Hearing stalled on Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge toll suit

March 22, 2013

A Federal High Court in Lagos will on April 29 continue hearing in a suit challenging the proposed collection of N500 toll on the newly constructed Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge in Lagos State.

The suit was filed by a human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Ebun-Òlu Adegboruwa, against the Lagos State Government, which proposed the toll.

Hearing in the case was stalled on Thursday because the judge, Justice Saliu Saidu, was not available.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that, in suit No. FHC/L/CS/1405/2012, Adegboruwa is seeking an injunction to restrain the government from collecting any toll from motorists on the bridge.

The attorney-general of the federation and the National Inland Waterways Authority, are joined as co defendants in the suit.

At the last adjourned date, the Lagos State Government filed a motion, through its counsel, Mr Olarenwaju Akinsola, saying that the suit was premature.

The government said that it had yet to decide whether to collect toll on the bridge.

However, in an affidavit she filed, the plaintiff’s counsel, Mrs Oreka Adegboruwa, attached a photograph of a signpost erected at the entrance of the bridge.

In the affidavit he deposed to, the plaintiff said that the signpost erected by the state government indicated that five toll plazas had been erected on the bridge in preparation for the toll collection.

The plaintiff also said in the affidavit that he inspected the bridge and confirmed that the toll plazas were erected on the bridge.

He described as legislative rascality and democratic impunity, the alleged repeal of the NIWA Act by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

He said that no state House of Assembly in Nigeria had the power to repeal an Act of the National Assembly.

NAN reported that NIWA is represented by its counsel, Mrs Queen Mba.

[Punch]

Clerics advise Pope to propagate virtue of peace

• Pope Francis

Some religious clerics have urged Pope Francis I, the new head of the Catholic Church, to use his exalted office to propagate the virtue of peace to achieve world unity.
The clerics gave the advice on Sunday in an interview with the Newsmen in Lagos.
They called on the Pontiff to ensure that religious and world leaders remained united to check insecurity, the greatest threat to world peace.
Pastor Dickson Achigolo, Zonal Pastor, Ogun Province 8, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), said that the Pope’s position was a respected one and could be used to achieve peace and unity among religious groups.

Man Gunned Down By Drunken Cops

• Mr. Eze: Killed by drunk officers

A 46-year old man, Eze Okoro, has been shot dead by drunken policemen in front of his house at 1, Oguntolu Street, Ijaiye, Ojokoro area, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria. But the police have denied taking part in his murder.

The policemen, according to sources, had been drinking for about six hours at a hotel nearby before they gunned down the man while he was enjoying evening breeze in front of his house after work.

After shattering his waist with bullets, the policemen who were said to have come from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, forcefully took his corpse away and dumped it in a mortuary at Yaba.

It was gathered that they did this after the Ikeja mortuary officials insisted that before his body could be deposited there, they must fill certain forms, which they refused.

“Oga at the top” suspension, demotion is a lie – Channels Television

•  Mr. ObafaiyeShem 

Channels Television, Monday, debunked the rumour making the rounds that the Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Obafaiye Shem, has been demoted or suspended in the aftermath of a now famous phrase (“My Oga at the Top”) as false.

The TV station also discredited reports that the wife of the commandant stormed the station’s HQ to protest the upload of the interview.

The station, however, did not allude to any source as regards the “false rumour.”