Towed Car Mysteriously Vanishes From LASTMA Compound, Owner Cries Out

A businessman, Abiodun Richards, has asked the Lagos State Government to produce his Honda Accord which was towed from his residence on Imaria Close, in the Anthony area of the state.

Richards said the vehicle was first moved by an official of the Kosofe Local Government Area, identified only as Ijiade.

Ijiade reportedly claimed that he moved the vehicle, together with an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority to the agency's headquarters at Oshodi.

When the owner of the car got to the Oshodi office and checked the records, he was said to have confirmed that the vehicle was moved in on October 14, 2014.

However, the vehicle could not be found on the premises of LASTMA.

Richards, who is based in Rivers State, said there was no record that the car had been moved out or sold.

He told Punch Metro that he had been diagnosed with stroke at the time his car was towed and he had travelled to Port Harcourt for treatment.

He said, "I started living in Anthony Village in May 2013; I was staying with a friend on Imaria Close. I went there with my green Honda Accord, with number plate, BT 398 KSF. Imaria Close is a gated community and it does not have more than 14 houses. Most residents park by the roadside.

"In November 2013, I travelled to Port Harcourt after I fell ill. I was bedridden. I was called by my friend that the state government had ordered that vehicles parked by the roadside be removed by their owners or they would be towed by the government.

"In August 2014, I sent my cousin, who was in Lagos to go and remove the car, but he said he could not make it. I later sent another person in October, and he said he could not find the car. I was surprised and I decided to come myself to know what happened."

He said he travelled back to Rivers State when he could not find the car and efforts to locate it proved abortive.

Richards said while making enquiries, he got information that a council officer, Ijiade, moved the car from the street.

He said he returned to Lagos and started searching for his car in all council parks.

"I checked all Kosofe parks where they keep towed vehicles; I checked Ogudu and Oworonshoki, but I didn't find it. After searching for more than two weeks, I was told to check LASTMA offices. I checked all their offices and yards at Oshodi and Anthony, without any result.

"During the search, somebody connected me with Ijiade, whom I had been looking for. He told me that he called someone from LASTMA and the car was taken to Oshodi," he added.

He said he returned to LASTMA office at Oshodi and checked its three yards without any success.

"On Friday, February 29, 2016, Ijiade said he was going to LASTMA's office to confirm what happened to my car. He gave me the date the car was taken there as October 14, 2014.

"The next day, March 1, I went to check the records with the help of a senior officer. We discovered in their records that the car was brought in on that date, and was never taken out. When we checked the LASTMA yards again, it was not there. The senior officer asked the security officers to check, but they did and did not find it.

"I want the government to produce my car. I have some personal documents in the boot and I just bought three brand new tyres in the car. The car was in perfect condition and I want to know what happened to it," he said.

Ijiade could not be reached on his mobile phone.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Chris Olakpe, urged the complainant to write to the management of the agency, saying there was no way anybody would take the car out.

He said, "Tell him to write to the LASTMA CEO; I can assure you that the vehicle cannot be moved out of the yard without authorisation. We will investigate it."

Photos: Benin Palace Chiefs Break The Native Chalk As Mourning Continues For Oba Erediauwa

The breaking of native chalk ritual was carried out
yesterday at the palace of the late monarch to
officially announce his translation into the great
beyond.It was followed by mourning at the palace
entrance.

All the males in the Kingdom are to shave their head throughout the mourning period while all markets in the kingdom remain shut for a week.The crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Eheneden Erediauwa arrived the palace yesterday around 1:15pm and was officially informed of the translation of his dad before it was made public.Erediauwa 1 ascended the throne of his forefathers in March 1979.

See photos from the official announcement of Oba
Erediauwa's death above

When you ask your best friend to take pictures of you, lol

She's just doing her job, lol. Another photo below; 

Youths Protest In Owerri Over Unlawful Detention Of Saraki's Special Assistant By DSS(Photos)

Hundreds of youths under the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Friday staged a protest in the city of Owerri,Imo State over the continued and unlawful detention of their president and Special Assistant to Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Youth and Students Matters, Barr. Imo Ugochinyere Michael Ikenga by the Department of State Services (DSS) in its custody since Monday 25 April, 2016 upon a purported petition of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

The youths, who carried placards with various inscriptions such as: "Free Ikenga now, impunity can't stand", "DSS is enforcing lawlessness", "We say no to impunity #freeIkenga", "Nigerian youths stand by Ikenga", and others, matched to the state government house Owerri, where they presented their position paper with a demand for the immediate release of their leader from the DSS custody.

Recall that it was reported that Ugochinyere's family released a statement on Tuesday saying that he had been detained by the DSS after his invitation by the Assistant Director of Internal Security.

Aero Contractors sacks 1000 Contract Staff

Aero Contractors sacks 1000 Contract Staff

Aero Contractors by Skyborne Ltd have been sacked following the airline's decision to review its relationship with the company. The airline confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday by its Media Consultant, Simon Tumba.

"In the course of reorganising and repositioning its business, Aero Contractors has reviewed its relationship with Skyborne by cutting down some of the services required from the company," the statement said.

"This will help the company to invest more resources to enhance customer service. For the records, Aero has not sacked any of its staff.''

A letter to one of the affected workers which was obtained by NAN said the sack was as a result of the ongoing restructuring in the airline.

The letter reads in part, "Dear colleague, in the light of the ongoing restructuring at Aero, we regret to inform you that your services are no longer required and employment with SBL terminated with immediate effect.

"Please, return all company property to your Manager/Supervisor by 8:00 a.m. on April 28. We regret any inconvenience caused.''

Troops deal heavy blow on boko haram logistics cell (photos)

Troops of 7 Division Strike Group Team B attached to 22 Brigade on Friday April 29, dealt heavy operational blow on the Boko Haram terrorists logistic cells. The troops invaded Yerwa and Kaluketu, where the Boko Haram terrorists kept rustled cows. The troops also attacked and cleared an enclave which they called "Abuja town" named after Nigeria's capital city.

During the operation the troops killed 4 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 2 AK-47 rifles with registration numbers 58010938 and 58008270 respectively. The troops also recovered 29 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 1 Dane gun, 1 Bow and Arrow, 2 Laptop computers and 6 mobile telephone handsets. Others include a big truck and 5 motor cycles.

Fire Gulps Ogbegonogo Market in Delta

Inferno on Friday night engulfed popular Ogbegonogo market in Asaba, Delta State and destroyed goods worth millions of naira.  The inferno started at the Umuaji Line at about 7: 00 pm, lasted for about two hours destroying over 30 shops while wares valued at millions of naira were burnt down.

It was gathered that trouble started when the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) restored power to the area, leaving wailing on the faces of traders.

Fire service fighters were on ground battling the inferno while men of the Nigerian Police Force were seen controlling traffic and ensuring that hoodlums do not take advantage of the situation to loot shops.

Ware owners including pregnant women were seen running to savage their goods and shops from destroying while others stood helpless watching the ravaging fire.

A shop owner who was affected who simply identified himself as Emeka told our correspondent that he just returned from the market where he spent close to a million to purchase goods.

Another respondent, Mrs. Ejiofor who deals on expensive clothing said, "where will I start from now that schools has resumed and my husband just paid huge amount as rent", adding that she has lost all that she stocked in her shop.