Thursday, March 31, 2016
The police in Lagos have arrested a chief in the Ijegun area, identified only as Ajiroba, for allegedly assaulting a bread seller, Bukola Olasunkanmi, in the Isheri-Oshun area of the state.


PUNCH Metro learnt that Olasunkanmi, who was seven-month-old pregnant, was allegedly flogged several times by the chief and his thugs because she mediated in an argument involving some levy collectors and another bread seller at the Ijegun bus stop.

Our correspondent gathered that Olasunkanmi, who sustained injuries, was first rushed to a private hospital, and later taken to the Igando General Hospital.

It was gathered that the matter was reported at the Isheri Oshun division and Ajiroba was arrested by the police.

Olasunkanmi claimed that after she reported the matter to the police, she had been receiving threat-to-life phone calls, which made her to write a petition to the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Zone 2, Onikan, Bala Hassan.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Olasunkanmi said she had been asked to report at the general hospital daily for checkups to ensure that the assault did not affect the pregnancy.

She said, “I work as a mobile bread vendor, and the assault happened on March 11, 2016, while I was supplying bread to a customer at the Ijegun bus stop. At a point in the transaction, I noticed that another bread vendor had thrown her wooden tray on the bonnet of my car.

“I realised that she was being harassed by some local levy collectors operating in the area. I intervened by pleading with the collectors to let her go as she strapped a baby to her back, I said, ‘Leave this woman alone.’

“It was at this point that one Chief Ajiroba, accompanied by four hoodlums, emerged from a corner with a cane and began to flog me. I was beaten like a criminal at the bus stop despite being pregnant.

“I ran to the Isheri Osun division and reported the matter. Policemen thereafter followed me to the chief and he was detained that day. Although the chief has apologised to me, my fear is that strange people have been visiting my residence since the ecounter.

“Most of them warned me that my life was no longer safe as I dared to report a chief to the police. I want the police to help me out and ensure that justice is served in this matter. I go almost every day to the Igando General Hospital for checkups.”

Our correspondent gathered that the police had granted Ajiroba bail, but he was asked to still report at the station.

When contacted on the telephone, Ajiroba said that he had not met Olasunkanmi before that day. He added that Olasunkanmi and the bread seller were fighting and he flogged the two.

He said, “I did not know she was pregnant. I did not know her before that day. I saw two women fighting at the bus stop and I flogged both of them. I have been begging her to drop this matter.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest.

She said, “A case of assault occasioning harm was reported against the suspect.

“Investigation is ongoing. The command will ensure that justice is done.”

Wednesday, March 30, 2016
The skeleton of a 46-year-old man identified as Sikiru Yusuf was found in his room seven months after he was declared missing.


Yusuf, a resident of 21, Jaiyesinmi Street, Aga, Ikorodu, was discovered by his elder brother, Alhaji Basiru Yusuf, who at the instance of the deceased’s landlady, came to pack his property.

It was gathered that the aged landlady, who resides at the topmost floor of the one-storey building house as the deceased, became apprehensive after he was not seen for four months.

The Nation gathered that the nature of Yusuf’s job usually took him out of town for two or three months before he would return.
Hence, no one raised an eyebrow when he was not seen in the first three months, during which the stench from his decomposing corpse was passed off as a dead rat’s smell.

When he was not seen for about five months, it was learnt that his family members at Ikosi in Ketu were notified and they assumed he might have travelled.
But the landlady grew impatient by the seventh month, requesting that his family should evacuate his belongings from the room, since he had not shown up.

This prompted the senior Yusuf to visit his brother’s residence at about 12:30pm on Monday and forced the door open in the presence of the landlady and other residents.

As soon as the door opened, it was gathered that the family members and the tenants saw the skeleton of the occupant on the floor, with a rope beside it. They said this suggested that he might have committed suicide.

According to the landlady’s daughter, Funmi Badewa, they did not suspect anything was wrong because the deceased was not always around.

“At first, we thought he must have gone for his job, which usually kept him away for two or three months. But we became worried and contacted his family when we did not see him after some months.

“We went to his family at Ikosi in Ketu and asked after him. But they too said they have not seen him and that he probably travelled. When it was seven months, his brother now came and said they would pack his things since no one has seen him.

“They broke the door and that was when his skeleton was found on the ground. We also saw a rope, which means he might have committed suicide.

“There was a time we perceived bad odour, but we thought that a rat might have died somewhere. The smell lasted several days. No one even thought it could be a dead human being,” she said.

The deceased’s brother was said to have rushed to Ikorodu Police Division to make a report and a team of detectives, who followed him back to the scene, evacuated the body.

It could not be ascertained if the deceased was married or have children, as his neighbours said he lived alone in the apartment.

Confirming the development, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the body has been deposited at a public morgue for autopsy.

“The complainant said he was invited by his brother’s landlady to evacuate his belongings because he absconded and locked his room and parlour apartment up for seven months.

“However, when the door was forced open, it was discovered that the said Sikiru Yusuf had died long ago as his skeleton was found on the floor.

“On receipt of complaint, a team of detectives visited, examined and photographed the scene, while the remains was removed and deposited at public morgue for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing to unravel what actually transpired,” she said.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Three-time African champions Nigeria have crashed out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon after losing 1-0 to Egypt in the reverse fixture of their Group G match played at the Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria on Tuesday.
A lone goal from 19-year-old Ramadan Sobhy gave the Pharaohs the three points, which extended their lead at the summit of the group’s table. Egypt now have seven points from three matches while Nigeria are second with two points from the same number of matches. Tanzania are third with one point.
Coach Samson Siasia kept faith with the backline that drew 1-1 against Egypt in Kaduna: Abdullahi Shehu, Stanley Amuzie, Efe Ambrose and Godfrey Oboabona while Chippa United goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, was in goal in place of injured first-choice, Carl Ikeme.
The coach also retained Oghenekaro Etebo and Mikel Obi but Umar Aminu started in place of Kelechi Iheanacho. The attack had only one change as Victor Moses started in place of Simon Moses. Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa kept their places in the attack.
The Egyptians created the better chances in the first half but Nigeria also had a few moments during a goalless first half at the packed stadium. Nigeria grew into the game but could not get a meaningful shot past the Egyptian defence.
In the 41st minute of the game, Nigeria goalkeeper Akpeyi pulled off two big saves from Ibrahim Salah and the captain Al-Said. The two efforts were from set-pieces.
Siasia, in the 46th minute, brought on Elderson Echiejile for Amuzie to stabilise the defence but it did little to stop the rampaging Egyptian attack. Azubuike Okechukwu was also brought on in the 62nd minute after an injury to Etebo.
But in the 64th minute, Sobhy broke Nigerian hearts after the Eagles defence failed to effectively deal with a set-piece. The 19-year-old’s shot was deflected past Akpeyi by the Nigerian defenders.
The Eagles fought to get an equaliser but the closest they got was in the 83rd minute when Moses’ shot cannoned off the upright.
A former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Kojo Williams, lamented Nigeria’s elimination describing it as utter embarrassment and shame.
Kojo, who spoke with The PUNCH soon after the match in Alexandria, said it was unthinkable that the country would miss out of Africa’s biggest football fiesta twice consecutively while insisting that the way forward was beyond using a local or a foreign coach.
He said, “It goes beyond employing a foreign or Nigerian coach and I won’t involve myself with that. The truth is that we have no philosophy; no pattern. We have to sit down and re-jig our football and develop a serious football culture.
“It’s a disgrace; it’s a disaster that we won’t be in Gabon. If we are using local coaches, we need to retrain them. It was a Dutchman and not a Spaniard who developed Barcelona’s football and they have adapted and maintained the style and philosophy over the years. That is how to develop football. But we are all busy here talking about Arsenal and Chelsea. The federation has to put their acts together and get a system that is working otherwise we will continue like this.
“Nigerians must stand up and say, ‘enough is enough.’ The foundation is too faulty; no structure and so nothing strong can be built upon that. The problem isn’t about venue or the colour of the skin but getting the technical team right. How can nations be rising and playing fluid soccer and we are sliding down? We have to map out a long term plan.”

Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Four students of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for attempting to resurrect the corpse of a 300-level student of Microbiology, Eniola Jacob.


The suspects are Inerima Alaniye (a 400-level student of Mathematics); Awe Raphael (a 500-level student of Law); Adeboye Adeshola (a 200-level student of Political Science); and Arawomo Stephen.
It was reported that Jacob allegedly took an insecticide, Sniper, last Saturday on the campus.

He was said to have been rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, where he died on Sunday.

it was also reported that students who attempted to resurrect his corpse were leaders of the Cherubim and Seraphim Students Fellowship on the campus.

Jacob was said to have been a strong member of the fellowship before his death.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the students’ behaviour and actions at Jacob’s grave were suspicious, adding that they had been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran.

The police spokesperson said during Jacob’s burial, the four students suddenly emerged and asked that the corpse be exhumed.

He said, “They were arrested at the graveside. They were arrested because their actions were suspicious. They insisted on exhuming the corpse that had been buried. They said they wanted to resurrect it. It came to us as a surprise that in this modern age, some group of young boys would come out and say they want to resurrect a dead man.

“We felt it was a strange development. If they were not cultists they would not make such a demand. We thought they were looking for parts of the deceased to tamper with and we took them to Eleweran for further investigations.”

The Public Relations Officer of the University of Lagos, Mr. Toyin Adebule, said he could not confirm the arrest of the students.

He, however, confirmed that Jacob took Sniper on the school premises.

He said the police had taken over the case and a corona inquest had begun.

He said, “This is a corona case and the school is not involved. It has nothing to do with the university. What happened was that he (Jacob) took Sniper and after taking it, the security was informed. He was initially talking, but suddenly he collapsed.

“He was rushed to the school’s health centre where he was resuscitated. Around 7pm, he was rushed to LUTH where he died some hours later. There is no indictment. I am not aware that some students of the school have been arrested.”

Wednesday, March 30, 2016
MINISTER of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday, said the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country would permanently come to an end by the second week of April. He also apologised for his comments last week that the feul scarcity will end in May. 

 His words: “I share the pains of Nigerians, I feel that pain everyday when I walk the streets: on Easter day, I was in Lagos monitoring fuel distribution and the depots, I had given 24 hours attention to the problems. “I have continued to work with one sole purpose, which is that every problem must have a solution and I think that is the reason I was picked. “I do apologise for the comment that I made jocularly with my friends in the press about being a magician and it offended Nigerians; it was not meant to be, it was a side jocular issue. I did go on to explain what needed to be done, I did not know that it would create the kind of hyperbole (exaggeration) that it did. “Let me first admit that I am not a typically experienced politician, I am a technocrat: I come to work. 

 “Some of the phraseologies that I may use, while being acceptable in the arena in which I play, obviously will not be acceptable in the public political arena. So, if any body’s sensibilities were offended by those, I totally apologise.” The minister equally said immediate resuscitation of the nation’s refineries to function to optimal level was one of the panaceas to the fuel scarcity. 
This came as he said he had no intention of resigning from his position over last week’s comment that the commodity would remain scarce till May, which attracted criticisms from some All Progressives Congress, APC, stalwarts, with some calling for his resignation. He, therefore, asked those sponsoring people to Abuja to protest to that effect to save their money for different things useful to their lives. Kachikwu apologised for his last week’s comment that the ongoing petrol scarcity will continue till May, adding that it was only “magic” that could bring a faster remedy to end the scarcity. The minister, at a meeting with the Senate Committee on Petroleum, yesterday, insisted that the scarce commodity would be readily available across the country by the second week of April. 

 I was thoroughly coached on  what to say But he declared that he was told on what to say when he appeared before the Senate committee, saying what he was reeling out to the committee was what he was asked to say from the coaching, although he did not disclose those who coached him. 

 Asked by members of the committee to give dateline on when Nigerians should expect the petroleum products in full, Kachikwu said: “I was thoroughly coached before coming to this meeting. But there is a potential answer to this question. First is a political answer, which says we are doing our very best to go away from this situation but the training in me never attempts to be very exact because I set a goal post. “All I can say as an amendment to that is that in the month of April, within the first two weeks of April, we would have this issue completely resolved and you will not have this problem anymore. 

 “I am working very hard to make it the first week in April, it’s not going to happen in March and all am doing right now is logistics arrangements to try and cushion the pains as much as I can and Nigerians can help me by not double buying. “But, once we begin to get into the 5th, 6th of April, you will see a dramatic change in all this. Sometimes it is difficult to change your skin at an old age. So I tend to tell the truth the way it is even if I get into trouble in the cause of doing them. 

 “But the reality, distinguished senators, is that we are doing everything humanly possible, nothing is out of the table, no solution is thrown into the trash bin and we have got to a point where we can confidently say we are bound to see the last days of some of these occurrences in our history.” 

 Resuscitation of refineries only solution to scarcity He added that while the scarcity of the commodity may end by April, Nigerians may have to wait till May for what he called “major revolution” in the availability of the fuel. While assuring that fuel queues will disappear across the country within the stipulated period, Kachikwu said 90 per cent of Nigerian depots were not functional, a situation he explained, was aggravating the fuel scarcity. “Refineries in Nigeria are old and dilapidated but with appropriate funds and retooling, they will be revived to full capacity. It is one of the solutions to the problem at hand,“ he noted. 

 He proffered another solution thus: ”The ultimate solution is the computerisation of the structure where every product that goes into the depots is tracked when it is loaded, it is tracked when it gets to the filling station, and then vehicles in this country must carry scanners and trackers. Once you do that, it will record where a truck landed ultimately and we are working on those solutions. “We have finished the first, where we can track our products from the depots in Lagos into the depots in   states. What we have left not done is begin to track from the depots straight into the filling stations and we are working on that and hopefully, in the next couple of months, we should get to that point and once you do that, then you can actually leave a very serious sanctions on those who are actually getting themselves involved in diverting products. “Most fuel products come into Nigeria from Europe and it takes 14 days for fuel to land here,” he said, adding that the government intended to solve the situation by engaging consultants to manage the depots across the country.” 

 N600bn subsidy arrears The minister disclosed that advertisement to engage the consultants for management of the depots would start soon, regretting that despite the fact that  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, had since doubled its usual supply to Abuja,  scarcity remained. He also disclosed that the Federal Government had since paid N600 billion subsidy bill it inherited from the previous administration. 

 He said: “When we came in August, this country had arrears of unpaid subsidy bills that were in excess of close to N600 billion which have not been paid for over a year and so, progressively over a period of 6,7,8 months, we paid this.” N1trn to be saved from subsidy He said the country had so far saved over N1 trillion from the removal of subsidy. He said: “One of the things I started doing on assumption of office was how to ensure supply of petroleum products without the need for subsidy regime. 

 “I am glad that as at January 1 this year, the country is no longer paying subsidy and is saving us a cumulation of over a trillion naira in one year period but that was the first major issue.” On privatisation of oil sector Speaking on privatisation of the oil sector, the minister said: “Privatistion in this sector will help and I don’t think His Excellency is opposed to that. “What he is worried about is the absence of infrastructure in place. This cannot happen unless some of the structural deficits that we have in our operations are corrected, unless the nuances of fraud are wiped out of the system, it doesn’t matter who does it, we are still going to back to square one. 

 “So, what else for the refineries, what else for the depots. I am not averse to private capital, private participation but clean the debt which is what we are doing. “So, ultimately, that is where we should be headed and if you look at what we have done with the price modulation which is an indirect privatisation module for trying to determine pricing and last month we actually went down on pricing. 

 “This quarter, we are going to remain stable on the same pricing but as the crude prices move on, we are going to begin to have reactions to those modulations because ultimately you will never be able to repair the refineries and you now look to have investments in the depots.”
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Powered by Blogger.