NEWS P8

NEWS P8

2 to hang for armed robbery

From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagosý

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced two men,

Omoilodan Seun and Gbenga Kayode to death by hanging, having been

found guilty of armed robbery incidents in 2011.ý

The presiding judge, Justice Atinuke Ipaye said in her ruling that the duo

were guilty of the charges of conspiracy, armed robbery and attempted

armed robbery brought against them by the state.

Lead prosecution counsel who is also the Chief State Counsel, Mr Akin

Georgeý told court that the convicts committed the offence at

Ayangburen Road, Ikorodu on November 2 and 9, 2011.

ý

George alleged that the convicts robbed ýone Alhaji Jinadu of phones

and money on November 2 while they also robbed one Rilwan Gbadamosi

and his wife on November 9, 2011.ý

The convicts had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.ýý

But in her ruling, Justice Ipaye said she found the convicts guilty on

all the three charges. On count 3 which is attempted robbery,

the convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment while they were

sentenced to death by hanging on count 2.

ýCounsel to the convicts, Damola Victor , pleaded with the

court to tender justice with mercy on the ground that they were first

time offenders.

ý

Police arrest 6 over unrest in Otukpo

From Hope Abah, Mark

The Police in Benue state yesterday said that six persons have been arrested over the disturbances in Ondo community of Ugboju in Otukpo local government area of the state.

Daily Trust reports that crisis erupted in the community on Tuesday between some persons believed to belong to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was alleged by the locals that three people whose names were given as Okwoche Omale, Andrew Adaji and Audu Okpachu Okopi were killed in the process while many houses were burnt and residents fled their homes.

But Police spokesman, Moses Yamu who confirmed to journalists in Makurdi that six persons were apprehended in connection with the trouble denied that anybody was killed.

Yamu said rather that the Otukpo local government council caretaker chairman, Ijachi Ude was attacked, injured and still hospitalised along with few others who sustained injury from gunshot but have been treated as well as discharged from the hospital.

Daily Trust had learnt that the crisis is not unconnected with the rerun election scheduled for the senatorial district on Saturday as witnesses said that a disagreement between the council chairman, APC’s Ijachi Ude who also hails from the crisis-torn community and his younger brother Eje Ude of the PDP degenerated into the unrest.

Widow, 70, in court over 20-year rent

From Abdul-Hameed Oyegbade, Osogbo

A 70-year-old widow, Madam Elizabeth Adeoni has been arraigned before

a customary court at the Oja-Oba palace square in Osogbo, capital of

Osun State for owing rent for 20 years.

Elizabeth’s landlord, Mr Lateef Adegoke told the court that the

woman had not been paying rent since 1995 and prayed the court to help

him to recover his money from her and to make her leave the house. While speaking, the old woman said life had been very difficult for

her since her husband died many years ago and that things became worse

when she lost her two children.

She said her business collapsed

after the death of her children and that she often sleep on empty

stomach. She pleaded with the court to help her beg her landlord not

to eject her from the house because she has nowhere to go.

The presiding judge at the customary court, Chief Ladipo Balogun

admonished the woman not to lose hope and charged her to find

something to do so as to be able to pay her landlord. The judge

adjourned the matter to 15 of March 2016.

Kano approves N1bn as loans to rice farmers

From Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Kano

Kano state government yesterday stated that it has approved a soft

loan of N1 billion to rice farmers in the state as part of the state’s

effort to encourage rice farming for economic sustainability.

This was disclosed by Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of

Agriculture Hajiya Binta Rabi’u during the official commissioning of rice

policy platform facilitated by Competitive African Rice Initiative

(CARI) in collaboration with German International Cooperation (GIZ).

According to her, the state government has shown commitment to the

development of agricultural activities in the state.

Explaining the aim of the establishment of the platform, CARI policy

adviser Abraham Odoom stated that for effective agricultural policies to

succeed in the country, there is the need for inclusion of real farmers in

agricultural policy formation. He added that the goal of the platform is

to device a positive approach to rice farming through which local rice

production can be increased.

Court dismisses appeal on N1.5b subsidy fraud

From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagosý

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos State High Court sitting in

Ikeja has dismissed attempts by three oil marketers: Mahmud Tukur, Alex Ochonogor and Abdullahi Alao to quash charges proffered against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over N1.5 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

While delivering his ruling, Justice Lawal-Akapo ruled that the

application filed by the three marketers lacked merit and as such had

to be dismissed.

The oil marketers and their firms, Eterna Plc and Axe Energy

Limited had been slammed with a nine-count chargeý of conspiracy,

obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and altering by EFCC.

The EFCC had accused the defendants of obtaining money from the

Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3 million

litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

However, their counsels, Olaniran Obele, Ebun Adegoruwa and Aderemi

Oguntoye, challenged the court’s jurisdiction, saying it lacks power

to hear the charge. ýThey maintained that the proof of evidence did

not support the offences alleged against the defendants.