Lagos community cries for help, begs state govt as flood threaten lives, properties

 

The residents of Old-Ewu and Ogunyinka Mafoluku communities in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State have cried to the state government to save them from the flood in the community.

Both vehicular and pedestrian movements have become difficult in the community when it rains, as residents have to battle to cross the heavy flood.

The most affected streets include Ilare Close, Muse Oyinbo Close and Tijani kashimawo Close off 7/8 bus-stop, facing the First bank along Airport Road.

Other affected places are Dominican school, Saint Jude Catholic Church and Domino shop in Mafoluku Oshodi.

The cause of the flood was traced to the bad drainage system in the community and lack of gutters in some streets, hindering the free flow of water.

Affected residents have taken to wearing rain boots when going in and out of their houses to protect themselves.

Speaking for the residents, the Community Development Association (CDA) chairperson, Mrs. Durotola Akinyemi said they need the help of the government to fix the gutters in the community.

She lamented: “Flood has taken over our community. We move around in rain boots despite the fact that we cleared the drainage last year yet, we are still experiencing flood. We need the intervention of the government to fix our drainages to save us from the flood.

“Just one rainfall, everywhere in the community has turned to a pool and we cannot move in and out of our houses, what will be our fate when the rain continues intensely as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Services (NIMET).”

- DAILY POST

FULANI DESTRUCTIVE AGENT !! NBA kicks over Malami’s attempt to reduce its powers

 

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has kicked against the amendments to the rules of professional conduct for legal practitioners (RPC), 2007. 

The RPC sets out the professional duties of lawyers when dealing with clients, courts and their colleagues.

In an amendment by the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), the requirement for the NBA stamp and seal on court processes was removed.

Before the amendment, lawyers were mandated to submit any document or letter to the court with a stamp and seal that was sold by the NBA.

But under the new provision, the use of the stamps is no longer necessary, giving room for non-lawyers to also submit court processes.

The development comes after some aggrieved lawyers pulled out of the NBA to form the New Nigerian Bar Association (NNBA).

The new group had written to Malami to inform him of its action but NBA said the group lacked legitimacy.

The factional NBA was formed as a result of the controversy that ensued after the NBA withdrew its invitation to Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, following a petition against him.

In a statement on Sunday, Olumide Akpata, NBA president, said there was no authorised approval for the amendments.

Akpata argued that due process was not followed, and urged lawyers to stick to the existing RPC.   

“I have seen and read Statutory Instrument No. 15 of 2020 (the “Instrument”), making the rounds on social media and which purports to amend certain provisions of the 2007 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC),” the statement read. 

“Since the Instrument was released, I have received numerous calls and messages from lawyers across the country seeking clarification and guidance on the purport of the Instrument.

“By virtue of the Instrument, the following provisions of the RPC are to be deemed deleted:

1. a) Rule 9(2), which relates to default in payment of practicing fees;
2. b) Rule 10, which relates to stamp and seal for legal practitioners;
3. c) Rule 11, which relates to mandatory continuing professional development;
4. d) Rule 12, which relates to the Annual Practicing Certificate for legal practitioners; and
5. e) Rule 13, which relates to the obligation to give notice of the commencement of legal practice to the branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) responsible for the jurisdiction in which the practice is located.

“The explanatory note to the Instrument suggests that it was done to bring the RPC into conformity with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, the Law Officers Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Legal Practitioners Act (as amended) confers the power to issue rules of professional conduct for legal practitioners, and any amendments thereto, on the General Council of the Bar (the “Bar Council”). The Bar Council comprises the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (“HAGF”), the Honourable Attorneys-General of the thirty-six states of Nigeria, and twenty members of the NBA. Consequently, the RPC and any amendments thereto may only be validly issued after it has been deliberated upon and approved at a properly convened meeting of the Bar Council.

“As far as the NBA is aware, no notice convening a meeting of the Bar Council was issued to its elected representatives on the Bar Council and no meeting of the Bar Council was convened and/or held to deliberate on the Instrument. To that extent, our position is that no authority or approval was given for the amendment of the RPC. Consequently, the NBA maintains that the RPC has not been amended and enjoins all legal practitioners to remain calm and continue to conduct their affairs in the same manner as they did prior to the issuance of the Instrument.” 

Akpata said he is engaging the AGF on the issue and will provide further updates on the next steps. 

He said as part of the commitment of the current administration of the NBA towards the welfare and capacity building of members, they intend to propose certain amendments to the RPC that will be critical to the attainment of those objectives. 

He added, however, that in doing this, they would carry members along.

- THECABLE

Ancelotti outshines Mourinho as Everton stun Tottenham

 Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti proved he is a better tactician than Jose Mourinho as Everton defeated Tottenham by a goal on Sunday evening.

Jose Mourinho’s boys had the highest share of the ball possession – Tottenham: 51%, Everton: 49% – but it couldn’t stop their defeat to Ancelotti’s men who visited White Hart Lane to prove themselves in the opening fixture of the 2020-21 Premier League for both sides.

The match was keenly contested by both teams. The first half ended in stalemate and the second-half was balanced for both teams until the 54th minute when the referee signaled a free kick as Toby Alderweireld from Tottenham trips Richarlison.

Lucas Digne swings in a cross from the free-kick and Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed home in the 55th minute.

Everton took control of the match after the goal and held on to take a 1-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Speaking on the winning goal, Calvert-Lewin said: “Lucas has got a good delivery so I got up early and put it in the back of the net. I strive for more every season. The quality and creativity we’ve brought in is a striker’s dream”

A baffled Mourinho

However, the defeat makes it the first time José Mourinho lost on the opening matchday of a league campaign in his managerial career.

The match against Everton was Mourinho’s 19th opening matchday of a league campaign. Prior to the defeat, he has won 11 and drew seven of the previous 18. And as usual, he had plenty to say at his post-match conference.

On his players physical condition, He said: “We had cases of positive COVID-19. We’re not going to say who. We had players in quarantine due to proximity to players with COVID. We had a player in quarantine after going on holiday. We had played on international duty. It was a difficult pre-season and I couldn’t expect them to be sharp and agile but I was expecting more from them individually and as a team.”

He added that: “Do we need a striker yes. Was it because of that that we lost the game? No. We lost the game and the responsibility of that defeat is on myself and my players.”

- PM NEWS

Fulani herdsmen rob family, rape 16-year-old girl in Ogun – Police

 

The police in Ogun State said they have arrested two herdsmen, for allegedly robbing and defiling a teenager.

The suspects were identified by the police as Abu Adamu and Muhammadu Aliyu.

A statement by DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the State Police Public Relations Officer, on Sunday, revealed that the suspects were arrested after a distress call received by the police at Ewekoro Divisional Headquarters at about 1am.

Oyeyemi said the armed herdsmen had invaded a farm settlement at Afowowa Gbelu village in Ewekoro, attacking a family residing in the farm settlement.

According to him, the suspects ransacked the house of one Aminat Okeshola and made away with cash of N140,000.

After this, they were said to have taken a 16-year-old daughter of the family to the cassava plantation and took turns to defile her.

DAILY POST learnt that policemen from Ewekoro division went to the farm settlement, combed the entire area and arrested two of the suspects who hid in a nearby bush at the sight of the policemen. The third suspect with them reportedly escaped.

“The two arrested suspects were immediately identified by the victims,” Oyeyemi said.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the herdsmen have always been passing through the farm settlement with their cattle in the day time before they came back to strike on the fateful day,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, DAILY POST reports, has ordered that the fleeing member of the gang be hunted and the case be transferred to the State CIID for investigation and prosecution.

- DAILY POST

FG moves to ban alcohol in sachets

The federal government has issued directives targeted at phasing out the sale and consumption of alcohol in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

 Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), disclosed this in a statement.

Adeyeye said uncontrolled access and availability of high concentration alcohol in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles contribute to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria.

She added that NAFDAC and the ministry of health have engaged major shareholders and have reached certain agreements.

She said the food agency will no longer register new products in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles with contents above 30 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

“These concerns relate to negative effects of irresponsible alcohol consumption on public health and on the safety and security of the public, alcohol being a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties, ” she said.

“In regard to alcohol, major stakeholders have been engaged at the highest level and are already sensitised to the issue. To this end, several interventions jointly agreed upon by major stakeholders are being undertaken and as a first step, no new products in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles above 30 per cent ABV will be registered by NAFDAC

“Furthermore, to reduce availability and curb abuse, effective January 31 2020, producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume PET and glass bottles are to reduce production by 50 per cent of capacity prior to January 2020. The overall goal is a complete phase out of high concentration alcohol in sachets and small PET and glass bottles in line with the agreed roadmap or earlier.”

- THECABLE

Armed robbers again strike commuters in Kogi, kill brothers

 

Daredevil armed robbers again struck on Saturday along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State killing two brothers and injuring a policeman on roadblock duties.

The incident which occurred at about 6pm in between Itakpe and Kabba Junction end of the Okene -Lokoja – Abuja expressway forced commuters and travellers to scamper for safety while abandoning their vehicles in the middle of the road.

It was gathered that the victims who were brothers and from the central part of Kogi State, went to Lagos for holidays and were on their way back to their station in Katsina State when the incident occurred.

DAILY POST further gathered that the robbers who were fully armed operated freely and later shot a yet to be identified police officer at a nearby checkpoint on the leg.

A woman who was caught up in the ugly incident but pleaded not to be mentioned on Sunday narrated her experience to told DAILY POST.

“We boarded our vehicle from Lagos around 7am but experienced heavy ‘go-slow,’ and not until after Ibadan, were we totally free from it.

“We got to Osara past 6pm. Our driver was following closely behind the vehicle that was attacked. Somewhere, the driver had to stop for a passenger who was pressed, to urinate, after which we saw oncoming motors flagging us to stop; that there was a robbery operation ahead.

”Some people ran helter-skelter but the residents will not allow us to take refuge in their houses. They said that if they did, the robbers would fish them out one by one.

“After quite a while, other vehicles continued on their journey, but ours will not start. The driver made contacts and a motor mechanic came over from the Kabba Junction to attend to us.

“When we got to the point of the attack, we heard that two brothers were shot and killed, while a policeman at the nearby checkpoint was shot in the leg. We heard that their remains were later evacuated and deposited at the State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja.”

When contacted, the Kogi State Police Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, said the command is yet to get a report on the incident but assured DAILY POST that he would furnish it with details as soon as he receives a report from the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of the area.

- DAILY POST

Some elements still planning UNILAG destruction – Acting VC Ogunsola

 

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (Unilag), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has appealed to other stakeholders to join hands with its management to stop “some elements” bent on destroying the institution.

She said this will help to sustain the Unilag brand.

Ogunsola, also Unilag’s substantive Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

”My plan is to work more with people who are interested in building Unilag than those interested in pulling it down.

“It is not about the vice-chancellor or the acting vice-chancellor; it is about the future of the children that we are nurturing in this environment.

”It is about protecting the certificate that they hold.

“When people forget all these, it really calls to question their loyalty to this institution and their responsibility to the next generation, Ogunsola said.

Ogunsola was elected the Acting-Vice-Chancellor by members of the institution’s senate on Aug. 24.

Her appointment was confirmed by Unilag’s Governing Council on Aug. 25.

Ogunsola’s appointment followed Federal Government’s directive on Aug. 21, that the Chairman of Unilag’s Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, should recuse themselves from official duties pending the findings of a special visitation panel to the university.

The panel was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to look into a lingering conflict between the university’s governing council and its senate which culminated in a controversial removal of Ogundipe from office by the governing council on Aug. 12.

Ogunsola said: ”Our system had been one, we work together – academic and non-academic – and my plan is to build bridges among different groups.

”I am not unaware that there are still some elements that are bent on destruction.

“Most people on this campus recognize that these are negative elements who do not really care about the University of Lagos.

”While the rest of us want to protect the brand, they do not mind destroying it.”

Ogunsola, a Professor of Medical Microbiology, said that peace had returned to Unilag following the Federal Government’s decision.

”The panel has come, the members have sat, people have been given the chance to defend themselves; we are waiting for the panel to come up with its report.

”In general, the campus is calm.

”I am ready to work with those who are ready to work with us so that we can move forward and stop all the washing of dirty linens,” Ogunsola said.

The acting vice-chancellor said that the visitation panel came prepared with all it needed to facilitate its job.

”We thought we would have to take care of their accommodation and some other things, but they called us and requested that we should only reserve accommodation for them and not to pick the bills,” she told NAN.

The acting vice-chancellor said that the university did not pay any bills as regards the panel’s visit.

“They did not take our secretariat and our transportation. They did not even take our security beyond what we provided on campus.

”They took care of everything; they came with their secretariat staff, had their own office – the upper chamber that is usually locked – had no interaction with anyone except if they needed to call anyone in for questioning.

”Our only support was to give them two staff, one from protocol and one from legal, who usually stayed on the ground floor and whose job was to usher those needed at any point in time.

” In all, they came prepared and were totally independent,” she said. (NAN)

Nigeria’s Coronavirus caseload crashes further

 

Nigeria’s Coronavirus caseload crashes further on Saturday with only 160 new cases recorded in 12 States and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, had announced 160 news cases, a sharp drop from the 188 cases recorded the previous day.

Nigeria now has 56,177 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 44,088 survivors discharged 1,078 deaths recorded.

Abuja and Plateau recorded 39 cases each, with Lagos posting 30 cases and Kaduna, 23 cases.

Others are: Katsina (7), Rivers (6), Oyo (6), Yobe (3), Benue (3), Bayelsa (1), Abia (1), Edo (1) and Ekiti (1)

See figures below

FCT-39
Plateau-39
Lagos-30
Kaduna-23
Katsina-7
Rivers-6
Oyo-6
Yobe-3
Benue-3
Bayelsa-1
Abia-1
Edo-1
Ekiti-1

56,177 confirmed
44,088 discharged
1,078 deaths

- PM NEWS

Controversial Brexit bill has 'damaged trust' between Britain and Ireland

 

Boris Johnson's Brexit proposals have "damaged trust" and set back talks on a trade deal with the EU, an Irish minister has told Sky News.

The backlash to the prime minister's Internal Market Bill is continuing, with former prime ministers Sir John Major and Tony Blair joining the chorus of criticism.

The government has admitted the Brexit bill, which will be debated by MPs this coming week amid a possible Tory rebellion, breaks international law.

It overrides parts of the EU divorce deal and has sparked fury in Brussels, which has threatened legal action over what it considers a violation of an international treaty.

Ireland's justice secretary Helen McEntee told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday that events this week have "certainly set us back".

She said the push from Mr Johnson to override parts of the Brexit deal he negotiated with Brussels last year has "damaged trust" between Britain and Ireland.

"It's caused a lot of confusion. I think it has, in some way, damaged trust between both sides," Ms McEntee told Sky News.

"It's very difficult to see how you can negotiate a free trade agreement when what has already been agreed is being proposed to be breached less than nine months later.

But justice secretary Robert Buckland defended the prime minister's strategy, saying: "This isn't something we do lightly, this isn't something that we actually want to use, this is something that a responsible government does in order to prepare for the worst.

"But can I reiterate our steely determination to get a deal."

Mr Buckland twice avoided the question when asked if he would resign if the government does not abide by the rule of law.

He also claimed that what the PM was proposing was in accordance with "the most honourable traditions of the British state" which he said was to "alert everyone to a possibility of a problem, to actually legislate to prepare ourselves domestically for that".

Mr Buckland rejected comparisons between the government's plans and breaking criminal law, describing them as "wholly misplaced".

"What we're talking about here is intricate international law arrangements," he said.

"I can reassure the Irish government I can reassure all friends in Europe that all we're seeking to do is prepare the ground domestically if things are not resolved."

Labour's shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Louise Haigh said the legislation was "seriously undermining and jeopardising" the chances of a trade deal with the EU.

She told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "This is the last thing the country needs right now.

"As we're attempting to respond to COVID and cope with economic recovery, what we need is a deal with the European Union that protects our trading relationship, protects businesses, protects jobs and protects jobs in Northern Ireland.

"What Boris Johnson is doing is risking all of that and as I say, it is the very last thing the country needs at this critical moment."

- SKY NEWS

I killed my aunty because she’s a witch – Man confesses in Ogun

 Dansu Asogba, a 23-year-old indigene of Ogun State has been arrested by the police for allegedly killing his 60-year-old aunt, Iyabo Dansu over alleged witchcraft.

In a statement on Saturday, the Ogun State Police Spokesperson, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspect was arrested following a report by two children of the victim at the Ipokia Divisional Police Headquarters.

According to Oyeyemi, the children had reported that they were informed on August 22 that their mother, who was not suffering from any illness had died.

Oyeyemi hinted that the children of the deceased “stated further that since they were not suspecting any foul play, they decided to bury her without necessarily reporting to the police.

“But immediately after the burial, they heard information that the suspect, who is a nephew to the deceased was seen in her house on that fateful day, and shortly after he left, the woman was declared dead.”

This, he said, aroused the suspicion of residents as they threatened to carry out a traditional ritual to expose the killer.

Hearing the determination of the community to go spiritual about the death of the woman, Asogba reportedly came out to confess being the one responsible for her death.

The DPO Ipokia Division, SP Adebayo Hakeem, was said to have detailed his men to the scene where the suspect was arrested. 

“On interrogation, he admitted killing the deceased, but claimed that he did so because of his belief that the deceased was responsible for the death of his first child and the subsequent miscarriage suffered by his wife.

“He confessed further that it was an iron rod he used to hit the woman on the neck which resulted to her death,” Oyeyemi said.

Meanwhile, the Ogun Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, has ordered that the case be transferred transfer to the homicide section of the State CIID for further investigation.

- DAILY POST

‘Zone us to south-west’ — Okun ethnic group writes national assembly

 The Okun ethnic group of Kogi state has written to the national assembly’s constitution review committee, requesting to be zoned to the south-west.

In a memorandum Babatunde Fadumiyo signed on behalf of Femi Mokikan, president of Okun Development Association (ODA), the ethnic group also demanded a separate state which would be made up of the Okun people and the core Yoruba speaking part of Kwara state.

The group also expressed support for the restructuring of Nigeria to “bring about a truly federal republic”.

“The Okun people in Kogi State are convinced that a Sovereign National Conference will be a welcome platform to canvass and advocate a redress for multiple injustices that have arisen from their wrong situation since Lord Lugard’s proclamation of an artificial boundary between the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate in 1990,” the document read.

“The various protests, appeals and advocacy for fairness, equity and justice at several Constitution Conferences in London and Nigeria, the Willinks Commission of Enquiry on Minority Rights, several Panels of Creation of States and Boundary Adjustment hitherto, have not attracted the desired attention, as the people have never been allowed to determine where they should belong and who should govern them and guarantee their self-actualization, security, development and overall well-being.

“There has been a loud, popular and persistent clamour for the readjustment or re-relocation of Okun People politically and administratively from the north central zone to the south-west zone of Nigeria.

“The Okun People of Kogi State reaffirm their Yoruba origin. It is incontrovertible that their culture and values are the same as those of Yoruba in the south-west of Nigeria with whom we share territorial contiguity and economic relations. We therefore put as our core demand, the readjustment and relocation of Okun people’s political and land boundary from the north-central to the south-west.”

In February, Senate President Ahmad Lawan inaugurated a 56-man steering and constitution review committee to engage Nigerians on issues they feel should amended.

- THECABLE

Daddy Freeze surrenders, apologizes to Pastor Oyedepo

 

Controversial broadcaster, Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, has finally apologized to the founder and presiding Pastor of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel International, Bishop David Oyedepo.

This is coming after Pastor Paul Enenche, joined a long list of pastors who called out the ace media personality for attacking Oyedepo.

Daddy Freeze had in a video he made last three years ago, criticized Oyedepo’s teaching, calling him a ‘bald-headed foul’.

The video, however, resurfaced this year and generated negative comments against Freeze after he slammed Oyedepo again over his stand that women should submit to their husbands in marriage..

Reacting, the Founder and General Overseer of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, condemned Freeze for questioning and criticizing Oyedepo.

He accused and threatened for insulting Oyedepo who he regarded as his father and calling Freeze ‘a bastard.’

In the same vein, Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze who also backed Bishop Oyedepo on his stand that women should submit to their husbands in marriage, accused Daddy Freeze is leading many people astray.

However, Daddy Freeze, on Saturday decided to apologize, saying that he did not intend to insult the personality of Bishop Oyedepo.

In his recent video shared, Daddy Freeze was seen apologizing to Oyedepo, saying ‘he did not in any way intend to dishonor, disrespect, or disregard the person of the Bishop’.

Watch the video here:

The video was also shared by Reno Omokri, a former media aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan and clergyman, saying Daddy Freeze recognised his error and sought forgiveness.

“Scripture says if a brother sins and seeks forgiveness, forgive him 70 times 7 times! I must stress that that video was done 3 years ago.

“The man has changed. It took great courage for him to do what he has now done, and for the sake of peace and unity in the body of Christ, I urge all those who have had an issue with him to love like Christ.

Reno equally called on Ibiyeomie to withdraw his threats against Freeze and apologise to his mother.

His words: “I also call on David Ibiyeomie to withdraw the threats he made against Daddy Freeze, and apologise to his mother, Professor Elisabetha Smaranda Olarinde, because by using the words he used on Daddy Freeze, he also insulted his mother, who was completely innocent in this whole matter. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

- PM NEWS

Abiola’s widow: Why my stepsons are still in detention

 

Adebisi Abiola, one of the widows of the late M.K.O. Abiola, has broken her silence on the arrest of her stepsons.

Kassim and Aliu, sons of Abiola, were arrested in connection with the robbery at the late politician’s residence in Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.

TheCable had reported how gunmen invaded the residence of the late businessman in Ikeja, Lagos, on September 2.

But on Friday, Abiola’s sons filed a N100 million suit against the police, blaming their stepmother for their ordeal.

Reacting through a statement issued by Debo Adeleke, the family’s lawyer, Abiola’s widow said the unruly conduct of her stepsons led to their arrest.

She said after the robbery incident, the police commenced investigations but rather than cooperate with the officers, Kassim and Aliu threatened to deal with them.

“On the 2nd September 2020, at about 6:00 am, some hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers broke into the residence of Late Chief MKO Abiola. The criminals broke into the bedroom of Late MKO Abiola’s wife, in person of Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and carted away valuables running into millions of naira,” the statement read.

“The victim, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and her daughter were subsequently locked up in her room with a threat by the armed robbers that they would be eliminated if they raised an alarm. As expected, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola was so petrified, bemused and stupefied by the unfortunate armed robbery incident that she could not raise an alarm even after the robbers had escaped with their loots running into millions of naira.

“It is on record that while the policemen were interviewing the family members, Mr. Kassim Abiola conducted himself in a very rude, ungentlemanly, provocative, embarrassing and suspicious manner and all efforts by other members of the family to make him act in a responsible manner failed.

“It is further on record that Mr. Kassim Abiola did not only throw tantrums at the police but equally threatened to deal ruthlessly with one of the senior police officers whom he (Kassim) claimed to know personally to the extent of describing the said senior police officer’s car and the location where he will deal with him.

“These unguarded vituperation and violent conducts by Kassim infuriated the police and he was subsequently invited for further interrogation for demanding the reason for the presence of the police men in his father’s house.

“It is equally noteworthy to mention here that his junior brother, Aliu Abiola joined him in his tirade of abuse against the policemen who were only trying to interview them and all other persons at the residence with a view to investigating the crime.

“The police subsequently arrested Mr. Kassim Abiola, Mr. Aliu Abiola and seven others for further questioning regarding the investigation of the robbery incident which the police suspected to have been carried out through the active connivance of a member of the family or staff considering the ease with which such an ugly armed robbery incident was carried out.”

According to the statement, efforts were being made to secure the release of those detained in connection with the incident when they learnt that a suit had been filed against the police.

She also described the fundamental rights enforcement suit as wrong and ill advised but said efforts would still be made to secure their release.

“Barrister Debo Adeleke discussed with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police who understandably consented to release them and efforts to release and admit the three men into an administrative bail were concluded on Friday 11th September,2020,” the statement read.

“However, to the family’s chagrin and consternation, while one of the lawyers in Barr. Debo Adeleke’s chambers in company of Engr. Rahmon Abiola, a younger brother to late Chief MKO Abiola who is also the secretary of the Abiola family were making final efforts to perfect the bail of the trio i.e. Kassim and Aliu Abiola and Mr. Popoola, a lawyer from the law firm of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in company of a woman stormed the Lagos state Police Command and informed the police of the Suit filed in court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of Messrs. Kassim and Aliu Abiola.

“Consequent upon the above, the police could not go ahead with the planned release of the three men as scheduled for Friday, 11th September, 2024.”

She described the late MKO Abiola as an icon who paid the supreme price in sacrificing his life for Nigeria, asking the public to be  mindful of their comments on the issue so as not to “dishonour and disrespect the memory of the late sage”.

- THECABLE