metro
LASTMA invites injured female passenger, victim demands N500m
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has invited Rejoice Udoh, the wig maker injured in the eye by an official of the agency, for an amicable settlement.
PUNCH Metro had reported how the 22-year-old was injured during an attack on a commercial minibus she boarded.
A LASTMA official, identified as Kehinde, was reported to have smashed the mirror of the bus over a traffic offence, as the glass splattered into her left eye.
Udoh was later referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, where she was admitted for treatment.
After the incident, the victim demanded that the traffic agency pay her a sum of N500m as compensation.
Her lawyer, Festus Ogun, in a letter to LASTMA, said Udoh sustained life-threatening injuries.
The letter read in part, “It is our client’s brief that on January 19, 2022, at about 6pm around the Jibowu area of Lagos State, your official, identified as Kehinde Idowu, for unclear reasons, recklessly, unjustifiably and violently broke the side mirror of the bus commuting our client, which immediately led to life-threatening injuries in her right eye.
“Our client’s eye was left bleeding profusely until she was later rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was rejected, given the grievous damage done to her eye by your official, and subsequently referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, where she is currently receiving treatment.”
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Ogun said the “vicious attack” on his client was a violation of her rights.
“Our client has suffered grievous damage, excruciating pain, mental agony, psychological trauma and excessive loss of sleep caused by her hurting eyes – a form of torture under our extant laws – all resulting from the injuries caused her by your official.
“In the light of the foregoing, we have our client’s instruction to demand and we hereby demand from you as follows: payment of the sum of N500m as compensation for the arbitrary violation of her fundamental rights,” the letter added.
The lawyer also demanded sanctions of the official and a written apology to Udoh, which should be published in a national newspaper.
In its reaction to the demand, the traffic agency invited Udoh and her lawyer for a meeting slated for Thursday.
The letter was signed by the Director of Legal, LASTMA, Kehinde Akerele.
“In view of your demands, the agency seeks your cooperation and indulgence to make yourself and your client available for a routine meeting to deliberate on all issues raised for an amicable resolution,” Akerele added.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Monday, Ogun said his client would honour the invitation, adding that his demands were still valid.
The victim also told our correspondent that she was still feeling excruciating pain in her left eye.
“I am not feeling better at all. The eye is not healing,” she said, adding that she had another appointment with her doctor last Friday.
Punch
metro
Repentant Boko Haram members burn NDLEA, Customs checkpoints in Borno
Repentant Boko Haram members burn NDLEA, Customs checkpoints in Borno
A group of suspected repentant Boko Haram insurgents, on Wednesday stormed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Customs Service checkpoints at Kasuwan Fara, a suburb of Maiduguri metropolis, chasing away the personnel on duty and setting ablaze all structures at the checkpoints.
The incident, according to security analyst and counter insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, followed a fierce encounter between the former Boko Haram combatants and the police at the Kasuwan Fara Divisional Police Office.
The suspected repentant insurgents, reportedly wearing military uniform, had pounced on the police office to forcefully set free their eight colleagues arrested at the suburb over criminal activities bordering on dealing in hard drugs.
The arrest was made on April 24 during a raid carried out by the police on the notorious spot at the criminals-ridden Kasuwan Fara.
“Due to the rise and persistence of criminal activities and sinister operations by drug peddlers comprising dismissed military personnel, repentant insurgents and other hoodlums, who assemble there to conduct nefarious activities, the area had since been earmarked for closure by Borno State Government.
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“The April 24 raid, where the eight suspected repentant insurgents were arrested and 426 bottles of spirits such as dry gin confiscated, was conducted to sanitize the area, pending the final closure.
“The arrested persons were detained at the Kasuwan Fara police division since the day of their arrest.
” Subsequently, at about 7:40 am of Thursday, May 2, a dozen of the suspected repentant insurgents in military uniform, stormed the Kasuwan Fara police station in an attempt to rescue their arrested fellows.
” The Divisional Police Officer alongside his men were able to repel the attack while the perpetrators fled.
” Consequently, the assailants, in an apparent transfer of aggression, reverted to attacking NDLEA and NCS personnel checkpoint along the Maiduguri-Gubio road Kasuwan Fara, where they burnt down the checkpoints alongside the sandbags heaped on the road and fled the scene, ” Zagazola Makama said.
Borno Police Command spokesman, ASP Kenneth Daso, who confirmed the incident, said investigations were ongoing to apprehend the attackers, adding that the arrested eight suspects have been handed over to relevant security quarters.
Repentant Boko Haram members burn NDLEA, Customs checkpoints in Borno
metro
Police identify officer who shot man dead at fuel station
Police identify officer who shot man dead at fuel station
The Police Command in Lagos State has identified the officer who allegedly shot a man dead at a filling station in the Obalende area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development in a post he shared on his verified X handle@ben Hundeyin on Thursday.
He said that the officer had been identified.
“The person behind the shooting has been identified as a police officer serving at Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 17, Lion Building, Lagos.
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“Investigation is still ongoing and further findings will be made available, ” he said.
According to Hundeyin, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade is working with the family of the deceased to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice.
It could be recalled that the deceased, Toheeb Eniasa, was shot dead by a policemam on Wednesday while struggled to buy fuel.
It was learnt that two officers drove into the station to purchase fuel but motorists asked them to join the queue.
In the process, an argument ensured which resulited into a fight and one of the officers shot Eniasa and ran away.
Police identify officer who shot man dead at fuel station
metro
N3bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Benue governor Suswam until May 8
N3bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Benue governor Suswam until May 8
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until May 8, 2024, the N3.1 billion money laundering case against former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam.
This was contained in a circular issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
“Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has adjourned to 8th and 10th May 2024, for the continuation of the trial of the former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, in the N3.1 billion money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,” the circular stated.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that it was alleged that Suswam attempted to influence the outcome of his trial by bribing the former judge handling the case, Justice Ahmed R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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According to sources, Suswam allegedly gave the judge the equivalent of N500 million (in foreign currency) at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja in 2019.
The EFCC accused Suswam of selling shares belonging to the Benue State Investment and Property Company and diverting part of the proceeds (N3,111,008,018.51) to a company named Fanfash Resources, with a Zenith Bank account that belongs to Abubakar Umar, who operates a Bureau de Change in Abuja.
The sum was later withdrawn and converted into foreign currencies, allegedly handed over to the former governor at his residence.
N3bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Benue governor Suswam until May 8
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