TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lagos

  • Lagos receives 1,237 petitions on land grabbing in 7 months

    Lagos receives 1,237 petitions on land grabbing in 7 months

    The Lagos State Government says its special task force on land grabbing has received 1,237 petitions in the last seven months.

    The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, said this on Tuesday in Lagos at the 2017 Ministerial Press Briefing of the state Ministry of Justice.

    The briefing held as part of activities to give account of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s achievements in the sector as his administration clocks two years on May 29.

    Kazeem said about 250 of the petitions, which were received by the special task force inaugurated in September 2016, had been resolved through various means including physical enforcement, mediation and conciliation.

    According to him, the task force has been given a permanent office to further enhance its operations and bring succour to the people of Lagos State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had set up the task force soon after Gov. Ambode’s signing of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law in August 2016.

    The law, aimed at checking the menace of land grabbing in Lagos, stipulates as much as 21 years jail term for convicts.

    Kazeem said the state had passed 14 Bills into law between 2016 and 2017, to champion development in the state.

    He said this was also to improve the citizens’ access to quality justice, law reform, due process, law and order in the state.

    ”The ministry through its Directorate of Legislative Drafting and the Law Reform Commission has been involved in the drafting, amendment and reform of Laws and Regulations sponsored in collaboration with the House of Assembly and other MDAs.

    ”During the period under review, 14 Bills were passed into law while 12 bills are currently undergoing drafting process.

    ”Some of them are the Lagos State Environmental Protection and Management Law 2017, the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund Law 2017, The Lagos State Sports Commission 2017, Lagos State Kidnapping Prohibition Law, 2017 and others.

    ”Our goal is to promote access to justice, regardless of socio- economic class and to attract, develop, motivate and retain the best law officers within a supportive work environment,” he said.

    On the DNA Forensic Centre, Kazeem said the centre would be inaugurated in May to aid proper investigation and prosecution of crimes in the state.

    ”The Centre will be world class and the first by any government in Nigeria.

    ”It will be geared towards enabling proper investigation, prosecution of crimes, adjudication and the administration of justice in the state, ” he said.

    Kazeem said that Mobile Courts had been able to successfully reduce street trading, traffic congestion and anti-social conduct on the roads.

    He said they had also checked environmental nuisance, thereby improving the socio-economic well-being of the residents.

    ”Within the period under review, a total number of 4, 426 offenders have been arraigned before the courts and series of enlightenment campaigns have been carried to make residents aware of the need to obey traffic rules and keep the environment safe and secure,” he said.

    Kazeem said that the Office of Public Offender handled 4,149 petitions and 5,400 cases on behalf of indigent residents of Lagos at no cost.

    He said the cases cut across labour, civil, criminal, coroner’s inquests and fundamental rights at various courts.

  • Easter Tragedy: Photos: 2 dead, 14 injured in Lagos accident

    Easter Tragedy: Photos: 2 dead, 14 injured in Lagos accident

    There was pandemonium at the Gbagada area of Lagos on Monday (today) when a Volks Wagon (commercial bus) with registration number GGE716XM had a head on collision with another vehicle (MazdaTaxi) leaving two dead and 14 severely injured.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Emergency Response Team (ERT) of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) received a distressed call at about 3:05 pm regarding the accident which happened precisely at Gbagada Bus Stop (inward Anthony) in Lagos.

    This prompted the immediate activation of the Agency’s ERT to the scene of the incident.

    Preliminary Investigation conducted by the Agency’s Emergency Response Team at the scene revealed that a Volk Wagon commercial bus with registration number GGE716XM had a head on collision with another vehicle (MazdaTaxi).

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that 14 persons were rescued by the emergency responders and taken to the Gbagada General Hospital and Trauma Centre by a combined team of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and the LASEMA Paramedics as they sustained different degrees of injuries.

    Two lives were also reported lost and have been deposited at the Lagos Mainland Hospital Mortuary.

    The damaged vehicles were however recovered with the aid of the Agency’s towing truck to avoid another incident and free flow of traffic in the area.

    Addressing newsmen at the scene of the incident, the General Manager of LASEMA, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu advised motorist especially commercial bus drivers to ensure they pay full attention while driving and also ensure they drive within the speed limit to avoid unnecessary loss of lives to reckless driving.

     

    See photos from the scene below:

     

     

     

     

     

  • BDCs vindicated by discovery of money in Lagos, says Gwadabe

    BDCs vindicated by discovery of money in Lagos, says Gwadabe

    Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, the President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) said that the discovery of huge sums of money in Lagos has vindicated its members.

    Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Gwadabe said that ABCON was saddened by the development, but added that the real enemies of the Naira were gradually being exposed.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Wednesday discovered about 43 million dollars, N23 million and 27 thousand Pounds sterling from a building at Ikoyi, Lagos.

    According to him, every well meaning Nigerian has seen that the issue of depreciation of the naira was beyond the BDCs.

    “Only God knows the quantum of money that is outside the banking sector,’’ he said.

    He said that it was unacceptable for an individual or group of individuals to store such volume of money at home.

    Gwadebe said hoarding and currency speculation was no longer profitable, urging members of the public to desist from such acts in the overall interest of the economy. Gwadabe urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to critically look into developments in the banks, where unutilised foreign exchange was returned to it in spite of long queues of persons waiting to buy them.

    “I hear that 100 million dollars was given to the banks recently and only 45 million was used.

    “The CBN should look into the position of the banks and see how the unused foreign exchange can be earmarked for the BDCs,’’ he said.

    He expressed optimism that with the spate of investigations and discoveries by security agents, the Naira was on its way to recover.

     

     

    NAN

  • We need over 720M gallons of water per day in Lagos – Ambode

    We need over 720M gallons of water per day in Lagos – Ambode

    …Says Huge Resources Already Committed To Making Water Available

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday said his administration remains committed to bridging the daily deficit of potable water in the State without inflicting tax burden on the people, just as he revealed that huge investments have been made in the sector in the last 23 months.

    Speaking at Lagos House in Ikeja when he received a delegation from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) led by its President, Dr Frank Udemba Jacobs, Governor Ambode said the State requires about 720million gallons of water per day, but currently has capacity to produce 210million leaving a deficit of about 500 million gallons.

    It would be recalled that the present administration since assumption of office had intensified investments in the water sector especially by putting measures in place to revamp the 48 Mini Water Works across the State to produce at hundred per cent, while works on the Adiyan Major Water Works had reached advanced stage.

    The Governor said ever since coming on board, conscious efforts have been made towards improving on the business environment by investing in critical sectors such as infrastructure, security, traffic management, among others, saying that investment in the water sector too had been huge.

    He said: “Just like every other infrastructure that we are trying to create in the city, water is one of them and obviously it is clear that we have a deficit. The city actually needs a minimum of 720million gallons of water per day and right now, there is a shortfall of almost about 500million and so our investment in water sector is continuous and very deep.

    “The truth is that despite being surrounded by water, the infrastructure that drives the water to become a drinkable item is huge and we do not want to tax people to death and at the same time within the limited resources in a recession, we are faced with that challenge of wanting to redistribute the limited resources in the various sectors and sometimes the gap is yet to be filled in that sector.

    “I do recognize the fact that we need to be on top of our game in terms of providing water and I also recognize the fact that we are not yet in a place where we ought to be but again, we must understand that within that shortcoming, government tries as much as possible to find a way to create laws or create an enabling environment to allow water to be available everywhere,” Governor Ambode said.

    While responding to enquiries by the delegation on charges on water, Governor Ambode said the intention of laws regulating the water sector was not to bring any inconvenience to the people, and that government would be willing to put measures in place to resolve any issue amicably with the aim of making businesses to continue to operate in the State.

    The Governor also reiterated his commitment to continue to engage with the private sector through various platforms as well as the Corporate Assembly which the State had already put in place to interface with the business community.

    Earlier, MAN President (Jacobs) said the delegation was at Lagos House to further build on the existing cordial relationship with the State Government.

    Jacobs commended Governor Ambode over his untiring and exemplary efforts at making Lagos the centre of excellence especially in areas of infrastructural transformation, adding that the investments had greatly helped to create conducive environment for the manufacturing sector to thrive in the State.

    He said: “We applaud Governor Ambode’s policies and programmes and pledge to continue to work with government in moving the State forward.”

    Governor Ambode, who also received Mr. Edward Kallon, UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Residential Representative in Nigeria, said as the fifth largest economy in Africa, his administration would collaborate with necessary organizations such as UN to scale up the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), adding that his plan for the State is to emerge as the third largest economy within the next three to five years.

  • Police investigate killing of youth by policeman at Lagos hotel

    The police in Lagos State are investigating the alleged killing of a youth by a mobile policeman on the premises of a hotel in Alimosho Area on Thursday.

    The policeman, attached to Erico Belisima Hotel on Olowologbon Street along Akowonjo-Egbeda Road, allegedly shot and killed the youth, identified as Niyi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the youth had gone to the hotel with some friends to locate one of the guests, who allegedly owed him some money.

    A source said Niyi and his friends allegedly laid siege outside the hotel gate in order to accost the guest on his way out of the premises.

    The source said the presence of the young people attracted the attention of a hotel worker, who questioned them but receiving a beating instead of explanation.

    The worker’s cry for help attracted policemen attached to the hotel, NAN learnt.

    NAN further learnt that an argument ensued between the youths and policemen, who intervened, and as a result, a policeman allegedly shot Niyi in the leg.

    The policeman allegedly gave a chase to the injured Niyi who was trying to escape, and shot him in the head, NAN further learnt.

    The shooting caused a pandemonium in the area as people scampered for safety, witnesses said.

    “The news of his death spread like a wild fire as angry youths stormed the hotel and caused damage to the structure while five cars belonging to customers of the hotel premises were vandalised.
    “The angry youths also attempted to set the hotel ablaze but the quick response of the men of the Rapid Response Squad and other units of the Lagos State Police command, prevented them,” a source said.

    Some persons arrested in connection with the incident have been moved to Shasha Police Station, while the Area Commander, Area M Command, Idimu, of Nigeria Police Force, ACP Austin Akika, guarded the area.

    ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, the Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Lagos State, said he was awaiting briefing from the Divisional Police Officer of the Area before making further comments.

  • Ex-PDP Chair, Mu’azu denies ownership of Lagos apartment where N11.66bn was found

    Ex-PDP Chair, Mu’azu denies ownership of Lagos apartment where N11.66bn was found

    A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, has refuted claims that the apartment in Lagos where a whooping sum of N11.66 billion was found belongs to him.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that officials of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) upon a tip from whistleblower ransacked the property in Ikoyi to discover the cash ($38m, N23m and £27,000) which was dominated in Dollars, Naira and Pounds.

    The former ruling party chairman said the only property in he owns in Lagos was on Walter Carington Crescent, Victoria Island and not in Ikoyi or any other part of Lagos.

    Mu’azu made the claim while speaking to Sahara Reporters.

    Akin Oyegoke who identified himself as the “Media and ICT Personal Assistant” to Mu’azu, called from London to debunk the speculation.

    “Mr Muazu does not own any house in Ikoyi except his house at Walter Carrington street, Victoria Island Lagos,” Oyegoke said.

    Oyegoke, however, failed to explain why the construction firm, Etco Nigeria Limited, that built the house listed his name as a client.

    For the third day in a row, the EFCC uncovered another huge sum of cash.

    Recall that EFCC intercepted huge sums of money in various currencies at the popular Balogun market in Lagos on Monday.

    On Tuesday, another a whistle-blower led operatives to another discovery of a staggering sum of N4billion suspected to be proceeds of crime.

  • [Video] How EFCC found N11.66bn in Lagos house allegedly owned by ex-PDP chair, Muazu

    [Video] How EFCC found N11.66bn in Lagos house allegedly owned by ex-PDP chair, Muazu

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on yesterday raided a house in Ikoyi, Lagos recovering about $43m, N23m and £27,000 in cash.

    The total cash when converted using the current rate of the Central Bank of Nigeria amounts to N11,661,314,000.

    16 Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, a residential apartment where operatives of the EFCC, recovered a humongous amount of money reportedly belongs to a former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu.

    According to online news medium Sahara Reporters, Mu’azu who was also the governor of Bauchi State in Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, lived in the penthouse of the building anytime he was in Lagos.

    A source who spoke with the news outfit said the other residents of the house are former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, a former Managing Director at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, and Godwin Obla, a senior lawyer and former prosecutor to EFCC.

     

    Sahara reporters alleges that $50m found in the Ikoyi building belongs to a Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue.

    Nnamdi-Ogbue, was laid off by the corporation alongside other three top Managing Directors over the ‘missing’ petrol scandal involving Capital Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited owned by businessman, Ifeanyi Ubah.

    In line with the whistleblower policy of the Federal Government, the whistleblower is expected to receive nothing less than N500m as a reward.

    A source at the EFCC said, “We received a tip-off from a whistleblower regarding the existence of a huge sum of cash in an apartment in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi. We were overwhelmed to see such a huge sum of money.

    In a swift reaction to Sahara Reporter’s claim, the former National Chairman of PDP, Mu’azu has disowned the apartment where operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) officers Wednesday discovered more than $50 million hidden behind false walls.

    Akin Oyegoke a “Media and ICT Personal Assistant” to Mu’azu denied that the former PDP chair owns the building.

    “Mr Muazu does not own any house in Ikoyi except his house at Walter Carrington street, Victoria Island Lagos,” Oyegoke said.

     

  • Woman accidentaly killed by policemen in Lagos buried amid tears [Photos]

    Woman accidentaly killed by policemen in Lagos buried amid tears [Photos]

    Remains of Kudirat Adebayo, a woman who was allegedly shot and killed by a policeman at Onipanu in Lagos, were laid to rest.

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com reported that the roadside vendor was on April 4 hit and killed by a stray bullet that witnesses said was fired by a policeman who was chasing ‘yahoo boys’.

    The incident had sparked outrage with her son, Olorunloye Adebayo, leading calls for the police authorities to find her killer and bring him to justice.

    Police must find ‘Yahoo boys’ hunter who took my mother’s life

    He shared images of the burial in a tweet on Tuesday, expressing the difficulty he was facing in coming to terms with what had happened. IOCs

  • Again, EFCC intercepts €547,730, £21,090, N5.6m cash in Lagos

    Again, EFCC intercepts €547,730, £21,090, N5.6m cash in Lagos

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) again on Monday intercepted huge sums of money in various currencies totalling N250 million at the popular Balogun market in Lagos.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that this is coming barely three days after the Commission recovered N449 million at an abandoned bureau de change in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed Monday’s incident in a statement, said the discovery followed a tip off from a whistle blower.

    The intercepted monies, according to him, include 547,730 Euros, 21,090 Pounds and N5,648,500 .

    He said the total haul was about N250 million at the prevailing exchange rate at the parallel market.

    “The interception followed information that about N250 million cash was being moved somewhere in the market for conversion into foreign currencies by unnamed persons.

    “Operatives responded timely, met the money in Bureau de Change (BDC) office, but a large chunk of it had been converted into Euro and Pounds sterling.

    “The BDC operators found in possession of the monies claimed they were acting on behalf of their boss who sent the money to them from one of the Northern states in Nigeria,” Uwujaren said.

    He said two persons apprehended in the course of the raid were assisting the Commission in its investigation.

     

  • Militants using #OtodoGbame as base, LASG justifies demolition exercise

    Militants using #OtodoGbame as base, LASG justifies demolition exercise

    The Lagos State Government has justified Sunday’s invasion of Otodo Gbame, a riverine community in the state.

    In a statement via its Twitter account, @LAGOSGMT1, the governor’s monitoring team said the decision was taken in the best interest of Lagosians.

    The team added that militants had turned the community to their operational base.

    It said, “The demolition of #OtodoGbame was carried out as a security measure in the overall interest of all Lagosians.

    “Intelligence report has revealed that militants are using the illegal #OtodoGbame settlement as a base.

    “Credible intelligence gathering shows that militants are living amongst the people in #OtodoGbame and are perfecting plans to attack Lekki and VI.

    “LASG places a high premium on security and will not abdicate in its duty to protect the lives and property of all residents. #OtodoGbame.

    “The killing of security agents in the Ishawo area of Lagos by militants further strengthens the resolve of government to clear the #OtodoGbame.

    “The Lagos State government in collaboration with security agencies will stop at nothing to secure the State. #OtodoGbame.

    “The government will not succumb to emotional blackmail and will stand by this decision because it is in the best interest of all residents #OtodoGbame.

    The settlement in Otodo Gbame is illegal, without any title or appropriate government approval. #OtodoGbame.

    “We are willing to take unpopular decisions that will protect lives and property. The #OtodoGbame situation is one of such.”