SECURITY ALERT WITH JIDE

Police commence investigation into alleged murder of student.

The Lagos State Police Command has begun investigation into the murder of a student of The Polytechnic Ibadan, allegedly killed on Jan. 1, during a street carnival.

A suspect, believed to be responsible for the alleged murder, has been detained at the State CID Panti, Yaba, for interrogation.

Police Spokesman, Frank Mba who confirmed the story on Tuesday, said that the incident occurred on Jan. 1 at about 3 p.m. during a street carnival on Jakande Estate in Ilesun area of Lagos.

Mba, a Superintendent of Police, said that the victim was returning from a social outing when a liquid substance suspected to be beer was poured on him.

He said the command intended to draw the attention of community leaders, landlords and tenants to be security conscious and to work toward preventing such occurrences.

In as much as the command does not oppose street carnivals being organised or held, such programmes should be conducted within the ambit of the law,” he added.

The police spokesman said that the scene of the homicide had been visited by the police and the corpse deposited at a public mortuary for autopsy.

Mba said that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation was completed. .....................................................

Man charged with alleged theft of communication masts.
A 26-year-old man, Jeremiah Chiniga, was on Tuesday charged before a Somolu Magistrates Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing two internet communication masts, valued at N900,000.

The Prosecutor, Insp. A. Adegoke, told the court that Chiniga and others still at large sometime between August and Dec. 28, 2010, stole the items, property of Trevi Foundation Nigeria Ltd.

Adegoke explained that Chiniga, an employee of the company, committed the offence at Plot 4, Block B Gbagada, Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 516 and 390, of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The Magistrate, B.O. Osunsanmi, admitted him to a N100, 000 bail with a surety in like sum.
Osunsanmi adjourned the case till Jan. 24, for further hearing.

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Police arraign 2 over theft of tyre.

Two persons , who allegedly stole an articulated vehicle tyre valued at N45, 000, were on Tuesday charged before a Somolu Magistrates Court, Lagos.

The duo -- Orekoya James (40) and Ojo Elijah (53) -- are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

They have, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecutor, Insp. A. Adegoke, told the court that the accused and others still at large had on Dec. 25, 2010 at 15, Redemption St., Gbagada, conspired and stole the tyre, property of J.M.G Company Ltd.

He said the offence contravened Sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, laws of Lagos State.

The Magistrate, B.O.Osunsanmi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 in addition to a surety in like sum and adjourned the case till Jan. 24 for further hearing.

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4 arraigned for attempting to escape from police cell.

Four men were on Tuesday arraigned for allegedly hiding a chisel inside a loaf of bread with the intent to escape from a police cell.

The accused, Mohammed Awalu, 30, Rabiu Agbam, 32, Samiu Ibrahim, 27, and Simeon Eze, 51, are standing trial on a five-count charge before an Ejigbo Magistrates Court, Lagos.

They were charged with conspiracy, intent to commit felony, possession of stolen items, attempt to escape from custody and receiving stolen items.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Oladejo Balogun, explained that the first and second accused were, initially arrested, for being in possession of PHCN cables, suspected to have been stolen.

Balogun told the court that the offence was committed on Dec. 25, 2010 at Ede Bus stop, Igando, Lagos.

The accused were found in possession of PHCN armoured cable and digger which were suspected to be stolen,’’ he said.

The prosecutor said that after their arrest by the police, who detained them in their cell, the third accused attempted to pass an iron chisel hidden in a loaf of bread to them.

Balogun said the chisel was to aid the escape of the arrested persons from police custody.

He added that the fourth accused received the alleged stolen cable knowing fully well that it was stolen.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 417, 427, 430, 508 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

All accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate,Maimunat Folami, granted the first and second accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 each with two sureties in like sum.

Folami granted the third and fourth accused bail in the sum of N20,000 and N30,000 respectively with one surety each and adjourned the case till Jan. 19 for trial.

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