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Lagos task force raids Fela Shrine, black-spots, arrests 124 suspects
Lagos State Taskforce has raided the popular Fela Shrine, several notorious black spots known for illegal drug peddling, hooliganism, and criminal activities around Aminkanle Market, NerdC Street by African Fela Shrine in Agidingbi Area of Ikeja, and environs, arresting at least 124 suspects in the process.
The suspects were alleged to have converted the area to trading pavilion for hard drug markets, restaurants, liquor- pubs, located on road, thereby causing serious human/vehicular traffic obstructions as well as serious environmental nuisance and attendant health risk on residents.
The night raid, led by the Chairman of the agency, Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, Adetayo Akerele, took place late at the weekend during the peak period when the illegal drug peddlers and street traders carry out their nefarious activities.
Their activities, he said also contravene the laid down environmental laws of the state through indiscriminate and unguided use of drugs, disposal of waste materials into the gutters, environmental nuisance which are likely to cause breach of peace in the metropolis.
Akerele described the raids which will be a continuous exercise, as a step made in the interest of the general public who have petitioned and sent several complaints over the menace of those suspected drug addicts, peddlers, street traders which also encourages criminality around the African Shrine, belonging to the popular Afro Beat Maestro, late Fela Anikulapo- Kuti and run by his family members, in the area.
Some of the locations he maintained serve as safe haven for criminals where they also live and raise up families.
Akerele stressed that; “The activities of these suspected criminals at Aminkanle Area of Agbado, Jobi Fele Road by African Shrine, and NerdC Street, especially at night is dangerous to humanity at all levels. The clean-up become necessary in the interest of environmental serenity, safety, sanity and maintenance of Lagos State’s Mega City status.
“They sell all manner of drugs indiscriminately there which is counter-productive to the society and they also contribute immensely to traffic build-up on adjoining roads at night when workers who have spent all day at work still shave to spend hours to get home. It is unfair to residents of this area and we will ensure that it is completely stamp out.”
Akerele reiterated the stance of Lagos State Government and the State Commissioner of Police Mr. Fayoade Adegoke, who maintained that all hands must be on deck to ensure that all notorious black spots known for high level criminality in the state becomes a thing of the past.
He disclosed that the agency is working hard to ensure that the environment is preserved as prescribed in-line with the THEMES PLUS agenda of the State Government.
The chairman, therefore, appealed to all other criminally minded individuals or groups to desist from the acts or face the wrath of the laws.
Akerele therefore, urged residents who have useful tips concerning black-spots, illicit trading on hard drugs or any other useful information on environmental infractions to contact the agency through the social media handles or come forth with them to the Headquarters of the agency at Bolade, for appropriate action.
Meanwhile, the taskforce boss revealed that a total of 124 suspects were arrested and carefully screened and those found wanting will be taken to Magistrate Court for prosecution on Monday.
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Oba of Benin to withdraw suit as Okpebholo restores rights
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and the Benin Traditional Council may withdraw the suits they filed against the state government as Governor Monday Okpebholo, on Sunday, restored the full statutory rights of the Oba and reversed the policies of the previous administration that impacted the Benin Traditional Council.
A statement on Sunday by Okepebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, said the governor abolished the new traditional councils in Edo South created by the immediate-past governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Okpebholo also backed the Federal Government’s recognition of the Oba’s palace as the custodian of repatriated Benin artefacts looted during the 1897 British colonial expedition.
Providing an insight into the governor’s gesture, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie, said it signaled the resolution of the crisis between the Oba of Benin and the Edo State government leading to lawsuits duringt the Obaseki’s administration.
Osagies said, “The cases in court are cases which the Oba of Benin himself and the Benin Traditional Council instituted against the state government, and they are all civil matters. And you know that in civil suit or in any suit, parties are encouraged to settle amicably.
“So, if the parties are already settling and one side is already meeting the condition of settlement, the next step you are going to hear is that the party who went to court, which is the Oba of Benin, and the Benin Traditional Council, will instruct their counsel to withdraw the cases from court and that will be the end of the matter.
“The two parties are now settling for harmony and peace to reign, so the government is doing its own side of it.
“This statement is a prelude to discontinuing all legal proceedings with respect to the twin issues of the concession of the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre by government to the Benin Traditional Council for 30 years and the creation of additional councils.”
The statement by Okepebholo’s Chief Press Secretary outlined the administration’s commitment to restoring the dignity and authority of the Benin monarch.
“This administration also hereby abolishes the new traditional councils in Edo South, created by the last administration,” the statement noted.
Additionally, Governor Okpebhol revoked the decision of the Obaseki’s administration to convert the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre into a motor park.
The government announced plans to restore the cultural centre to its original purpose.
“This administration is restoring the Oba Akenzua Centre to a suitable condition for its original purpose,” the statement added.
The governor also reinstated the financial entitlements of the Benin Traditional Council, ordering that the status quo before the creation of the abolished councils be maintained.
According to the statement, Okpebholo affirmed support for the Federal Government’s official gazette, which recognizes the Oba of Benin as the rightful owner and custodian of the repatriated Benin artefacts.
He also distanced his administration from the Museum of West Africa Art, instead backing the Benin Royal Museum project to house the artefacts.
“The Federal Government has also issued a gazette for the recognition of ownership and custody of the repatriated Benin artefacts to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II,” the statement explained. “Governor Okpebholo respects the rights and privileges of the traditional ruler of Benin kingdom… and pledges the support of his administration to ensure the monarch plays his role as the custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.”
Okpebholo reiterated his administration’s respect for traditional institutions and vowed to avoid interference in the internal affairs of the Benin Traditional Council. “The Oba of Benin, as the father of all Benin people, is the sole custodian of the customs and traditions of the Benin people, and my administration respects customs and traditions in the land,” he stated, emphasising the government’s efforts to uphold the cultural and historical integrity of the Benin Kingdom.
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Oyedepo’s jet can’t leave private airstrip without clearance – Keyamo
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Sunday said there was no way the private plane of privileged Nigerians, including the Founder and Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Bible Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, can leave the country directly from their airstrips without first securing clearance from relevant authorities.
Keyamo made the clarification when he was featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
His statement comes barely two months after members of the House of Representatives called for a revocation of airstrip licences issued to certain individuals and private organisations, citing security reasons.
The House also called for an immediate halt to new airstrip licences for individuals and organisations.
But Keyamo insisted that there was no way a plane or drone, even if it belongs to the military, can leave or come into the country without first getting a nod from the agency.
When asked if the airstrip of Oyedepo also passed through the same due process, Keyamo nodded.
He said, “Oh yes, absolutely. That’s no problem. They were only concerned about the fact that they thought that somebody can take off from a private airstrip and fly out of Nigeria or fly into Nigeria. It is not possible.
“You must land in an international airport first. Then the Customs, immigration and NDLEA will process you before you take off from there to your private airstrip. If you are also flying out, you must land at an international airport. You will go through Customs, immigration and all the normal process before flying out.
“So nobody uses an airstrip for any such purpose without seeking clearance. At every point in time, the authorities must approve.”
When quizzed on how many airstrips the country is operating at the moment, Keyamo said they are in the range of 40.
“We have a number of them, more than 40. For the federal airport, we have 23. The state airport has about eight or nine now.
“And then the airstrips are about 40 or thereabouts. I have been there myself,” he stated.
News
Abia bans unauthorised free medical outreaches
The Abia State Ministry of Health has reacted to the hospitalisation of some persons who attended a free medical outreach in Abiriba, Ohafia LGA, on Saturday, saying that the distribution of drugs to the public by uncertified persons was without the authorisation of the state government.
The Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, who said this in a press release on Sunday, said that the organisers of the medical outreach did not obtain approval from the state government before embarking on the exercise.
He therefore announced that any medical outreach without authorisation from the Ministry of Health is illegal and can put the health of Abia people in jeopardy, warning that those who do so would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
DAILY POST recalls that many people were rushed to the hospital on Saturday at Abiriba after developing some medical emergencies on return from the medical outreach organised by a group.
According to Processor Uche, preliminary reports indicated that medications distributed during the outreach may have caused adverse drug reactions among unsuspecting recipients, even as he said that the identified victims of these untoward medical events are currently receiving medical attention at designated public health facilities within the state.
“Our dedicated healthcare personnel are working assiduously to stabilise and treat affected people. The Abia State Ministry of Health is deeply concerned by the dire consequences and high risk posed by unauthorised healthcare activities. We wish to hereby warn the public to be cautious of individuals and groups organising unapproved healthcare events,” said the health commissioner.
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