WELCOME TO OLAWALE OYEYEMI ISAAC

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

The ‘war’ between former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and dancehall music star, Ediris Abdulkareem over his 2004 hit track, Jaga Jaga is fast becoming a tale of ‘a child who says his mother will not sleep, he too will not sleep.” Mr. Lecturer, as fans and admirers would call him is ready to ‘dance’ with OBJ, since he’s not ready to let the sleeping dog lies.

In 2004, Abdulkareem’s third album, Jaga Jaga, which lamented the corruption and suffering in Nigeria was banned from playing on radio by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, although, it continued playing in nightclubs and parties.
Since then, many thought the case had been interred and faded into a cultural pot of time, only to resurface recently at a forum in Lagos when the retired military general lambasted the singer again, an indication that his indignation towards the Kano-born crooner is still raging and roiling. If you missed it, read it here
Angered by OBJ’s comment, the singer fought back through his twit account, by calling the Ota farmer his ‘mugu.’ He tweeted: ‘It’s obvious that Obasanjo can’t do without me. I’m his joy therapy. Mr ex-president, Nigeria still dey jagajaga, in fact worse pass jagajaga‘, @idrisAbdulkarm twitted.
‘President Obasanjo if you truly love Goodluck as u claimed, why don’t you talk to your fellow Boko Haram member to let Goodluck rule in peace’.

Eedris didn’t stop there as he went on to call the PDP leader a ‘mugu’, ‘Mr expresident, I heard you were talking about me in ur last interview hahahahahhahah its obvious you can’t do without me. You are my mugu. Obasanjo na my mugu oooo na jeje i dey, u dey look for trouble oooo…. hahahahahhahahahahhahahah’. ‘Mr ex president, u be my mugu!’ he added.
Not still satisfied, Idris has released a new single, entitled ‘ Baba’ in his defense and to buttress his point that Nigeria is truly ‘Jaga Jaga.’
The lyric goes thus: “Papa na you born me but I no send you again because you no be good Papa,” he chants. “Which kind Papa dey oppress im pikin/Which kind Papa no like im pikin/Which kind Papa no want make im pikin grow. I tire, I never see this kind papa. For this moment I disown you/I no like you/ I dey look for another papa.”

“12 years ago Nigeria Jagajaga/Today Nigeria don pafuka/You be bad Papa/You no be fine Papa/You dey oppress pikin/Even for Abeokuta they no gbadun your style,” he says.

“I de my house dey watch television na im I see baba Ota dey yarn say my papa na yamayama/Say my mama na jagajaga. He say na Eedris be the problem of Nigeria. If you talk again, I go sing another. You say make them no give me show but I still dey survive. The road to your house for Ota na jagajaga/Make you sidon for your house make I live mylife,” he says.
The song is currently trending online as people are beginning to air their national frustration through it.
It would be recalled that Idris was one of the Remedies group before going solo. His debut album, P.A.S.S. (Pains and Stress = Success) was released in 2002 on Kennis Music. Released the same year and also on same label was Mr. Lecturer, which addressed the problem of students using money and sex to solicit higher grades in Nigerian colleges and universities. Also in 2004, Abdulkareem came to international attention as a result of a scuffle with American rapper 50 Cent on board an aircraft at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
In November 2005, Abdulkareem launched his own record label, La Kreem Music, and released his fourth album, Letter to Mr. President. The album’s title track addressed Obasanjo’s criticisms of “JagaJaga”; the album also featured “Flash Up Unu Lighter”, a tribute to Obasanjo’s wife, Stella, who died while undergoing surgery in Spain, and then victims of the Belleview Airline crash of October 2005.
Since music is no more paying the rapper, he has resorted to other things that could pay his bills faster. The man is now the founder of EedrisAbdulkareem Foundation, a fundraising organization dedicated to fighting the spread of HIV AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa in collaboration with the Pat Utomi Foundation.
Meanwhile, at the time of filling this report, the ex president is yet to reply the singer.
We’ll keep you posted while the ‘war’ lasts

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

OUR attention has been drawn to the controversy over allegations that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, described Nigeria as “an Islamic country with the largest Christian population.”

He was said to have made the statement in a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) programme aired in Abuja on Wednesday, August 15, 2012.
Already, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has debunked such characterisation, calling for the sanctioning of the Minister. But in a rebuttal, Dr. Mohammed denied ever making such a statement.
According to him, he only said Nigeria was “the largest Islamo-Christian country in the world” during the meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which recently took place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This issue is causing quite a stir in an already super-charged atmosphere in a country wracked by the murderous campaigns of Boko Haram extremists demanding for the Islamisation of Nigeria. It sends a very worrisome signal.
Given the fact that as the Deputy Foreign Minister of Nigeria Dr. Mohammed is one of the foremost officials that represent the voice and face Nigeria in the international arena, it is important that we establish exactly what he said.
We want to know whether he actually said those words attributed to him or he is simply being maligned or quoted out of context. The NTA, fortunately, should have the records and should be able to provide it for independent and credible scrutiny.
It will be a most unfortunate disservice to this nation if indeed he said so. In fact, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed’s admission that he described Nigeria as an “Islamo-Christian country” shows he does not understand the true constitutional definition of Nigeria. Nigeria as an “Islamo-Christian country” means that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has accorded Islam and Christianity the status of official state religions of the country, which is definitely not so. Nigeria has no state religion.
But Nigeria has given Christianity and Islam special preferences, which account for the fact that offiicials are sworn into office with the Bible or Qur’an only because the overwhelming majority of Nigerians are followers of the two faiths. Professor Wande Abimbola once declined to be sworn in on the Qur’an or Bible, opting to be sworn in according to Ifa religion and he was obliged.
We call on the Federal Government to look into this matter and establish Dr. Nurudeen’s culpability or otherwise, as well as his motives for delving into this sensitive issue in this most inappropriate manner.
If found ill-qualified or psychologically too immature to hold such a sensitive high office he should be relieved of his position immediately. We cannot afford keeping irresponsible officers on the job when we are going through the worst region-related violent threat to our national survival.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday have declared that three more oil marketers are wanted in connection with fraudulent subsidy claims running into billions of Naira taken from the Federal Government.

The three persons, according to the EFCC are: Abdul Afeez Olarenwaju Olabisi of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, Abubakar Peters Ali Jeldi, owner of Nadabo Energy Limited and Ikechukwu Onuabuchi Nworgu of Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited. They are wanted over alleged forgery, conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and engaging in money laundering.
Statement by the EFCC’s Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, titled “Fuel Subsidy Scam: EFCC declare marketers wanted,” states that the suspects obtained billions of naira as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, under false pretences, and disappeared in the wake of the commission’s investigation of the subsidy regime.
The statement reads: “The EFCC, has declared three oil marketers implicated in the multi- billion naira fuel subsidy scam wanted… The trio of Abdul Afeez Olarenwaju Olabisi of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, Abubakar Peters Ali Jeldi, managing director of Nadabo Energy Limited and Ikechukwu Onuabuchi Nworgu of Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited are wanted by the Commission for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, forgery, obtaining money by false pretences and money laundering running into several billions of Naira.”
The Commission enjoins anyone with useful information as to their whereabouts to contact its Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices or through these numbers: 09-4604620, 070-26350721,070-26350722,070-26350723,070-6350724, 070-26350725; or by e-mail to: info@efccnigeria.org or the nearest Police Station.’’ eldi, 34, is of the Igala sor the nearest Police Vanguard gathered that the EFCC declared the suspects wanted when they consistently failed to show up and clear themselves of allegations of fraud and money laundering after several invitations.”

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

At 86, great-grandmother Marjorie Newlin keeps pumping iron.

Fourteen years ago, when Marjorie Newlin was 72, her neighborhood supermarket had 50-pound bags of kitty litter on sale. Without anyone to help her carry the bags back to her house, she struggled mightily under the load. Never a particularly athletic woman, but staunchly independent, she decided that she had to do something about her deteriorating physical capabilities.

Though osteoporosis was also on her mind, the septuagenarian began lifting weights — for her cat. "I want to be as independent as I can be, for as long as I can," says Newlin, a great-grandmother and retired nurse who wil be 87 in August. "I just want to do things for myself."

After 13 years of weight training, Newlin is more than taking care of herself. At her two-story home in Mt. Airy, Newlin, who runs up the stairs with the sprightliness of a 10-year-old, has a room dedicated entirely to plaques, certificates and trophies (some almost as tall as her) from bodybuilding competitions that have taken her as far away as Italy, France and Germany. She's won more than 40 trophies in her late-blooming career. "There are so many, I don't know what to do with all of them," she says.

"I chuckled when I saw this little old lady walk inside the gym," says Richard Brown, a personal trainer at Rivers Gym in Mt. Airy, where Newlin began her training. "I was a little leery. I was just training young athletes at the time."

The little old lady quickly showed him what an older athlete could do. "She kept coming in day after day, week after week, and month after month," Brown remembers. "She didn't want to do 'girly' workouts. She wanted to train with us fellows." "After a few months of training, I looked at her physique and knew she was ready for a [bodybuilding] show," he continues. "She definitely had something to show." Newlin was bench-pressing 65 pounds when she was 73 years old. A year later she was throwing up 85.

The bodybuilding competitions are broken into two divisions. Newlin's first competition was in the Amateur Athletic Union, which is open to the public. Newlin recalls being a little reluctant when she saw the string bikini she'd have to wear in front of the bodybuilding audience. "I knew the contest meant a lot to my trainer so I went along with it," she says. To everyone's surprise, Newlin won. The crowd went crazy on hearing she was 74 years old.

Newlin began her competition career in that AAU's Master's Division, which splits contestants into two categories: under and over a certain age limit, usually 35 or 45 years old. Newlin obviously fell way over the dividing line, wherever it was set, but was competing and winning against women half her age. "I was always the oldest in all my competitions," says Newlin.

The daughter of very active Barbadian immigrants, Newlin admits that athleticism is in her genes: "My family is used to walking and running long distances."

Although she's taking a break from bodybuilding competitions for now, Newlin is still training at least three days a week, now at Bally Total Fitness in Cedarbrook, and can still throw down with the best of them. "I could bench-press 90 pounds with a spotter. I can dead lift 95 pounds. I can squat 135 pounds," says Newlin.

She's been featured on Oprah and The View, and has appeared in commercials in Barbados. She spends her time out of the gym as a motivational speaker at schools and banquets, discussing the importance of exercise, weight training and dieting. "A lady called me earlier this week from Hawaii," Newlin says. "She asked questions about how to use weights."

Though some in her position might wonder how much longer they can keep it up — or how far they might have come if they'd started earlier — those questions never cross Newlin's mind. "Every day is different. The next day will take care of itself," she says with Zen-like calm.

"Age is only a number," says Brown. "There is only one Marjorie Newlin. ... She could do this for as long as she wants."

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Samuel Atta Mills, son of late Ghanian president, Professor John Atta Mills, Thursday, paid a courtesy visit to the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) where he told Prophet TB Joshua that he was there to thank God for the life of his father.
Prophet TB Joshua called on Ghanaians not to mourn the death of President Mills, because he “was a martyr who knew where he was going”.
According to the prophet, President Atta Mills did not die of any illness, rather it was God’s time for him to go home, he said.

TB Joshua noted that if President Mills death was due to illness, he would have died long ago, stressing that the former President’s death was “divine and could not be tempered with”. The prophet described President Atta Mills as a martyr who had completed his work on earth. He said President Mills’s death would “bring glory and honour to Ghana”.
It would be recalled that the late President was a frequent visitor to the Synagogue whenever he visited Nigeria and enjoyed a personal and close relationship with Prophet TB Joshua until his sad passing away in July of 2012.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Friday, said that the Ogunpa Market, which was gutted by fire on Wednesday, would be pulled down to give way for an ultra-modern market.
Ajimobi, who made the promise when he visited the market to assess the extent of damage, said that the market would be equipped with infrastructural facilities while the road that passes through it would be reconstructed.It would be recalled that the market was gutted by fire on Wednesday with three structures – a storey building and two bungalows – accommodating traders numbering 75, completely burnt while goods worth millions of Naira destroyed.
No life was, however, lost.Ajimobi, who visited the market in company with the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, state lawmakers and other top government officials, said that the rebuilding of the market would be done in conjunction with the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area and the market association.While promising that the fire station, which is few metres away from the market, would be well-equipped to be able to respond immediately to possible future occurrence, enjoined shop owners to equip their shops with fire extinguishers that would be on hand for emergency situations.Ajimobi said: “We will re-design the market and re-allocate the shops to the original shop owners and not to outsiders.
“Nobody here will lose his or her shop.”We promised them certain things while on election campaign, over a year ago. “We have fulfilled majority of them. “We promised them water; we have given them boreholes. “We promised them public toilets; we have provided them.
“We also promised them electricity; transformers have been erected.”The road here is in a bad state. “It was blocked by traders. “We will clear the road, repair and rehabilitate it and ensure that nobody is allowed to block the road again.”Ajimobi also promised to assist the traders affected by the inferno, adding that the traders’ cooperative society would also be provided with soft loans to alleviate the suffering of members.
He also enjoined them to cooperate with government by paying their tenement rates as at when due and to key into the environmental sanitation efforts of the state government to ensure clean environment and help in the aesthetics of the state capital.The governor also addressed the displaced traders at the old toll gate at the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, assuring them that new set of shops would be erected by government for onward allocation to them.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Sharon Shade (pictured with her mother) was injured in a suicide bomb attack

The Nigerian city of Jos has become synonymous for the bloody violence which occasionally breaks out between its Christian and Muslim communities. The BBC's Will Ross asks whether bombings by the Islamist group Boko Haram will further inflame tensions.

Looking at the rubble of what was once "God's Chosen Church" it is staggering that only two people died; one member of the congregation and the suicide bomber who drove the car up to the building in this largely Christian part of Jos city.
Lying on a hospital bed, 11-year-old Sharon Shade writhes in pain from the deep cut on her leg.
She was with her mother and brother in the church on the morning of 10 June.
"The pastor wanted to preach about unity and when he started explaining I heard 'boom'.
"Then I saw blood pouring from my leg and the next thing I knew I found myself in hospital," said Sharon before tearfully asking: "Why did this have to happen to me?"
The Islamist group popularly known as Boko Haram later said it was behind the attack.
What happened immediately after the blast is deeply worrying for Nigeria.
An angry mob of young men took over the street and set upon people they believed to be Muslim.
An emergency worker said that because of the violence it had been impossible to get his vehicle close to the church and when he walked the last few hundred metres he saw several dead bodies on the road.

“Start Quote

There is no Bible and no Koran that says one should kill somebody”

End Quote Zainab Mustapha

The arrival of the military and police prevented the retaliatory violence from escalating to the level recently witnessed in Kaduna City where up to 100 lives were lost.

"You only need to study the reprisals in Jos and Kaduna and you'll see that the young people are getting out of control," says the Archbishop of Jos, Benjamin Kwashi.
"The young people are learning that if Boko Haram is getting away with evil, with crime and criminality, then why shouldn't they?
"After all what have they got to lose? They are jobless, they are unemployable, they are hungry, they are angry and it may spiral into anything.
"The way the politicians are approaching these life and death issues gives me no reason to be optimistic."
'Terrifying'
In Jos and the surrounding Plateau State, the bombings threaten to reignite a long-running conflict that has left thousands dead in recent decades.
Different ethnic groups are in dispute over who are the rightful inhabitants of this part of the country, and that ethnic fault line happens to pit Christians on one side against Muslims on the other.

Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi says young people in Nigeria are "getting out of control"

Some areas of the city are completely off limits if you are perceived to be from the "wrong" religion.
It seems likely that the spate of Boko Haram bomb attacks is intended to fuel inter-religious violence, possibly in an effort to make the country ungovernable.
President Goodluck Jonathan recently warned that Boko Haram could also start targeting mosques in order to instigate attacks by Muslim youths on Christians.
On Fridays ahead of Muslim prayers and for the Sunday church services, roads are blocked off, checkpoints are increased and the tension in Jos is palpable.
Boko Haram has been so active across northern Nigeria people are not asking if there will be an attack, they are wondering where the bombers will strike next.
"The situation is terrifying. In a society where people's security is not guaranteed it is terrible," said Mohammed Tanku, standing in a long line outside the central mosque, waiting to be frisked.
"From the government we need social justice.
"We need practical steps to bring an end to this," he said as a military helicopter circled above the city.
'Reprisal attacks'
In a large hall in the mosque several hundred Muslim women came together for hours of special peace prayers.

Salihu Onnana Mohammed blames the violence on politicians

"Both the Christians and the Muslims, we are praying to Almighty God that whoever is planting the bombs - may God make them to be known and may God disgrace them," said one of the organisers of the event, Zainab Mustapha, who condemned all the violence.
"If they stop and they repent, God should forgive them.
"If they do not, may God make them regret their lives because there is no Bible and no Koran that says one should kill somebody," she said.
Following Friday prayers, the commander of the Special Task Force for Jos arrived for a peace-building meeting, accompanied by masked soldiers.
"We are meeting with all sides of the divide here to ensure the youths are kept in check... to ensure they don't jump on the bandwagon of any kind of reprisal attacks," said Major General Henry Ayoola.
"We should pretty soon be seeing the end of the whole matter."
But that faith in the system is not shared by everyone in the region.
"Unless the politicians change, the violence will continue," said Salihu Onnana Mohammed, who mends watches.
"They are the ones fuelling the conflict in order to enrich themselves.
"If there is no crisis they can't steal as much," he said pointing out that vast security budgets are allocated but no-one knows how the money is spent.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Police are guarding mobile phone masts in the north

The Nigerian army says it has killed seven suspected members of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram in a gun battle in the north of the country.

A spokesman said a further 13 people were arrested after an attack on an army checkpoint in Maiduguri.
Earlier, Nigerian police said they would mount a 24-hour guard of mobile-phone installations following Boko Haram attacks on masts in the north.
Boko Haram said it believed the masts were being used to track its members.
Giving details of the incident in Maiduguri, Lt Col Sagir Musa said: "A group of gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists opened fire on a military checkpoint where soldiers were conducting a cordon-and-search operation.
"The soldiers responded with gunfire, leading to a shootout. Seven gunmen were killed in the fire exchange and 13 others were arrested while the rest fled. No casualty was recorded on the part of the soldiers."
Boko Haram wants to impose Sharia law across Nigeria.
It launched a military campaign in 2009 to fight for Islamic rule, bombing government buildings and churches, and assassinating moderate Muslim clerics.
The country is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian and animist south.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

As part of its customer relations efforts, European airline group, AirFrance-KLM, has introduced a range of consistent ground services called SkyPriority for its premium passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.

A statement by the airline office in Nigeria said the new service, which would be gradually implemented in more than a thousand airports worldwide in 2013, offered ‘exclusive’ benefits from check-in to baggage delivery.

The services, it said, were offered free of charge to all its premium passengers. The Franco-Dutch carrier listed the benefits to include priority at check-in which included dedicated check-in counters and priority baggage drop-off desks at the Lagos airport and also on onward journeys through Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol airports; priority right up to the boarding gate, which include faster and privileged access through security checkpoints and passport control.

The benefits, it said, also included priority at boarding and priority baggage delivery. The airline group noted that there would be faster access for passengers with no checked in bags.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

El Shaarawy

AC Milan forward, Stephan El Shaarawy, revealed sensitive information in his interview with French magazine, Max.
Speaking about his love life, the attacker said: “The moment I got to Serie A, my sex life multiplied by 10. I use Facebook to pick up all my women. You find so much stuff on the internet.
“People from outside the football world see footballers and think ‘how can they be so arrogant?’ It has been hard for me to keep my feet on the ground this past year, but fortunately I have my father to help me.”
The 19-year-old also spoke after his former team mate at the Italian club, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“To tell you the truth, it was never easy playing with Ibrahimovic. You have to know how to handle him. Really, what you needed to do was just pass him the ball, or else he’d scream at you, or just play tricks on you afterwards.”

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

The Nigerian Senate Committee on Interior has showed an overwhelming concern over how inmates are been treated in Nigerian prisons. The committee lamented over the issue of inmates who are languishing in jail without being tried for the offence they allegedly committed. The committee tends to hold the Public Prosecution, DPPs, across the country responsible for the unfortunate development.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Abubakar Bagudu had observed recently in Benin city when he led other members of the Committee to Oko Medium Prison that that over 900 inmates were awaiting trial in the 608-bed capacity prison, stating that the visit to the prison was to check the condition of inmates and to find a better way to address the issue of innocent people who continuously await trial.
He said: “We are interested in understanding the welfare needs of the staff and inmates and the security needs of various prisons. We at the National Assembly and the Senate in particular, are concerned about awaiting trial detainee problems because we feel that people should receive prompt justice and there is the need to look at those who are in the prison that ought not to be there.”

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

ADO EKITI—Both students and staff of Ekiti State University, EKSU, Ado Ekiti, were Tuesday thrown into mournful mood as the news of the gruesome murder of Mallam Mohammed Sani, a Senior Lecturer at the institution’s Faculty of Law, filtered to the university’s community.

Sani who holds Otunba chieftaincy title in Isinbode Ekiti, is a pioneer lecturer at the university’s Faculty of Law haven taught in the school for 17 years.
The law teacher who hails from Biu, Borno State, was said to have been killed along with his uncle by yet-to-be identified assassins while on a private visit to the troubled northern state
The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Bunmi Ajibade, confirmed the incident, lamenting that the university community received the sad news with shock
According to asjibade: “Immediately the Vice Chancellor, Professor Patrick Aina, heard the news he paid a condolence visit to the Dean of the Faculty of Law and the deceased’s family who are still in Ado Ekiti.
He added, “Sani was a brilliant guy in the university and he always insisted that the school recruits brilliant brains to teach in the university. It is unfortunate that the he died in such a gruesome way.
We will miss him.”
Also, Prof Eddy Olanipekun, Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies, described the killing of the law teacher as unfortunate, considering his immense contribution to the development of the university for many years
Reports from the university indicated that some lecturers boycotted lectures to mark the demise of their colleague when they heard about the sad development.
Also, students of the faculty described the late Sani as a fine gentleman who was always serious with his work and prayed to God to grant him eternal rest

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two more suspects for the alleged murder of Cynthia Osokogu.

It was learnt that they were arrested by policemen attached to Area E Command, FESTAC, on Monday.

Osokogu was drugged and killed on July 22, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, FESTAC after being lured to Lagos for the purpose of business.

Four suspects – Okwumo Nwabufo and Ezike Olisaeloka, Orji Osita and Maduakor Chukwunonso – had been charged to court for the murder.

It was learnt that one of the newly arrested suspects, Nonso Ezeike, is the younger brother of Olisaeloka.

The other suspect arrested was the driver who allegedly aided the prime suspects to escape from the hotel.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the police were able to trail Nonso because he had sold Osokogu’s phone to someone for N68, 000.

The police were said to have obtained Osokogu’s BlackBerry Personal Identification Number and convinced the buyer to disclose the identity of the seller (Nonso).

A senior police officer, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the press, said, “We were having problems on how to get Osokogu’s phone so we met her father who gave us her BlackBerry PIN. After that, we started chatting with the person on BB Messenger and he told us he bought it from someone.

“We told him that we needed the phone and we pledged to pay him back the money but he said the phone was giving him problems and he intended to send it back to the person who sold it to him.

“We traced the mast and discovered he was chatting from Port Harcourt. He said he bought the phone from Lagos. Few days later, he called to say he had returned the phone to the seller (Nonso). We urged him to ask Nonso to return the said phone to our office in Area E Command, Festac.

“Nonso eventually came to our office with a lawyer to drop the phone and I asked my men to arrest him immediately.

“He claimed to be a graduate of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri and the brother of Olisaeloka. He confessed to the police of having sold three telephones given to him by his brothers. He also confessed that he sold Cynthia’s Blackberry telephone for N68, 000.”

Meanwhile, while the accused persons had been remanded in prison till October 3, the adjourned date, the incarceration of Orji and Maduakor, who were pharmacists that sold the drug used to weaken Osokogu, has continued to attract public fury.

Our correspondent, who visited the Ikoyi prison where the four are being incarcerated on Tuesday, observed that they were accomodated at Block E2.

However, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria said the sale of the drug by the pharmacists was not criminal.

It was also learnt that counsels to the pharmacists were working to secure their release before the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A family source said, “Our lawyers have said they will institute a suit for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights at a high court” he said.

However, a senior police officer who craved anonymity said the pharmacists had a case to answer because they might have been aware of the purpose the drug was going to be used for.

He said, “I don’t know why the pharmacists were charged with rape but they could be guilty of some other offences such as administering a harmful substance.”

Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Ngozi Briade, confirmed the arrest of the new suspects, but said she had no detail.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Obviously one can see that this is a suggestion from one person based on perceptions and personal experiences. Please find a way to pick out the positive impact this should have on you and never allow its full content make you who you are. It is a piece everywherenigeria decided to put up and its very purpose is to help us channel our energies to the real thing one should be looking for in a man.
1. The Unmarried Man -
This may seem obvious, but it is very necessary to mention. There are too many women attempting have relationships with married men. Married men are not a candidate for single women to date… period! This includes married men who are separated (legally or otherwise). They are still married and not available to date. Married people have their own families and concerns to deal with. That being said, the unmarried man, who is devoted to the things of God, is the type of man you should be interested in dating. (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). 7 types of men every woman should date
2. The Kingdom Seeker -
A man who is seeking God’s Will for His life will, not only seek out a woman to date, but will seek out his wife. The Bible says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Ladies, you should be an asset; the thing that is *added* to him as he is FIRST seeking the kingdom of God. This is why I say, run as fast as you can for Jesus and the one who can keep up might be the one.
3. The Real Man -
No, I am not talking about machismo behavior (all the shoulders back, chest out, fist curling gestures and such)… Real men don’t need all of that. That’s what grown-boys do to get a woman’s attention. Real men “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (2. Timothy 2:22). Real men regard women as a gift that is not to be taken advantage of; they see her as priceless and desire to cling to her (Matthew 19:5). A real man’s character shows his high regard for a woman long before the dating stage.
4. The Learner -
A man who is in continual pursuit of knowledge is better equipped to handle life and execute on goals / plans. He should read, seek counsel, study continuously, etc… The Bible says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed”( Proverbs 15:22). Also, “My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). A man who is willing to learn and gain knowledge in life should also be more open to gaining knowledge about love and having successful relationships.
5. The Multiplier -
A man shouldn’t just balance you out, he should constantly add to you. His presence should multiply your potential. He should add to the beauty of who you are and never take away from anything that is precious about you. ( “Relationship Coaching: Do you multiply or divide?”) The Bible says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The man you date should never cause you to compromise good morals. He should seek ways to support you in your values. His values should complement yours.
6. The Servant –
A man who has demonstrated a pattern of submitting to authorities in his life (leadership, pastors, parents, etc…) will also have an understanding of how to submit to God as the head of his life and, subsequently, how to commit to his future wife. The Bible says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them… Let them do this with joy and not with groaning,” (Hebrews 13:17). His positive attitude towards authority figures is an indication of his servant’s heart and also provides a picture of how he can be in a dating relationship.
7. The Consistent Man -
Emotions rise and fall, but character shows with consistency. The consistent man is not in a rush because he does not have poor intentions, nor is he interested in manipulating a woman to be led by her emotions (“ Warning: Don’t Follow Your Heart”). He will take his time to get to know you and will allow you to get to know him as well. The Bible says, “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.” (Proverbs 28:18). Over time, the consistent man’s good character will still stand, while the man with bad intentions will also come to light.
Remember, the purpose of dating is to get to know a person. If you take your time to get to know him, you will be able to find out if he is the type of man you should date.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Pension Commission of Nigeria, Pencom, yesterday, denied being responsible for the leakage of State Security Service, SSS, data on the internet.

PenCom which is responsible for the management of the Federal government worker’s pension funds said that it was unfortunate fro people to think the way they think, noting that it will be totally unwise and unprofessional for the commission to begin to work against the interest of other federal government agencies.
Rumour hit the news stand last week that about 60 current and past SSS staff and their immediate family members were exposed to some Boko Haram supporters who further divulged their identities to the sect members.
It was further revealed to dailypost that the data of the sss seen on the internet was similar to the details they gave when they were filling their forms for the pension funds.
In a swift reaction to the claims, Head of Communications of Pencom, Mr. Emeka Onuarah, told news men yesterday that the commission did not feel bad over the withdrawal of SSS from its pension scheme to warrant toying with the data it might have supplied.
Onuorah said, “Pencom does not have any reason to be angry with a fellow Federal Government agency. Once an order has been given by our employers it is mandatory to carry it out happily. There was no bad blood in the first place to warrant any action.”
The media head equally denied that it’s data was confidential, apart from the fact that it had never been in possession of the data belonging to the SSS family members.
“We don’t have the data of SSS family members as claimed and we want to make it categorically clear that the information said to have been displayed on the unnamed website did not emanate from Pencom,” the spokesperson further affirmed.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Nigeria Immigration Service, has repatriated 112 illegal aliens from Gombe State to their countries of origin in the last eight months.

Comptroller of the NIS in the state, Alhaji Yunusa Aliyu, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Gombe on Tuesday that the exercise followed a ministerial directive.

According to him, security service chiefs in the state will embark on another round of operation to identify illegal aliens.

Aliyu said most of the aliens repatriated were Nigeriens in Gombe and Akko local governments.

He said, “Initially, most of the people we repatriated were from Niger Republic , but now with the situation in Mali , we are having problems of Malians.

“These Malians are mainly on transit, but that does not mean that some of them are not around here.

“They are in transit to where? Some of them are coming here through Adamawa to Cameroon .

“So, that is why whenever we apprehend them, we make sure we take them out to Cameroon border until we hand them over.

“We have been having Malians, one or two, but in the past one or two months, we have seen series of them coming on transit.”

Aliyu called on the people of the state to assist the service to ensure security in the country.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Confusion enveloped the Delta State Cabinet Office, Asaba, where the office of the state’s Head of Service is located on Tuesday after the discovery of a package suspected to be a bomb.

Workers at the office, who got wind of the development were only able to enter the premises at about 10am. Some, however, returned to their homes.

The object suspected to be an Improvised Explosives Device was discovered at the gate of the complex by a sanitation worker identified as Caroline Iseh.

It was covered with a red cloth and had a stop watch fastened to it.

Iseh was said to have alerted the security men in the complex, who in turn informed some of the senior members of the staff of the office, who had reported for work.

The senior members of staff were said to have called for the intervention of the police and their anti-bomb squad.

The police, on arrival, combed the area and later removed the object for possible inspection.

Addressing newsmen along with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan at the Government House, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, said the device was not a bomb, adding that it was only planted there by mischief makers whose interest was to scare people.

Aduba took the device to the Government House in company with the Assistant Inspector-General of Police zone V, Alhaji Hashimu Arugungu, whose visit to the state coincided with the development.

He said the device contained gun powder in one of its compartment. He added that the stop watch was not functional.

“It is a scare and there is no way this can explode,” he said.

Uduaghan said it was an act of mischief makers, adding that it was a ploy to distract the government.

The governor said, “But we need to strengthen our intelligence gathering efforts.

“I want to use this opportunity to urge members of the public to report to security experts if they see any strange objects around their environment.”

Uduaghan added that the government and the security agencies in particular were on the alert to ensure that criminal-minded persons did not capitalise on the development to cause havoc in the state.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

A High Court in Ibadan on Monday struck out the suit filed by the Railway Property Management Company Limited against the Oyo State Government for want of diligent prosecution.

The court was presided over by Justice O.I.Aiki.

The company had sued the Oyo State Government challenging the revocation of its parcels of land by the government.

The parcels of land in dispute was said to been hitherto vested in the Nigerian Railway Corporation except those being used for rail track and railway staff quarters for overriding public interest.

The court struck out the case on the ground that the action of the claimant fell short of prosecuting the matter with due diligence deserving of a suit being heard as a matter of urgency during the court’s vacation.

In the meantime, the Oyo State Government has given what it called a final notice to all persons “be it natural, corporate or incorporate whose root of titles are derived from the Nigerian Railway Corporation and Railway Property Management Company Limited.”

In a notice by the State Attorney General, Mr Bayo Ojo, the government said the notice on the property became imperative in view of the revocation.

The notice urged anyone whose title had become voided to contact the Ministry of Land , Housing and Surveys of Oyo State in respect of such void titles forthwith.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

A Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced 21-year-old office assistant, Segun Adeyemi, to one year imprisonment for stealing three laptop computers valued at N300,000.

Magistrate Patrick Adekomaya handed down the sentence, following the guilty plea made by Adeyemi when the charge was read to him, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
At the arraignment, the prosecutor, Insp. Victor Eruada, told the court that the convict stole N50,000 cash and three HP laptops valued at N300, 000 on Aug. 28 at about 5.30 p.m. from No. 360, Herbert Macaulay St., Sabo, Yaba,
“The accused, who is an office assistant at LSLS Company Nigeria Ltd., on the said date, locked the doors as he was the last to leave the office.
“He came in early the following morning and raised alarm that the said items were stolen,” Eruada said.
The prosecutor said that the accused called the attention of the security men to the theft, but they claimed ignorance of the occurrence.
Eruada said that the security men were not arraigned along with the accused because there was no sign of breaking and entering.
He said that the police immediately arrested Adeyemi after the theft was reported because he alone had possession of the keys to the office.
The prosecutor had said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2011.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Daniel,Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah

Three months after the crash of the ill-fated Dana Flight 0992, the foreign reinsurers, who accepted to underwrite 70 per cent of the risk, have yet to commence payment of compensations to relatives of victims, owing to some salient requirements not met by relatives. NIKE POPOOLA reports.

Three months after the crash of the Dana Flight 0992, in Iju, Lagos, on June 3, this year, foreign reinsures of the plane have yet to begin payment of benefits to relatives of the victims, in line with the subsisting contractual agreement.

Although, local underwriters of the aircraft’s risk have commenced claims payment, the payment by the foreign reinsurers are said to be delayed by the failure on the part of relatives of the victims to present the much needed death certificates of victims and letters of administration.

Untidy representation by supposed relatives of the victims, where different people have been coming from the sides of the spouses, parents and extended families of the victims to lay claims, according to the National Insurance Commission, has been causing delay in claims payment commencement by foreign reinsurers.

Prestige Assurance Plc led six other local insurance firms to insure 30 per cent of the aircraft’s risk locally, while the remaining 70 per cent was reinsured abroad by AON Reinsurers of London.

Following the crash of the aircraft, claims payment to relatives of the 153 passengers on board and the crew members were delineated to be paid between the local underwriters of the aircraft’s risk and their foreign reinsurers in the ratio of 70 to 30 per cent.

The local underwriters had undertaken to take up 30 per cent of the risk, while the remaining 70 per cent was ceded to the foreign reinsurers.

However, while local underwriters have been confirmed to have commenced the payment of their 30 per cent quota to relatives of the victims, the foreign reinsurers have yet to make any payment.

Emerging facts have revealed that till date, the local underwriters have so far settled 45 of the 126 beneficiaries involved in the 30 per cent claims payment commitment carved out to the local underwriters.

Even on the 30 per cent claims payment, there are issues still hindering payments. For instance, the issue of multiple claimants, according to the local underwriters, remains a hurdle.

The co-insurers in the consortium of local underwriters include Nem Insurance Plc, Aiico Insurance Plc, Continental Reinsurance Plc, Leadway Assurance Company Limited, Sterling Assurance Limited and Standard Alliance Insurance.

However, the foreign reinsurers, who are to be responsible for the bulk of the payment, our correspondent learnt, have been emphasising on the unmet criteria as reasons for not starting benefits payment to relatives of the victims.

According to industry sources, the reinsurers have relied on the failure of relatives to present these vital documents to put payments on hold.

The Deputy Director, Administration and Policy, National Insurance Commission, Mr. Leo Akah, said that so far, 126 families have submitted documents for the payment of the claims of their deceased ones. He said the local underwriters had already commenced payment on about 30 per cent of what they were entitled to.

He, however, said that the foreign reinsurers, who undertook the underwriting of 70 per cent of the risk, had not commenced payment because the relatives had yet to produce the needed documents required.

According to him, the foreign reinsurers are requesting for death certificates and letter of administration, which the relatives have not been able to produce.

Although he admitted that the process of getting a letter of administration might be cumbersome, he said it was, however, not an insurmountable challenge.

He said, “The relatives are supposed to be paid an initial sum within the first 30 days. But again, there are issues. We have to identify the rightful beneficiaries. Right now, there are multiple claimants showing up.”

The NAICOM official, who said that different people had been coming from the sides of spouses, parents and extended families of the victims to lay claims, noted that such an untidy development had slowed down the pace of payment.

According to him, each relative is entitled to $100,000 (N15.71m), which is the internationally acceptable practice.

He said that the bulk payment of $70,000 (N 10.9m) would be made by foreign reinsurers after the presentation of death certificate and letter of administration.

“Incidentally, they have not been able to make this presentation as a result of the delay. None of those families has, till date, submitted either of these two documents. That is why the issue of the $70,000 cannot be done now,” he said.

In the past, issues of plane crash had been trailed by disagreements between airline owners and disgruntled relatives of victims, as the airlines had always underpaid the relatives.

However, for the first time, NAICOM had been judiciously monitoring Dana crash claims, with promises that none of the claimants would be shortchanged in anyway.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, said that the lead insurer of the aircraft, Prestige Assurance, was responsible for the claims payment.

Daniel said, “Thirty per cent was insured in Nigeria, and we have a lead insurer, Prestige, which had assured us verbally and in writing that there was no problem; that they would pay the claims.”

According to him, the cause of the slow pace in the payment of the initial 30 per cent of the claims is the issue of multiple claimants coming up.

He said that in some cases, at least, 10 individuals had come forward to claim that they were the rightful beneficiaries of the settlements.

In as much as the insurers were ready to pay, Daniel said that it was important to ensure that the right families were paid.

The Managing Director, Prestige Assurance, Mr. Anand Mittal, told our correspondent that so far, some of the relatives had collected the 30 per cent settlement of the claims of their family members involved in the crash.

He also explained that Prestige used to retain only 10 per cent of the risk in the country, but only recently increased it to 30 per cent because of the Local Content policy of the government.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Linda Ikeji has reported a sad incident that took place in Lagos over the weekend on her blog.

The story shows how Nigerians react in the midst of very sensitive situations.
Full Story:
I got this exclusive photos and story from people who live in the area…Olaitan street in Masha, Surulere. According to eye witnesses, they woke up early Saturday morning and saw a man known in the area as Afeez climbing the PHCN high tension electric pole you see above. (Photo on the left). Afeez had told friends the previous day that he didn’t want to live anymore. A large crowd gathered and repeatedly begged him to come down, which he eventually did.
After he got down, (Photo on the right – Afeez is the one in Lemon shirt), people started slapping him around and abusing him for wanting to commit suicide, instead of getting him help. His friends eventually carried him away and the crowd dispersed.
That same night, Afeez succeeded in killing himself. The following morning, which was yesterday Sunday Sept 1, neighbours woke up to the sad news. Afeez had succeeded in killing himself. He drank poison in the night and died.

Afeez’ body being removed from his home…wrapped in white cloth. Truly truly sad. If only suicidal people get the help they need before killing themselves.

Source: LindaIkejiBlog

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Suspected Boko Haram sects have struck in Bornu again, when they stormed New Marte, Marte Local Government Area of Borno State this weekend, killing a Police Sergeant and other two civilians.

The Divisional Police Headquarters, Cocin Church and the residence of the Unit Commandant of the Army were all set ablaze by the gunmen. Also razed in the attacks were Five vehicles parked within the police premises.
Relatively, two people were reportedly killed, yesterday, in Ummarari and Gwange wards of Maiduguri metropolis by some unknown gunmen.
Dailypost had gathered that suspected terrorists had followed their victim to his house at Ummarari ward and when he was about entering his gate at about 7:30pm, shooting him on his head and other parts of his body. The man has since been confirmed dead.
It was gathered that the attack in Marte started when gunmen invaded the area in three Golf saloon cars and eight motorcycles, leaving the residents to scamper for safety as heavy gunshots and explosions took over the area.
An eyewitness, who escaped at the whisker told newsmen in a telephone call that “the terrorists overpowered the police and other security agencies as both the police and the army ran out of arms and ammunition during the four-hour battle with the attackers.
It was revealed that communication problem frustrated the security operatives who would have succeeded in tracking down the criminals. It was stated that there was a break in communication amongst security agents in the state, and unfortunately the terrorists succeeded.
Confirming the incident, a senior police officer who does not want his name to be mentioned told newsmen that there was an attack in New Marte over the weekend by some gunmen where a police officer and two civilians were killed.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Ritualists may have taken over Ogere, Ogun State, on Lagos-Sagamu expressway as a female victim on her way to Lagos from Port Harcourt was kidnapped and taken away at gun point for slaughter.

Her fresh corpse was later found close to the point where she was kidnapped two weeks later, with vital organs of her body, including tongue, breasts and clitoris missing and Vanguard gathered that this is the second of such incident occurring in the area in three weeks
The victim, Miss Tonia Ibelefa, 25, was travelling in company of two male relations in a private car when the incident occurred.
Eyewitness told Vanguard that the armed ritualists blocked the expressway, dragged the University of Port Harcourt graduate out of the car and took her into the bush, adding that the two male family members with the girl surrendered her at gun point.
“She is the one we want and you must surrender her,” the ritualists told the two men, according to the witness.
The witness said the matter was immediately reported to the police in the area who launched a manhunt for the criminals to no avail.
Messages were also said to have been sent to the girl’s family in Port Harcourt who also reported the case to the police who immediately declared a case of missing person.
Thinking that it was a case of kidnap, the family waited to hear from the abductors but got no information about her whereabout.
However, the ritualists last Thursday called the parents through the number obtained from their victim’s phone, advising them to pick up the corpse of their daughter at a junction very close to where the incident happened.
Elder sister of the deceased confirmed that that family had since recovered the corpse, which still looked very fresh at the time of recovery, giving an indication that she was not killed immediately she was kidnapped.

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Ahead of 2015 presidential election, Igbo leaders have distanced themselves from a recent call on President Goodluck Jonathan to contest, warning those using the name of the Igbos for such pronouncements without permission to desist or prepare to be ostracized.

“Whereas Ndigbo overwhelmingly supported the election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 elections, we remain of the view that the President should not be distracted by relevance-seeking political jobbers with such calls, even when he is yet to deliver on his major promises to Ndigbo,” they said in a statement.
The statement was signed by Oganiru Ndigbo Foundation/Igboville; Emeka Maduewesi (Leader); Uche Onuh Lucas (President General); Maxi Okwu; Okey Igbokwe; Onyema Uche and Obichi Ikechi. They said the call was made by “a certain Chief Arthur Eze and his gang of faceless so called Igbo elders.”
They drew attention to Jonathan’s failures so far to honour promises made to the Igbos, including construction of the second Niger Bridge within his first tenure; to convert Enugu Airport to an international hub; and to give roads in the South East urgently needed attention within his current tenure.
“As at today, none of these promises have been fulfilled,” the statement said. “Second Niger Bridge is still in the “drawing board” and no international flight has yet landed or taken off from Enugu Airport. South East roads remain the worst in the country, including the Enugu-Onitsha Federal highway that Chief Arthur Eze traveled to Onitsha from Ukpo through. Enugu-PH highway is at best a death trap while Aba-Ikot Ekpene highway is virtually non-existent as a road.
They also contended that in the sharing of national resources, Ndigbo are yet to get any favors from the Jonathan regime.
“No single refinery out of the six promised by President Jonathan is located in the South East even though three south east states, Abia, Imo and now Anambra are oil producing states,” they said. “Revenue allocation is heavily skewed against Igbo states with one state receiving more monthly allocation than all 5 SE states. Even desert states that contribute next to nothing to the national revenue pool are getting more than two times the monthly allocation of oil producing Igbo states. Nobody is even discussing the promised 6th state for Ndigbo, to put the South East at par with other regions that have 6 states.”
They also criticized President Jonathan’s “failure” to protect Professor Barth Nnaji, the former Minister of Power who resigned last week, describing him as a “reformist” who naturally attracted opposition from vested interests in the perennially corrupt power sector in Nigeria. Other ministers of Igbo origin, they said, are not faring better within this government.
With that background, the group said it was important to unequivocally state that while Ndigbo are not at war with President Jonathan, there is absolutely no reason, at this time, to endorse him or any other politician for 2015 election, especially as Ndigbo has already expressed interest in producing the best President of Nigeria in 2015.
“We are committed to working with Mr President to achieve his electoral promises, especially as relates to Ndigbo,” the statement stressed. “If by 2015 we review his performance and determine that he has done well enough to deserve second term, we will join authentic Igbo leaders to make our position known.
“For now, we encourage the President to focus on his work including securing the life and properties of all Nigerians. The frequent massacre of Ndigbo in parts of the country by terrorists masquerading as religious zealots is giving us sleepless nights. Real Igbo elders should be seeking a solution to this unfortunate targeting of Ndigbo rather than stomach-induced endorsements and calls for anyone to contest elections.”
For Chief Eze and those who spoke with him, the group said, “Even Joshua in the Bible spoke for himself and his family, not for the entire children of Israel. When Ndigbo want to speak, we know through whom we will speak.”

Oyeyemi Olawale Isaac

Commercial motorcycle operators in Lagos State have appealed to the Babatunde Fashola administration to defer the enforcement of the new traffic law to enable them to relocate their operations and families from the state.

The operators, popularly called okada riders, made the appeal at a stakeholders’ forum on Friday.

The forum was organised by the Ministry of Transportation to sensitise different okada unions to the guidelines on the new law.

They also solicited amendment to the law for some of them that would still remain in the state.

They said the penalties prescribed by the law were severe.

The Chairman, Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, Paul Ugo, said, “We are aware of the law. We have been trying to educate our members.

“But many of them have said they could not operate in the state under the law. We are appealing to the state government to give them time to make some money to be able to relocate their families from Lagos State.”

However, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said the government was not interested in frustrating people out of the state.

Opeifa, who insisted that the enforcement of the law would soon commence, urged voluntary compliance, saying it would ensure safety and security of lives and property.

He said, “We are determined and we are going to be decisive. We have not banned commercial motorcycles. We have only restricted their movements. And we have not started enforcement of the law.

“What we are doing right now is to sensitise the residents and stakeholders.”

He added that Community Development Associations, traditional rulers and community leaders among others had been briefed about the new law.

Opeifa appealed to residents to partner with the government to make the law effective.

Meanwhile, the Director of Service, LAGBUS, Mr. Yemi Odubela, said there would be no immunity for any LAGBUS driver that flouts the new law.

Odubela said this during a two-day workshop for drivers in Lagos on Saturday.

“Nobody is above the law; that you work with LAGBUS does not give you the privilege to disobey the law of the state,” he said.

Thursday, September 13, 2012