Woman in court for refusing to refund N600,000 borrowed from Church

The police in Ogun State have arraigned one Mrs. Funmilayo Ayodele before an Ogun Magistrates’s court sitting in Abeokuta.

The 40-year-old Ayodele was dragged before the court Friday for allegedly refusing to pay back a N600,000 loan she borrowed from a Cherubim and Seraphim church cooperative society at Lantoro Abeokuta.

The police said Ayodele was docked on a three-count charge bordering on theft, fraud and breach of public peace.

But the woman has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the Prosecution Counsel, Inspector Olu-Balogun Lawrence, the defendant allegedly borrowed the money in February 2019 from one Pastor Micheal Oguntade, promising to pay back in August same year after starting a business.

However, the prosecution counsel said Ayodele, instead of refunding the money, resorted to threatening the pastor with thugs in his house; the reason why she was reported to the police.

She has since been granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Olakunleyin Oke, said the sureties must be persons living within the court jurisdiction with evidence of tax payments to the Ogun Government.

The case has been adjourned until Feb. 21 for trial.

- DAILY POST

Lagos Director in court for damaging N45m property of LASEMA boss, her ex-lover

An Igbosere High Court will on April 1st to deliver judgment in a case of forgery, forcible entry and criminal damage to a N45 million property against one Ms. Olaide Ibraheem.

Ibraheem is the Director, Administration and Human Resources, Lagos State Office of Civic Engagement in the Lagos State Government Civil Service.

NAN reports that the criminal action followed a dispute between Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyitolu, Director-General of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and his former lover, Ibraheem.

She was arraigned on May 22, 2017, on a three-count charge of forgery, forcible entry and criminal damage to the property located at No. 1, Baba Yusuf Close, Alausa, Lagos.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye fixed the judgment date after both the lead state prosecutor, Akin George and defence counsel, Gbenga Ojo, addressed the court after closing their cases.

Ojo, in his submission, said that the prosecution did not prove its case against Ibraheem beyond reasonable doubt because vital witnesses were not summoned to testify in court.

He noted that the prosecution did not summon the individual who prepared the deed that was allegedly forged by the defendant.

Responding, the prosecutor said “the law provides that the prosecution is not bound to call all witnesses listed, provided the prosecution has called credible witnesses that will sustain their case.”

George said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the court should not attach any credibility to the forensic report tendered in evidence by the defence

According to him, rather than summoning the individual who prepared the alleged forged Deed for the defendant, a forensic police report confirming the alleged forgery, which was tendered in court by the prosecution, was sufficient evidence.

NAN reports that during the trial, four witnesses including Oke-Osanyitolu, his personal assistant and a signature expert, testified for the prosecution.

Six witnesses including Ibraheem, a surveyor and a police officer testified on behalf of the defence.

Oke-Osanyitolu in his testimony told the court that he and the defendant were former lovers and top civil servants in the employ of the Lagos State Government.

He said that during the course of their relationship, he needed accommodation for his ailing mother and had sought Ibraheem’s help in getting accommodation.

Oke-Sanyitolu said the defendant negotiated the purchase of the property on his behalf for N45million from the former owner, one Baba Yusuf in Kano.

The LASEMA DG told the court that he had made payments in installments for the property via Mr Luqman Salami, his personal assistant, paid the balance of N1.5million and the Deed of Assignment was signed.

“Five people including the defendant, were present when the Deed was signed but only four persons — myself, the owner of the property, Baba Yusuf; his son, Musa Yusuf and Salami, my personal assistant signed the document.”

Oke-Sanyitolu said that following the breakdown of their relationship, the defendant in order to unlawfully lay claim to the property, fraudulently made another Deed of Assignment and forged his signature on the fake document.

He said that Ibraheem, with the aid of hoodlums, also unlawfully broke into and took over possession of the property.

The LASEMA DG said that when he reported his ex-lover’s actions to the authorities, she threatened his life and boasted that she will show him “the power of a woman”.

Ibraheem, while testifying in her defence, said the property belonged to her.

She said when she wanted to buy the property, she visited the Baba Musa, the former owner of the property in Kano.

According to her, the original owner declined to sell to her due to religious reasons, and asked her to come with her spouse.

She said obliging the requests of Baba Musa, Oke-Sanyitolu had accompanied her to buy the property.

The defendant in her version of events said that four persons — herself, the owner of the property, his son and Oke-Sanyitolu signed the Deed of Assignment while Salami, Oke-Sanyitolu’s personal assistant was a witness.

She said after the end of their relationship, she got wind of the fact that Oke-Sanyitolu had procured another Deed of Assignment for the property.

The defendant said that the new Deed did not contain her signature and that Oke-Sanyitolu was trying to register the new Deed at the Lagos State Ministry of Lands.

- DAILY POST

Cristiano Ronaldo too old to play for Bayern Munich – Club President, Herbert Hainer

Bayern Munich president, Herbert Hainer, says Juventus superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo is too old to play for the Bundesliga champions.

Hainer said this ahead of Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga fixture against RB Leipzig on Sunday.

“Indeed there are a lot of names moving round in the media and linking players to the club.

“Well, this is something completely understandable.

“Nevertheless, Cristiano Ronaldo would be too old to play for Bayern Munich,” Hainer said as quoted by Goal.

Ronaldo, who is widely considered as one of the best players in the world, turned 35 years earlier this week.

The Portugal captain has won league titles in England, Spain, and Italy.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star have scored 22 goals in 27 matches for Juventus so far this season.

- DAILY POST

Ighalo removed from Man Utd squad over coronavirus fears

Odion Ighalo is not part of Manchester United’s squad, travelling to Spain for a training camp.

The Nigerian striker has been left out over fears that he could be denied entry back into the UK because of the coronavirus outbreak

Ighalo only arrived last week from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on a six-month loan deal.

There are currently three cases of coronavirus in the UK.

United fly to Spain on Saturday for a warm-weather camp, but Ighalo will remain in Manchester, where he will undergo on a personal training and fitness programme.

A club statement said: “The club can also confirm that, due to the current situation in China, it has been decided that new signing Odion Ighalo will not travel to Spain as it is not guaranteed that he’d clear UK immigration on return should border restrictions tighten on travellers who’ve been in China within the past 14 days.”

- DAILY POST

Bomb explodes near Ekiti governor’s office

The residents of the Okesha area of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, were embroiled in fear on Saturday as a bomb went off next door to the governor’s office.

The explosion brought down a building around the area and also affected a section of the state ministry of chieftaincy affairs.

The explosion also damaged parts of the ministry of finance and other buildings on the premises.

The Commissioner of Police, Amba Asuquo, who was at the scene of the blast said preliminary investigation revealed that the bomb might have gone off from the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) office within the premises.

Muyiwa Olomilua, commissioner of information for the state, also confirmed the incident.

”An explosion was reported earlier this morning at the Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) office in Ado Ekiti,” he said.

”An initial on-the-spot assessment confirms that there are no casualties and the area is secured with no further threats. Members of the public are advised to go about their normal duties.”

- PM NEWS

Gokada to rebrand as delivery company — after Lagos okada ban

Gokada, a bike-hailing company with operations based in Lagos, is redirecting its focus to logistics.

This is coming after the Lagos state government under the leadership of Babajide Sanwo-Olu banned the use of motorcycles and tricycles in 16 local governments and local council development areas.

Tweeting in response to a report about the company laying off most of its workforce, Fahim Saleh, Gokada CEO, said: “We still have money in the bank and are pivoting towards deliveries while this transport ban gets sorted”.

According to Saleh, the company was due to make a profit in January when the ban was announced.

Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos state commissioner for information and strategy, said the ban was decided after a review of casualties.

“After a robust assessment of the debate on what has been widely referred to as the motorcycle (okada) and tricycle (Keke Marwa) menace, the Lagos state government and the state security council have decided that the security and safety of lives of Lagosians are paramount,” he said.

“The figures are scary. From 2016 to 2019, there were over 10,000 accidents recorded at the General Hospitals alone. This number excludes unreported cases and those recorded by other hospitals. The total number of deaths from reported cases is over 600 as at date.”

In May 2019, Gokada announced that it secured $5.3 million investment through a fundraising process.

At the time, it said it would deploy the investment to expanding its driver fleet, increasing daily rides by 10 fold and acquiring local talent.

Since its launch in 2018, Gokada said it has acquired approximately 1,000 motorcycles and completed one million rides.

- THECABLE

MAN: Transporting goods from Lagos to Kano more expensive than China to Lagos

Mansur Ahmed, president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), says it is more expensive to transport goods from Lagos to Kano than from China to Lagos.

Ahmed was speaking on Thursday at the 2020 edition of the MAN reporter of the year award.

The MAN president said competitiveness cannot be achieved in the absence of infrastructure like roads and electricity.

“As the association remains at the forefront for setting the pace for engagement with other African manufacturers, the Nigerian government must also lead by example in ensuring that policies are industry-friendly, as this is the only guarantee for a competitive intra-African trade,” NAN quoted him to have said.

“Modern industry competitiveness depends to a great extent on provision of adequate and efficient infrastructure.

“There is also the aspect of provision of soft infrastructure – like visa, tariffs, and foreign exchange – that will help ease up the process of carrying out business transactions between countries.

“For instance, due to poor infrastructure, it will cost a business owner in Nigeria more to transport goods from Lagos to Kano than it will cost a Chinese business owner to transport the same goods from China to Lagos.

“We must address all these issues since the AfCFTA is not just about trade in goods, but also trade in services.”

He advised the government to enact industry-friendly policies as a way of assisting them to grow.

Speaking on the imminent increase in electricity tariff, the MAN president said it could have a negative impact on the gross domestic product and gross national product seeing as electricity constitutes up to 40% of the cost of production.

According to him, uneven pricing across electricity distribution companies (DisCos), if not corrected, will lead to uneven development in certain parts of the country.

“A reduction in electricity tariff for industrial purpose is more ideal, but even if it cannot be reduced, it should be not be increased,” he said.

“Any increase on the tariff will reinforce the already high- cost manufacturing environment and further depress productivity in the sector.

“Our appeal is that government, being a major stakeholder in the electricity industry, should concentrate on developing processes and polices to attract significant investment.

“This will encourage large scale generation and significant improvement in transmission and distribution.

“It is also important for government to ensure adequate and appropriate consultations with stakeholders in the private sector on such decisions with far-reaching implications.”

Ahmed also said he has been confirmed as the chairman of the Pan African Manufacturers Association (PAMA), the umbrella body of manufacturers in Africa.

- THECABLE