The State Security Service (SSS) has urged the Lagos state government to sanitize the operations of the commercial motorcycle riders as a way to curb crime in the state.
Mohammed Ibrahim, the officer in charge of Labour of the SSS in Lagos state said this at a press conference organized by the Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS) in Lagos on December 14th.
Mr. Ibrahim who represented the State Director of SSS stated that stricter enforcement of the rules and regulations in commercial motorcycle operations will ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.
“Okada riding is an inevitable transport in the state. We cannot do without okada riders as they are viable and important to the economic development in the state – the risk in security is high as okada riders are used by men of the underworld to commit crime- in this vein, there is the need to sprung the riders
okada riders should have stickers, and uniforms for proper identifications, also there is the need to have an okada riders’ task force to assist the security agencies to know the members and with this development, we can sanitize the okada operations; the riders should also cooperate with security agencies by providing them with information about criminals in their midst” Mr. Ibrahim said.
Mr. Tijani Perkis, the chairman of the Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS) also call on the government to also sanitize commercial motorcycle operations in the state instead of the purported ban.
Mr. Perkis revealed that more than five million Nigerians will be jobless if the Lagos state government carries out its purported plan to ban commercial motorcycle riders popularly known as okada in the state.
The press conference which was attended by members of the motorcycle riders, State Security Service (SSS), National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) and officers of the transport ministry in Lagos state was a forum for all the stake holders to proffer solutions to the mirage of problems involved in commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos state.
Mr. Perkis stated that commercial motorcycle is a means of transportation that should be properly recognized and sanitized by the government.
“Commercial motorcycle operations evolved as a child of necessity due to the unbearable level of unemployment in the country. From the mid 80s, okada business provided answers by becoming the source of income of over five million Nigerians, also okada came to the rescue of artisan graduates WHO have NO INCOME TO ESTABLISH A WORKSHOP,
Also during the economic recession and it attendant retrenchment, okada also came to the rescue of the teeming unemployed” Mr. Perkis said.
Mr. Perkis blames the poor state of the roads in the country, and the perennial traffic gridlock in Lagos state for the upsurge in residents’ need to patronize commercial motorcycle as a means of transportation
“Before it is “heavy hold –up”, now it is complete stand still on our roads; many man hours are lost in such traffic ,lives are lost and people resorted to using okada to ease their plight on the road”Mr. Perkis said .
In proffering solutions to the challenges in commercial motorcycle operation in the state, the stakeholders call on the government to enforce stricter penalties on traffic defaulters.
“There should be a total ban on all unrecognized okada associations in Lagos as too many mushroom associations are springing up and they are the ones causing problems. Also there should be the introduction of uniform reflectors in the name of the unions, stricter enforcement of riders’ card and the inculcation of training,
the compulsory registration of every riders into parks or unit for easy identification; we submit that it is no solution to throw away the baby with the bath water as this will result to unemployment and upsurge in crime in the state. As a result, we are ready to work with the government to ensure that okada operations become safe for all but if the government insist on banning okada, then they should be ready to provide alternatives for the riders ” Mr. Perkis said.
The stake holders also call on the government to introduce compulsory accident insurance for passengers and riders, as a means of reducing the heavy medical cost from okada accidents and cooperation in setting up a joint task force with the Ministry of transportation to flush out non members.
Reacting to the purported ban in commercial motorcycle operation in the state, Remi Thomas, the Director of Transport and Operations in the Lagos state ministry of Transportation who represented the commisoner for transportation, said the government is ready to work with commercial motorcycle riders through a joint task force.
“The government has held series of meetings with the okada riders and our aim is to make okada operations safe for all, we will support you if you obey the law.”Mr. Thomas said.
In order to curb the menace of commercial motorcycle riders in the state, the Lagos state government last week began a clamp down on motorcycle riders plying the high way, with over 1000 defaulters arrested.
Also, Governor Babtubde Raji Fashola recently arrested five commercial motorcycle riders for riding against traffic on the one way route.
The governor blames commercial motorcycle riders for the upsurge in crime in the state and the frequent accidents on the highway and as a way to check okada menace, the governor also reconstituted a security committee to curb the recklessness of the okada riders in the state.
The two recognized commercial motorcycle associations in Lagos state are the Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS) and the Motorcycle Riders and OwnersAssociation (ANACOWA)
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Friday, 16 December 2011
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
insecurity will continue if----
The growing insecurity in the country will continue if the government does not take urgent measures to provide jobs for its teeming youth.
This follows a finding by the CLEEN Foundation in Lagos
the finding tagged "National Criminal Victimization and Safety Survey 2011" contains findings of crime victimization statistics in 2010 shows that there is a sharp increase in armed robbery and other violent crime in the country as a result of unemployment , hopelessness and corruption.
The findings by CLEEN Foundation with support from the MacArthur foundation shows that based on the survey in 2010, there is an incessant case of theft of mobile phones which is on the increase and other violent crime like domestic violence and armed robbery are also on the increase in the country.
Innocent Chukwuma, the Executive Director of the CLEEN Foundation said the survey which has been on since 2004 is aimed at providing reliable data that will assist policy makers to enact effective laws that will combat crime as well as providing law enforcement agencies with the statistics to effectively control crime in the country.
"this investment in producing reliable statistics on crime in Nigeria and promotion of their use in police planning and deployment strategies as well as in the evaluation of policing policies and practices, it is therefore not surprising that in spite of the various crime control measures that have been implemented in the country over the past eleven years of elected civilian government, criminals continue to operate in greater number over increasing wider spheres.”
According to Mr. Chukwuma, the increasing crime rate in the country can be attributed to socio-economic factors like poverty, youth unemployment, lack of basic education and amenities, materialism and corruption which implies that government has failed in its responsibility to create the enabling environment for citizens to live a fulfilled life
“These issues are not new to the government as our recommendations over the years show that it is not enough to increase police capacity by giving them guns , and equipment to work with, there are socio-economic factors like youth unemployment, poverty, poor education which makes even graduate to look for job instead of creating one for themselves all these factors must be checked in order to reduce crime and criminality in the country.
Professor Etannibi Alemika, of the department of criminology and Sociology at the University of Jos said the effective implementation of crime statistics will go a long way in enhancing national development
“Due to the significance of crime and victimization statistics, nations strive to develop adequate capacity and deploy enough human, financial and infrastructural resources for the collection and analysis of incidence,, prevalence trend and patterns of criminal activities and victimization in order to acquire necessary knowledge and ability for crime prevention and crime control.”Professor. Alemika said.
According to professor Alemika, crime victimization survey is used to obtain data on the extent of criminal victimization.
“Questionnaires were designed and administered to gather information on respondents’ experience of criminal victimization”
Prof Alemika added that for this study, a survey research methodology was employed “ the population for the study consist of all adult Nigerian males and females aged 18years and older and it was conducted in all the 36 states and the federal capital territory, also the basic methodology employed for the data collection was the in-home , face-to-face personal interview using stratified multi-stage random selection procedure in order to achieve a nationally representative sample (proportional representative sample)
According to Mr. Chukwuma, a total of 11518 respondents were interviews in 1011 and the field work was conducted by practical sampling International (PSI)
“The major findings on criminal victimization, fear of crime and corruption; respondents were asked if any member of their household (other than themselves have were victims of specific crimes in 2010.
The second question asked the respondents if they were victims of specific crimes during 2010 and from our finding the most common forms of victimization were theft of various kinds of property (GSM handset, money, and agricultural produce) domestic violence; armed robbery and physical assault were also on the increase. With about 24% of the respondents reported being victim of crime in 2010”
According to the personal victimization survey in 2010, released by the CLEEN Foundation, states with the highest level of cases of reported victimization in 2010 include , Jigawa with 73.7%, Rivers state with 52.0 %FCT 51.0% while Lagos has 11.25 with Osun state being the lest with 7.9%
One aspect of the survey revealed the level of corruption among security agencies in the country
“Our approach is to determine the extent of the corruption among officials by asking those who had contacts with officials of different agencies who ake3d them for bribe”
The finding revealed that the Nigeria police force tops the security agency in demanding for bribe with 78.8% likelihood to solicit for bribe prior to service; others include the Nigeria Customs service with 67.7%, Nigeria Immigration service with 66.8percent , The Federal Road Safety Commission 55.1 %, EFCC 51.0%, the State security Service 50.1%. The Nigeria Security and Civil defence corp were the only agency that will not solicit for bribe prior to service.
The survey also shows that majority of Nigerians who had contact with the Police, EFCC and the ICPC were not satisfied with the manner their cases were handled,
In the Aspect of fear of crime, the survey revealed that residents are fearful of rape, kidnapping and victim to armed robbery and being murderers.
The study also shows that 47.8% of the respondents stated that they feel very safe walking in their community during the day
While armed robbery and domestic violence were recurring crimes residents stated are on the increase in their community, assault and burglary were also mentioned as serious concern
“from the survey, domestic violence is becoming a worrisome trend with one out of five respondent stating that they are victim of domestic violence , also one out of two respondents said their handset was stolen, these are increasing trend in crime and the government needs to take these issues seriously ”Mr. Chukwuma said .
Professor Alemika added that the policy re3commendatiob for the priority spending to enhance security , safety and justice in the country must address the issue of job creation, “ create e better educational and vocational opportunities , reduce poverty, provide stable electricity ,increase the capacity of the police and other law enforcement agencies also there should be harsher punishment for offender which will serve as deterrent to others and in all there is need to have the political will to fight crime and criminality proactively through intelligence gathering and synergy among the security agencies
This follows a finding by the CLEEN Foundation in Lagos
the finding tagged "National Criminal Victimization and Safety Survey 2011" contains findings of crime victimization statistics in 2010 shows that there is a sharp increase in armed robbery and other violent crime in the country as a result of unemployment , hopelessness and corruption.
The findings by CLEEN Foundation with support from the MacArthur foundation shows that based on the survey in 2010, there is an incessant case of theft of mobile phones which is on the increase and other violent crime like domestic violence and armed robbery are also on the increase in the country.
Innocent Chukwuma, the Executive Director of the CLEEN Foundation said the survey which has been on since 2004 is aimed at providing reliable data that will assist policy makers to enact effective laws that will combat crime as well as providing law enforcement agencies with the statistics to effectively control crime in the country.
"this investment in producing reliable statistics on crime in Nigeria and promotion of their use in police planning and deployment strategies as well as in the evaluation of policing policies and practices, it is therefore not surprising that in spite of the various crime control measures that have been implemented in the country over the past eleven years of elected civilian government, criminals continue to operate in greater number over increasing wider spheres.”
According to Mr. Chukwuma, the increasing crime rate in the country can be attributed to socio-economic factors like poverty, youth unemployment, lack of basic education and amenities, materialism and corruption which implies that government has failed in its responsibility to create the enabling environment for citizens to live a fulfilled life
“These issues are not new to the government as our recommendations over the years show that it is not enough to increase police capacity by giving them guns , and equipment to work with, there are socio-economic factors like youth unemployment, poverty, poor education which makes even graduate to look for job instead of creating one for themselves all these factors must be checked in order to reduce crime and criminality in the country.
Professor Etannibi Alemika, of the department of criminology and Sociology at the University of Jos said the effective implementation of crime statistics will go a long way in enhancing national development
“Due to the significance of crime and victimization statistics, nations strive to develop adequate capacity and deploy enough human, financial and infrastructural resources for the collection and analysis of incidence,, prevalence trend and patterns of criminal activities and victimization in order to acquire necessary knowledge and ability for crime prevention and crime control.”Professor. Alemika said.
According to professor Alemika, crime victimization survey is used to obtain data on the extent of criminal victimization.
“Questionnaires were designed and administered to gather information on respondents’ experience of criminal victimization”
Prof Alemika added that for this study, a survey research methodology was employed “ the population for the study consist of all adult Nigerian males and females aged 18years and older and it was conducted in all the 36 states and the federal capital territory, also the basic methodology employed for the data collection was the in-home , face-to-face personal interview using stratified multi-stage random selection procedure in order to achieve a nationally representative sample (proportional representative sample)
According to Mr. Chukwuma, a total of 11518 respondents were interviews in 1011 and the field work was conducted by practical sampling International (PSI)
“The major findings on criminal victimization, fear of crime and corruption; respondents were asked if any member of their household (other than themselves have were victims of specific crimes in 2010.
The second question asked the respondents if they were victims of specific crimes during 2010 and from our finding the most common forms of victimization were theft of various kinds of property (GSM handset, money, and agricultural produce) domestic violence; armed robbery and physical assault were also on the increase. With about 24% of the respondents reported being victim of crime in 2010”
According to the personal victimization survey in 2010, released by the CLEEN Foundation, states with the highest level of cases of reported victimization in 2010 include , Jigawa with 73.7%, Rivers state with 52.0 %FCT 51.0% while Lagos has 11.25 with Osun state being the lest with 7.9%
One aspect of the survey revealed the level of corruption among security agencies in the country
“Our approach is to determine the extent of the corruption among officials by asking those who had contacts with officials of different agencies who ake3d them for bribe”
The finding revealed that the Nigeria police force tops the security agency in demanding for bribe with 78.8% likelihood to solicit for bribe prior to service; others include the Nigeria Customs service with 67.7%, Nigeria Immigration service with 66.8percent , The Federal Road Safety Commission 55.1 %, EFCC 51.0%, the State security Service 50.1%. The Nigeria Security and Civil defence corp were the only agency that will not solicit for bribe prior to service.
The survey also shows that majority of Nigerians who had contact with the Police, EFCC and the ICPC were not satisfied with the manner their cases were handled,
In the Aspect of fear of crime, the survey revealed that residents are fearful of rape, kidnapping and victim to armed robbery and being murderers.
The study also shows that 47.8% of the respondents stated that they feel very safe walking in their community during the day
While armed robbery and domestic violence were recurring crimes residents stated are on the increase in their community, assault and burglary were also mentioned as serious concern
“from the survey, domestic violence is becoming a worrisome trend with one out of five respondent stating that they are victim of domestic violence , also one out of two respondents said their handset was stolen, these are increasing trend in crime and the government needs to take these issues seriously ”Mr. Chukwuma said .
Professor Alemika added that the policy re3commendatiob for the priority spending to enhance security , safety and justice in the country must address the issue of job creation, “ create e better educational and vocational opportunities , reduce poverty, provide stable electricity ,increase the capacity of the police and other law enforcement agencies also there should be harsher punishment for offender which will serve as deterrent to others and in all there is need to have the political will to fight crime and criminality proactively through intelligence gathering and synergy among the security agencies
Monday, 1 August 2011
drug production
The fight against illicit drugs in the country has recorded a huge
success with the discovery of a clandestine laboratory used in the
production of methamphetamine a dangerous drug that can destroy the
nervous system and cause hallucination.
The laboratory, a three bedroom bungalow located at Monkey village
Iba a suburb in the state has a locally built equipment that has the
“capacity of procuring 20-50 kilogrames per cycle , large production
centre similar to the ones found in Mexico.” the NDLEA said.
Two suspects Bernard Umezuike 44, and Polycarp Ndilobi 41 were
arrested in connection with the illicit laboratory.
Mr. Umezurike is allegedly the owner of the apartment used for the
illicit production and the laboratory has been operation since last
April.
Luck ran out on the suspects when a worker in the laboratory and
alerted police of the secret laboratory and the NDLEA officers were
alerted to the scene of the crime.
Ahmadu Giade the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA said the
discovery of the laboratory is a landmark success. “This discovery is
the first of its type in west Africa and the country” Mr.Giade said .
The NDLEA boss describe methamphetamine as a killer drug with a
street value worth millions of naira. “The drug is a white odourless ,
bitter-tasting crystalline powders that easily dissolves in water or
alcohol and it is usually taken orally or intra-nasally by snorting
the powder or by the needle injection or by smoking” Mr. Giade said .
Street names for methamphetamine a derivative of Amphetamine include
“speed”, “meth”, “chalk”, “ice”. Cystal” and “glass”
“it is a strong stimulant that affects the central nervous system, the
abuse of even a small amount of methamphetamine can lead to many
negative and long term effects like extreme weight loss, severe dental
problems also known as “meth Mouth” anxiety, confusion, insomnia ,
mood disturbance, violence behaviour and other psychotic features like
hallucination.Mr. Giade said.
In order to curtail the adverse effect the drug poses to the
environment , the NDLEA boss said the country has invited forensic
experts from the US to help “dismantle the laboratory in a safe manner
,and they have commence the clean up process”
Unfortunately despite the cleansing process,Mr. Gaide said the
adverse effect of the drug will be difficult to wipe out completely
“the process adopted in the production of methamphetamine by the
suspect is very dangerous as the process usually emits gases like
phosphine and hydrogen chloride that can cause instant pulmonary
damages and death.
Besides, the toxic waste that percolated the soil is capable of
contaminating the soil and the wells of surrounding premises”Mr. Giade
said.
As a way of checking future incident, Mr. Giade urged the public to be
vigilant and to report suspected cases to the law enforcement
agencies. He also advise that the members of the public should purse
legitimate means of livelihood as the agency is well equipped to
detect and arrest drug barons and traffickers in the country adding
that the agency has began investigation into the case, and
preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects have international
connection in Mexico,
“ we have discovered a site where the illicit laboratory is located
there is a site two and we will locate that site soon, investigations
also reveals that the illicit drug is being produced for export and
not to be used in the country as its street value in Nigeria is too
low but very profitable in other country.
According to the NDLEA boss, One kilogramme of methamphetamine has a
street value in Nigeria cost N2.4million, while in a Japan it cost
N13.3million for a kilogramme, in Singapore a kilogrammes of
methamphetamine has a street value of N18million.
The suspects however denied the allegation.
Mr. Umezurike said “I do not know anything about this crime; I was
just standing in front of my house doing what every person living in a
house is doing when I was arrested”
Mitchell Ofoyeju, the spokes person of the NDLEA said the suspects
will soon be arraigned in court to face prosecution.
“The penalty for production of illicit drugs in the country is life
imprisonment; apart from its other effects to the health,
methamphetamine is also highly combustive and can be used for
explosives, we are soliciting the cooperation of the public to with
useful information to call the agency on 08062199999.” Mr. Ofoyeju
said .
success with the discovery of a clandestine laboratory used in the
production of methamphetamine a dangerous drug that can destroy the
nervous system and cause hallucination.
The laboratory, a three bedroom bungalow located at Monkey village
Iba a suburb in the state has a locally built equipment that has the
“capacity of procuring 20-50 kilogrames per cycle , large production
centre similar to the ones found in Mexico.” the NDLEA said.
Two suspects Bernard Umezuike 44, and Polycarp Ndilobi 41 were
arrested in connection with the illicit laboratory.
Mr. Umezurike is allegedly the owner of the apartment used for the
illicit production and the laboratory has been operation since last
April.
Luck ran out on the suspects when a worker in the laboratory and
alerted police of the secret laboratory and the NDLEA officers were
alerted to the scene of the crime.
Ahmadu Giade the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA said the
discovery of the laboratory is a landmark success. “This discovery is
the first of its type in west Africa and the country” Mr.Giade said .
The NDLEA boss describe methamphetamine as a killer drug with a
street value worth millions of naira. “The drug is a white odourless ,
bitter-tasting crystalline powders that easily dissolves in water or
alcohol and it is usually taken orally or intra-nasally by snorting
the powder or by the needle injection or by smoking” Mr. Giade said .
Street names for methamphetamine a derivative of Amphetamine include
“speed”, “meth”, “chalk”, “ice”. Cystal” and “glass”
“it is a strong stimulant that affects the central nervous system, the
abuse of even a small amount of methamphetamine can lead to many
negative and long term effects like extreme weight loss, severe dental
problems also known as “meth Mouth” anxiety, confusion, insomnia ,
mood disturbance, violence behaviour and other psychotic features like
hallucination.Mr. Giade said.
In order to curtail the adverse effect the drug poses to the
environment , the NDLEA boss said the country has invited forensic
experts from the US to help “dismantle the laboratory in a safe manner
,and they have commence the clean up process”
Unfortunately despite the cleansing process,Mr. Gaide said the
adverse effect of the drug will be difficult to wipe out completely
“the process adopted in the production of methamphetamine by the
suspect is very dangerous as the process usually emits gases like
phosphine and hydrogen chloride that can cause instant pulmonary
damages and death.
Besides, the toxic waste that percolated the soil is capable of
contaminating the soil and the wells of surrounding premises”Mr. Giade
said.
As a way of checking future incident, Mr. Giade urged the public to be
vigilant and to report suspected cases to the law enforcement
agencies. He also advise that the members of the public should purse
legitimate means of livelihood as the agency is well equipped to
detect and arrest drug barons and traffickers in the country adding
that the agency has began investigation into the case, and
preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects have international
connection in Mexico,
“ we have discovered a site where the illicit laboratory is located
there is a site two and we will locate that site soon, investigations
also reveals that the illicit drug is being produced for export and
not to be used in the country as its street value in Nigeria is too
low but very profitable in other country.
According to the NDLEA boss, One kilogramme of methamphetamine has a
street value in Nigeria cost N2.4million, while in a Japan it cost
N13.3million for a kilogramme, in Singapore a kilogrammes of
methamphetamine has a street value of N18million.
The suspects however denied the allegation.
Mr. Umezurike said “I do not know anything about this crime; I was
just standing in front of my house doing what every person living in a
house is doing when I was arrested”
Mitchell Ofoyeju, the spokes person of the NDLEA said the suspects
will soon be arraigned in court to face prosecution.
“The penalty for production of illicit drugs in the country is life
imprisonment; apart from its other effects to the health,
methamphetamine is also highly combustive and can be used for
explosives, we are soliciting the cooperation of the public to with
useful information to call the agency on 08062199999.” Mr. Ofoyeju
said .
Fela wife in drug haul
Najite the wife of late afro maestro Fela Anikulapo kuti who was
arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) last week for her alleged involvement in the sales and
distribution of cannabis in the state said she was lured into selling
cannabis .
Najite is one of the wives of late Fela Anikulapo -kuti and she has a
son for Fela.
According to the NDLEA, Najite 46 was arrested alongside two other
suspects at her residence at Gbemisola Street Ikeja in possession
of 340 grammes of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis during a
search of her apartment.
The Lagos state commander of the NDLEA Sule Aliyu said the arrest
and seizure were made following a tip-off. Mr. Aliyu gave the names
of the other suspects as “Helen Richards, 36 years, found with 170
grammes of cannabis and Mike Arinze, 26 years, found with 120 grammes
of cannabis.
Najite Anikulapo Kuti, 45 years, the wife of late music legend Fela
Anikulapo Kuti was arrested with 50 grammes of cannabis; the
suspects were arrested at Gbemisola Street Ikeja and the substances
recovered from them tested positive for cannabis” Mr. Aliyu said .
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade commended the
operatives for the arrests .
Mr. Giade calls on residents to provide the agency with useful
information that will assist the agency to arrest criminals. “The
arrests have been brought to my notice and the case is under
investigation”.
Najite Anikulapo Kuti sells alcoholic beverages at her Ikeja
residence said she was supporting herself and her daughter and she was
going through a hard time taking care of her daughter. Najite who
hails from Delta State said “things have been hard and I was tempted
to sell weeds alongside my alcohol drinks, I feel bad about my
involvement in weeds and I should have resisted the temptation” she
said in tears.
Miss Richards was a dancer with Fela’s band she also blame
poverty for her involvement in illicit drugs “ I am a single mother
with a 3 year old son and I have to survive with myself and my son it
was the demand of my customers that pushed me into cannabis trade;Most
of them prefer to smoke hemp when drinking beer and I was forced to
satisfy them so as to keep them coming to buy drinks ”. Miss Richards
hails from Abi in Delta State.
Mr. Arinze the only male suspect said “I am from Asaba in Delta
state. I was drinking beer at Mama’s place when the officers came and
found the hemp in my pockets. I used to sell hemp in night clubs to
survive” Mr. Arinze said.
Mitchell Ofoyeju, the spokes person for the agency said the suspect
will be charged to court soon.
“ the case in under investigation and the suspect will be charged to
court as soon as we are through with the investigation” Mr. Ofoyeju
said
arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) last week for her alleged involvement in the sales and
distribution of cannabis in the state said she was lured into selling
cannabis .
Najite is one of the wives of late Fela Anikulapo -kuti and she has a
son for Fela.
According to the NDLEA, Najite 46 was arrested alongside two other
suspects at her residence at Gbemisola Street Ikeja in possession
of 340 grammes of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis during a
search of her apartment.
The Lagos state commander of the NDLEA Sule Aliyu said the arrest
and seizure were made following a tip-off. Mr. Aliyu gave the names
of the other suspects as “Helen Richards, 36 years, found with 170
grammes of cannabis and Mike Arinze, 26 years, found with 120 grammes
of cannabis.
Najite Anikulapo Kuti, 45 years, the wife of late music legend Fela
Anikulapo Kuti was arrested with 50 grammes of cannabis; the
suspects were arrested at Gbemisola Street Ikeja and the substances
recovered from them tested positive for cannabis” Mr. Aliyu said .
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade commended the
operatives for the arrests .
Mr. Giade calls on residents to provide the agency with useful
information that will assist the agency to arrest criminals. “The
arrests have been brought to my notice and the case is under
investigation”.
Najite Anikulapo Kuti sells alcoholic beverages at her Ikeja
residence said she was supporting herself and her daughter and she was
going through a hard time taking care of her daughter. Najite who
hails from Delta State said “things have been hard and I was tempted
to sell weeds alongside my alcohol drinks, I feel bad about my
involvement in weeds and I should have resisted the temptation” she
said in tears.
Miss Richards was a dancer with Fela’s band she also blame
poverty for her involvement in illicit drugs “ I am a single mother
with a 3 year old son and I have to survive with myself and my son it
was the demand of my customers that pushed me into cannabis trade;Most
of them prefer to smoke hemp when drinking beer and I was forced to
satisfy them so as to keep them coming to buy drinks ”. Miss Richards
hails from Abi in Delta State.
Mr. Arinze the only male suspect said “I am from Asaba in Delta
state. I was drinking beer at Mama’s place when the officers came and
found the hemp in my pockets. I used to sell hemp in night clubs to
survive” Mr. Arinze said.
Mitchell Ofoyeju, the spokes person for the agency said the suspect
will be charged to court soon.
“ the case in under investigation and the suspect will be charged to
court as soon as we are through with the investigation” Mr. Ofoyeju
said
housewife suicide
The remains of a 48 years old housewife Elizabeth Andrew has been found hanging in her apartment at Isheri area of Lagos state.
Mrs Andrew a former staff of the state house at Dodan barracks allegedly committed suicide following depression as a result of her inability to conceive.
Her corpse was found dangling from a window on July 6th as she allegedly used a scarf to hang herself at her number 17 Irawo-owuro street Isheri-oshun.
Her husband, Chinedu Andrew 44 was said to have alerted the Isheri police station about the alleged suicide and her corpse was removed and taken to a public mortuary.
The police also arrested Mr. Andrew following allegation by the deceased brother Okechukwu that Mr. Andrew has a hand in the alleged suicide as he has maltreated his wife in the past.
Mr. Andrew, a second hand cloth dealer was subsequently arrested by officers from the homicide department at Panti Yaba for interrogation.
Mr. Andrew however denied killing his wife stating that his wife has been mentally ill and depressed following her inability to conceive; he stated that due to his wife’s ill health, her former employer at the state house at Dodan barracks, relieved her of her job, a situation which worsen her depression.
“I do not know anything about killing my wife “Mr. Andrew said “All I know is that my wife married late and she has fibroid and pile, she is mentally ill and this affected her life , she has been depressed because of these problems she was having and I have taken her to hospital for her health to become okay” Mr. Andrew said
Mr. Andrew narrated how his wife allegedly died that fateful day. “Due to her ill poor mental health she lost her job as a staff of the former State house at Dodan barracks so she was always staying at home doing nothing, that day I went to my shop where I sell second hand clothes and around 6.00pm I went home and I noticed that the day was locked, I called out to my wife but she did not respond,
I also went to the window but I could not see from the outside , I later called my wife’s family to ask if they have seen here but they said she did not come to visit them so that was how I ended up sleeping outside the house till the next day; when it was morning I went to hire a ladder and with the help of my neighbours , I climbed the roof where I saw her hanging from the window I screamed , so that was how we called the police” Mr. Andrew said .
Mr.Okechukwu the deceased brother however insists that his sister was murdered. He accused Mr. Andrew of maltreating his sister and causing her grief when she was alive.
“my brother in-law has not been a good person to my sister his wife, he was a lazy man who was relying on her for everything, even the house they live she was the one who paid , she bought him a bus to drive when he complained of not having any work to do but he later sold I the bus ,;the wife also gave him money several times for business which he squandered,; so his attitude toward her contributed to her ill health and eventual death and the police should investigate him because my sister is his second wife and his first wife also died mysteriously.”Mr. Okechukwu said.
A similar incident happened last week when a 26 -years -old lady, Motunrayo Obara , a former staff of Access bank in Lagos allegedly committed suicide at her sister’s residence at Allen Avenue following reports of depression and her inability to conceive. Her situation turned to the worse when fiancée called off their wedding, a move a friends and family said led to her to commit suicide.
Mrs Andrew a former staff of the state house at Dodan barracks allegedly committed suicide following depression as a result of her inability to conceive.
Her corpse was found dangling from a window on July 6th as she allegedly used a scarf to hang herself at her number 17 Irawo-owuro street Isheri-oshun.
Her husband, Chinedu Andrew 44 was said to have alerted the Isheri police station about the alleged suicide and her corpse was removed and taken to a public mortuary.
The police also arrested Mr. Andrew following allegation by the deceased brother Okechukwu that Mr. Andrew has a hand in the alleged suicide as he has maltreated his wife in the past.
Mr. Andrew, a second hand cloth dealer was subsequently arrested by officers from the homicide department at Panti Yaba for interrogation.
Mr. Andrew however denied killing his wife stating that his wife has been mentally ill and depressed following her inability to conceive; he stated that due to his wife’s ill health, her former employer at the state house at Dodan barracks, relieved her of her job, a situation which worsen her depression.
“I do not know anything about killing my wife “Mr. Andrew said “All I know is that my wife married late and she has fibroid and pile, she is mentally ill and this affected her life , she has been depressed because of these problems she was having and I have taken her to hospital for her health to become okay” Mr. Andrew said
Mr. Andrew narrated how his wife allegedly died that fateful day. “Due to her ill poor mental health she lost her job as a staff of the former State house at Dodan barracks so she was always staying at home doing nothing, that day I went to my shop where I sell second hand clothes and around 6.00pm I went home and I noticed that the day was locked, I called out to my wife but she did not respond,
I also went to the window but I could not see from the outside , I later called my wife’s family to ask if they have seen here but they said she did not come to visit them so that was how I ended up sleeping outside the house till the next day; when it was morning I went to hire a ladder and with the help of my neighbours , I climbed the roof where I saw her hanging from the window I screamed , so that was how we called the police” Mr. Andrew said .
Mr.Okechukwu the deceased brother however insists that his sister was murdered. He accused Mr. Andrew of maltreating his sister and causing her grief when she was alive.
“my brother in-law has not been a good person to my sister his wife, he was a lazy man who was relying on her for everything, even the house they live she was the one who paid , she bought him a bus to drive when he complained of not having any work to do but he later sold I the bus ,;the wife also gave him money several times for business which he squandered,; so his attitude toward her contributed to her ill health and eventual death and the police should investigate him because my sister is his second wife and his first wife also died mysteriously.”Mr. Okechukwu said.
A similar incident happened last week when a 26 -years -old lady, Motunrayo Obara , a former staff of Access bank in Lagos allegedly committed suicide at her sister’s residence at Allen Avenue following reports of depression and her inability to conceive. Her situation turned to the worse when fiancée called off their wedding, a move a friends and family said led to her to commit suicide.
Alausa robbery
By Patience Ogbo and Segun Balogun
ROBBERS USE JEEP TO TERRORISE Alausa visitors.
Workers and visitors at the Alausa secretariat are worried over the spate of robbery at the Alausa secretariat Ikeja the seat of power.
This follows the robbery on July 22nd when a gang of four men trailed an Accord salon car to the secretariat car park where they carted away millions of naira.
According to the police, the money belong to Lasun Yusuf an Osun state house of representative member who was at the secretariat to pay a courtesy visit to the Lagos state commissioner of information.
Mr. Yusuf told the police that he had withdrawn the sum of three million two hundred and fifty thousand naira from the Zenith bank at Ikeja and had successfully parked his car at the secretariat car park when he heard the alarm of his car ringing.
Eyewitnesses added that the gang came in a Land Rover jeep with registration number GB-878-ABC and had successfully stolen the money from the car but due to the alarm, they abandoned the jeep and ran on away
“When we heard the alarm go off we noticed that four men had hurriedly entered the jeep and they were running away, the people at the secretariat ran after them shouting ‘thief thief’ and they had to abandon their jeep and ran on their feet; while they were running, away they carried the money with them and a bundle of N500,000 fell down and was recovered.”
The police source added that a check on the car at the licensing office revealed the residence of the owner and his identity but when police trailed the suspect to his house at Akute area of the state , he had escaped with his family.
Early in May this year, a gang of armed robbers also raided the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa carting away N3million.
The robbers reportedly burgled a Nissan Infinity SUV, with registration number FK670EKY, which belongs to a female contractor with the Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development, and was parked at the premises of the ministry. The owner of the vehicle, who came to see one of the directors in the ministry, was at a loss about how the robbers succeeded in breaking the side glass of the vehicle where she had kept the money without anyone, including the security personnel, noticing. She was, however, not available to speak on the incident as she was dazed. Her driver was also too shocked to speak with journalists as he had taken a little break to stretch his legs.
Explaining how the robbers carried out their raid, one of the neighbourhood watchers said: “The two jeeps just moved down here and blocked the road. I was wondering why they stopped at that place because there was no car blocking them, so I moved closer to them asking them to leave the road not knowing that they intended to steal from that car. Immediately the first jeep moved, the other one followed behind. Before I knew it, I saw the glass of the Infinity jeep had been broken, I called the driver of the car to ask him what had happened to the car.”
Poor security
A similar incident occurred last year when a gang of robbers invaded the secretariat close to the same spot where the robbers struck, burgled a Toyota Avensis car belonging to a civil servant, Azeezat Adegunwa, and carted away N1 million in the process.
“If this happened in advanced country, police would have come to cordon the vehicle and see if there is any trace evidence like fingerprint that could be used to identify the culprits,” said Musliu Adeagbo, an eye witness who identified himself as a security operative. “We lack proper crime scene management and crime investigation skill and that is why it’s easy for issues like this to happen.”
ROBBERS USE JEEP TO TERRORISE Alausa visitors.
Workers and visitors at the Alausa secretariat are worried over the spate of robbery at the Alausa secretariat Ikeja the seat of power.
This follows the robbery on July 22nd when a gang of four men trailed an Accord salon car to the secretariat car park where they carted away millions of naira.
According to the police, the money belong to Lasun Yusuf an Osun state house of representative member who was at the secretariat to pay a courtesy visit to the Lagos state commissioner of information.
Mr. Yusuf told the police that he had withdrawn the sum of three million two hundred and fifty thousand naira from the Zenith bank at Ikeja and had successfully parked his car at the secretariat car park when he heard the alarm of his car ringing.
Eyewitnesses added that the gang came in a Land Rover jeep with registration number GB-878-ABC and had successfully stolen the money from the car but due to the alarm, they abandoned the jeep and ran on away
“When we heard the alarm go off we noticed that four men had hurriedly entered the jeep and they were running away, the people at the secretariat ran after them shouting ‘thief thief’ and they had to abandon their jeep and ran on their feet; while they were running, away they carried the money with them and a bundle of N500,000 fell down and was recovered.”
The police source added that a check on the car at the licensing office revealed the residence of the owner and his identity but when police trailed the suspect to his house at Akute area of the state , he had escaped with his family.
Early in May this year, a gang of armed robbers also raided the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa carting away N3million.
The robbers reportedly burgled a Nissan Infinity SUV, with registration number FK670EKY, which belongs to a female contractor with the Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development, and was parked at the premises of the ministry. The owner of the vehicle, who came to see one of the directors in the ministry, was at a loss about how the robbers succeeded in breaking the side glass of the vehicle where she had kept the money without anyone, including the security personnel, noticing. She was, however, not available to speak on the incident as she was dazed. Her driver was also too shocked to speak with journalists as he had taken a little break to stretch his legs.
Explaining how the robbers carried out their raid, one of the neighbourhood watchers said: “The two jeeps just moved down here and blocked the road. I was wondering why they stopped at that place because there was no car blocking them, so I moved closer to them asking them to leave the road not knowing that they intended to steal from that car. Immediately the first jeep moved, the other one followed behind. Before I knew it, I saw the glass of the Infinity jeep had been broken, I called the driver of the car to ask him what had happened to the car.”
Poor security
A similar incident occurred last year when a gang of robbers invaded the secretariat close to the same spot where the robbers struck, burgled a Toyota Avensis car belonging to a civil servant, Azeezat Adegunwa, and carted away N1 million in the process.
“If this happened in advanced country, police would have come to cordon the vehicle and see if there is any trace evidence like fingerprint that could be used to identify the culprits,” said Musliu Adeagbo, an eye witness who identified himself as a security operative. “We lack proper crime scene management and crime investigation skill and that is why it’s easy for issues like this to happen.”
drug production
LLICIT PRODUCTION OF METHAMPHETAMINE: ACCUSED GETS 25 MILLION NAIra ba
Justice Okechukwu Okeke of Court 2, Federal High Court, Ikoyi has granted bail
to accused charged for illicit production of Methamphetamine in Lagos. The
accused Bernard Umezurike and Francis Nwafor who were arraiged on
Wednesday July
27, 2011 on a five count charge by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) pleaded not guilty to all charges. Bernard Umezurike who is the first
accused was charged on a four count charge of unlawful possession,
conspiracy to
manage a premises for methamphetamine production, while Francis Nwafor was
charged on a two count charge of conspiracy and aiding Bernard in the alleged
crime. Both accused alleged to be producing drugs worth 100 million naira drugs
daily got bail in the sum of 25 million naira.
Justice Okeke in his ruling noted that one major consideration in grating bail
was the availability of accused persons for trial. He therefore granted the
accused bail in the sum of 25 million naira and one surety each. Other
conditions for the bail are that sureties are to own developed landed property
in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Magodo, Surulere and Ikeja. Original
documents
of the properties are to be submitted to the deputy Chief registrar of the
court. Sureties are to submit 2 passport photographs and tax clearance
certificate. Justice Okeke also requested that the prosecution verify the
authenticity of documents submitted by sureties within 24 hours of submission.
He ordered the accused to be reporting at the Joint Task Force office of the
NDLEA every Monday and in the event of a Monday being a public holiday they
should report the following day.
John Gima, Assistant Director Prosecution of the NDLEA led the prosecuting
team while Adebayo Onifade and Mrs Ngozi Ekwensi represented the accused.
Onifade made an oral application for bail noted that the alleged offences are
bailable and that they are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The defence
counsel pleaded that if granted bail the accused will not jump bail and will
comply with the conditions of the court.
Mr. Gima ,The prosecuting counsel, vehemently opposed the bail application
stating that it is the first case of illicit production of Methamphetamine in
West African sub-region. He added that the nature of the case has
attracted both
local and international interest and that accused may jump bail if granted.
The anti-drug Agency last week announced the discovery of a clandestine
laboratory for the illicit production of Methamphetamine. The
production centre,
a 3 bed room bungalow is said to be located around Iba, Ojo Local Government
Area of Lagos State. It has a production capacity of 20 to 50 kilogrammes per
cycle thus making it a large production centre similar to the ones found in
Mexico.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade has directed
the legal department of the Agency to be meticulous in the verification of
documents submitted by sureties. According to Giade, “this is a crucial case to
the Agency and indeed Nigeria. We are going to verify the documents
submitted by
the sureties. This is the first case of Methamphetamine production in the
sub-region and the world is watching”.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke of Court 2, Federal High Court, Ikoyi has granted bail
to accused charged for illicit production of Methamphetamine in Lagos. The
accused Bernard Umezurike and Francis Nwafor who were arraiged on
Wednesday July
27, 2011 on a five count charge by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) pleaded not guilty to all charges. Bernard Umezurike who is the first
accused was charged on a four count charge of unlawful possession,
conspiracy to
manage a premises for methamphetamine production, while Francis Nwafor was
charged on a two count charge of conspiracy and aiding Bernard in the alleged
crime. Both accused alleged to be producing drugs worth 100 million naira drugs
daily got bail in the sum of 25 million naira.
Justice Okeke in his ruling noted that one major consideration in grating bail
was the availability of accused persons for trial. He therefore granted the
accused bail in the sum of 25 million naira and one surety each. Other
conditions for the bail are that sureties are to own developed landed property
in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Magodo, Surulere and Ikeja. Original
documents
of the properties are to be submitted to the deputy Chief registrar of the
court. Sureties are to submit 2 passport photographs and tax clearance
certificate. Justice Okeke also requested that the prosecution verify the
authenticity of documents submitted by sureties within 24 hours of submission.
He ordered the accused to be reporting at the Joint Task Force office of the
NDLEA every Monday and in the event of a Monday being a public holiday they
should report the following day.
John Gima, Assistant Director Prosecution of the NDLEA led the prosecuting
team while Adebayo Onifade and Mrs Ngozi Ekwensi represented the accused.
Onifade made an oral application for bail noted that the alleged offences are
bailable and that they are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The defence
counsel pleaded that if granted bail the accused will not jump bail and will
comply with the conditions of the court.
Mr. Gima ,The prosecuting counsel, vehemently opposed the bail application
stating that it is the first case of illicit production of Methamphetamine in
West African sub-region. He added that the nature of the case has
attracted both
local and international interest and that accused may jump bail if granted.
The anti-drug Agency last week announced the discovery of a clandestine
laboratory for the illicit production of Methamphetamine. The
production centre,
a 3 bed room bungalow is said to be located around Iba, Ojo Local Government
Area of Lagos State. It has a production capacity of 20 to 50 kilogrammes per
cycle thus making it a large production centre similar to the ones found in
Mexico.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade has directed
the legal department of the Agency to be meticulous in the verification of
documents submitted by sureties. According to Giade, “this is a crucial case to
the Agency and indeed Nigeria. We are going to verify the documents
submitted by
the sureties. This is the first case of Methamphetamine production in the
sub-region and the world is watching”.
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