Blog

NAN-H-25
Stealing
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) For allegedly stealing N3.8million belonging to a company, 35-year-old Temitope Adesanya was on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Adesanya, a resident of Mowe area of Ogun, is charged with fraud and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, said that the accused committed the offences between the 2015 and 2016 at Ilupeju in Lagos.

He said that the accused stole N3.8million, property of Mutual Life Benefits Assurance.

Ogu said that the accused fraudulently obtained money from customers of the company for their premium policy.

“The accused unlawfully obtained money from clients under the pretence of remitting it into their policy account with the company, but diverted the money for her own use.

“The fraud was discovered when 12 clients came disturbing the company over the interest on their money.

“It was later discovered after investigation that the accused did not also remit the money of 18 other clients into the company’s account,” the prosecutor said.

Ogu said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for offenders.

The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mrs T. Akanni, adjourned the case to Dec. 5 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/FLP/SOA
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Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Oluwole Sogunle

NAN-H-24
Surety
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) A Lagos businessman, Wasiu Lawal, who failed to produce the person he stood surety for, was on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

Lawal, 51, a resident of Agege area of Lagos State, is facing trial for conspiracy and perversion of justice.

However, Magistrate O. A. Gbajumo, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N20, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Gbajumo adjourned the case to Oct. 30 for trial.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Michael Unah, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on Nov. 23, 2015 at the Divisional Crime Office, Dopemu Police Station, Agege, Lagos.

Unah alleged that the accused conspired with one other now at large to obstruct and pervert the course of justice.

“The accused stood as a surety for Fatai Azeez, who was arrested for alleged fraud and stealing.

“Azeez obtained N2.6 million from Musa Mohammed for business and later issued a dud cheque to him which was dishonoured due to insufficient fund.

“Azeez was then granted N500, 000 bail and released to the accused, who promised to produce him on Jan. 30, 2016 and other subsequent dates till the case is finally disposed off.

“The accused is hereby called upon to show course why the sum of N500, 000 bond executed by him should not be forfeited,’’ the prosecutor said.

He said that the offences contravened Section 97 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Section 97 (1) provides seven years imprisonment for perversion of justice. (NAN)
DOA/DEB/GOK
Edited by Debo Oshundun/Olagoke Olatoye

NAN-HE-12
Depot
Lagos, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) Former Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Dele Tajudeen, on Tuesday said marketers have not loaded any products from the Mosinmi depot for the past seven months.

Tajudeen made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos.

He added that businesses had been grounded due to non-availability of petroleum products at Mosinmi depot.

Tajudeen said the depot served as the central point for all marketers in the western zone.

“For over seven months now, marketers have not loaded any products from the depot.’’

According to him, Mosinmi depot has turned to a grave yard. No business activities there; marketers have suffered greatly due to non-availability of products.

“The shutdown of pumping of product to Mosinmi has affected our business, including the petty traders who had left the premises.

“It has also affected business activities within Ikorodu, Ishagamu, Abeokuta and its environs who depend on marketers to survive’’, he said.

The IPMAN ex-chairman said the situation had lead to the untimely death of some members who borrowed money to do business, but could not load products due to the ongoing challenges.

He said this had led to the death of some members who had high blood pressure, hypertension and other ailments.

“Majority of our members borrowed money from banks to do business; banks do not know whether you are working or not, they continue to charge you.’’

Tajudeen said that the association understood the challenges of the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), especially the vandalism of product-bearing pipes.

“The pipes belong to all of us not about government losing but all Nigerians are losing.

“As far as I know, government has lost over N8.6 billion to pipe vandalism from Atlas Cove to Mosinmi depot between January and April 2016,.

“There is no reasonable person that will continue to embark on pumping of products with the huge losses’’, Tajudeen said.

Tajudeen urged all stakeholders to join hands to support the NNPC in providing adequate protection for the pipes.

He commended NNPC’s efforts toward finding lasting solution to pipe vandalism.

“We have been told that the pumping of products from the system 2B to Mosinmi would commence by November, we pray that those who are perpetuating the evil act would be brought to book.’’

He urged management of NNPC to include the association in the policing of the pipe network to ease product pumping across the western zone.

Tajudeen also appealed to vandals to desist from the act which has negative effect on the socio-economic growth of the nation and the well-being of Nigerians.

He pledged IPMAN’s continuous support in tackling the menace of pipe vandalism through effective monitoring and policing of the network. (NAN)

YO/EAL/IEA
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Idahosa Asowata
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NAN-H-21
Chibok
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) Some Nigerians on Tuesday in Lagos  urged the Federal Government to use any rightful means to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls in the captivity of the Boko Haram sect.

The citizens said in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the girls’ lives were invaluable.

NAN reports that the Federal Government had said that it was intensifying efforts to secure release of more Chibok girls.

Twenty-one of the Chibok girls were released by their abductors last week.

They were among the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, in April 2014.

Chief Denis Aghanya, Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption and Research-based Data Initiative (ARDI), said that any price for the release of the remaining girls would not be too much.

“The lives of these innocent girls cannot be compared to anything else; whatever price or other means will not be too much.

“Even if it requires exchanging them for prisoners, so be it,” Aghanya told NAN.

He urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari adequately to achieve the release.

Alhaji Musa Umar, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Kano, advised the government to employ any approach it used to secure the release of the 21 Chibok girls in effecting the release of the remaining ones.

Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, the 2015 Presidential Candidate of the KOWA Party, urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts for the release of the remaining girls.

She prayed God to allow all the girls to return safely.

“One is happy over the release of 21 of the Chibok girls. The sad part was that not all of them returned.

“One can just imagine the agony of the remaining girls and their parents. Our desire and prayer is that all of them will return safely and soon,” Sonaiya said.

She urged increased efforts to secure all Nigerians. (NAN)
LED/ASS/IGO
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(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)

NAN-H-48
Fighting
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The police on Tuesday arraigned a 36-year-old auditor, Omobolaji Ipadeola, in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court f0r allegedly assaulting and tearing the uniform of a policeman.

Ipadeola, a resident of Command Road, Ipaja, Lagos, is standing trial for alleged breach of peace and assault.

The Prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 3 at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

Nwosu said that Ipadeola unlawfully assaulted a police sergeant on duty by hitting him and tearing his uniform.

He said that a team of police officers were on patrol and stopped the accused who was driving his Honda Accord car, but he refused to stop.

“The accused refused to stop initially but was intercepted in traffic, he was then asked to produce his vehicle document but he refused.

“The police team leader instructed the complainant to take the accused to the station for questioning following his refusal to comply with their directive.

“But the accused refused to go to the station and started fighting with the complainant and in the process tore part of his uniform,” he said.
The offences contravened sections 166 and 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 172 provides for four-year imprisonment for the offence.

Ipadeola pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr A.A Adesanya, adjourned the case till Oct. 26 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/AOS/OFN
Edited by Bayo Sekoni//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-17
Robbers
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) For allegedly robbing a pedestrian of his valuables worth N250,000 on a highway, two men — Tunde Mutiu and Wasiu Elesin — were facing trial at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

Mutiu, 20, a bricklayer, and Elesin, 23, a vulcaniser, whose addresses are unknown, are arraigned before the Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Oshibajo, for conspiracy and stealing.

According to Prosecutor Yomi Egunjobi, the accused committed the offences on Oct. 11 on CMD Road, Agidingbi, Alausa, Ikeja, near the Lagos State Government Secretariat.
He said the accused and others still at large conspired to steal items valued at N250,000, property of a man, Olugbeminiyi Koriko.

“The accused snatched a HP laptop valued at N85,000, a Techo J8 phone worth N50,000, one Techo phantom phone valued at N95,000 and a cash of N20,000,  totalling N250,000.”

Egunjobi said the complainant, who was coming from an event, was waiting for a taxi when the accused attacked him.

“The complainant was coming from a programme when the accused armed with some dangerous weapons, approached him and commanded him to surrender his belongings amid threat to kill him if he refused to comply.
“Out of fear,the complainant surrendered all  including his identity card and ATM card, while the accused and others took to their heels.

“The complainant raised an alarm and fortunately for him, the policemen on patrol arrived at the scene and gave the accused a hot chase.

“Two of them were arrested, while others escaped with the items,” he said.

The offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes three years jail term for offenders, while Section 409 provides two years.

The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and were granted bail each in the sum of N100,000  with two sureties each in like sum.

The case was adjourned to Nov. 3 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/DA
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Edited by Dele Akinsola

NAN-DS-3
Sentence
By Ali Inuwa
Maiduguri, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) A Nigerian Army Court Marshal, has sentenced Staff Sergeant, Umar Sale to three years imprisonment for causing bodily harm to a male teenager in Maiduguri.

In his ruling in Maiduguri on Tuesday, the President of the court, Brig.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, said the convict would also be demoted to private as part of his punishment.

“Staff Sgt. Umar Sale, you have been found guilty of the charges against you, having listened to the presentation of the prosecution to treat you as a first offender.’’

The president said that offences were contrary to Section 104 (2b) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A 20 laws of the federation 2004 as well as Section 119 of the Armed Forces Act A 20.

“The court hereby sentences you as follows; on count one, three years imprisonment, on count two, demotion to a private.

“The sentence is however, subject to confirmation by the authority as provided by sections 141 (2) and 152 (1a) of the Armed Forces Act cap a 20 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004,’’ he said.

Umar was alleged to have tied up a teenager, Muhammad Sale on an electronic pole for several hours causing him to lose one of his hands.

The teenager was accused of stealing money belonging to the soldier. (NAN)
ABI/MNA/AEA
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(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Archibong Asuquo)

Construction of rural bridges, roads ‘ll tackle poverty, crimes – Nasarawa govt.
NAN-H-20
Bridges
Kokona (Nasarawa State) Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government said that the massive construction of bridges across the state would help in fighting poverty, boosting socioeconomic activities and improving revenue generation.
Mr Godwin Danladi-Makeri, state Commissioner of Works and Housing, stated this on Tuesday while inspecting the ongoing construction of Bokoko Bridge in Kokona Local Government Area of the state.
“I am here to inspect this bridge and to see by myself the quality of job done so far by the contractor with the view of addressing any challenge if discovered.
“Everybody in the state can see what Gov. Tanko Al-Makura’s government has done since its inception, especially in the area of road and bridge construction, among others.
“Apart from boosting the socio-economic development and the revenue base of the state, it will also help in reducing the plight of the people.
“That is why the state government has decided to embark on construction of roads and bridges across the state,’’ the commissioner said.
This to help fight poverty, youths restiveness, unemployment as well as crimes and discourage rural-urban migration,” he said.
Danladi-Makeri called on the contractors to ensure speedy completion of the projects according to specification.
He restated the state government’s commitment to continue initiating more people-oriented projects in order to boost the socio-economic welfare of the people of the state.
The commissioner also called on the people of the state to continue to support President Buhari and Gov. Al-Makura administrations to enable them succeed in the task ahead.
Earlier, the contractor handling Bokoko Bridge, Mr Liu Jun, assured the state government of quality job so as to ensure durability.
Jun said that the work would be completed before the end of this month to connect residents of the area with neighbouring communities. (NAN)
AKW/FF/WOJ
(Edited by Fela Fashoro / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-46

Oil

By Oloniruha Emmanuel and Abiemwense Moru

Abuja, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) A House Representatives  member, Rep. Johnson  Agbonayinma, on Tuesday said multinational oil companies, not Niger Delta Avengers, were the real saboteurs in Nigeria’s oil sector.

He said that while the militants only destroyed oil pipelines in protest over several Niger Delta issues, the multinationals collude with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) officials to steal crude oil and take it outside the country.

Agbonayinma told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the oil racket was complete with the involvement of some Nigerian elite and nationals of foreign countries where the oil was delivered.

He disclosed that with help of an American firm, Loumos Group, contracted by the Federal Government under former President Goodluck Jonathan, stolen crude oil were traced to some countries, including 57 million barrels to the U.S.

He said that part of the fraud was committed through under-declaration by the NNPC and the cabal of volume of oil exports, adding that oil theft was a flourishing venture by NNPC officials and people in high places.

The lawmaker, who represents Egor/ Ikpoba-Okha Constituency of Edo, therefore urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s fight against corruption.

According to him, Niger Delta Avengers are not oil thieves or saboteurs of the economy. The real thieves are the oil cabal, who are milking the nation of oil and the revenue.

“They are NNPC and persons in high places and their foreign partners, and they should be made to account for the stolen crude.

Agbonayinma, therefore, said that it was disheartening that NNPC was picturing Niger Delta Avengers as saboteurs in the oil sector.

“What NNPC people are doing is using the issue of militancy to cover up. They are not telling Nigerians the truth.

“They are diverting the nation’s attention from the basic truth about huge stealing in the oil sector.

“The cabal is responsible for non-functioning of the refineries. It is pre-meditated and being manipulated so that they can continue to defraud the system,’’ he said.

He recalled that the refineries were built by the military and challenged civilian leaders to show what they had built or how they had maintained the existing ones.

Agbonayinma called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society organisations to rise against oil thieves “who are in high places, NNPC and multinationals.

“There is a lot of corruption in the system and labour leaders and CSOs should lead workers and the masses on activities to encourage President Buhari in sustain the anti-corruption fight.

“There are no two ways about it than to support Buhari so that anyone found wanting should face the law. That is what we need to do.’’

He pointed out that there was corruption all over the world, but that “the one in Nigeria is done with impunity’’.

“There is corruption in America, Europe and rest of the world, but those found guilty of it always face the law.

“Unfortunately in Nigeria, even though you are caught red-handed, you go scot-free, while those who steal N10, 000 or less go to jail and `pen robbers’ go free.

“Nigeria is not broke. Money in the hands of some corrupt elite is enough to keep the country afloat,’’ the lawmaker said. (NAN)
OBE/AMM/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-HE-3
BVN
Abuja, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The National Cooperative Financing Agency of Nigeria (CFAN) is partnering with the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) to provide Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) for identification of its members at the grassroots.

The CFAN Executive Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Atama, made the assertion on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Atama said the BVN would also assist the agency to provide the basic needs of life to its members, adding that the recently established Unified Cooperative Platform (UCP) would anchor the process.

“We will use the BVN as a unique identifier of our group members down the ladder for access to pension, healthcare, micro-insurance, micro-housing, financing and other good things of life.

“This will enable them to find life more meaningful and worth living, and our UCP will lead in opening up the financial highway down to the grassroots.

“UCP is the bedrock upon which the activities of the National Cooperative Development Fund will be ran and anchored.

“ It is the infrastructure that will help account for every transaction done with respect to administering funds,’’ he said.

Atama said that the UCP was already on the agency’s website.

He said that a steering committee would soon be set up at the national, zonal and state levels to help in sensitising and mobilising cooperative members to participate through their contributions.

Atama said that 82 co-operatives were already on board in a bid to meet the target of achieving about 200 by December.

NAN reports that UCP is to provide standardised cooperative technologically-driven platform that would meet the operational needs of the cooperative societies in Nigeria.

The innovation will serve as a one-stop-shop for all the technology needs of cooperative societies, and solve issues of accountability, productivity, monitoring and reporting needs of every cooperative society. (NAN)
LCN/EAL/GOK
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Olagoke Olatoye