4 Killed, 20 Arrested In Lagos NURTW War Over Who Control Motor Park in Lagos Island – Newstrends
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4 Killed, 20 Arrested In Lagos NURTW War Over Who Control Motor Park in Lagos Island

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No fewer than four persons were killed while many were injured in a renewed bloody clash between followers of two factional leaders of the National Union of Transport Workers (NURTW), which occurred at the weekend at Lagos Island.

 Three persons were feared killed as at Friday evening. The fourth person was allegedly macheted to death on Saturday morning and his body was left by the side of the road for all to see.

The fight erupted between supporters of Kunle Poly and Mustapha Seggo over who controls Eyin Eyo unit at the Idumota area of Lagos Island.

Many persons, including some traders, sustained varying degrees of injuries while scampering to safety.

Authoritative sources revealed that the two factions have been at loggerhead, leading to constant clashes in the recent past.

A trader said: “Kunle Poly boys are the one collecting dues from commercial bus drivers, while Seggo boys control the Idumota main park and those on parts of the popular Carter Bridge.

 “It was the Seggo boys who intentionally invaded the area with the intention to take over the area but met stiff resistance, which led to the death of a member of Kunle Poly boys on Thursday evening.”

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 Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the crisis, said 20 persons had since been arrested for their alleged involvement in the fracas.

Ajisebutu said it was the quick intervention of the police on the Island that quelled the unrest and allowed members of the public to pass with hands raised up.

There is palpable tension in the area following the resolve by Kunle boys to stage a reprisal attack.

Daily Trust learnt that one of the deceased was macheted to death with axes by the Seggo boys.

However, the Seggo boys also suffered severe casualties where many of them are now receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals.

Footages on social networking service, Twitter, showed residents running helter-skelter, with sporadic gunshots heard.

Idumota Market is one of the oldest and arguably one of the largest markets in West Africa with thousands of lock-up shops occupying various buildings in the market. The market, along with Alaba International Market, is a major distribution hub for home videos and music in Lagos State and one of the biggest in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has appealed to the NURTW to end their violence.

The government appealed to the union to desist from destruction, which gives credence to insinuations that Lagos allows hoodlums and criminals.

In a statement, Gbenga Oyerinde, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Central Business Districts urged warring factions to embrace peace.

Oyerinde attributed the violence to “Infiltration of the area by street gangs and hoodlums from other parts of the state into the island under the guise of membership of NURTW”.

The aide noted that the government “is doing all within its power to restore the peace of the area”.

Daily Trust

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Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

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Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

In Adamawa State, a policeman, Ibrahim Maizabuwa, has lost his life after he was beaten to death.

Two persons Ezekiel Kefas, and Stephen Zabadi from Wamsa Suwa Ward in Lamurde LGA of the state have been arrested in connection with the murder of a policeman.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that the suspects were arrested on November 19, 2024 after the deceased officer’s son, Danlami Ibrahim Maizabuwa, reported the incident to the Police.

According to him, investigations revealed that the officer was killed and buried in the community after visiting his friend, Ezekiel Kefas.

The Police image maker said during interrogation, Kefas claimed that the officer was killed by a group of thugs after he allegedly destroyed property and assaulted people in his (Kefas’) house.

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“My friend came and started destroying property including a pot of soup and water in my house and assaulting people as a result of which women and children raised alarm which attracted thugs who beat him up to death.

“Those who killed him include Yakubu, Suleiman and Kilyobas. They beat him up with sticks to death.

“Yesterday, we went to the houses of those who killed him, but we didn’t meet any of them,” Ezekiel was quoted as saying.

The State Police Commissioner, Morris Dankombo, has ordered a discreet investigation into the incident and prosecution of the suspects

 

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

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Court remands Yahaya Bello, two others in EFCC custody till Dec 10

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Yahaya Bello

Court remands Yahaya Bello, two others in EFCC custody till Dec 10

Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will remain in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until December 10 this year, an Abuja High Court has ruled.

Justice Maryann Anenih ordered on Wednesday that he should remain with the anti-graft agency till December 10, when the court would rule on his application for bail.

Also remanded in custody are Bello’s two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge the EFCC preferred against them.

EFCC had specifically urged the court to deny the former governor bail.

The agency, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that Bello, who is the 1st defendant in the matter, repeatedly refused to make himself available for trial.

It told the court that several efforts to secure his presence before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, where he is facing another charge, proved abortive.

Consequently, the commission opposed a bail application that Bello filed through his legal team that was led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN.

Daudu, SAN, had after the former governor and his two co-defendants—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—pleaded not guilty to the charge, called the attention of the court to a bail application his client filed on November 22.

In the application he predicated on six grounds, the former governor argued that he enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.

Insisting that he ought to be seen to be innocent of all the allegations the EFCC levelled against him until his guilt is established, Bello contended that granting him bail would enable him to effectively prepare his defence to the charge.

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His lawyer told the court that his client was only served with a copy of the charge against him around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26.

He said the former governor’s presence in court was in obedience to the summons that was issued to him.

More so, Bello’s lawyer urged the court not to be swayed by EFCC’s claims with regards to a matter not related to the instant charge before it.

The prosecution counsel had informed the court that some of the witnesses billed to testify in the matter were available.

He, therefore, prayed the court to allow the EFCC to open its case immediately, an application that was opposed by the defence counsel.

Besides, EFCC argued that Bello’s bail application was incompetent since it was filed before the defendants were arraigned before the court.

“This court only assumed jurisdiction upon the arraignment of the defendants.

“It is only after arraignment that the bail application can arise and be heard.

“The application is premature, hasty, and contradicts the meaning of bail,” EFCC’s counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, submitted.

Ex-governor Bello and his co-defendants are facing trial over their alleged complicity in a N110 billion fraud.

The charge against the defendants, marked CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).

Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).

The defendants were also accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.

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Police rearrest popular singer, Speed Darlington

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Speed Darlington

Police rearrest popular singer, Speed Darlington

Police rearrest popular singer, Speed Darlington

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