Author: darelasisi@gmail.com

LAGOS – Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has said he would like to be addressed simply as ‘Mr Governor’ henceforth, saying the title of ‘Your Excellency’ is a symbol of Executive arrogance. A statement he personally signed on Wednesday reads in full: “In the last five months that I have been privileged to exercise the mandate freely given to me by the great and hardworking people of Lagos State, it has come to my consciousness to review certain features of citizen-government relations which impede the genuine expression of the democratic spirit of our society and the meaningful exercise of…

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded one 24-year-old unemployed Abbas Wakeel, who allegedly robbed a woman of her belongings at gunpoint. The court did not take the defendant’s plea as Chief Magistrate A. O. Akinde said she needed advice of the state director of public prosecutions on the case. She ordered that the defendant should be kept in the Kirikiri Prisons pending the advice. Akinde adjourned the case until Dec. 4, for mention. The defendant, who resides at 14, Ajenifuja Close, Ajegunle, Lagos State, was charged with conspiracy and robbery. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chekube Okey, told the court…

The Deputy Commissioner in-charge of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Yaba has disclosed that more internet fraudsters and possibly their mothers will be sent to prison if found guilty after prosecution. She disclosed this today on a morning show programme on Lagos Television (LTV) while reacting to the news making rounds in the media that yet to be identified women have formed an ‘Association of Yahoo Boys’ Mothers’. According to DCP Longe, she disclosed that for now, the ‘Association of Yahoo Boys’ Mothers’ is still an hear-say until police investigation reveals that there is truth in it. And…

Xerox Holdings Corp is considering making a cash-and-stock offer for personal computer maker HP Inc at a premium to its market value of about $27 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. Xerox’s board discussed the possibility on Tuesday, the newspaper said here, citing people familiar with the matter. There is no guarantee that Xerox will follow through with an offer or that one would succeed, it added. Norwalk, Connecticut-based Xerox has also received an informal funding commitment from a major bank, the Journal said. HP does not comment on rumors or speculation, a company spokeswoman told Reuters. Xerox did…

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has warned against hike in the prices of petroleum products in Calabar and Cross River, as yuletide approaches. The Operations Controller of DPR in Cross River, Mr Philip Awolu, gave this warning when he led an inspection team to some depots operating at the Calabar tank farm on Wednesday. Awolu said that the visit was to ensure normal operations and strict compliance with the agency’s guidelines and regulations of the department. The controller said that the visit was also to ensure that the product was sold to marketers at the government approved price and…

An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded a 28-year-old-man, Blessing Okon, who allegedly raped a 14-year-old. The Magistrate, Mrs K. O. Doja-Ojo, ordered the remand of the defendant, and directed that the case file should be duplicated and sent to the state Directorate of Public Prosecutions for advice. The defendant, whose residential address was not given, is facing a two-count charge of sexual assault. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Peace Chukwudi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in 2014, on Ribadu Road, Awolowo Way, Ikoyi Lagos State. Chukwudi said that the defendant raped and fondled…

There was a mild drama at Court 7, Federal High Court, Abuja, as application by the Department of State Services (DSS) counsel, Hassan Liman, to take witnesses in the ongoing trial of Omoyele Sowore, Convener, #RevolutionNow Protest, in camera failed. Sowore, alongside Olawale Bakare, is charged by the DSS with treasonable felony, money laundering, among others. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had, on Oct. 21, adjourned commencement of trial till Nov. 6 and Nov. 7, after varying the bail conditions granted Sowore, and his co-defendant, Bakare. Justice Ojukwu had granted the order in a ruling…

Two domestic staff, a gateman and housekeeper, were on Wednesday brought before a Kubwa Magistrates ‘ Court in Abuja charged with stealing valuables worth N13 million belonging to their employer. The defendants, Thomas Loson, who resides at Tungan Wakili dei-dei, Abuja, and Amina Augustine of Third Ave. Gwarimpa Estate also in Abuja, are facing two counts of alleged joint act and stealing. However, the two domestic staff pleaded not guilty to each of the charges. Police Prosecutor, ASP Peter Ejike, told the court that the defendants on Nov. 3, conspired and unlawfully stole a box of jewellery, Samsung Galaxy phone…

Security in and around the Federal High Court, Abuja, was, on Wednesday, beefed up by officers of the Nigerian Police Force as Omoyele Sowore, Convener, #RevolutionNow Protest, appeared for commencement of trial. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had, on Oct. 21, varied the bail conditions granted Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare. Justice Ojukwu granted the order in a ruling on the application for bail variation by the duo charged with treasonable felony among others. She waived the earlier requirement that Sowore should deposit N50m as security and reduced the amount attached to Bakare’s bail.…

The environs of Ajao Estate in the Isolo area of Lagos State have been thrown into mourning following the death of a mother of four, Mrs Chibuzor Balogun. According to the 14-year-old son of the deceased, his mother died a little above 30 years at their residence, No. 2 Raji Aliu Street, off the Airport Road, Ajao Estate, last Wednesday. Uche noted that his mother had been complaining of the general weakness of the body for some days which was not taken seriously by family members. He further stated that Chibuzor started excreting loose stool and vomiting and this caught…