MAN DIES WATCHING FOOTBALL

A forty-year-old man, Moshood Ismail, on Sunday collapsed and died at a viewing centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while watching the match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Elephants of Cote. Ismail, a father of two and an engineer with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, caused a commotion inside the viewing centre when he suddenly collapsed in the early minutes of the game. An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that Ismail became agitated and later collapsed when an Ivorien defender deflected a goal-bound shot from Victor Moses. Ismail’s neighbor, Taiwo Adebayo, who was also at the viewing centre when the incident occurred, said, “He (Ismail) fell on the ground and immediately started foaming in the mouth before he later died.” It was learnt that he was immediately rushed to Success Medical Clinic where no doctor was available to attend to him. Adebayo said that Ismail was, however, given some first aid treatment before he was taken to another hospital. He added that Ismail died on the way to the hospital he was referred to. He said, “We were together when the match started. When Moses fired a shot and it was deflected by an opposing player, he (Ismail) fell and started foaming in the mouth. “We immediately rushed him to a clinic. When we got to Success Medical Clinic, the doctor was not available and the nurses gave him first aid treatment. “He was referred to another hospital (First Alpha). But on our way, the vehicle gear got damaged and we took a taxi. “When we got to the hospital, the doctor confirmed him dead. But the Medical Director, Success Medical Clinic, Sulaiman Kolawole, said that Ismail was brought into his clinic dead, adding that efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful. Kolawole said the death was due to excessive intake of carbon dioxide which resulted in “anoxia”. He said, “The man was brought in dead. It is supposed to be a heart attack, because he looked weak, like someone who had been sick for a very long time. “He looked like someone who was managing his life and was now in the midst of a crowd with shortage of oxygen in that area. We call it anoxia, which is excessive intake of carbon dioxide persistently for a long period of time. But it was late before he was brought here.” Ismail’s widow, Tawakalitu Temilola, told our correspondent at their Abeokuta home that her husband’s sudden death was still like a dream. Sobbing profusely, Tawakalitu said that hours before the match started, her husband in company with some of his friends left the house. There was no hint that he would die. She said Ismail, who survived an accident about two months ago, left behind octogenarian parents. She said, “He was involved in an accident about two months ago. The accident was fatal but he survived. So, this incident is like a dream but we give thanks to Almighty Allah.” PUNCH

BOMBSCARE IN THE SEAT OF POWER

Confusion enveloped the Federal Capital Territory on Monday following the reported planting of a bomb at the Nigerian Postal Services in Area 10, Abuja. Many FCT residents became apprehensive as they sent out text messages, warning their friends and relations to steer clear of the NIPOST office. Our correspondent learnt that the police anti-bomb squad arrived at the scene and removed a package suspected to be Improvised Explosive Device from the post office premises. The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr. Aderenle Shinaba, who briefed reporters on the scare, however, said there was no bomb explosion in any part of the territory. He said what was rumoured as explosion was the sound from a controlled detonation carried out on the suspected package by men of the anti-bomb squad. Shinaba said following information received by the command on the object about 10 a.m., men from the Explosive Ordnance Department were dispatched to the scene. He said, “ The true position is that there was no bomb anywhere in Abuja today (Monday). At about 10am, we got information that there is something that was packaged in a carton that looked like bomb at the gate of NIPOST in Area 10. And because of the security situation in the country generally, the people became apprehensive and they were scared, so we had to move in promptly.” The commissioner stated that in order to avoid a similar incident in Kaduna State where an explosion went off and killed a policeman, the anti-bomb squad men, examined the object first before carrying out a pseudo-detonation. He said, “It was that noise of controlled detonation that sent shivers down the spines of many people and rumours flew around. At the end of the day, what we discovered was that it was a package containing sand as well as tiles. There was nothing to indicate that it had anything to do with any form of explosive. It has nothing to do with Improvise Explosived Device.’’ The CP urged the residents to go about their businesses, saying there was no cause for alarm. The Postmaster-General of the Federation, Ibrahim Baba, had earlier told journalists that the parcel was kept there last Friday by a suspected lunatic. PUNCH

IMO STATE JUDICIARY BEGINS INDEFINITE STRIKE OVER MINIMUM WAGE

Imo judiciary workers begin indefinite strike… Over minimum wage From VAL OKARA, Owerri Staffers of Imo State judiciary will today commence an indefinite strike to press home their grievances over alleged selective implementation of the minimum wage at the expense of the workers in the state judiciary by the Governor Rochas Okorocha administration. This was contained in a communiqué issued after a general meeting of the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). The communiqué, signed by the state Chairman, Aloka Kenneth; Secretary, Elder Rufus Abanobi and the Public Relations Officer, Christian Nwachukwu, also enumerated efforts by the union to amicably settle the dispute with the state government without resorting to industrial action. It was also noted that JUSUN national headquarters had also written to the state government on four occasions on the matter without any response from the state. According to the communiqué, the union had already exhausted the 21-day and 14-day statutory notices for industrial action without any reasonable response from the state government. Daily Sun gathered that national officers of the union, Habila J. Dacep, National Legal Adviser; Mrs Victoria Folake Lanro, National Vice President, North Central and Mr. Celestine Chukwu national organizing secretary were consequently dispatched to the state to officially declare the commencement of the industrial action. Dacep, who spoke on behalf of the national officers, said the strike was endorsed by the national headquarters of the union in accordance with the provisions of Article 29 of the JUSUN constitution. Not too long ago, the Body of Chief Judges in Nigeria met and reviewed the conditions of service of staff in the nation’s judiciary. In its communiqué, Body of Chief Judges recommended a Consolidated Salary Structure for Judiciary Staff (CONJUSS) in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. However, state chapters of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) were given the privilege to go to their different states and territories to negotiate the implementation of the CONJUSS. “After series of negotiations, the Ohakim administration agreed to pay Imo judiciary staff what was called Enhanced Welfare Conditions of Service for all staff of Imo State judiciary which amounted to 50 per cent of the benchmark nationally provided by CONJUSS. “Consequently, it brought the minimum wage of judiciary staff in Imo to N17, 736.25k. Government, however, agreed to upgrade this Enhanced Condition of Service as time and economic convenience would permit. The agreement was signed and implemented in 2010.” However, when the Okorocha administration implemented the N20, 000 minimum wage, the emoluments of the judiciary staff were not reconciled to reflect the minimum wage and as such were excluded from the improved minimum wage. Efforts by the union to get government to respect the agreement signed with it in 2010 had not been fruitful till date. THE SUN

POLICE IN OYO STATE SEALS MONARCH'S PALACE

By AKEEB ALARAPE Tension enveloped Oyo at the weekend as about 250 armed policemen swooped on the Ashipa Palace at Isale Oyo and sealed the premises off. In what looked like a commando operation, the policemen arrived the premises in 15 patrol vehicles and accompanied by two Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicles. Although nobody was arrested, women and children as well as owners of shops adjoining the palace were also chased away by the security men. The personal vehicle, a KIA Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) of the head of Ashipa family and Alago of Ago-Oja, Chief Ganiyu Busari Ajiboye was taken away by the policemen. Speaking with Daily Sun on the incident, embattled Ajiboye said he was yet to be accused of any crime or wrongdoing. “The boy that was met at the palace challenged the police on the rationale for the invasion and demanded for their charge warrant, but they could not produce any. “He asked them for any court order to justify their action, the policemen told him they were acting on the verbal order from the above . “You remember that I was taken to court upper week for impersonation and remanded in prison but God came to my rescue and I was able to perfect my bail conditions. So, I don’t know what else I have done to warrant this injustice and executive high-handedness. “The palace is my ancestral home and not government property. My car that was taken away was bought by myself and not from government. I don’t know my offence,” Ajiboye said. When contacted on the incident yesterday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Oyo State command, Mr. Abiodun Lanade, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said he was not around at the weekend to know what actually happened as he travelled out of the state. “I have not been around . So, I can’t attend to your enquiry until tomorrow when I get to the office,” Lanade stated. Informed sources at Isale-Oyo told Daily Sun that about 35 fully armed policemen were still occupying the Ashipa palace as at yesterday. 0 Email Share

CAPITAL OIL MAGNATE, IFEANYI UBAH FILE CONTEMPT CHARGE

February 4, 2013 19 Comments » Legal crisis between Capital Oil and Access Bank Plc, deepened last Friday as a businessman, Ifeanyi Ubah and his firm took a fresh step to convict the bank for alleged contempt. In form 48 filed against the bank, Ubah alleged that Access Bank and some of its principal officers failed to comply with an order of a Federal High Court at the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench division, Commercial Court, London, ordering the bank to withdraw the suit filed against him relating to the dispute between them over a purported loan. They alleged that rather than withdraw the London suit as ordered on January 28 by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos, the bank allegedly went before the foreign court on January 31 and got a fresh order directing them, Ubah and his company to among others, take steps to vacate all orders made by the Nigerian court. Justice Abang had on January 28 ordered Access Bank to discontinue the London suit within 48 hours and exhibit a notice of discontinuance at the next hearing date. The judge, in a ruling, faulted the bank’s decision to secure an order from a London Court despite a subsisting order of his court barring Access Bank and others from interfering with the property and business interests of Capital Oil and Gas Limited pending the determination of a suit by Ubah and his company. The judge upheld argument by lawyer to Ubah, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) that, by heading for London over a dispute in relation to a transaction that took place in Nigeria, the bank had “ridiculed the Nigerian judiciary.” Justice Abang restrained the bank from enforcing the order made by the London Court against the assets and business interests of Capital Oil. 0 Email Share

two sons killed lecturer dad…Over N45m retirement pay-off

From Judex Okoro, Calabar Tragedy struck the University of Calabar (UNICAL) community in Cross River State as Prof. Nathaniel Bassey was allegedly murdered by his sons over N45million pension pay-off. Investigations revealed that the late Prof. Bassey, 67, was allegedly killed by his two sons, Ekemini and Odiong, with the hope of collecting the amount. The duo, family sources said, had been having a running battle with their late father on finance, sometimes leading to disagreement and confrontation. Ekemini, 25, was said to be a thorn in the flesh of his late father as he had been threatening to deal with him if he did not meet up with his financial demands. The source revealed that on several occasions, the son had made away with fat sums of money belonging to the late lecturer and warned him not to ever dare complain to anybody as it would be disastrous for the lecturer. The development led to the late professor hiding so many documents from the son just as he never trusted the suspect with his bedroom key nor allowed him access to his office keys. The sudden change in character of Ekemini allegedly started when he was studying Economics at a university in Lagos where he joined a cult group and was expelled in year two while his brother, Odiong, did the same thing and was also rusticated. The two sons, who are dropouts have been making frivolous demands from the late Bassey even when they knew that he was not financially strong. Prof. Bassey, the source noted, was said to have complained to some of his colleagues that his children were allegedly terrorizing and intimidating him into borrowing money to meet their demands in most cases and that was not going down well with him. Even at that, the two suspects were not satisfied as they discreetly plotted to eliminate their father, having learnt that he was about to collect his pension running into millions of naira. Penultimate week, Ekemini and his brother were said to have carried out their threat by allegedly killing their father. They dropped a big knife beside him to create an impression that the professor committed suicide, out of frustration. However, luck ran out on the susepcts when after snuffing life out of their father, hired an ambulance to convey the corpse to Nsit Ubium, Akwa Ibom State for burial, while Ekemini was arrested by the security agents, his brother escaped. The security agents got wind of the murder through a tip-off by neighbours at the university staff quarters where the deceased lived and some staff of the Economics Department of the university. The neighbours had suspected a foul-play when they started noticing unusual movement and arrival of ambulance at Prof’. Baasey’s residence and decided to rally round students to find out what happened just as they quickly alerted the school security for intervention. Eyewitnesses said the students and neighbours broke into Bassey’s residence, only to find him lying in a pool of blood with a knife beside him. Ekemini was said to have gone to his father’s office in the department and allegedly removed some vital documents to enable him process the pension benefits even when one of ‘Oga’s’ secretaries tried to stop him, knowing that his late father could not have allowed him access to his office. As at Press time, Ekemini was being interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Calabar, for his role in the murder. In a telephone chat with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Simon James Utsalo, over the death of Prof Bassey, a retired lecturer in the Economics department, he said: “Well, we cannot comment on the matter because it is a criminal case and police are handling it, so, we are still awaiting the official report. Besides, the autopsy report is not out; when it is out, we will now know what killed him.” The officer-in-charge, Homicide unit, SCID, Mr. Joseph Inuyashi and the state command’s spokesman, Mr. John Umoh, told newsmen that they are still investigating the incident just as they are still haunting for one of the sons, Odiong, who is on the run. Police sources said that Ekemini had allegedly confessed during interrogation that they stabbed their father three times on different parts of the body and stuffed his mouth with old newspapers so that he will not shout in the process. Pleading not to be killed, he was said to have confessed that they got some clues that their father who was teaching on contract after his retirement was about to be paid benefits and gratuity of N45 million and decided to kill him so that the money would be paid to them as the next of kin. One of Ekemini brothers, who does not want his name in print, told our reporter on phone: “I was not surprised that he killed our father because he has been a bad son for a while even when our daddy tried everything possible to manage him. “Ekeminin was sent to a university in Lagos to study Economics and he went and joined cult and was expelled in year two, while Odiong did the same thing. So, their nefarious activities did not start today and they have ended it up killing our father. I urged the police to kill them because they will still come out and do the worst,” he alleged. Pleading with the school authorities to look into their plight, he said they are nine children and their father is the only breadwinner. At the staff quarters where the late professor lived all the while, the residents are worried at such ugly development, and urged the school to beef up security as well as review allocation of quarters. Some of Bassey’s colleagues argued that students, which indeed are a security threat, illegally occupy most of the houses at the staff village. Daily Sun gathered that the body had since been deposited at the mortuary while burial arrangements have not been released. 0 Email Share

POLICEMAN KILLS COLLEAGUE OVER FOOD

From TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure A trigger-happy police officer, Kazeem Sheu (ASP) attached to Ajagba Divisional Police Station in Irele at the weekend gunned down his junior officer, Inspector Adelakun Lawal at a beer palour in Ondo town for allegedly arguing with him. The two officers, it was learnt, were long-time good friends until the tragic incident. The duo was said to have gone to the beer parlour located at Ejankole Street in Okerowo area in Ondo town at about 5pm to relax but in the course of their discussion an argument ensued between them, which later degenerated into a hot verbal exchange. The eyewitness stated further that all efforts by others to broker peace failed as the two friends later engaged each other in verbal assaults. According to the eyewitness, out of annoyance, the ASP brought out a pistol and shot the late inspector at close range. The inspector was reported to have fallen down after he was shot several times. The ASP attempted to run away when he noticed that the junior officer was dying but the people around prevented him from escaping. The quick intervention of some mobile policemen saved the officer from mob action as he sustained injuries from the mob. The inspector died on the way to the state Specialist Hospital in Ondo town. His corpse was later deposited at the hospital’s mortuary. The victim, until his untimely death, served as a police prosecutor at an Ondo Chief Magistrate Court. The command spokesperson, Donald Odogo, who confirmed the incident said the killer officer had been transfered to the state CID for further interrogation. SUN