Metro
Landlord Sets Tenant Ablaze over N11,000 Rent in Cross Rivers
A landlord, David Ntiero Okon, has been arrested for allegedly setting his tenant ablaze in Calabar, Cross River State, over her failure to pay N11, 000 house rent.
The incident happened on Wednesday at No 9, Ansa Ewa Street, Cobham Town in the Bayside area of Calabar South.
The landlord allegedly poured fuel on Mrs Mary Samuel’s room and ignited a fire that engulfed the one-room apartment.
An eyewitness and security guard who is a tenant in the house identified only as Obongette stated that Mary, who lived in the house for over seven years, owed the landlord N11, 000 after her fish business dwindled because of frequent attacks by militants in the Calabar Water Channel.
He said, “The woman was a fish seller and on Wednesday morning, she went to buy fish at Oron in Akwa Ibom State and when she returned in the evening, the landlord asked her to pay the balance of her annual rent. She said she didn’t have any money but should be allowed to sell her fish the next day to raise money to pay the rent.”
Obongette added, “The landlord was angered by the woman’s appeal and accused her of refusing to pay the rent. When the woman went to bathe, the landlord poured fuel in the room. After bathing, as she stepped into the room, the man ignited a fire which engulfed the place.
“As the woman shouted and tried to escape, the man locked the door and when people came to rescue her, he brought out a machete and chased them away, threatening to kill anyone who dared to rescue the burning lady.”
He said after the woman’s death, people in the area gathered and took the corpse to the landlord’s apartment and laid it there till the next day.
“Police came yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and carried the corpse and also arrested the man because we ensured that he didn’t escape. The house was built by his late father,’’ Obongette said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident, adding that the landlord had been arrested and the corpse deposited in the mortuary.
She said, “Investigations are going on to unravel what really happened.”
The Punch
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.
The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.
The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.
The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.
Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.
Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.
She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.
Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.
The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.
They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.
Plans have been concluded for the 19th edition of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF)’s Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP, can report.
At the event, the Lagos’ Chief Security Officer, will champion the task of driving immense financial, material, and moral support for the Public-Private partnership agency which has been at the forefront of safety and security since its establishment in 2007. It will also be the first Town Hall meeting to be spearheaded by the agency’s new Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr Ayo Ogunsan.
Over the years, the Town Hall Meeting has become a platform for reviewing security interventions and strengthening partnerships in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and West Africa’s economic hub, Lagos. The theme of this year’s Town Hall meeting is “Building Trust, Enhancing Security: A New Era of Security and Partnerships.” It will bring together top government officials, security agencies, private-sector partners and other stakeholders committed to improving safety across the state. It will be held on Thursday 11th December, 2025, by 11am at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.
This year’s edition will focus on deepening public trust and advancing collaborative approaches to tackling emerging security challenges. LSSTF expressed optimism that the outcome of the meeting would further strengthen the state’s security framework and support ongoing efforts to enhance public safety.
Participation at this year’s event will be strictly by invitation due to the high-level nature of the deliberations and the need to accommodate core stakeholders.
However, the public would not be left out, as the entire session would be streamed live on its official social media platforms for wider access and transparency. Thus, members of the public can join the broadcast through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and Lagos State Government pages on Facebook and Instagram.
You can join the event Live on:-
FACEBOOK: Lagos State Security Trust Fund/followlasg
INSTAGRAM: followlsstf/lagosstategovt
The Departmental Selection Board (DSB) promotion exercise for Police Inspectors has officially commenced at the Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan Lagos, according to a statement by the Zonal PRO, CSP Ayuba Tunni Umma, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
The statement highlighted that the exercise is in line with the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to the welfare and career progression of personnel.
Designed to assess qualified Inspectors due for promotion to the next rank, and scheduled to run until Friday, December 5, 2025, the nationwide exercise is mandated across all Police Zonal formations.
“The exercise is being held at the Zonal Headquarters, and encompasses all eligible Inspectors serving under the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands. It is being presided over by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Zone, AIG Adegoke M. Fayoade, psc, mni, fisn,” the statement noted.
While addressing officers at the commencement of the exercise, the Assistant Inspector General in charge of the Zone, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, congratulated them on their eligibility, and urged them to exhibit the highest standards of professionalism throughout the process. He reiterated the commitment of the Police leadership to a fair, merit-based, and transparent promotion system.
The AIG therefore, warned all participants against any form of misconduct, corruption or bribery, emphasizing that integrity is paramount. Assisting the AIG during the process are: Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Finance & Administration *DCP Bello Adamu and DCP Olubode Fakeye in charge of Zonal Criminal Investigation Department.
Personnel welfare remains a core priority for the Nigeria Police Force, and this exercise underscores the Force’s dedication to rewarding hard work, competence, and dedication among its ranks, fostering a motivated and professional workforce.
