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THE NATION MONDAY, JULY 4, 2011

CITY BEATS

Ex-Editor sends SOS to BPE

E toiled for years to get a roof over his head. Now that he should be enjoying the fruit of his labour, he is being threatened with eviction from the property he bought in 1989. Mr Ojo Bejide, former Production Editor of Daily Times, acquired the property, which is now in dispute on owner-occupier basis. The house was allocated to him in the Daily Times Estate in Satellite Town, Lagos, by the management. Other workers also benefited from the scheme initiated by the management of The Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) Plc. Like others, Bejide paid installmentally for the house. The first payment was for N120,000; then he paid N300,000 and N380,000. But the purported buyers of DTN are claiming that he is owing N680,000 on the house. Bejide, 70, told CityBeats, that the General Manager, Daily Times Properties, Mr Innocent Nwankwo, wrote him that he is owing that amount. Denying owing the company, Bejide accused the management of being after

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FROM THE COURT

‘My husband is irresponsible’

the house he bought while in service. Displaying the receipts for the payment of the house, Bejide said the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) supervised the sale of the property, adding that all documents were given to him. He said he was shocked when the DTN management wrote the Satellite Town Residents Association that he is owing and did not meet the requirements for allocation. He said: "The house was allocated to me in 1989 and I offset the cost in August 2004. Even after my lawyer had sent the receipts showing I paid N800,000 in three installments, the company still insisted that I have not paid the money and this has been giving me sleepless nights. "We are two journalists in the estate currently being troubled for not paying fully for our houses. With the way they are selling available spaces in the estate, it will be foolhardy for me to continue to expect that a miracle wil happen." Bejide, who retired as Night Editor in February, 1996, said he did not know why the company's new

I could have gone to court to challenge their claim, but right now I cannot afford the cost of litigation. This is why I am calling on the BPE who supervised the sale of the properties and well-meaning Nigerians to come to my aid

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“I •Mr Bejide

management is after him, despite having retired before they came on board. He said he could not take the matter to court because of the high cost of litigation, adding that he is retired and not receiving any pension. “I could have gone to court to challenge their claim but right now I cannot afford the cost of litigation. This is why I am calling on the BPE who supervised the sale of the properties and wellmeaning Nigerians to come to my aid because it is very frustrating. It is painful as this age to be having constant trouble from the management over payments that I have offset since 2004," Bejide said. According to a letter sent to Bejide's lawyer, Nwankwo said: “The company's record has been amended provisionally in response to the claim. We shall view the originals during the physical allocation audit to be held in the last quarter of the year.” But, in another June 9 letter, Nwankwo through his lawyer, claimed that Bejide and another allottee have not fulfilled the conditions precedent for the allotment of plots.

Cleric hunts for soccer talents By Emmanuel Udodinma

•Dr Eniola

LERIC and sports administrator, Dr Caleb Eniola, has concluded plans to organise a football clinic for indigent players through his Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Eagle Global Association (EGA). He is partnering with the Association of Proprietors of Football Academies of Nigeria (APFAN) to stage a talent hunt programme to select football players that would be sent abroad for trials. Successful players, he said, will be sent to his NGO’s partner clubs in Paraguay, Canada, Europe and Asia to begin a career in football. “The screening and selection shall be carried out in the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on July 30, beginning from 6.30 am, and the selected ones, male and female, 17 to 25 years old shall

be distributed to aforementioned nations, according to their fitness. “To ensure that the best marketable materials are selected, registered players shall be thoroughly screened with international standard football requirements by football experts,” Eniola said at a press conference in Lagos. On what motivated him to begin the project, Eniola said it was in realisation of the potential of football to contribute to economic growth. “The benefits of football to the players as well as government in terms of economic development are enormous and tremendous. It’s no exaggeration to say that football as a profession is becoming a highly productive industry with pronounced capability to creating job opportunities for the youths. “A lot of football nations today depend on football to generate their revenue for sustainability, economic recovery and development. Nigeria is naturally blessed with talented players that would promote the nation within a short pace of time but we are too slow to realise this fact. “To be factual, Nigeria is progressing rapidly in sport creativity which is evident in

the support of given to this first of its kind programme by NFF, the governing body for APFAN and all other associate football bodies in Nigeria. “Regrettably, most of these players’ family backgrounds are factored with abject poverty. What a pitiable situation that those who are talented don’t have the money to sponsor themselves. “We are appealing to corporate organisations, governments and individuals to support this cause to enable our talented youths actualise their potentials and dream,” Eniola said.

WANT this court to dissolve my marriage as my husband often embarrasses and beats me after taking alcohol. “I want the court to dissolve the marriage so that I can be free from serious beating and constant embarrassment from this man,’’ a 39-year-old woman pleaded with a court in My husband L a g o s l a s t is not week. faithful. M r s He steals I y a b o my money Makinde, and never a petty t r a d e r , cared for me

had taken her husband, Saubana Makinde, 40, a butcher, to a Grade “A’’ Customary Court in Mushin over his drinking habit. She claimed that her husband of 22 years was not responsible and never cared for her and the five children of the union. “My husband is not faithful. He steals my money and never cared for me and the five children. The children, all female, are aged 22, 19, 17, 13 and nine. “We met and have been co-habiting but no bride price was paid. He is a liability to me as I have

been responsible for his upkeep,’’ Iyabo said. She said she packed out of the matrimonial home in October 2010. According to her, their first daughter is married while the second daughter lives with her parents in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The third child lives with her husband and the last two children stay with her. The Court President, Dr Abayomi Ipaye, after listening to the petitioner, noted that the respondent had been absent in court for three consecutive times. He adjourned the case till July 12 for judgment.

Court gives landlord ultimatum to repair dilapidated bungalow HE Grade “A” Customary Court in Mushin has given a landlord three months’ ultimatum to repair his dilapidated bungalow or have it sealed for environmental nuisance. The Court President, Dr Abayomi Ipaye , said the bungalow at No. 14, Agoro St., Mushin had defective roof, partially collapsed fence, cracked floor, dilapi-

dated toilets and decrepit bathrooms. He said if the landlord failed to rehabilitate the building within the period, the court would have no option than to seal it. The Mushin Local Government had on May 19 arraigned the landlord, Mr Babatunde Onitiri, over the environmental nuisance the building has constituted. The council’s Health Of-

ficer, Mr Raji Razak, had submitted that the building also lacked a kitchen. He said the nuisance contravened the Lagos State Environmental Law, 2003 and the Mushin Local Government Bye-Law, 2004. Onitiri had blamed the poor sanitation on refusal of a tenant in the building to pack out to pave way for repairs or outright demolition.

Lover in dock for allegedly stabbing EBORAH Suleiman, quarrel. boyfriend a “The has been arraigned complainant is in the

for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend with a kitchen knife on the nose and stomach. Suleiman is standing trial at the Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court on a one-count charge of causing grievous bodily affliction. She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mrs

Maimunat Folami, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum. Folami adjourned the case till July 6 for further hearing. Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Olakunle Shonibare, told the court that Suleiman allegedly stabbed her boyfriend, one Mr Tope Lawal, during

hospital with stitches on his nose and stomach, “Shonibare told the court. He alleged that the offence was committed on June 13 at about 9:30 a.m., at No. 19 Independent Drive, Igando, Lagos. He submitted that the offence contravened Section 338, Cap17 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State.

Housemaids arraigned for stealing N50m jewellery

HE police in Lagos have arraigned two housemaids who allegedly stole N50 million worth of jewellery belonging to the mother of a former gubernatorial candidate, Mr Jimmy Agbaje. The housemaids — Abibat Raji (23) and Joy Pater (22) — were said to be employed by Agbaje’s mother, Margret. They were arraigned on a two-count charge of con-

spiracy and stealing before an Igbosere Magistrates Court. Jimmy was the 2007 gubernatorial candidate of the Democratic People’s Alliance for Lagos State. The prosecutor, Insp. Francis Ifijen, said the accused stole the jewellery on June 17 at about midnight at Margret’s residence at Lekki. He said the assorted jewellery were in three bags.

Ifijen said the alleged offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, and were granted bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties each. Magistrate J.A. Adegun adjourned the case till July 14 for further hearing.

Assembly urges govt to watch rising kerosene price

HE LAGOS State House of Assembly has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to live up to ensuring adequate supply and pricing of petroleum products, particularly kerosine. The motion was moved by Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu 1). He said it was high time the Federal Government found a lasting solution to the recent hike in the supply and pricing of kerosine in the country. He said: “It is very sad and pathetic that a country that

By Oziegbe Okoeki

produces fuel could not provide enough kerosene for its citizenry and this has caused a lot of health hazards to people as some of them have resorted to the use of coal to prepare meals. The fuel that is supposed to serve people is being exported abroad at the expense of the masses and if we cannot cater for the needs of our people, what is the essence of the government because the 1999 Constitution stipulates that the government should provide for the welfare of the entire citizenry.”

Contributing, Ipoola Omisore (Ifako-Ijaye II), said it would amount to aggravating the people’s suffering if the House should wait for the Federal Government’s intervention on recent hike in kerosene price before the state government finds ways of alleviating the problem confronting people of Lagos State. He said: “If we wait for the government at the Federal level to halt the situation, things may go out of hand. I, therefore, want us to call on our Governor, Babatunde Fashola to find a lasting so-

lution to the increase in hike of kerosene in Lagos so as to make life bearable for the citizens because he (Governor) can ensure the petroleum product is bought in large quantity and made available for the people at affordable price.” Dayo Fafunmi (Ifako-Ijaye I) said the government should empower the task force to search every nook and cranny of the state to shut down any filling station that inflates the regulated price of kerosene so as to serve as deterrent to others.