Why Lagos included death penalty in Kidnapping law - Oshun

The Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Public Account, Hon Moshood Oshun, says the inclusion of a death penalty in the recently passed bill against kidnapping by the Assembly was to deter people of the state from taking up such vices.
In a statement signed by his media office and sent to DAILY POST, Oshun explained that the Assembly decided to include death penalty in the bill because lawmakers became concerned about cases of kidnapping in some parts of the state like Ikorodu and Epe.

Oshun said if left unchecked, it would encourage those who are into the “criminal act, cause fear among the citizens and ultimately affect the security and economic situations of the state,” which he described as a mini-Nigeria.
The statement reads, “We need to understand the physical and psychological torture faced by a person who is abducted. In fact, it would take a special grace for a victim to ever recover from the incident.
“Compared to the same law in some other states, it is outright death for a kidnapper found guilty irrespective of whether the victim died in his custody or not.

“But here in Lagos, we respect the sanctity of the human person and this is why we did not follow the general pattern of death penalty. In our case, the kidnapper will only be sentenced to death if the victim died in his or her custody. This is just a simple tit-for-tat.”
“Again, most laws are not just about punishment, but deterrent. A Nigerian resident in Lagos and thinking of engaging in this kind of crime would definitely withdraw upon knowing that he has no escape route with this kind of law.
“When the security system is seen to have failed and kidnapping becomes a trending thing, how many people would be free to go about their businesses? “In this case, who suffers? There are a lot of things we must consider in looking at the law.”
The bill which was passed into law by the House after it scaled through the third reading, is currently awaiting the assent of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
According to the bill, kidnappers would face death penalty if it is discovered that a victim died in their custody and it also stipulates life imprisonment for those found guilty of kidnapping.
Ordinarily, death penalty is being frowned against in some quarters, but Oshun said the punishment was justified according to its placement in the law

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GOSSIP: Icebox blasts M.I Abaga, "His money is taller than M.I"- Lets check.

 

This hip-hop legend M.I Abaga who has one of the best in the music industry,  was basted by a young up coming hip - hop Artist (Icebox) from Cross river state said in one of his songs(tigo ft icebox - calabar swag) that his own money, not even his father money if his father has any. In this case i don't know what to say, come to think of it; is M.I so short to the extent of any up coming musician money growing taller than him....lets see photos.


 
 

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Mikel’s Eagles position not under threat, says Yusuf

Super Eagles Chief Coach Salisu Yusuf says senior national team captain John Obi Mikel’s position in the team would not be threatened by his recent transfer from Chelsea in the English Premier League to Tianjin TEDA in the Chinese Super League.
In a chat with Daily Trust yesterday, the former Kano Pillars boss added that the standard of the Chinese top flight wouldn’t also matter considering the fact that Mikel has completed his football development in one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
“For upcoming players that might be the case but for someone in the calibre of Mikel it’s totally different because he has spent over a decade with one of the biggest teams in Europe and knows exactly what’s needed of him in every situation,” Yusuf noted.Meanwhile, Mikel was said to have impressed in his first training session with Tianjin TEDA on Sunday morning despite his lack of game time at Premier League giants Chelsea in the first half of the season.
Officials of Tianjin TEDA had granted the holding midfielder permission to return to London and have few days of rest shortly after his medical in Amsterdam, but he chose to fly to Malaga, where the Chinese Super League club are holding a training camp ahead of the new season.
“After eleven years at Chelsea, each teammate cannot wait to see me, this time I finally cannot wait to see my teammates,” Mikel was quoted as saying by Netease Sports.
“I asked Oscar his views; he told me that you should come to China to play.” The Rio 2016 Olympics bronze medalist said.
Before the start of training, Mikel was welcomed by his new teammates and coaching staff, and he communicated well with his teammates during practice.

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Police detian sex over kidnap of Bagudu Hirse - see in detail

Suspected kidnappers of former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse and other high profile      personalities, during their parade by the police at Force Headquarters in Abuja yesterday

The Nigerian Police yesterday paraded six suspects over the kidnap of Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, a former minister of state for foreign affairs.
Police spokesman DCP, Don Awunah while parading the suspects at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, said the gang was smashed with the arrest of Dominic Nwakpa, who is the gang leader, in Lagos state.
Ambassador Hirse was kidnapped in Kaduna on 20th November 2016 and regained his freedom on the 26th November 2016, five days after he was kidnapped.
The police gave the names of the other suspects arrested to include  Ifeanyi Chukwu, Balat Paul, Ibrahim Samuel, Jatau Peter a dismissed Police man, Clinton Abere and Afini Paul younger sister to the driver of the gang and also owner of the house where kidnapped victims were kept.
Awunah said the police recovered firearms, ammunition, military and police uniforms and two operational vehicles from the kidnappers.
He explained that  four principal suspects and members of the gang; Balat Paul, Ibrahim Samuel  and Jatau Peter were arrested on the 1st January, 2017 in their hideouts at Dan Hassan Road Ungwa Boro Kaduna.
He said Afini Paul, a female member who cooks for the gang and the victims, rented the house at Yusuf Patrick close, Mararaba Rido, Kaduna where victims are kept before ransom money is collected.
Awunah said Ifeanyi Chukwu the 2nd in command of the gang was arrested in a Hotel in Agbor Hill, area of Abia State.
He is said to have confessed to be the second in command of the gang that kidnapped Hirse and so many others in Kaduna, Abia, Imo, Rivers, and Delta States.
The Police said the suspects volunteered confessional statements admitting they kidnapped Ambassador Hirse on 20th November, 2016 in GRA, Kaduna and collected ransom before he was released.
“The same gang confessed to the kidnap of Dr. Abdulmalik Durunguwa and his wife in their residence at different intervals in Kaduna. Ransom was also collected by the gang from the family of the victims before they were released.
The police also said: “A Member of Kaduna State House of Assembly Ibrahim Samaila was also kidnapped by the gang on 26/8/2016 at Abakpa area of Kaduna State and undisclosed ransom money was collected by the gang before his release.”
Awunah said the seventh suspect Clinton Abere was trailed and arrested in a Hotel in Lagos after jumping out of the window of his hotel room on sighting operatives of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
He is said to be currently receiving treatment at Police Hospital from injury he sustained in the process of attempting to escape arrest.
He said all seven suspects have admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes, and will be arraigned in court at the end of investigation.
The Police also yesterday paraded two suspects Maisamari Dan-Katsina and Ex-Sgt Bulus Jatau accused of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Awunah said the suspects were arrested following intelligence report of their plans to unleash terror on residents of Kujama village in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
Fielding questions from journalist, Maisamari Dan-Katsina confessed to being a retired policeman who received the arms from Sergeant Bulus Jatau a dismissed policeman.
Bulus also confessed to have been serving in the Police Mounted troop unit in Kaduna, where he was able to get the firearms and ammunition recovered from them.
Awunah said items recovered from the suspects include  one pump action gun, Berretta Pistol, Four English Revolver pistols, fifty rounds of 9mm live ammunition and one expended and thirty one live cartridges.
Other exhibits are: one fake firearm license, one Golf car, one Prado jeep, one Toyota Cricket, one Toyota Corolla and one set of camouflage Police uniform.

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