Shocking !!! Truck crushes roadside vulcanizer to death in Ogun

A road side vulcanizer and his friend were crushed to death on Tuesday morning in Owode, Yewa South local government area of Ogun State.

The accident occurred at about 10:00 a.m. when a truck driver lost control of the wheel, veered off the road and mowed down the victims at their shop in Oke Ore area of Owode.

The accident triggered tension at the area as angry youths moved to torch the fallen truck, forcing operatives of the  Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) to momentarily suspend rescue work at the scene.

The vulcanizer and his friend whose identities were yet to be established as noon on Tuesday, were discussing when the truck came from behind and ran over them.

The duo died at the scene.

The Public Relations Officer of TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the accident, said the accident happened at Oke Ore near Owode in Ogun State.

He said two persons died in the accident while two others – truck driver and his boy – were injured.

He said: “The truck (driver) lost control and ran over the road side vulcanizer. The area is tense at moment and operatives have to move back a bit. Soldiers and police officers have been contacted to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area.

“The driver and his motor boy were injured and taken to Iya kayode hospital at OKe Ore while one of the dead victims has been taken by his family.” - The Nation

The reason why we board planes from the left-hand side

It feels automatic. Go to the airport, board the plane. It may never have occurred to you that you always board from the left hand side.

And there's a reason for that. Experts say it might even date back centuries to traditional nautical custom.

"Early airports were set up so that aircraft could taxi in front of the terminal and stop to discharge passengers," wrote a former US air force pilot on Quora. "It was useful for the pilot to be able to judge wing clearance from the terminal building and to put the aircraft door in front of the terminal doors. Some early transports had right-side doors into the passenger cabin, but the logic of the pilot's field of view prevailed. 

"At some airports, stairs may be placed at forward and/or aft doors, but to avoid passengers wandering around a busy parking ramp, the loading/unloading is always on the same (almost always the aircraft's left) side.

"Also for safety reasons, passenger movement is kept on one side while fuelling is carried out on the other. It is also useful to unload/load baggage and cargo on the opposite side from passenger movement and the loading bridge or stairs."

However, Andrew Stagg, calling himself a commercial pilot on the site, had a different take.

"I believe the reasoning goes back to ships, which have a port (left) and starboard (right) side. The port side was the one you would embark and disembark from, so most airplane and jetway designers followed the same convention.

"While most larger transport category aircraft have two front and two rear exits, the placement of catering trucks and baggage loading equipment on the right, makes using the right doors impractical."

Adrian Young, senior aviation consultant at To70, told The Independent: "The vast majority of modern aeroplanes board/deplane on the left hand side and are serviced on the right hand side.

"This is something that has developed over the years. Some people point to the fact that on [ocean] liners passengers left from the port side. Until the 1960s, prior to the construction of jet bridges, aeroplanes would often park with close to and parallel to the terminal.

The first jet bridges were installed at Schiphol Airport in the 1960s (Tom van derBroeke)

"With the captain sitting on the left and often the pilot tasked with taxi duties, parking with the left side closest to the terminal is easiest to judge for the captain. Jets like the DC-8 even parked like this at Schiphol when the first jet bridges were installed.

"Nowadays, aeroplanes have standardised this historic habit. Aeroplanes are fuelled on the right, bags are loaded on the right and most of the cleaning & catering vehicles also park on the right hand side." - The Independent

Two men arraigned for visa fraud in Lagos

Folorunso Kayode and Moses Oriole, have been arraigned at an lkeja Magistrate’s Court for alleged visa fraud and issuance of fake documents.

The suspects allegedly obtained money from two persons and subsequently issued them fake documents claiming to be visa agents to Australia.

Both suspects were arraigned on an eight count bordering on conspiracy, theft and issuance of fake documents.

The police prosecutor, Inspector N. Peter, said the suspects committed the offence on October 11, 2017, at about 2.30pm on Taiwo Odukoya Street, Abaranje, lkotun.

The prosecutor told the court that the offence contravened sections 280, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The charges read in part, “That you, Folorunso Kayode and Moses Oriole, on October 11, 2017, at about 2.30pm on Taiwo Odukoya Street, Abaranje, lkotun, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit; obtaining money under false pretences, by obtaining the sum of N2m from one Emmanuel Odoemena, under the pretext of procuring an Australia visa for him, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

“That you, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did obtain the sum of N1,760,000 from one Chinedu Kingsley, under the pretext of procuring an Australian visa for him, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate, Aje-Afunwa Y.O, granted the accused bail in the sum of N600, 000 each with two “responsible sureties” each in like sum.

The magistrate adjourned the case till January 31, 2018.

Jungle republic !!! Angry youths set Headmaster ablaze in Imo state

One head teacher identified as Mr. Cosmas Nwaiwu has been lynched to death and set ablaze by irate youths in Nneoche Umuoma Nzerem, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State after being accused of “diabolically diverting destiny” of members of his extended family.

The 57-year-old Nwaiwu was the Head Teacher of Obolo Primary School, Ehime Mbano.

According to Punch, Nwaiwu was murdered on the allegation that he was “diabolically diverting the destiny” of three members of his extended family.

The newspaper reports that one of Nwaiwu’s female relations, had also accused him (Nwaiwu) of being responsible for the death of her husband.

Sequel to these accusations, the youths of the area allegedly mobilised one another and besieged his house, murdered Nwaiwu and then burnt his body.

The State police command has also confirmed the arrest of three of the suspects involved in the act.

The force PRO in the state, Andrew Enwerem, confirmed the incident.

Enwerem said, “We have arrested three suspects, including the President General of the community, Mr. Nnanna Okonkwo, in connection with the incident and thorough investigations are in progress.”

Corruption reloaded !!! Nigeria seals deal with Switzerland to return $321m Abacha loot

Nigeria and Switzerland have sealed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the return of $321 million traced to former Nigerian military ruler, Sani Abacha.

The deal was signed on behalf of Nigeria by Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation, in Washington DC, US, on Monday afternoon at the headquarters of the World Bank Group.

When returned, the money is expected to be expended on social protection programme in Nigeria.

Abacha ruled Nigeria from November 1993 till his sudden death in June 1998 — during which he stashed billions of dollars abroad.

Recoveries have been made since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 with suspicion that they have been mismanaged.

Civil Society Organisations were involved in the negotiation of the new MoU and are expected to monitor the use of the funds.

The Global Forum on Asset Recovery was established as an outcome of the London 2016 Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron. - Cable Nigeria

Queen of corruption !!! Court Admits Evidence Against INEC Official Implicated In N23bn Diezani Bribe

Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, December 4, 2017, admitted in evidence three confessional statements tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Christian Nwosu.

Nwosu, alongside two other INEC officials, Yisa Olanrewaju Adedoyin and Tijani Bashir, were re-arraigned on May 3, 2017 on an amended six-count charge bordering on receiving gratification to the tune of N264,880,000.00.

At the last adjourned sitting on November 28, 2017, the first defendant, Nwosu, had told the court that the three statements he made to the Commission on December 28, 2016 and March 15 and 22, 2017 were not offered voluntarily.

Counsel to Nwosu, Obinna Okereke, while moving a written address dated November 23, 2017, had told the court that his client was threatened and cajoled to make the statements.

“Justice requires that the interest of the accused should be taken into consideration and it does not lie in the power of prosecution to dictate how the trial of defendant should go. The court should ensure that justice is done.

“The prosecution did not allow the defendant to have access to any legal practitioners, when he was writing his confessional statement.

The prosecution imposed a counsel on him.

“The ACJA, 2015, Section 29(2) & (3) of Evidence Act clearly states the guideline for taking confessional statement from a defendant. But the prosecution did not comply with it; rather, the prosecution forcefully extracted and coercively obtained all statements of December 28, 2016, March 15, 2017 and March 22, 2017 from him,” he had said.

However, in his response, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, had urged the court to dismiss the claim by the defense, adding that two witnesses had already been called since the trial began.

Oyedepo, who moved his address orally, further said: “The defendant was dully cautioned when he was making his statement, and he signed the cautionary word when he was making his statement.”

Consequently, Justice Idris had adjourned further hearing till today.

In his ruling at today's sitting, Justice Idris held that the application filed by counsel to the first defendant lacked merit.

The judge, therefore, admitted the statements in evidence as exhibits D1 to D3.

The case was adjourned to January 11, 2018.

The first defendant, Nwosu, had pleaded guilty to receiving the sum of N30 million out of the  alleged N23 billion Diezani Alison-Madueke bribe meant to compromise electoral officers before the 2015 general election when they were initially arraigned on April 5, 2017.

Justice Idris had earlier found Nwosu guilty and convicted him. He had also ordered forfeiture of all the landed properties acquired by Nwosu with the alleged proceeds of crime, including the sum of N5m (Five Million Naira) found in his bank account.

Though Nwosu later entered into a plea bargain agreement with the ‎EFCC, terms which the. Judge rejected on the grounds that Nwosu’s offence was heavier than the plea bargain agreement.

In view of this, Nwosu and other accused persons were re-arraigned on May 3, 2017 on an amended six-count charge by the EFCC.

During the May 3 sitting, Nwosu changed his counsel as well as his plea from guilty to not guilty.

Consequently, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, had prayed the court to transfer the matter to the Chief Judge for re-assignment on
the grounds that Nwosu had earlier pleaded guilty and was convicted.

Oyedepo had argued that in the event of an accused pleading not guilty after initially pleading guilty, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, states that such a matter should be re-assigned to another judge.

However, counsel to Nwosu, Okereke, had argued that his client pleaded guilty to the initial seven-count charge, while he pleaded not guilty
to the amended six-count charge.

After listening to both parties, justice Idris had ruled that he would continue hearing in the matter on the grounds that Nwosu was re-arraigned on a fresh amended six-count charge, which he pleaded not guilty to.

Face of looter !!! Court To Rule On N15bn Corruption Trial Of Former Sokoto State Governor Bafarawa In January

The embattled former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, will on January 25, 2018, know his fate in the criminal charge of corruption brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Sokoto State High Court.

The former governor was charged alongside 16 others for alleged diversion and theft of public funds to the tune of N15,000,000,000.

Upon arraignment on the 16th December, 2009, Bafarawa and his co-accused pleaded not guilty to a 47-count charge.

Those charged alongside Bafarawa are: Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, Isa Sadiq Achida, Hajia Aishatu Binji, Sen. Salihu Bakwai, Salihu Maibuhu Gunmi, Adamu Gurori, Adamu Gurori, Habibu Halilu Modaci, and Sambo Bello Danchadi. Others are Abdullahi Ahmed Bida, Chief Mike Umeh, Umaru Kwambo, Shehu Koko, Ubale Yahaya, Maigari Dingyadi, and Tukur Alkali.

However, in the course of the trial and to the surprise of prosecution, the present governor of Sokoto, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal decided to pardon 5 of the 16 accused persons charged with Bafarawa. Those pardoned are: Tukur Alkali, Bello Isah, Isah Sadiq, Habibu Halilu Modachi and Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi.

Being dissatisfied with the 25th September, 2017 ruling of the trial court, the EFCC approached the Court of Appeal, Sokoto division, to quash the ruling the lower court.

On the 16 of November, 2017, the commission closed its case against the remaining accused persons.

Subsequently, the accused persons filed a no-case submission through their counsels: Lateef Fagbemi, SAN for the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th and 7th accused persons and Mohammed Adeleke for the 3rd and 4th accused persons.

In his argument, Fagbemi submitted that the prosecution failed to provide the ingredients of the offenses his clients were charged with. He added that for offense to be referred to as an offense, that offense must be sighted by law and in the instant case, according to him, the prosecution failed to provide the content of the law that contradicted the offense his clients were charged with. He further argued that such law must be tendered before the court since it has only been gazetted. 

Adeleke, counsel to the 3rd and 4th accused persons, urged the court to adopt the written address as his argument and discharge and acquit his clients. He called the attention of the court to page 13 and 14 in paragraph 4.25 and 4.26 of the prosecution written address where they conceded that no prima-facie case has been established against his client.

After listening to the argument of counsel, Justice Abbas adjourned the matter to January 25th, 2017 for ruling on no case submission. - EFCC