metro
Police Turned Complainant Into Accused in Rivers Court Because of Money
Tima Walter, a Bolt driver in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has narrated how the police in Choba Area Police Command made him an accused by upturning an issue he reported to them to avoid compensating him.
Walter told FIJ that the police falsely accused him of overspeeding and charged him to court when he is, in fact, the victim of an accident caused by a careless herdsman.
He said he was driving to Rumuosi on September 8 when a herd of cows ran into his speeding vehicle and damaged it. According to Walter, he was in his lane at about 1 am that morning, when over a hundred cows came in his direction and crashed into his car.
He said that immediately after the collision, he stepped out to see if the cows had a herder so he could get a hold of him to discuss how to fix his car.
“When the herdsman saw me looking for him, he blew his whistle and the cows took a different turn with him running in the bush behind. I only wanted him to fix my car, because I was in my lane,” Walter told FIJ.
Walter said he went to the Choba Area Police Command to report the issue but officers refused to follow him to the scene until an elderly man pleaded with them on his behalf.
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When the police arrived at the scene, they saw a dead cow lying down, he said. The police then told him to return at the break of dawn for a follow-up on the issue.
“At dawn, the police contacted someone and sold the cow for N200,000. My car is partly damaged, so I expected the police to give me part of the money to repair it since the herdsman ran away, but they did not,” he said.
“When I went to the station, the Inspecting Police Officer (IPO) told me the police had found out where the herd was, but they neither took me there nor tried to arrest the herdsman. They were just after the money from the cow they sold.”
Walter said that he demanded the money to repair his car but the IPO said the buyer made only a partial payment. He said he went to the police station several times after he first reported the case but no one took him seriously.
“Sometimes, I would go to the station despite calling them before leaving my house, but on getting there, they would be unavailable. Other times, I had to wait till they returned, and when they did, the Divisional Traffic Officer (DTO) would ask me to get a court order,” he said.
The Bolt driver said the first time he and the police officers went to the court, the officers told the magistrate a cow had died after the incident and they wanted a court order to bury it.
The magistrate asked the officers to bury the cow as there was no case and especially because the herdsman had not come to claim it.
Walter said the police reported what the magistrate said at their station, but the DTO requested a written document to the effect.
“When the police went back to the court, the IPO told the magistrate the truth that they sold the cow for N200,000,” he said.
Walter said that he went to Choba Magistrate Court on Tuesday on Choba Police DTO’s request, only to realise that the police had pressed some charges against him.
“When I got to the court, I realised I had become the accused. The police had put up some charges against me. They claimed I was driving recklessly,” he said.
“The magistrate was laughing when he was reading the charges. He even had to cancel out some allegations because he was aware of the situation.”
Walter said the IPO told the magistrate that the boys in the community sold the cow and he only collected the money from them.
“The truth is the police sold the cow. One officer called someone to buy it. The buyer paid N110,000 and promised to pay N90,000 later. I even heard the officers threaten to deal with and arrest the buyer if he failed to pay,” Walter said.
He said the magistrate granted him bail and his brother paid while someone stood as a surety for him.
“My headlights are bad, the windscreen is broken, and the bumper now needs repair. The car is my only source of income,” Walter said.
When FIJ called the DTO, he asked this reporter to visit their police station and ask the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) further questions.
“Reach out to my DPO if you want to know the aftermath of the matter,” he said.
FIJ also contacted Grace Irine-Koko, the Rivers State Police spokesperson, but she said the matter had gone to court and was no more with the police.
metro
Lagos govt nightclubs, worship centres must obtain permit for amplified sound
Lagos govt nightclubs, worship centres must obtain permit for amplified sound
The Lagos State Government has implemented stricter measures to combat noise pollution, requiring nightclubs, lounges, bars, and worship centres to obtain permits for events involving amplified sound.
These regulations aim to safeguard the health and well-being of Lagosians during the festive season and beyond.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, announced this via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, emphasizing the government’s zero-tolerance stance on noise pollution.
Wahab highlighted that events with amplified sound must be conducted in soundproofed, enclosed spaces to protect residents from the harmful effects of excessive noise. ‘
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“Establishments such as worship centers, nightclubs, lounges, and bars must now obtain permits for events involving amplified sound and ensure these activities take place in soundproofed, enclosed spaces to protect neighboring residents,” the statement read in part.
To enforce these directives, the government has established a Special Task Force on Noise Pollution under the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). This task force, in collaboration with the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LSNSC) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), will oversee compliance, arrest offenders, and prosecute violators of noise regulations.
The statement further noted that starting January 2025, the government will roll out a public awareness campaign to educate Lagosians on acceptable noise levels and the benefits of a quieter environment.
As the festive season continues, Lagosians are urged to adhere to these guidelines to ensure responsible celebrations that prioritize the well-being of all residents.
Lagos govt nightclubs, worship centres must obtain permit for amplified sound
metro
Alleged missing N180m: It’s a prank, Singer Dammy Krane says
Alleged missing N180m: It’s a prank, Singer Dammy Krane says
Singer, Dammy Krane has stated that social critic, Very Dark Man, is joking with claims that N180 million was diverted from the NGO account he created in October this year.
VDM shocked Nigerians on Friday, December 27 when he released a video claiming hackers had breached his NGO website and moved N180m leaving only N20 million.
The news shocked many Nigerians who took to social media to slam him.
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However, in a post shared on his Instagram page this evening, Dammy Krane claimed that VDM is renovating a school in Jos, and was only joking with the story of stolen funds.
Also, a Human Rights activist, Omotayo Williams, claimed the man VDM showed in his video as an officer accompanying him to Jos is a well-known member of the Kogi State Taxi Taskforce.
Alleged missing N180m: It’s a prank, Singer Dammy Krane says
metro
Oluwo backs push for Sharia law in South-West
Oluwo backs push for Sharia law in South-West
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has expressed support for the proposed implementation of Sharia law in the South-West, emphasizing its historical presence in Yoruba culture.
Oba Akanbi noted that Sharia principles have long been part of Yoruba land, citing examples such as Sharia banking and the existence of a Sharia college in Iwo, Osun State.
He stated, “Sharia law has been in Iwo for over 100 years… It’s the right of Muslims to choose customary law or the high court.”
Recall that the discussion around Sharia law gained traction after plans were announced for the inauguration of a Sharia council on January 11, 2025, at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre in Oyo. However, the event has been postponed indefinitely following widespread public criticism.
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Critics have argued that the Yoruba-dominated South-West, where Muslims and Christians coexist, is distinct from the predominantly Muslim northern region where Sharia is more widely practiced.
Addressing concerns, Oba Akanbi explained that Sharia law is already embedded in Nigeria’s constitution and should not cause alarm for non-Muslims.
“Sharia law is only for Muslims and does not concern others. If any other person likes it, they can convert to Islam, and Muslims can also convert to Christianity. Everyone is free,” he said.
The monarch also drew attention to the challenges faced by Muslims under existing laws, particularly in matters such as inheritance and divorce, where Western legal frameworks may not align with Islamic traditions. “Many Muslims feel disenfranchised… Western education doesn’t understand the ways of Muslim divorce, marriage, and inheritance,” he added.
Oba Akanbi emphasized that Sharia law represents the inalienable rights of Muslims and should not be viewed as a threat to other religions. “No government can deny Muslims their inalienable rights,” he concluded.
Oluwo backs push for Sharia law in South-West
(PUNCH)
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