THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012
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NEWS Third Mainland Bridge‘ll not be closed, says Lagos Commissioner
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•General Overseer of the Victorious Army Ministry International, Rev. Joseph Agbli, flanked on the left by Elder Victor Ola and Deacon Onyeka Chukwu Ezechina, at a press conference on the 17th Annual Convention of the church...yesterday. The two-day covention begins on Friday. PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLAMS
NDLEA arrests 246 suspects,
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HE Anambra and Enugu Commands of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have turned the heat on drug peddlers in the two Southeast states, arresting 246 suspects and seizing 1,084.2 kilogrammes of drugs. At least 166 suspects and 217.633 kilogrammes were arrested and seized by the Anambra command in the last six months. In Enugu, the NDLEA officials arrested 130 suspects, consisting of 120 males and 20 females and seized 866.567 Indian Hemps in the last one year. The agency’s Commander in Anambra,Mr. Timinipre Zikiye said in a remark at this year’s United Nations (UN) International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, that the suspects were
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•1,084.2kg drugs seized in Anambra, Enugu From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha and Chris Oji, Enugu
arrested with the substances in different parts of the state. Zikiye said that out of the 166 suspects, 99 were males and the remaining 17 were females. He said the suspects were apprehended during raids by NDLEA officials. Besides, he said 217.633 kilogrammes of illicit substances were seized from the suspects, saying 217.598 kilogrammes were Cannabis Sativa (also known as Indian hemp), 38.3 grams of cocaine and 16.4 grams of heroin. “In the same period under review, the command secured six convictions in the cases prosecuted at the Federal High Court, Awka.
All sentences which were with hard labour, ranged from six months to one year and three months”, he said. Soliciting for public collaboration, Zikiye said: “The agency has never pretended and would not pretend that it can tame the rampaging drug monsters by itself alone. We need the collaboration of the public on furnishing us with information.” Speaking, the Chairmen of the Ogabru Main Market Patent Medicine Dealers Association and the National Illicit Drug Abuse Control Association (NIDACA), Chief Emebo Gilbert and Charles Orji respectively, described the fight against drug trafficking as a collective responsibility. They also lauded the efforts of the agency for the number
of arrests and seizures it made within the shot period under review. The Enugu command said it made a seizure of 866.567 kilogramme of substances, suspect to be Indian hemp and 33.3 grams of substances, suspected to be cocaine. Its Commander Anthony Ohanyere also spoke at the celebration of the UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking held at the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu. The Ibagwa Nike of Enugu, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu coorganised the event which drew participants from the army, security outfits, federal agencies, youth organisations, road transport unions, post-primary schools and opinion leaders.
MD of Gitto Construction dies
HE Managing Director of Gitto construction company, Mr Domenico Gitto is dead. The Nation learnt that the
Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor
late Gitto died in an Abuja hospital after suffering from heart attack. He was 51.
Gitto was in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital on Monday where he attended the Senate retreat. He was in Uyo because President Goodluck Jonathan was expected to inaugurate one or two projects handled by his firm. He was said to have returned to Abuja yesterday and attended a meeting at the
Federal Ministry of Works till about 6pm. Gitto until his death was the head of Gitto Construction Company in Nigeria, the company that built the Ecumenical Centre in Abuja. The company was recently mentioned in the building of a church in Otuoeke, Bayelsa State.
AGOS State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa has said the Third Mainland Bridge will not be closed during the period of repairs which begins on July 1. Rather, he said traffic will be diverted between 12am to 12 noon when repair work is being carried out. Opeifa broke this news yesterday while speaking with reporters in Alausa, Ikeja. He said over 500 Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials have been deployed to ensure free flow of traffic on alternative routes. He appealed for motorists’ patience and understanding during the time, saying that the alternative routes include Adeniji Adele, Carter Bridge, Muritala Muhammed Way, Ikorodu Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko Bridge, Ijora Causeway, Wharf Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway among others. Apart from LASTMA officials, Opeifa said military personnel, the police and FRSC officials would be on hand to ensure free flow of traffic. The repair, he said, will be concluded on November 6. According to him, com-
By Tajudeen Adebanjo
muters going to Mainland or Ikeja from Victoria Island before 12 noon could divert at the Adeniji Adele interchange to exit through Carter Bridge and link any of the alternative routes. But, those coming from Ibadan-Ikeja axis to the Island could avoid the Third Mainland Bridge by using Ikorodu Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Agege Motor Road, among other routes. Opeifa said:“It is not about closure, it is about diversion of traffic during the time work will be going on, on the bridge. People coming from Victoria Island from 12 midnight to 12 noon will divert at Adeiji Adele to connect Carter Bridge, through Iddo junction to exit to any of the alternative routes.” The commissioner said all designated diversion points would be manned by officials of LASTMA who would ensure that the expected gridlock would be contained effectively without chaos. He said the repair is part of government’s routine maintenance work to ensure that the bridge is always in good shape, adding that there are about eight points to repair.
Musdapher, Anyim, Ajumogobia, others for Aniagolu lecture
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HIEF Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Dahiru Musdapher, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Henry Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), are among the dignitaries expected at the first memorial anniversary lecture for a former Supreme Court Judge, the late Justice Anthony Aniagolu. The lecture, to be chaired by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, is billed for Enugu tomorrow. A statement from the Aniagolu family stated that Ajumogobia would deliver a special dinner speech entitled: “Leadership, Good Governance and the Imperative of Justice.”
From Chris Oji, Enugu
A memorial lecture tagged: “Democracy, The Rule of Law and National Development” will be delivered by Anyim. The anniversary would also feature the presentation of prizes to the winners of a memorial essay competition organised by the Aniagolu Foundation. The Vice Chancellor of the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof Christian Anieke, who is hosting the event, said: “A year after his death, the legal profession in particular and Nigerians in general are still feeling the loss of this great judicial mind and tributes are continuing to pour in. We are holding this memorial event to remind the world of what a remarkable man Justice Aniagolu was.”
Aftermath of electrocution: Normalcy returns to Ibadan market •Fed Govt investigators yet to conclude probe
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OMMERCIAL activities returned gradually to the popular Apata market, in Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo state yesterday after Monday’s electrocution of an expectant mother and four other women. When The Nation visited the market yesterday, few traders, including meat and foodstuff sellers, were seen trading. As a mark of respect for the victims, there were no vegetable sellers in the market yesterday. The market was temporarily shut by the Chairman of Ibadan South West Local Government Area, Taofeek Adeleke. He also declared three days of mourning on Monday after the tragedy.
Ajimobi orders demolition of structures in market OYO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday ordered the demolition of all structures under a high tension cable on the Apata-Bembow Road, where five women were electrocuted on Monday in a market in Apata, Ibadan, the state capital. The governor gave the order during a sympathy visit to the market. He noted that trading under high tension cables endangers the lives of traders and buyers. Represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, the governor urged the traders to vacate the area to avoid another occurrence. Ajimobi directed the Chairman of Ibadan South West Local Government Area, Mr. Taoheed Adeleke, to find another suitable place to relocate the market. The governor also ordered the council to replace the cables connecting the area to the main Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) poles and ensure that electricity is restored. He commiserated with the families of the dead, praying for the repose of their souls. From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan
Top officials of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), with
a team of mobile policemen, visited the scene yesterday. At the Agbekoya area of the market, the spot where the women were electrocuted had not been cleared. The electric
cables and some of the vegetables belonging to the deceased were still lying on the ground. The Principal Manager Public Affairs of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company of PHCN, Mr Jide Oyenuga, told The Nation that the cables would be left untouched until investigators from Abuja conclude their findings on the accident. But he did not give a date of the investigation. At the Apata Business Unit of the PHCN, armed policemen were stationed at the main entrance and visitors were quizzed before they were allowed entry. Some youths, including commercial motorcyclists and street urchins, on Monday, attempted to attack the PHCN Apata office. The Divisional Police Office (DPO), Mr Abiodun Agboola, urged the youths to avoid violence.