THE NATION FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014
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CITYBEATS I joined robbery gang in error, says suspect A
21-year-old man has relived how he took to a life of crime. Osas Solomon told the police that he was misled by a friend, Alexander Saleh (35), who introduced him into fraternity”, which turned out to be a robbery gang. Osas, who is being held with Saleh for alleged armed robbery by the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), said it became dangerous for him to quit when he discovered that he had joined a robbery gang. Solomon, who claims to be a fashion designer, from Benin, the Edo State Capital, said: “I learnt fashion and designs from my sister, Vivian, who is based in Ajah, a Lagos suburb. My sister also helped to train me in computer at Bassiano Computer Institute situated at Ado Lamgbassa around Owode. My parents moved to Edo State a month ago as a result of my father’s retirement from a telecoms company, but he’s now with a gas station in Benin.
By Ebele Boniface
“Though my sister taught me fashion and designs, she later employed me to work for her. On the average, my takehome pay every month ranged from N10,000 to N20,000; same amount she spent in training me before employing me. “I was not a criminal. It was an electrician called Sunday, who hails from Ondo State, who lured me into crime by asking me to join their fraternity or risk being shot dead whenever their leader decided my fate. He threatened that I would die if I failed to join them. He called me a Jew. The gang members usually put on army uniforms, especially army camouflage.” Following the threat, Osas went to see Alexandar, a family friend who he usually sees with members of the fraternity. Alexander, he said, assured him that he had taken a good decision by joining the group. Besides, he said Alexander advised him not to hesitate to
participate in the group’s other activities. “Sunday came with a bag containing guns when Alexander invited him to come and show the gang members the proof that they meant business. Along the line, we wanted to sideline our soldier friend, but he got wind of our plans and played along with us. Realising that we were with guns, he drove us straight to Ajah Police Station, where he shouted: “I am carrying armed robbers,” Solomon said, adding that, Sunday escaped through the car window. He said he was arrested with Saleh and transferred to SARS. But Saleh, who he dropped out of the military school in Zaria, Kaduna State, Senior Secondary (SS) 11, claimed to be informant to the soldier that arrested them. He added: “Osas told me that one of his friends in Benin would visit him and asked me to meet him on NEPA Road which soldiers guard. He told me that following his
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Students’ union honours Lagos monarch
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•The suspects
friend’s threat, I should join their fraternity for us to be getting money. We then prepared to go for an armed robbery in Ajah without the soldier knowing our plan. Even police did not know that my
plan was to follow the gang to operate in Ajah. It was a big mistake. I would have told the police my plan or even the soldier who handed us over to them when he discovered that we wanted to go and rob.”
‘I doubt if my wife is okay’ OUR marriage started having trouble in 2006 after I received an unusual call that my wife took ill. Since then, I have not known peace. “ These were the words of an Ogun State-born electrical engineer, Yahaya Taiwo, as he prayed the Customary Court in Alakuko, a Lagos suburb, to dissolve his 32year-old marriage to Modinat for allegedly being trou-
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By Basirat Braimah
blesome. The petitioner said: “I first brought her before the court in 2012, but I was prevailed upon by her relations to withdraw the case. Though I once followed my wife to different churches to seek spiritual solution to her strange ailment, she always alleged that I wanted to use her for ritual. Her attitude has be-
come repulsive. “Whenever she sees me with any other woman, she accuses me of having an affair with her. It’s been three days since she left home and I have no idea of her whereabouts. Even our son is in support of the divorce case. I don’t know if she is mentally okay. I am fed up.” Modinat, a food vendor, told the court that she does not know what is wrong
with her. She said: “When I married my husband, he had no kobo. I used to have a big restaurant. But, it all became history when the strange illness began, resulting in acute tiredness. I now find it hard to sleep. “As I speak, I am spiritually tired. I am always restless and feel terribly hot from the inside. I had to leave the house for a church three days
ago because I was fed up. I wasn’t like this before; I know I’m under a spiritual attack. My husband would give me N200 for three days, even if I can’t eat.” She added: “I still love my husband.” The court’s President, Pa Adekunle Williams, advised Taiwo to be patient because it was a phase they would overcome. He adjourned the case till January 26 for mediation.
HE West African Students Union Parliament (WASUP) has honoured Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye (Sateru II), the Ojomu of Ajiran, Lagos State, with the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Honour 2014 Exemplary Leadership Award. The award was yesterday presented to him by the students’ parliament led by its coordinator, Daniel Nwachukwu. Speaker of WASUP, Rt. Hon. Saint Solomon of the University of Ghana, Legon, said Oba Akinloye was honoured for his contributions toward youth development and human capital development in the subregion. Solomon was represented by Comrade William Dannah of Ghana Technology University College (GTUC). The monarch said: “This is one of the awards that have come naturally. I do not know how they arrived at my name without soliciting for it. For the vibrant students to have thought about me, I cherish it so much.” Other prominent Nigerian holders of the award include: Hon. Justice Muhammed Uwais, former Chief Justice of the Federation; Cardinal John Onayekan; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar; Mrs Alaba Lawson, Iyalode of Nigeria and former Governor of Kano State, Col. Asani Bello. The event was witnessed by Olori Taibat Akinloye, Chief Ashimiyu Fadipe, Olotu of Ajiran; Paul Hamann of University de Yaunde; Ozima Yammeh of University of Gambia and Dayo Ige of Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.