Man Rapes girl

A 23-year-old man, Joseph Sarumi, has been arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, for allegedly raping and defrauding one Fatimah.

The incident occurred on the Lagos Island area of the state.

It was not certain what relationship existed between the defendant and the victim, but the police said Sarumi raped Fatimah and defrauded her of N25, 000, and a BlackBerry Torch phone, at Silverland Hotel in Adeniji Adele area of the state.

He was also said to have collected N50, 000 from another victim, one Okikiola Elegbela.

Sarumi was arraigned on  three counts of rape and stealing.

The charges read in part, “That  you, Joseph Sarumi, on the 3rd day of September, 2013 at about 8pm, at an hotel on Glover Street, in Lagos Island in the Lagos Magisterial District did rape one Fatimah.

“That you, Joseph Sarumi, on the 2nd day of September, 2013 at Silverland Hotel along Adeniji Adele in Lagos Island in the Lagos Magisterial District did obtain the sum of N50,000 from one Okikiola Elegbela, and N25,000 from one Fatimah Isah.”

The prosecutor, Edet Akadu, said the offences were punishable under Sections 258, 312, and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

His defence counsel pleaded for his bail in liberal terms.

The magistrate, Mrs J. Ugbomoiko, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till October 3, 2013.

BOY FRIEND DUPES GIRL FRIEND

Forty two-year-old Akeem Daodu has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding his girlfriend, Oguniyi Omofela, of N1.8m.

The incident was said to have occurred at Onipanu area of Lagos.

Daodu had allegedly informed Omofela that he needed the money to enable him execute a contract with telecommunication company, MTN.

The police said he promised that he would return the money with interest.

It was later discovered he had lied and had nothing to do with the telecommunication company.

The charges read in part,

 “That you, Akeem Adeseye Daodu, and others still at large, between the months of March and June 2012, at Onipanu, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of N1,799,000 from one Ogunniyi Omofela, under the false pretense that you will use the money to invest in a contract of installation of MTN mast and will return the money to her with interest from the profit you made from the contract, a representation you know to be false.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The magistrate,Mrs M.O Tanimola granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till October 14.

DELTA STATE SUSPECTED KIDNAP KINGPIN GIVE GOVERNMENT 60DAYS ULTIMATUM

Delta State’s most wanted criminal suspect came out of hiding yesterday to issue the government a 60-day ultimatum on infrastructure in his community.
Kelvin Ibruvwe, a suspected kidnap kingpin, led a group of masked boys who wore military camouflage and carried assault rifles. They addressed residents of Kokori in Ethiope East Local Government.
The leader of the Liberation Movement for the Urhobo People (LIMUP) said they would shut down all oil wells in Urhobo communities if at the end of the 60 days the federal government does not grant their request.
Ibruvwe, who confirmed that he has since been declared wanted by security agents for allegedly masterminding high profile kidnappings in Delta State, said his actions were to draw the government’s attention to the poverty level and neglect of the Kokori community, which according to him produces the best oil in the country.
He said: “We are giving this ultimatum because the cheating is too much, the federal and state governments had neglect us for so long and now we want them to hear us because for over 50 years now, they have been drilling oil from our community which is the second best oil in this country, yet we have nothing to show for it.
“There is hunger everywhere; graduates have no jobs. So we want the government to listen to us and that is why we are giving them 60 days ultimatum to listen to us or else we will shut down all the well heads in the area. If they like, they should bring soldiers. When we want to strike, no amount of security can stop us because we are not alone, and there are top people in this country and in foreign land backing us.
“The reason why they have been hearing of the name Kelvin is because of what I just told you now. The government must listen to us. Boko Haram will be destroying the Northern part of the country while we will be destroying the Southsouth. We will destroy all the well heads in Urhobo kingdom.
“After the expiration of the 60 days ultimatum, the federal government will know that we don’t make empty threats, but that we are capable of doing something but we are guaranteeing them that within the next 60 days there will be peace, but if they think we cannot do anything, then they will hear from us after the expiration of the 60 days ultimatum.”
The group was surrounded by women and children – in a village square setting.
Ibruvwe went on: “As you can see our mothers, sister and brothers, we are all suffering in this community. For a very long time now, they have been looking for Kelvin, that he is a kidnapper. I am the Kelvin, I am like two million Kelvins. I am not a kidnapper.
“We are drawing the attention of the federal and state governments and we believe now that we have drawn the attention of the federal and state governments, but if the government thinks that the existing peace in the state is because of the security, we will let them know we are relaxing for a while to see what they can do.”
“When the Ijaws and Itsekiris where agitating with arms, we the Urhobo youths chose to be peaceful, but what did we get? We are rather left out completely in the amnesty programme. Is it not the same oil that the Ijaws and Itsekiris produce that is also produced in Kokori, which has the second best oil in Nigeria? So what is our crime?”
A resident of the community who spoke on behalf of the youths, Ms. Favour Sokodi, said: “We are here today because Kokori is suffering. There are no jobs for the youths, graduates whom their parents borrowed money to see through their tertiary education roam the streets with nothing to do and businesses have been very slow for our market women because there is no flow of income.
“What we want the government to do is to build schools, hospitals, banks and cottage industries that can employ the men and teeming youths of the community.”
An indigene of the community, Chief Saroke Edah who spoke on behalf of women, said: “We thank God for using our son, Kelvin, to fight for our course. He is not a criminal, as the government of Delta State wants the world to believe. He and his group are fighting for what is just, equitable and legitimate. Therefore, he should not be given a bad name.
“If the government had provided jobs for these youths and our husbands, would they take up arms to ask for what rightly belongs to them? Where the oil is found in Kokori, the land belongs to Kelvin’s grandfather and yet the family has nothing to show for over 50 years of oil exploration. Is this not injustice?”
But Delta Police spokesman Lucky Uyabeme said: “To believe such a thing is difficult that a man declared wanted is in the community. I cannot make any comments on that until it is confirmed. I am trying to get in touch with the DPO of the area, I cannot make any statement until I confirm from my men on ground.

Cultist on motion Re arrested for Murder

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested another suspected  notorious cult member who has been linked to   numerous murders in Mushin area of the state.
According to Police authorities, the suspect, Sodiq Shittu, who is believed to be a member of Black Axe Confraternity popularly called AYE, was arrested on Friday on Lawani Street.It was  learnt that the suspect, who had been on the police wanted list for some time, had been arrestedand arraigned in  court and had been remanded at the Ikoyi Prison sometime last year. However, the suspect was said to have been released from prison custody under controversial circumstances without the knowledge of the police.The suspect reappeared on police radar after he was suspected  of killing someone at Empire area of Jibowu, which is believed to be a stronghold of Eiye members.It was  said that after the alleged murder, policemen attached to the Alakara Police Division, spotted the suspect and arrested him. “Around 9pm on September 13, 2013, a team of policemen attached to Alakara Division, arrested Sodiq Shittu. The suspect is a key member of Black Axe Confraternity and is alleged to have led a team of cult members including one Ashanti, Tunde and Taju aka Orji, to a shootout and killed a rival cultist belonging to Eye Confraternity at Empire area of Surulere.
“After the attack, the suspect was said to have fled to Ikeja to avoid arrest but the police remained on his trail. He was finally arrested on Lawani Street. The suspect has been linked with numerous murders in Mushin area of the state as well as Surulere.”A source at zone D area Command said the police were carrying out investigations to ascertain how he was released from prison.
“Last year he was charged to court for murder but last month he mysteriously regained his freedom. Investigations will reveal this in due course,” she said.
Meanwhile, Police sources said that the ease at which remanded murder suspects were being released without due process was becoming worrisome.
A police source said the problem was both troubling for witnesses and policemen.
“The rate at which these criminals are being released from prison is becoming alarming and if it is not curbed, witnesses will not be coming forward anymore. Imagine writing a statement against a killer and the killer is released! What do you think would be the fate of witnesses?
“The judiciary needs to checkmate this if not, the war on cultism will not be won.”
From a reliable source ,there is a kingpin of the hoodlums who lives at Ereko street facilitating the release of the cultist."The kingpin himself was arrested sometime last month and guns and ammunition found in his house but to the chargrin and surprise of even Policemen he was released based on other from above" said the source who does not want his name in prints.
People also believes in the involvement of a high ranking Police Officer and some Lagos State Politicians who have been protecting the cultist.

Serial murderer and Cultist Arrested by the Police

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a 32-year-old man, Adigun Muda, in connection with some  murders in the Mushin and Fadeyi areas of the state.

Livingstone.Com learnt that the suspect a stammerer  was arrested at South Africa Visa Application centre on Billingsway, Ikeja.

According to police authorities, the suspect, who is also an alleged leader of Black Axe cult popularly known as AYE, has been linked to the killings of over 10 youths between 2010 and 2013.

The police added that the suspect had  in the past, been declared wanted by the police, charged for murder thrice and was remanded at Ikoyi Prison for over a year.

According to police sources, each time Adigun is charged with murder at a magistrate’s court, the suspect, with the help of some influential members of his community, was able to obtain a motion for bail application and  released under controversial circumstances.

It was learnt that after his release, the suspect allegedly went after those who had collaborated with the police to arrest him.The suspect according to the police is a cold blooded murderer who does not flinch .

The suspect was said to have killed more youths in the area and was declared wanted again by the police. All attempts to arrest him had proved abortive.

However, it was learnt that a team of policemen attached to Area D Command, Mushin, remained on Muda’s trail.

It was learnt that the resilience paid off last Thursday when the policemen, led by the Area Commander, ACP Omololu Bishi, arrested him at the visa application centre with travel documents.

A police source said, “Around 2pm on that day, a team of policemen on patrol duty, rushed to the scene and arrested the suspect.

“We found forged documents on him including a fake identity card portraying the suspect as a supervisor with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency.

“Upon interrogation, he confessed that he was a member of Black Axe Confraternity, and had killed many people. He mentioned other members of his gang and we will continue to make more arrests. We have transferred him to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.”

Policemen attached to the Homicide Department at the SCID told Livingstone.com that investigations were on to unravel the mystery behind Muda’s previous releases.

A police detective said, “We did our job and charged this guy (Muda) to court. We have arrested and charged him three times but he continues to find his way out of prison. This frustrates our job and we want the government to look into this.”

Muda’s arrest ignited celebrations in Mushin as youths narrated some of their experiences in the hands of the suspect.

A victim, Toheeb Sodiq, who spoke to our correspondent from the hospital bed, said he was shot three times by the suspect.

He said, “On August 4, 2013, I was at the entrance of Lawani Street when four armed men led by Muda, started shooting at me and left me for dead. They shot me three times. Muda and his gang members have been terrorising us for a long time. This is indeed an achievement for the police.”

Police sources told our correspondent that Muda was the one who led thugs to wreak havoc at a naming ceremony on Alhaji Lasisi Street.

Livingstone.com  had reported on May 20, 2013, that at the naming ceremony on Alhaji Ota Street, the suspect and his gang members shot one Yinka and later killed three others in an attack that lasted for three days.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that policemen had beefed up security in Mushin as Muda’s gang members were said to have threatened to carry out reprisals for his arrest.

Meanwhile rumour going round the Town says his sponsors has vowed to get him released at all cost.His mentor was said to have been arrested by Men of the Lagos State SARS some few weeks back but was released based on order from above.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed Muda’s arrest to our correspondent on the telephone.

“The suspect has been transferred to the SCID. Investigations will reveal all his crimes,” she said.

In a new twist a woman who claims to be the mother of Muda and a man who also claim to be the brother have been going round media houses claiming Adigun was not a bad boy though he had actually gone to jail thrice but some people believe this to be the usual gimmick employed by Adigun sponsors to rent a mother and some other people whom often claim to be family members.

Maidan Community:A forgotten Land

The acronym, Centre of Excellence, might be associated with Lagos State government, but inhabitants of Maidan, a riverine community in the state would definitely kick at the mention of it.
It is not in doubt that the present administration in the state has committed enormous resources to make Lagos a truly mega city, yet inhabitants of Maidan believe that that appellation is better kept in the cooler
Maidan community is located within the precinct of Isheri-Ikosi Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, and with an estimated five thousand inhabitants. The community is less than five minutes drive from the ever-busy Mile 12 market. Accessing Maidan village through the market via Oniyanrin Street was a smooth drive until the end of the street.
The road from Mile 12 to the end of Oniyanrin Street was well tarred and quite motor able, but just as the visitor descends from the vehicle to enter into Maidan, life becomes very unbearable and not worth living.
Livingstone.Com learn t that the General Buba Marwa administration in the state had planned a bridge to link the community with the rest of the state, but that dream was short-lived with the advent of democracy in 1999. Since then, it has been tales of woes for residents of the community. The motor bridge that administration reportedly embarked upon at the eve of its departure was turned into a pedestrian bridge which was reportedly completed by the people of the community when the pedestrian bridge was allegedly abandoned.
For residents of the community, life has been very unfair to them as there are no noticeable government-owned schools or health facilities. Government pipe-borne water is completely alien to the people, while inhabitant, though like most Nigerians, provided their own electricity. Needless to mention that there is no basic recreational facility in the community.
Hundreds of children of the community braved the odds to attend schools in Mile 12 and Ketu areas of the state, which could be quite risky during rainy period, as the community is always nearly submerged by floods. Sometimes during the rains, these children make the journey to their respective schools on canoes, and it is the same with officer workers and market women from the community. Put succinctly, Maidan village is completely cut off from the rest of the world.
Chief Mukalia Runsewe is the Asiwaju of Maidanland. In a telephone chat, Chief Runsewe lamented the living conditions in Maidan. Claiming that the community usually participate actively in the installation of successive governments in the state, the community leader maintained that there two polling booths in the community which were usually filled to the brim during elections. He, therefore, called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to come to the rescue of the people of the community so that they could be connected to the world.
But a resident of the community, identified as Oloyede Binuoku was more furious with the neglect of the community by successive government s in the state. According to Binuoku, “When people from other places ask us where we stay, we tend to tell them that we live in Lagos. The truth is that we are within Lagos but we are not really staying in Lagos. This is because our own Lagos is different from their Lagos. Apart from this, living in the community is just like living 30 years behind modernization. The closest place to our community is Oniyanrin. When you are at Oniyanrin, you will see that the street there is well tarred with paving stones and is also illuminated with street lights. But surprisingly, the tarred road stopped at the end of Oniyanrin once you are approaching Maidan,” Binuoku said.
Another resident, Olawale Thompson, claimed that apart from the Oniyanrin road, no other one connecting the community to the rest of Lagos, except a footpath leading to Owode Onirin. According to Thompson, “It was the Buba Marwa administration that made attempt to build the pedestrian bridge for us when he was the state military administrator. But unfortunately, after he left, the bridge was abandoned and a footbridge built instead. When you look at it very well to the foot of the bridge, it was not completed and it was the effort of the community that the bridge was built to connect the community,” he said.
Thompson further claimed that the footpath leading to Owode Onirin is “permanently rendered impassable during the raining season for both vehicle owners and pedestrians. In short the community is totally disconnected from the outside world,” he said.
In the same vein, Tolani Ajisegiri, an elder in the community, while speaking said, “Can you imagine there is no single government hospital or health centre in Maidan? No primary or secondary schools primary and even electricity.”
Efforts to speak with Chairman of Isheri-Ikosi Local Council Development Area was futile, but a source in the local council claimed that the chairman places the interest of the community at heart and has been working to ensure that government presence is felt in the community.
The source who declined to be mentioned, says, “The complaints of some people is unnecessary. The reason is because the chairman and his management team have been working hard to ensure that Maidan got a major facelift and that he is ready to achieve. But these things don not in one day; it takes some time but we will get there,” the source said.