Tribune Sacks 160 Workers

There has been an alleged mass sack of workers at the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) PLC, publishers of the Tribune titles, based in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria.

 At least 160 workers in all the departments were affected in the mass purge which took place last week.

The retrenchment exercise which took place barely a month after the appointment of Mr. Edward Dickson as the new Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the company, was a shock to many of the affected workers.

 According to sources, the management felt that it was necessary to prune down the over bloated staff strength estimated at 700, adding that a staff survey they conducted revealed that other media houses have not more than 300 workers.

A source said, “they went to other newspapers and found out that their staff strength are far less than our own. They claimed that they went to a Lagos-based newspaper and found out that they employed not more than 300 staff and they do not see the reason why they should have 700 staff.”

Other reasons adduced for the retrenchment include drop in the company’s working capital and its inability to give dividends to shareholders.
Culled:PMNews

Journalists Call For Recognition Of Media In Constitution

Participants at a workshop on the review of the 1999 constitution have stressed the need for independence and freedom of the press.

This is contained in a 10-point communiqué issued at the end of a two-day workshop in Enugu.

The participants drawn from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, pledged to give maximum coverage and publicity to the constitution review.

They agreed to partner with governments, donor and development agencies as well as other stakeholders to support operations of the media during the exercise.

The communiqué said the participants endorsed the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in all elective and appointive positions and 30 per cent representation for the youths in the constitution.

They also called for the rights of women, widows, widowers, persons with disability in the constitution.

The workshop was organised by the Democratic Governance for Development Project.
Culled:PMNews

Family exhumes, reburies 52-year-old corpse

It has now become clear that the planned demolition of houses to give way for the massive expansion of roads and bridges in Abeokuta, Ogun State is not only going to affect the living.

The proposal is giving some residents concern. While some residents of Idi-Ape, Ago-Oko area of Abeokuta are concerned about the initial discomfort that normally characterises such an exercise, 42 families are in a dilemma on how to relocate the corpses of their loved ones in a cemetery in the area.

 

The almost a century old cemetery belongs to the Cathedral of St. James African Church, Idi-Ape, and like all other structures along the Federal Medical Centre Road, Idi-Aba, it has been marked for demolition.

 

 

 

This development,report says, has compelled the authorities of the church to give the affected families up to November 27 to exhume and rebury the corpses of their beloved ones elsewhere or risk mass reburial.

 

Although the church has already informed 35 of the affected families, members of seven others could not be traced.

 

One of the affected families heeded the church’s call last Friday by exhuming and reburying the body of Mrs. Dorcas Omidiji which was buried at the cemetery 52 years ago.

 

Her exhumed remains were encased in a new white casket and interred in a freshly dug grave covered with concrete slabs.

 

A formal reburial ceremony conducted by the Cathedral Provost of the church, Venerable Samuel Adeyemi, was held for Omidiji in the presence of family members, relations and friends.

 

Adeyemi, in a short sermon at the graveside, urged the living to strive to do good.

 

Adeyemi, in an interview with our newsmen, expressed displeasure over the development but admitted that there was nothing the church could do stop the demolition.

 

He said, “We felt bad about the development when we were first informed about it but there is nothing we can do because we know that it’s part of the development of the state. So, we cannot kick against it.

 

“As soon the government notified us about the planned demolition, we began to move because our plan is that before the exercise begins, we want to exhume all the bodies and move them to another part of the cemetery that will not be affected. The cemetery can still accommodate all of them. They are just about 42 in number and we have prepared a portion somewhere at the right hand side of the cemetery. It’s now left for the families. Some may not want to do it in this format (reburial).”

 

According to him, the church may consider mass burial for the corpses whose family cannot be traced.

 

A mass burial for such bodies, according to him, will come up probably in December.

 

“We are only preparing ourselves towards the demolition because we don’t want them to come and destroy the tombs,” he added.

 

Asked what the church would do if after giving the unclaimed bodies mass burial some of their relations showed up, Adeyemi said, “That’s not our business because we pasted a list already and secondly we have been making announcement in the church and we are also going to write formally to all the families concerned on Sunday.

 

“Some of the bodies were buried here about 70 years ago while some were buried recently. It is not the making of the church. The government wants to develop the state.”

 

However, for the 58-year-old son of the reburied Omidiji, Rev. Bayo Omidiji, the planned demolition of the cemetery had afforded him the opportunity to do what he could not do when his mother died about 52 years ago.

 

As a six-year-old boy, Bayo said he did not know the import of losing his mother then.

 

Bayo said, “When she died in June 1961, I was just six years old then. This is more or less a designed programme by God because when it was 30 years, I did likewise. But now that God has planned it that I should remove her from that place due to the planned construction of the road, this has given me the opportunity to do what I was not able to do then.

 

“I believe exhuming the remains from there to here had really given me the opportunity to really know how it feels when somebody dies because the Bible says we were made from soil and we’ll return to the soil.

 

“To verify this, this is the only way I could do that and after interpreting everything I discovered that it was only the soil and the planks of the coffin that were seen inside her grave.”

 

The part time clergyman advised the families of 41 others buried in the cemetery to “do likewise because that will enable them to know what is going to be the end of every human being and more or less for record purposes.”

Culled:Punch/247nigerianewsupdate

HURRICANE SANDY: Ocean surge may hit Lagos in 7 days – LASG

FOLLOWING the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, currently ravaging some parts of the United States of America, the Lagos State Government has alerted residents of a possible ripple effect of the hurricane such as ocean surge on the state’s coastal areas within the next seven days.

The alert was given by the state Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, Prince Segun Oniru; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba as well as Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Taofeek Folami, at a joint media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.

It would be recalled that an Ocean surge occurred on August 17 at Kuramo Beach, Victoria Island and claimed 15 lives.

However, a professor of climatology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Professor RNC Anyadike, countered that Nigeria could not suffer any ripple effect from the hurricane.

Asked if Lagos could suffer ripple effects from Hurricane Sandy, Anyadike said: “It is not possible. We don’t have hurricanes in West Africa.

“Meanwhile, Hurricane Sandy has already hit land, it will soon dissipate. What kind of ripple effect are they talking about? Do you know how far we are from New York?

“The only thing we are likely to experience is heavy rainfall occasioned by climate change not hurricane.”

Oniru attributed the likely ripple effect of the Hurricane to the location of Lagos, lying parallel to the South America region.

His words: “We want to let Lagosians know what is going on, and what to expect, it is not to create panic, they should be careful around the ocean and lagoon. In the last five to six days, around the Caribbean, from Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and Hurricane Sandy has hit the east coast of America.

“Normally, when such happens, and the magnitude of it hits that part of the world, we always have a ripple effect in Lagos and around the West Coast.

Also speaking, Ibirogba urged residents to be vigilant, assuring that the state government’s emergency response squad was on alert to manage any likely surge caused by the Hurricane.

Special Adviser on Environment, Folami however, warned residents to refrain from dumping refuse in drainages and canals.
Culled:Vanguardnews

Aero aborts flight after vigilant passenger raised hydraulic leakage alarm

Aero Contractors, one of the few airlines still flying the local routes in Nigeria, averted what could have resulted in another accident Monday after a vigilant passenger alerted the airline’s officials to a fluid leakage in the aircraft.

At about 2:30 pm Monday, the Aero aircraft was set to leave the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, when one of the passengers sitting close to the left wing of the craft spotted hydraulic leaking from one of the valves conveying gas to the part called ‘ailerons’ which connects the wings of the aircraft, ensuring stability during take-off and landing.

After the passenger alerted the members of the airplane’s crew, all passengers were asked to evacuate the plane.

The passengers in the flight – AJ 171, scheduled for Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, by 2.30 p.m. had to return to the airport’s departure lounge.

“All boarding formalities were completed and the aircraft door shut ready for take-off. The aircraft had actually been taxied through the run-way to the take-off point when, after about ten minutes, the pilot taxied it back to the hanger,” one of the passengers aboard the flight, wishing to remain anonymous, told PREMIUM TIMES.

“The flight crew was later to report to the passengers that the flight had to be delayed and aircraft taxied back to the hanger for minor repairs as safety precaution following reports of fuel leakage spotted from its left wing,” the source said.

Most of the affected passengers – families, workers and business people were returning from Lagos to Calabar after the long holiday declared by the Federal Government last week to commemorate the Moslem Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

After all passengers were evacuated from the aircraft, they returned to the departure hall to wait for alternative arrangements by the airline’s management.

The passengers waited in despair for several hours till about 6 p.m. before they finally departed Lagos for their destination.

This is the second time in seven days that Aero Contractors has had to disrupt its operations over what it termed ‘minor technical faults’

On Wednesday, October 24, at about 11: 30, flight number AJ125 from to Abuja 12:15 was disrupted after a crew member announced that there was a minor technical issue with the aircraft’s engine.

Subsequently all passengers alighted the flight for “safety precaution”. It took about one hour for a replacement to convey the passengers.

The airlines’ consultant, Simon Tumba, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, tried to allay apprehensions. He attributed the delay to a minor technical fault which he said had to be fixed as a safety precaution.

“As I am talking to you, the flight is already airborne. It was a minor technical fault that had to be taken care of as a safety precaution in line with our company’s standard routine practice to ensure the safety of our passengers,” Mr. Tumba said.
Culled:Premiumtimes

Hajj: Nigerian pilgrims death toll reaches 21

The death toll of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia has risen to 21 from 14, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

 

NAN quotes the National Hajj Commission’s weekly public health bulletin “No one” dated Oct. 29, which showed that the male pilgrims had the highest mortality rate of 13.

 

The bulletin shows that Katsina State has the highest figure of four; Sokoto, three, Kano, Lagos, Zamfara and Ogun recorded two deaths each.

 

Oyo, Gombe, Yobe and the Nigerian armed forces recorded one death each.

 

It also stated that 53 patients had been referred to Saudi hospitals with 39 cases recorded in Medina, four in Jeddah and 10 in Mecca.

 

The bulletin states that 90 per cent of the patients had been discharged.

 

“So far, no single case of delivery has been reported, however, there are two cases of spontaneous abortion reported from Misfallah Clinic in Mecca by female pilgrims from Sokoto and Adamawa states, all mothers are in satisfactory conditions,’’ it added.

 

The bulletin shows that 7,496 Nigerian pilgrims have so far visited the six clinics being operated by the medical mission in Jeddah, Medina and Mecca, with common cold and hypertension topping the list of cases reported at the clinics.

 

It also highlighted the problems faced during the Arafat and Muna operations, blaming the Saudi authority’s poor response to distress calls and blocked road networks to evacuate sick pilgrims by security operatives.

 

“Late evacuation of refuse bins by Balidiya in state and VIP tents in some cases did not help improve our sanitation efforts,” it added.

Culled:NAN

Happy Times after “Dying” on the Pitch 7 Months Ago! First Photo from Congolese/British Footballer Fabrice Muamba’s Emotional Wedding

Just seven months ago, it was “game over” for Congolese/British Footballer Fabrice Muamba as he collapsed on the pitch during an FA Cup Quarter Final Match between his club Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur.

 According to doctors who revived him, his heart stopped, therefore he was “technically dead for 78 minutes“.

Just a few days ago on Sunday 21st of October 2012, Fabrice tied the knot with his sweetheart and mother of his son, Shauna Magunda.

 

 The grand wedding which took place at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire featured celebrity footballers including Robin Van Persie with his wife Bouchra and Andy Cole.

 

 The couple’s son Joshua was the page boy while renowned footballer Thierry Henry was reportedly the best man.

 

According to the UK Telegraph, “Muamba proposed to Shauna on Valentine’s Day, a month before his cardiac arrest at White Hart Lane. Despite his recovery,- he was fitted with a pacemaker – he retired from the game in August.”

 

Miracles indeed do happen!

 

Photo Credit: Hello Magazine

Culled:Bellanaija

 

Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos to be Reopened Today – Tuesday 30th October, 2012.........Yipeeee

After 16weeks partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, the Federal Government has announced that the bridge would be reopened today (Tuesday 30th October, 2012), one week ahead of the scheduled delivery date of November 6, 2012.

The bride had been partially closed since July 7 to enable the contractor, Messrs Boroni Prono and Company Limited, to replace eight expansion joints on the bridge for a contract sum of N1bn.

 

Photo credit:Simplysamad

 

Report says the Special Adviser to the Minister of Works on Media, Mr. Tony Ikpasaja, confirmed the reopening of the bridge in a telephone conversation with one of their newsmen yesterday.

 

He said the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, will open the rehabilitated bridge to motorists at a ceremony that will also have in attendance federal and Lagos State government officials and other stakeholders.

 

The reopening of the bridge will come as a welcome relief to motorists and commuters, who have had to connect Lagos Island, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah and Epe from different parts of the mainland through Western Avenue due to restriction of vehicular movement on the bridge from 12 noon to 12am, while opening for movement to the mainland within the same time.

 

Ofcourse,this will come as a relief to Lagosians as the past few weeks of the closure has been hell especially now that Motorcycles have been banned in some major roads in Lagos state.

Culled:Bellanaija

 

Driver on phone in fatal crash

An accident yesterday happened in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, after the driver of a Toyota Tundra, deep in a phone conversation, lost control, after suddenly slamming the brake at a speed breaker.

His car swerved to the oncoming lane, hitting a Nissan Primera car.

The accident which occurred at about 6 p.m Sunday in front of a government office on Oke-Mosan-Kobape-Sagamu expressway claimed four lives on the spot, official and eyewitnesses said.

The Toyota Tundra Jeep was marked , Lagos FC 787LND, and the Nissan Primera Lagos FZ 914 LSR.

The bodies of the victims were removed from wreckage after symphatisers used axes to cut through the car conveying the victims.

An eyewitness said the jeep was coming from Sagamu on high speed before it crossed over to the other lane and hit the car carrying six passengers.

It was learnt that the driver of the jeep was involved in a telephone conversation and suddenly stepped on the breaks when he got to a speed breaker.

“He suddenly applied brake but lost control and swerved to the other lane and rammed into the car,” the eyewitness said.

Officials of the Ogun State Rescue Team of Nigeria Security and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDS), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Ogun State Traffic Compliance Agency (TRACE) were also at the scene.

The team leader of TRACE, Mr Oladele Badmos, corroborated the statements of the witness.
Badmos said information available revealed that the driver of the jeep was making a telephone call before he suddenly applied the brakes.

He said the corpses had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, while the injured were receiving treatment at the same hospital.

The TARCE official advised motorists not to use cell phones, while in motion to avoid accident.
Culled:PM News

Man 62, allegedly defiles 10 year old step daughter

A 10-year old girl (name withheld) has accused her 62-year-old step father Mr. Alabi Ibrahim of habitually having carnal knowledge of her.

The primary six pupil disclosed this Sunday, lamenting that she had lost count on number of times her step father had intercourse with her at their residence at Opara Estate, Aiyetoro Road in Abeokuta.

Report says that the act was revealed when the girl ignorantly shared her experience with her siblings who then hinted her mother.

It was further learnt that the mother, Mrs. Adiat Ibrahim, subsequently reported her husband’s immorality to the police in Abeokuta.

The suspect, however, bolted when police detectives went after him in OnikolObo area.

Narrating her ordeal, the victim claimed that each time her step father had sex with her, he usually threatened to kill her if she told anybody about it.

She said; “Daddy always came to me when Mummy was not at home, and warned me not to tell anybody, so that I wouldn’t die”.

When contacted, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident.

He described the action of the man as barbaric, promising that the police will thoroughly investigate the matter towards possibly charging the suspect to court for defilement.

“The police totally condemn the act. He will not be spared. The man will be charged to court, after a thorough investigation,” Adejobi assured.
Culled:Vanguard news

Flood: Zamfara counts losses

The Zamfara Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA) says floods destroyed food and cash crops estimated at more than N1billion in seven local government areas of the state.

The agency's spokesperson, Alhaji Bello Na-Allah, said this in Gusau on Wednesday. According to him, the destruction occurred between August and October in Gummi, Shinkafi, Maradun, Gusau, Maru, Kauran Namoda and Anka local government areas.

He said that crops in nine farming communities were completely submerged or destroyed by the floods, listing the crops as maize, millet, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, cotton and soya-beans.

"The disaster had devastating effects on the people of the affected communities, who were left without food and shelter," Na-Allah said.

He said that for instance, in Gutsura Community in Gummi Local Government Area, farmers lost up to N300 million worth of crops, in addition to losing their houses.

According to the agency, the flooding was caused by the collapse of some earth dams in the area, which caused rivers to overflow their banks.

The director acknowledged the state government and National Emergency Management Agency for their quick response and provision of relief for affected communities.

The director said the agency was educating flood-prone communities to relocate from danger zones if the need arise. He said the state government had initiated awareness campaigns through the radio and television, to this end.

Na_Allah further said that ZEMA, in collaboration with traditional rulers, had consistently campaigned against people building on waterways.

"Gutsura, Jangeru and Birnin Yero communities in Gummi and Shinkafi local governments are among communities provided alternative places for relocation as part of the state government’s efforts to stem occurrences of future flood disasters," he said.
Culled:Dailytimesng

12 charged with robbing Lagos bank of N8m

Twelve men, who were charged with robbing Sterling Bank, Matori Branch, Lagos of N8 million, were on Wednesday remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.

The accused are Taiwo Aremu, 26; Muktar Eleduwe, 42; Lukeman Adekunle, 26; Kola Adenuga, 26; Ahmed Ajofoba, 24; and Saheed Olawunmi, 24.

Others are Idowu Adesola, 32; Waheed Shuiab, 38; Rasheed Anifowose, 22; Ahmed Adelakun, 28; Abdullahi Abdulkareem, 24; and Adedokun Yusuf, 24.

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, which gave the order, however, did not take the pleas of the accused.

Magistrate A.O. Akinde ruled that the court had no jurisdiction to try their case and ordered the accused to be remanded in prison, pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions.

“I hereby order the accused to be remanded in prison, pending a legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions,” he said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that the accused had on May 25 at 6.30p.m robbed Sterling Bank on Fatai Atere Way, Matori, of N8 million.

He said the accused, armed with pistols, also robbed some people of their valuables near Eco Bank in Okota area of the metropolis on Aug. 29.

“The accused, armed with four locally made pistols, robbed some people of their property including a laptop, blackberry phone, iPad phone and money, all valued at N159, 000, property of one Obinna Frederick,” Uwadione said.

He named others who were robbed of their belongings as Pauline Agokhaode, Aboh Dorcas, Samson Elisha, Taiwo Onibukola, Ogechi Ikeakaonwo and Nnenna Agunworgbo, valued at N538, 960.

The prosecutor alleged that the accused, who were arrested on September 26, also attempted to rob Sterling Bank a second time before they were apprehended.

Uwadione said the offences contravened Sections 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Robbery and Firearms (special provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation 1990 (as amended).

Magistrate A.O. Akinde adjourned the case till December 13.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

Lagosians trek as okada ban, fuel scarcity bite harder

With the restriction of okadaon some routes and the worsening fuel scarcity in Lagos State, many Lagosians who were stranded trekked to their destinations on Wednesday.

Also, motorists were held up for hours following gridlock on most major roads. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway towards Seven-Up, Yaba, Iyana Ipaja, Ikorodu Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Oba Akran Avenue, Oba Ogunnusi Road in Ogba among others witnessed traffic snarl.

 

Report says that the gridlock was as a result of motorists struggling to buy fuel at some filling stations, ban on okada in some routes and Sallah rush.

 

At Oando filling station, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja and at Total filling station in Ojota, where fuel was being dispensed, the queues took over a large part of the road causing gridlock.

 

Some motorists and commuters, who spoke with newsmen, also attributed the situation to the Lagos State Government new traffic laws.

 

They said the policy was not well thought out because it had only imposed hardship on the people.

“I really don’t know the purpose of a law. Is it to make the people suffer or to provide relief? a woman, who gave her name as Janet, said in Ogba.

 

Janet said she usually took okada as buses do not ply her route.

 

A motorist, Emmanuel Achub also said that he had to call his office that he would be late for work after being held in traffic for about two hours on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

 

Another road user, Niyi Onanubi, said, “Higher fares, stranded commuters; these are what you get when a few people think they know what’s best for 18 million others.”

 

A university teacher, who declined to give his name, said the traffic snarl could be partly blamed on the forthcoming Sallah festival.

 

“I could not get to any office today (Wednesday) because of the gridlock. Apart from the fuel scarcity and ban on commercial motorcyclists, I think Sallah rush contributed to what people experienced on the roads,” he said.

 

Commercial bus drivers cashed in on the situation to hike their fares from between 50 to 100 per cent.

The transport fare for Ikeja-Yaba route increased from N120 to N200 while Ketu-Ikorodu was hiked from N100 to N200.

 

A Bar Beach-bound passenger, who identified himself simply as Cosmas, lamented the traffic situation in the state.

 

Cosmas said, “From CMS to Bar Beach/Eko Hotels, we used to pay N100 but now, drivers have increased it by 100 per cent. The most worrisome is that as short as the distance is, it will take you close to one and a half hours to get there because of gridlock.

 

“Okadas, which used to help us in such a situation, have been chased away. Government must rescind its decision in the interest of the people. We are suffering seriously and the situation cannot continue like this.”

 

A commuter, Jide Adeyemi, said the ban on okada had increased the number of people commuting by bus.

 

“Apart from the transport fare being too exorbitant the buses are not even available. I have been standing here waiting for a bus to convey me to my place of business for about an hour with no success,” he said.

 

But a commercial driver, John Sogo, said the hike in fares was as a result of petrol scarcity.

 

He said, “It’s not our fault. I woke up as early as 5am today (Wednesday) in search of fuel today and on getting to my turn after queuing up for hours, they told me that they had ran out of supply.

 

“I eventually bought 10 litres for N2, 000 from black marketers. In all fairness, we are left with no choice but to adjust the fares we charge.”

 

There was also much pressure on the Bus Rapid Transit services as passengers cramped onto the buses. Many would-be commuters were seen in long queues awaiting BRT buses.

Culled:247nigerianewsupdate/Punchng

Man Responsible For Arik Bomb Scare Released From Custody

The man responsible for Arik Air bomb scare has been released from police custody.

 

The man, identified as Aminu Galadima, is an interior decorator with a history of mental illness.

 

 Mr Galadima was released after investigators were satisfied that he had no intentions of blowing up the plane and also had no ties to any terrorist group. A statement from the SSS  issued yesterday is as follows...

"This is a brief highlight of the incident that occurred on the Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja.

On Friday, 19th October, 2012, Wife of the SSG to the Borno State Government, Hajia Yachilla JIDDA, travelled to Maiduguri in company of one Aminu S. GALADIMA, an interior decorator based in Abuja to do some interior decoration work. On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland Hotel. During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands.

The SSG was contacted, and in collaboration with the Hotel management, subject was taken to Atal Hospital, also in Maiduguri, where he received treatment. His family in Abuja was contacted and they gave confirmation that GALADIMA has been mentally unstable. In addition, his elder brother who lives in the UK was contacted and he requested that subject be returned to Abuja for medical attention.

On Sunday, 21st October, 2012, he was taken to the airport to be returned to Abuja, but missed the flight. However, the Airport management was informed of his state of health, and they advised that whenever his return is scheduled, the management should be notified. Unfortunately, when GALADIMA was taken to the Airport on 23rd October for his return trip, the management of the Airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off. Meanwhile, GALADIMA is in the custody of security forces.

This clarification has become necessary to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight".

Marilyn OGAR, msi
Deputy Director, Public Relations
Department of State Services
23rd October, 2012".

Culled:Lindaikeji'sblog

Police versus motorcyclists’ war claims first casualty

A commercial motorcyclist, whose name was given as Alagede, has been confirmed dead during a scuffle between police officers and motorcyclists in Alakoku, near the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos State, on Tuesday.

While some witnesses say the deceased was shot by a police officer when he resisted arrest, others claim the motorcyclist was crushed by a vehicle as he attempted to escape police arrest.

Commercial motorcyclists and security officials have been on the warpath since Monday when the state government began enforcement of its ban on motorcyclists plying 475 designated routes in the metropolis.

As at Tuesday, an estimated 3000 motorcycles have been seized and impounded at the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement Unit).

Following the death of Alagede, residents of the area and other commercial motorcyclists stormed the Alakuko Police Station, threatening to burn it down. Scores of anti-riot police officers have been deployed to the scene.

Efforts to contact Ngozi Braide, the Lagos police spokesperson, were unsuccessful as at the time of publishing this story as calls and text messages sent to her mobile phone went unanswered.
Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Robbers kill Currency Changer in Lagos

A Bureau De Change operator was shot dead yesterday evening at Alade Market, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, by armed robbers who carted away N4.5 million.(about $30,000).

The two robbers were said to be operating on a power bike.

The victim identified as Tijani Musa, was shot at about 4.30pm as he was on his way to the bank to deposit the money.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the robbers accosted the man and asked him to surrender the bag which contained the money to them.

He was said to have resisted and the robbers brought out a pistol and shot him at close range.

While escaping with their loot, the robbers fired more shots and a bystander was hit in the stomach, while another woman was hit in the leg.

Members of the police team (RRS) always deployed to Allen Roundabout reportedly fled the area when they heard the gunshots fired by the robbers.
Culled:PMNews

Bomb Scare On Arik Flight

There has been a bomb scare on an Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja but the Ministry of Aviation dismissed the incident as a hoax.

The ministry described as absolutely false rumours of arrest of a man carrying bomb which he unsuccessfully tried to set off inside an Arik Airline flight from Maiduguri to Abuja at Nnamdi Azikwe Airport on Tuesday.

In a press release signed by Joe Obi, her media aide, Princess Stella Oduah, the Minister of Aviation described the speculation as a “hoax” without any “iota of truth whatsoever” and a ” wicked rumour”.

Explaining what really happened, the ministry explained in the statement that a passenger identified as Aminu Galadima, an indigene of Minna, Niger state boarded a Maiduguri -Abuja bound Arik Air aircraft after going through all mandatory security screening.

The Ministry said nothing incriminating, no explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him after he was screened.

The Ministry however said mid air the passenger began to act strangely, loudly screaming “Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar” (‘God is Great’).

“Fellow passengers, alarmed by this behaviour rushed to apprehend him.

“A thorough search by fellow passengers and crew members revealed nothing dangerous on him.

“The pilot immediately radioed Air Traffic Control and airport security operatives.

“The plane landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at exactly 1253 hrs and the suspect was handed over to the SSS at about 1445 hrs where he is currently being interrogated,” Ministry of Aviation explained.

 The ministry added: “We wish to reassure the flying public of the continued focus of the Federal Ministry of Aviation on the safety and security of the nation’s airspace, while cautioning fellow Nigerians on the spreading of dangerous rumours. These rumours do not help to make our airspace either safer or more secure.”

Arik Air spokesperson, Mr. Banji Ola said in a statement that there was no bomb on board the plane.

“There is no iota of truth in the rumour making the rounds that a passenger attempted to bomb an Arik Air aircraft operating a flight from Maiduguri to Abuja today, Tuesday, October 23, 2012. To set the records straight, “a passenger on board flight W3 812 from Maiduguri to Abuja caused a scare when he started shouting Allah Akbar shortly before the aircraft landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

“The frightened passengers on board the flight became suspicious thinking the man was about to do something sinister.

“All the passengers on board the flight, including the man in question, had all gone through the normal security check at the Maiduguri International Airport and nothing incriminating was found on anyone.”

Ola said that when the aircraft landed in Abuja, another security check was conducted on the passenger and nothing incriminating was found on him.

“A further security search was conducted on the operating aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 NG (Next Generation) and no trace of bomb or explosives were found. The aircraft went back to service immediately,” Ola said.

He added: “Arik Air wishes to assure guests that all its flights undergo strict security checks and passengers have nothing to fear.”
Culled:PMNews

Soldiers chase away LASTMA over seizure of colleagues motorcyle

LIKE a Nollywood movie, armed soldiers, yesterday,stormed Ketu area axis of Ikorodu Road and allegedly went after men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, for impounding a motorcycle belonging to one of their colleagues.

The rider of the motorcycle was alleged to have contravened the Lagos Road traffic law on restriction of routes to motorcycles.

This was sequel to the commencement of the state traffic law by the enforcement agencies, comprising Police, LASTMA, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, special Taskforce and other law enforcers duly empowered to do so.

What later happened is left to our imaginations................
Culled:Vanguardnews

Lagos Assembly Considers Total Ban On Okada

The Lagos State House of Assembly has said it may be forced to pass a new law to totally ban motorcycles and the activities of commercial motorcycle riders, popularly called okada, in the state.

This followed a violent protest by some aggrieved operators of commercial motorcycle on Monday which resulted in the destruction of some government buses.

The House, through Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforji’s amendment to a motion brought before it by a member, Moshood Oshun, calling the attention of his colleagues to the protest, also called on the executive arm of the state government to wield more powers in the implementation of the law.

Ikuforiji, while handing down the amendment at the floor of the House, threatened: “the House should condemn the vandalism…they come from other countries and states where they have been banned.

“We should call on the state governor to mobilise all the security agencies not only to ensure the road traffic law is fully implemented, but also to protect lives and properties.

“If they don’t desist from this criminal act, the House would fully ban okada riders in the state.”

Ikuforiji’s amendment was prompted by the refusal of the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Rotimi Abiru, to adopt a motion earlier moved by Oshun.

Abiru argued that the okada riders were not given adequate time to understand the law before the implementation commenced.

He said though the executive arm had engaged in sensitisation of stakeholders, this was not enough to begin the implementation.

Shutting him down, the Speaker said his argument was not relevant and asked him to sit down.

Abiru however refused to move the adoption.

In their contribution earlier, some of the lawmakers said the various protests were being sponsored by political enemies as well as okada merchants.

Deputy Speaker Taiwo Kolawole said the riot on Monday was sponsored by those selling motorcycles and that the current implementation of the law was enough enlightenment.

“Many of the riders do not speak Yoruba and can’t even speak English,” he said.

For Sanai Agunbiade, the House must expect more of such violence in the coming days and therefore must call for protection of government properties.

“When we study the constraints of the law, if there are any, it could be reviewed, but the law must be allowed to operate, it cannot be wished away like that because it is a law of the state,” he added.

Before the motion was amended by the Speaker, Oshun had said while moving it: “it is a law of the state and should be obeyed, until the law is either repealed or reviewed it must be obeyed.”
Culled:PM News

5 policemen, 2 others killed as robbers unleash mayhem on Ogun

—FIVE policemen and two civilians were yesterday feared dead after a 15-man armed robbery gang launched three separate attacks on Abeokuta and Ibafo in Obafemi Owode Local Government area of Ogun State.

Unspecified number of other persons were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries in the attacks said to have started Sunday night.

Vanguard gathered that the first robbery attack took place on Sunday around 8:30 p.m. at a filling station in Ibafo, which reportedly led to the death of two policemen while an undisclosed amount of money was carted away.

The gang members, according to an eye witness, were all in Mobile Police uniforms and said to have operated in a commando style, shooting sporadically into the air.

In the process, a 12- year old boy identified as Mubarak who was hawking sachet water and another yet- to- be identified, were hit by stray bullets.

Similarly, the same gang at 2:30 a.m. yesterday invaded an Apostolic Church located at Ijemo – Agbadu area of Abeokuta, killing three policemen including two Inspectors.

According to a source, the robbers on arrival at the church premises, reportedly lured a five-man police patrol team out of the station at Oke-Itoku and opened fire on the team of a Quick Response Squad, QRS, led by one of the Inspectors, killing three of them including the driver while two others were serious injured.

It was gathered that after their two successful operations, they allegedly went to a hotel on Abiola Way in Abeokuta where they reportedly raided the occupants before escaping.

Confirming the incidents, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, told journalists that it was the same gang that operated at Ibafo that invaded Abeokuta.

He said “the gang had before the Ibafo and Abeokuta incidents snatched a SUV and attacked a hotel located at Abiola Way before heading to the Apostolic Church vicarage at Ijemo Agbadu area of the town where they killed the three policemen and injuring two others.”

According to Adejobi, the robbers were professionals who positioned themselves at different corners before the rescue team ran into their barricade, “Two of our Officers died instantly while another gave up the ghost on the way to the hospital.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate