt, depressed, and haggard.

    “He was vomiting and weak. I was told he drank herbicide.

    “I asked the patient why he attempted to commit suicide, but he refused to answer.

    “His mother said he tried to take his life when he was   in the North. It is most likely once a man attempts suicide, he may attempt it again.”

    Mrs Rachael Owolabi said her husband did not attempt suicide because of unpaid salaries.

    She said he was not the only unpaid worker in the state.

    Mrs. Owolabi said her husband  had been battling depression.

    The patient’s sister, Mrs. Yemisi Oladipupo, who also works in the local government, said her brother’s  suicide attempt should not be linked to unpaid salaries.

    She said: “The incident cannot be connected to unpaid salaries at all. Though, our salary arrears have not been paid up to date, people have started receiving alert for February salary now. So, why would he kill himself because of salary?

    “I believe it was the devil at work and it is a family affair. I see no reason why our family should be dragged into politics.

    “The detractors goofed when they said he is a senior civil servant; he is a Level 4 officer.”

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), David Owoeye, denied speaking to reporters on the matter.

  • Firm gives 1.04m to slain worker

    Firm gives 1.04m to slain worker

    The management of Crunches Fried Chicken has given the family its late worker Mazi Christian Okoro, a cheque for N1.04m.

    Okoro was killed by robbers in December last year during an operation at their Umuahia outlet.

    Mazi Okoro, a security man on duty at Crunches Fried Chicken, Umuahia outlet lost his life during a robbery incident at the eatery on December 23, last year, leaving behind children and other relations.

    Speaking while handing over the cheque to Kelechi and Nnenna two of the deceased’s children, the managing director of Crunches Fried Chicken, Mazi Jude Nwosu recalled how committed to duty Mazi Okoro was while he worked in the outlet. He revealed that his late staff, until death, was never issued with any query.

    Nwosu noted that although the amount would not bring back the dead to life, he it would go a long way in cushioning the effects of his demise on the family.

    “Your father had a very excellent inter-personal working relationship with other workers in that all through his service years, he was never issued any query for misconduct.”

    While urging Crunches Fried Chicken family and others touched by the death of the late Okoro to draw their strength from God, Mazi Nwosu prayed God to give the children and members of their immediate family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    The Human Resources Manager (HRM) of the firm, Mr. Tunde Afenokhai said Crunches Fried Chicken came up with such packages to assist relations of staff who died while on active service.

    He urged children of the deceased to be prudent in their spending in order to achieve the purpose for which the money was meant.

    Responding, Kelechi and Nnenna thanked management of the firm for the gesture which they said would assist the deceased’s immediate family to overcome some of the problems they were encountering as a result of their father’s death. They, however, promised not to be extravagant in their spending as the money would be judiciously used to achieve the purpose for which it was given.

     

  • Ex-PHCN worker spends N5.5m gratuity on jeep

    Ex-PHCN worker spends N5.5m gratuity on jeep

    A FORMER Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) staff member has spent N5.5million of his N6million severance pay on the purchase of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), The Nation can reveal.

    The ex-PHCN’s staff, who is in his late 50s, bought the brand new car a few days after collecting his pay.

    “He is a middle-aged man, without a house. He is still struggling and has nothing to show for his over 20 years’ service in the state-owned electricity company,” his colleagues, who were shocked at his behaviour, said.

    “We, his colleagues, were shocked by the development because we expected him to plan with the money, knowing full well that he would not be absorbed by any of the 14 companies that bought the assets of PHCN,’ his colleagues said.’

    They said it took the intervention of their District Manager and some senior staff to convince the man to sell the car.

    At the end of the day, “we succeeded in helping him to resell the jeep for over N5million, and the money was handed over to him and advised him to invest it”, the they added.