Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012 — 9
BOAT MISHAP: Remaining missing bodies recovered
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FTER SEVERAL hours of thorough search of the Imude community lagoon, Otto -Awori Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos, the remaining three bodies out of the 10 that drowned on Sunday, were finally recovered yesterday by the community search and recovery team. Vanguard gathered that, one of the three missing bodies was recovered from the lagoon by the team at about 7:00 p.m. on Monday night. The two other bodies were recovered from the lagoon yesterday. It would be recalled that five bodies were recovered immediately after the incident occurred last Sunday. And on Monday, two others were recovered. Confirming the recovery, the Baale of Imude community, OtoAwori Local Council Development Area, (LCDA), Chief Ajayi Ashade said that the ten bodies have been recovered from the lagoon, adding “the last two were recovered from the lagoon at the early hours of today (yesterday). The leader of the community search and recovery team, Apostle Kehinde Akerele said that they commenced their exercise as early as 6:00 a.m., which has been their practice since the ugly incident occurred in the community. Akerele emphasised that the search and recovery of the three remaining bodies was done by his team late on Monday and at the early hours of Tuesday, commending the Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi for
releasing the fund to secure the services of a speed boat to intensify the exercise.
...Rituals start Ashade said yesterday that the community would commence rituals to cleanse the community and to appeal to the gods of the land in order not to experience such an incident again. According to him, “the rituals will take place at the river bank. Within the nine days of the rites, there will not be restriction of movement within in the community."
From left: Dr. Taofeeq Folami, Special Adviser on Environment; Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, Commissioner for Information and Strategy and Prince Adesegun Oniru, Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, during the press briefing on 'Awareness of Hurricane Sandy', in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez
HURRICANE SANDY:
Ocean surge may hit Lagos in 7 days – LASG .It’s not possible – Prof. Anyadike, climate expert BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO
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AGOS - FOLLOWthe devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, currently ravaging some parts of the United States of America, the Lagos State Government, yesterday alerted residents of a possible ripple effect of the hurricane such as ocean surge on the state’s coastal areas within the next seven days. The alert was given by the state Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, Prince Segun Oniru; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba as well as Special Adviser to the Governor on
Environment, Mr. Taofeek Folami, at a joint media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja. It would be recalled that an Ocean surge occurred on August 17 at Kuramo Beach, Victoria Island and claimed 15 lives. However, a professor of climatology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Professor RNC Anyadike, countered that Nigeria could not suffer any ripple effect from the hurricane. Asked if Lagos could suffer ripple effects from Hurricane Sandy, Anyadike said: “It is not possible. We don’t have hurricanes in West Africa. "Meanwhile, Hurricane Sandy has already hit land, it will soon dissipate. What kind of ripple effect are they talking about? Do you
Teenager remanded in prison over alleged robbery BY ONOZURE DANIA
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N IKEJA Magistrate court, yesterday, remanded a teenager in prison custody for an alleged robbery of phones and cash valued N145,500. The defendant, Lukman Mohammed, who is 18
year old, is facing a three count charge of conspiracy, stealing and armed robbery. The police prosecutor, Inspector, Samson Ekikere, told the court that the accused and others now at large, on September 28 2012, at
about 8:30p.m. at Ayoola Bus-stop, in Abesan Estate, Ipaja, in Lagos robbed Tunde and Tolulope Ashabi of their phones and cash. Magistrate Akanni, then adjourned the case till December, 3, for DPP’s advice.
know how far we are from New York? "The only thing we are likely to experience is heavy rainfall occasioned by climate change not hurricane.” Oniru attributed the likely ripple effect of the Hurricane to the location of Lagos, lying parallel to the South America region. His words: “We want to let Lagosians know what is going on, and what to expect, it is not to create panic, they should be careful around the ocean and lagoon. In the last five to six days, around the Caribbean, from Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and Hurricane Sandy has hit the east coast of America. “Normally, when such happens, and the magnitude of it hits that part of the world, we always have a ripple effect in Lagos and around the West Coast. Also speaking, Ibirogba urged residents to be vigilant, assuring that the state government’s emergency response squad was on alert to manage any likely surge caused by the Hurricane. Special Adviser on Environment, Folami however, warned residents to refrain from dumping refuse in drainages and canals.
Subsidy scam: Ahmadu Ali’s son, others for trial Nov. 12 BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA
HE INABILITY of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to commence trial in the case against son of former PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali – Mamman Nasir Ali and others accused of subsidy fraud, stalled their trial yesterday before an Ikeja High Court. At the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, counsel representing the EFCC, Francis Usani told the court that the trial could not go on, because they were still expecting to join another defendant-Seun Ogunbambo. Ali was charged before the court alongside others
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for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, forgery and the use of false documents. Others expected to face trial before Justice Onigbanjo alongside the former PDP National Chairman’s son, includes Nasaman Oil Services boss, Christian Taylor. Responding, Mr. Toyin Pinheiro, SAN, who did not object to the submission of the EFCC said, “We would wait for the amendment of the charge to be effected. Though I know the defendants have no case to answer.” Mamman Nasir Ali as well as other directors of oil-marketing firms in the matter had earlier been arraigned and granted bail.
Michael Omolayole for Rotary’s forum in Lagos
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OREMOST INDUSTrialist and former Chairman, Lever Brothers Nigeria Plc, Dr. Michael Omolayole, will, this Friday, deliver the keynote address at the inauguration of Forum of Past Rotarian Presidents of 2009-10 Rotary Year. According to a statement by Rotarian Past President, Oscar Ossai, the event, which holds at
Sheraton Lagos, will be chaired by former Executive ViceChairman, Texaco Africa, Engr. Dr. Olumide Phillips. Dr. Kamoru Omotosho, District Governor, a number of past District Governors, as well as several Rotarians in Rotary International District 9110 Nigeria, are expected at the occasion.