Connect with us

News

NURTW Crisis: Soldiers, Policemen Storm Agbado As MC Oluomo, Istijabah Boys Draw Battle Line

Published

on

Scores of policemen and soldiers stormed the Ijaiye Bus Stop in the Agbado area of the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on Monday to forestall a clash between road transport unionists loyal to two factional leaders in the state: Musiliu Akinsanya popularly called MC Oluomo; and Azeez Abiola, aka Istijabah.

Our correspondent, who was at the bus stop, spotted about five patrol vans of security personnel who were on a joint mission in the area on Monday.

The fully armed policemen came in four patrol vans, while fierce-looking, gun-wielding soldiers stormed the bus stop in a van and remained there from morning till about 4pm when they left.

Advertisement

Our correspondent also observed as over 100 area boys and foot soldiers of both MC Oluomo and Istijabah seethed with rage as they stood just opposite the security agents.

A tricycle operator, who simply identified himself as David, told The PUNCH that the security agents got intelligence that MC Oluomo boys planned to violently take over the park controlled by Istijabah and his lieutenants.

About 40 policemen and 12 soldiers came very this morning to prevent a clash between Istijabah and MC Oluomo boys.

“There would have been a violent clash if not for the presence of the security personnel who came in five vehicles,” he said.

Advertisement

The situation caused panic as traders shut their stalls over the fear of a possible clash between the two factions.

“We were terrified since morning and had to shut our shops and go back home. We just open now after the area boys and the soldiers left,” a Garri seller told our correspondent.

Efforts to reach MC Oluomo and Istijabah proved abortive as of press time.

When contacted, the spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, promised to revert but he was yet to do so as of press time.

Advertisement

It was earlier reported that MC Oluomo and Istijabah boys clashed last week in the Fagba, Ogba and Agege areas of Lagos over the control of parks and ticket sales.

READ ALSO: MC Oluomo Reacts As NURTW Sacks Him, Dissolves Council’s Exco

MC Oluomo, formerly the chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and now the chairman of the Lagos State Parks Committee, has been embroiled in a protracted conflict with Istijabah, the state chairman of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, an affiliate union of NURTW.

MC Oluomo had rejected Istijabah as TOOAN chairman in the state and the national body of NURTW in Abuja had suspended him (MC Oluomo) which led to his withdrawal from the union and the suspension of NURTW by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu government.

Advertisement

The governor subsequently appointed MC Oluomo as the parks management committee chairman despite public outrage and warnings of fresh violence.

According to a 2021 report by the International Centre for Investigative Report, the Lagos chapter of NURTW generates about N123.08bn annually, which could service the annual budget of Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe states put together.

PUNCH.

Advertisement

News

Moment Man Fell From Airplane After Staff Moved Stairs[VIDEO]

Published

on

By

An airline worker was injured after falling several feet from an aeroplane onto the runway.

Video shared on social media shows the moment the ground staffer fell from a TransNusa Airbus A320 at Jakarta Airport, Indonesia, as the flight crew prepared for takeoff.

The worker allegedly saluted the crew for a safe flight and began stepping out of the plane, unaware that ground staff had removed the mobile stairs from the plane.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Nigerian Who Killed Wife With Skateboard In UK Jailed For Life

The agent, still talking with the crew, walked off the plane and fell many feet down to the tarmac.

The worker received medical treatment immediately and did not sustain life threatening injuries, a source told AirLive.net.

The incident is understood to be in violation of aviation rules which reportedly state that workers should not remove a ladder while an aircraft door is still open.

Advertisement

Jakarta Airport authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and have “assured measures” to prevent future accidents, Aviation24.be reported.

Watch the video below:

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

UK Denies 74-year-old Mam Permanent Residency After 42 Years Stay

Published

on

By

A Ghanaian has instituted a legal case against the United Kingdom Home Office after he was denied permanent residency despite living in the country for 42 years.

The Ghanaian identified as Nelson Shardey is a retired 74-year-old man who arrived in the UK in 1977.

But after living in the UK for almost 50 years, Shardey was informed to wait another 10 years before the Home Office could grant him permanent residency, the BBC reports.

Advertisement

Shardey had for many years assumed he was officially British after he first arrived in the UK in 1977 to study accountancy on a student visa that also allowed him to work.

He only discovered otherwise in 2019 and, despite paying taxes all his adult life, now faces paying thousands of pounds to stay and use the NHS, the report added.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Who Killed Wife With Skateboard In UK Jailed For Life

According to him, I have never left the UK as I saw no need to and regarded it as my home.

Advertisement

Nobody questioned me. I bought all my things on credit, even the house.

“I got a mortgage. And nobody questioned me about anything,” Shardy, a retired newsagent told the BBC.

Explaining further, he said he took on a series of jobs, making Mother’s Pride bread and Kipling’s Cakes near Southampton, and Bendick’s Chocolate in Winchester after a coup in his native Ghana which affected his family’s inability to send him money for the fees.

READ ALSO: Kudos As Nigeria Gains Additional Territory ‘Five Times The Size Of Lagos’

Advertisement

He added that no one ever queried his right to live or work in the UK.

But in a twist of fate in 2019 when he applied for a passport so he could go back to Ghana following the death of his mother, Shardy said he was told he was not British.

The Home Office said he had no right to be in the UK.

Over the 10 years, it costs about £7,000, with a further £10,500 over the same period to access the NHS.

Advertisement

I cannot afford to pay any part of the money they are asking. Telling me to go through that route is a punishment, and it’s not fair in any way,” said Mr Shardey, who is recovering from prostate cancer.

“I don’t understand why this fuss at all, because I put my life, my whole self into this country,” he added.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Emefiele Gets N300m Bail, Denies N684.5m Note Printing

When he tried to extend his right to stay in the UK online two years ago, he filled out the wrong form.

Advertisement

That meant the 10-year process had to begin again in 2023.

As a result, Mr Shardey will not be allowed to stay in the UK permanently until he is 84.

A lawyer at Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, Nicola Burgess, is now taking the Home Office to court on Shardey’s behalf.

The Home Office declined to comment on the case, the report added.

Advertisement

Shardey has performed jury service, and in 2007 was given a police award for bravery after tackling a robber who was attacking a delivery man with a baseball bat.

The retiree has two sons – Jacob and Aaron – with a British woman after his first marriage, also with a Briton, ended.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Edo Guber: INEC Commences CVR Exercise, Seeks Stakeholders Partnership

Published

on

By

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Edo State to enable unregistered voters to register for the forthcoming election in the state.

The commission further added that the registration exercise would last for 10 days commencing from May 27 to June 5, 2024.

Advertisement

The National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Edo State, Professor Rhoda Gumus, disclosed this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the commissioner’s head office in Benin.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Obidient Movement Infiltrated By Saboteurs, Abure Laments

The National Commissioner whose speech was read by Dr. Anugum Onuoha, Edo State Residential Electoral Commissioner, said the exercise became imperative to “allow persons who turned 18 years… as well those who have not registered before or wish to transfer their registration to their new location to participate in the forthcoming election.”

“This will enable prospective registrants, enough time to register before the governorship election.
Also not that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those who seek to transfer their registration. Persons who are registered as voters should not attempt to register again as multiple registration is Illegal. Lost or damaged voters cards will be replaced during the exercise.”

Advertisement

“In addition to the registration, uncollected Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) will be made available for collection. Also the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in the state office soon and simultaneously uploaded to the commission website.”

READ ALSO: Abure Bows To Pressure, Begs NLC President For Reconciliation

According to him, out of the 2,501,08 persons that registered for the 2023 election in the state, only 2,128,288 collected their PVCs while 373,030 PVCs remained uncollected.

He, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders “to join us in mobilising prospective registrants to come out in mass for the exercise.”

Advertisement

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Onuoha, Edo REC, said the engagement with, and support from partners and stakeholders was one of the critical factors for success of the electoral process.

According to him, because of time constraints, “online pre-registration option in Edo will not be possible”, adding that each centre will be managed by two officials of the commission and members of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC).

He added: “In the next few days, the commission will commence the training of officials for the exercise.”

 

Advertisement

 

 

 

 

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version