Lagos Inspector Falls Off Speeding Commercial Bus, Dies

Published

9 years ago

January 14, 2016

The police have arrested a 40-year-old driver, Moshood Ekunsumi, for allegedly killing a police inspector, Stephen Nzerem, on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

The suspect’s conductor, who is at large, has also been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force in connection with the death.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ekunsumi, a father of three, plied the Airport Road area and had resumed duty on the fateful morning.

However, a police team was said to have flagged down the bus along the road, with the aim of going on an operation with it.

The driver, who immediately sensed what they were up to, drove off.

But the deceased was said to have jumped onto the vehicle to apprehend the driver.

The driver was said to have taken the victim away and was speeding when another vehicle crossed his path and he stepped on the brake pedal.

It was learnt that although both the policeman and the conductor were flung off the bus as the brake was applied, only the inspector died.

His skull was said to have been smashed by an oncoming trailer and he died on the spot.

The driver and the conductor were said to have fled the scene and abandoned the bus.

The police, however, arrested the owner of the vehicle.

The matter was subsequently transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, from where investigations led to the arrest of Ekunsumi.

The bus owner, Otaru Joseph, said he had cautioned the driver over his conduct.

He said:

“But he did not listen to me. After the incident happened, I thought he would also call me to let me know what happened, but instead, he called and said my vehicle was involved in an accident and cut the call. He didn’t call again and he switched off his mobile phones. He fled to Ondo State where he thought nobody would get him.

I was the one that was first arrested and detained. I would have suffered and died over what I knew nothing about.”

Ekunsumi said his action was not intentional.

He said:

“I did not do it intentionally. It was not the first time that the police would hijack our vehicle for their operation.
“But that day, I did not know what happened to me. The policeman just clung to the vehicle and because I was on motion, I could not stop.
“I applied the brakes and he fell off the bus and died. I regret my action.”

The suspect, was, however, arraigned before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court on two counts of murder.

The charge read in part:

“That you, Moshood Ekunsumi, and one other at large, on August 26, 2015, at about 8.30am, at Jakande bus stop, on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Inspector Stephen Nzerem, aged 51, by pushing him out of a fast moving commercial bus.”

The police prosecutor, Cousin Adams, said the offence was punishable under sections 231, 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant’s plea was not taken.

Cousin thereafter applied for the remand of the defendant in prison custody pending the release of legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The defence counsel, however, objected the application, urging the court to conduct a preliminary enquiry.

The magistrate, Mrs. H.O. Omisore, called the Investigating Police Officer from the SDCI.

After listening to the IPO, the magistrate criticised the defendant for being reckless with his vehicle.

She also berated the police for wanting to forcefully take over the bus when the driver was not willing to release it.

She pointed out that what happened did not qualify for the murder charge brought by the police.

She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till Monday, January 18, 2016, for ruling.

Punch

FCT Approves ₦33.24bn For New Projects

Published

3 weeks ago

November 2, 2024

lagoslately

The Federal Capital Executive Committee has approved ₦33.24 billion worth of contracts for execution within the next one year.

The committee gave the approvals during its 9th meeting, chaired by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, in Abuja on Friday.

Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, the chief of staff to the minister, Chidi Amadi, said the decisions were part of the FCT administration’s efforts to provide critical services to residents of the FCT.

Providing details of the projects, Chinedum Elechi, Mandate Secretary, Transportation Secretariat, said that ₦7.22 billion was approved for the construction of access roads to Kugbo and Mabushi Bus and Taxi Terminals as additional works.

He recalled that contracts had been awarded in May for the construction of bus and taxi terminals in Kugbo, Mabushi and the Central Business District.

Mr Elechi added that the projects in Kugbo and Mabushi had reached an advanced stage before the realisation of the need for an access road to service the terminals from the major roads.

According to him, the committee has approved the award of the project to Planet Projects Ltd and to be completed in 12 weeks.
The mandate secretary also said that the executive committee approved the procurement of 120,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) and 40,250 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.

He explained that the products were for the operation and maintenance of Wupa Basin Sewage Treatment Plant, adding that the contract was awarded to Safah and Fresh Ltd. at ₦2.92 billion, and to be delivered over 12 months.

Similarly, Mr Elechi said the supply of Diesel and PMS, at Wupa Basin Sewage Treatment Plant, was awarded to the same company to cover one year.

He added that ₦638,550 was also approved for the supply of 400,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil to Lower Usuma Dam Water Treatment Plant of the FCT Water Board.

Also speaking, Shehu Ahmad, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, said that the executive committee also approved the construction of access road to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Academy in Giri District.

Mr Ahmad added that the contract was awarded to Levant Construction Ltd. and ₦7.83 billion and to be completed in nine months.

He aid that the committee equally approved the design and construction of 10 units of Staff Quarters for the Nigerian Law School, Bwari Abuja.

He said that the project was awarded at ₦2.19 billion to Austlinks Energy Services Ltd., and to be completed in nine months.

The executive secretary further said that the committee also approved the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the existing Bill Clinton Road link to the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

He said that the contract was awarded to Julius Berger at ₦9.88 billion and expected to be completed in six months.

“The contract also includes rehabilitation of facilities in the Presidential Wing, which includes the Presidential Hanger, taxiway, and airport apron, among other facilities,” he said.

On his part, Gardiya Bawa, Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Legal Secretariat, said the committee equally approved ₦605.94 million for the procurement of office equipment, furnishing of the new office for the secretariat, and purchase of utility vehicles. (NAN)

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Time To Sanction Wike Has Come, He Has Touched The Tiger’s Tail- Atiku’s Camp

Published

1 year ago

September 27, 2023

lagoslately

For daring to call for the expulsion of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, the camp and political associates of the former vice president has moved against Nyesom Wike, asking the NWC to discipline him.

They described Wike as a serial betrayal who formed the group of five governors that committed series of anti party activities against the PDP during the February 25 presidential election.

Director of Research and Documentation of the PDP Presidential Campaign, Dr. Pedro Obasike said,

“Wike coming out to ask for the expulsion of the number one leader of the party and the presidential flag bearer of the party and the recipient of the mandate of the Nigerian people as declared in INEC’s submission that we won 21 states and asking Atiku to be expelled from the party, Wike has crossed the red line and now, he should be ready. He has all the money to fight us back because we are coming at him like a thousand bricks.

“He has unleashed the dogs of war and we will not sit back and watch him ride rough over the party and majority of Nigerians like he did for 8 years over the humility of the Rivers people. That can no longer suffice”.

He also challenged Wike to publish his bank account when he assumed office as a governor and after his eight years tenure as the governor of Rivers state.

According to Obaseke, “Wike is a member of the APC, a sitting Minister of an APC government. Wike openly campaigned against the PDP. You see, by their fruits, we shall know them. By all intents and purposes, Wike is not a member of the PDP’ .

“If you remember clearly, just a few months to the election, Barrister Nyesom Wike, then the governor of Rivers State ran to the court to get an injunction to preclude and stop the PDP from expelling him from the party. If he was so untouchable and bigger than the entire party machinery, why did he do that? Whether we like it or not, Wike is Satan lieutenant.

Naija News

Stop Renouncing Your Citizenship- FG Appeals to Nigerian Youths

Published

3 years ago

June 4, 2021

lagoslately

Rauf Aregbesola

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has appealed to young Nigerians to stop the trend of renouncing their citizenship in pursuit of greener pasture. According to him, it is worrisome and counterproductive.

The Minister expressed his concerns when he spoke at the Ministerial Alignment Meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Deliverables for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Government.

Represented at the meeting by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Shuaib Belgore., the Minister said the Federal government would put up a mechanism in place that would keep young Nigerians busy in productive activities.

He appealed to the youths to stop renouncing their citizenship.

Aregbesola said a committee would be set up in the Ministry with stakeholders to oversee the operations and implementation of the deliverables.

He announced that the committee would be chaired by the Director, Planning Research and Statistics (PRS) in the Ministry, Mr. Kabiru Ayuba, with representatives of the four Services under the Ministry and other relevant officers.