How to know your girlfriend is using you.

While some men don’t want to settle down and claim a girlfriend, most men don’t need any “girl…friends” either. After all, what man wants to just “hang out” with a beautiful woman?
That’s what his boys are for. It’s totally possible for men and women to be platonic friends, but that’s not normally how it starts.

The man is attracted to a woman, he asks her out, and they spend time together. But then somewhere along the line, said man falls into the dreaded “friend zone” – and he has no idea how he got there. He’s not sure if she’s playing hard to get, or if he’s been hoodwinked – and while he’s trying to figure it all out, the woman knows exactly what she’s doing. If you’re not sure if you’re being played for a fool, here are some signs that she just might be using you.

1. You Are Her Personal Chauffeur

You have a car…she doesn’t. This is not a big deal, and being the gentleman you are, you have no problem picking her up for dates. But after a while, you’re not just picking her up to go to the movies. You’re driving her to work, to her doctor’s appointment and even to her friends’ house. As a matter of fact, she asks you to drive her AND her friends around – to the club, the mall, wherever. But she’s attractive, so you do it, even if it’s totally out of your way. The way you see it, she’ll think you’re such a nice guy that she might even invite you INSIDE of her home one day.

But she doesn’t, and you barely get a kiss on the cheek for all of the gas you’ve burnt up.  If she’s given you ZERO indication that she’s even remotely physically attracted to you, then she’s using you for a ride. Unless you’ve at least gotten to second base, keep your car parked and let her figure out how to get around herself.

2. You’re Her Flunky

It’s not enough that you drive her around, but sometimes she sends you out WITHOUT HER to run her errands. She asks you, in that ever so sweet voice of hers, to pick up her dry cleaning “since it’s on your way home.” She has to work late, so she wants to know if you’d be a dear and walk her precious dog for her. And you do it, because you figure that’s what a good boyfriend would do, right? Right.

Problem is, you’re not her boyfriend, you’re her errand boy; and any hopes you had of becoming her boyfriend went out the window along with your dignity. She’s not going to date you because she doesn’t respect you. Some women don’t like a guy who does whatever she says or who she can walk all over. What you see as kindness, she may view as weakness. It’s sad but true. There’s nothing wrong with being a good friend, if that’s all you want to be. But if you want more, and she’s not giving it to you, despite all of your good intentions, then bounce…and let her hire an assistant.

3. You Are Her “Go-To” Date

If you find that she only wants to go OUT – to the movies, a concert or to her favorite restaurant, chances are she just wants to get out of the house and you are her “go-to” date. Every time she calls, you’re always available…probably because you sit around waiting for your phone to ring. She knows this, and she also knows that you will do anything to be in her presence. If she’s always busy when you invite her to your crib or you’ve never seen the inside of her place, then she probably doesn’t want to be anywhere where something could jump off…and she’d have to turn you down. Just once or twice, be busy when she calls or tell her “no” to an outside date and see how she reacts. If she’s bent out of shape or stops calling, then you’ll know she’s probably not that into you.

4. You Pay For ALL Dates

Not only are you her “go-to” date – you also PAY for ALL of the dates. Some women expect men to pay for all dates, and some men even agree with that. But you shouldn’t be going broke while you’re trying to figure if she actually even likes you. If you’ve got the means to stick it out until she magically falls in love with you, then rock on. But if you have to take out a small loan just to keep courting this woman, while she NEVER ever offers to pay for anything, then stop…now. See how long she wants to “date” you when you tell her that you forgot your wallet.

5. You Pay Her Bills

It’s one thing to pay for dates, but it’s another thing to pay her rent. There’s nothing wrong with helping out a friend in need, or LOANING someone some money until they get on their feet. But unless you are her MAN, and you KNOW this, then there is no way you should be paying for anything that’s in her name. Men and women use each other all the time for different things, but you’re a straight up sucka if she hands you a utility bill and you actually pay it…regularly. And don’t try taking her to court when she drops you for some other fool and you’re out hundreds or thousands of dollars. She’ll claim it was a “gift” and you’ll never get your money back. Listen to what I’m telling you and save yourself from having to learn an expensive lesson on your own.

6. You’re Mr. Fix It

You’ve let it be known that you’re pretty handy when it comes to fixing things, so she invites you over one Saturday afternoon to “help” her paint her house. You think it’ll earn you some cool points – and you’ll get to be INSIDE her place and you can seduce her while you wait for the paint to dry. WRONG! All she’s going to do is find a way to be busy “doing something else” while you paint, and when you’re done, she’ll suddenly need a ride to Home Depot to pick up some things for the next project you’ll be working on. So you drive her there (See #1) and pay for all the materials (See #5) and then go back to her place to install her new cabinets, hang some shelves and fix her leaky faucet. She doesn’t even offer to feed you (See #4).  She rushes you out of her house when the work is done because she’s “tired” (has a date with someone else) so you leave, hoping for another chance to get closer to her bedroom. You, my friend, have been had. Next time, tell her to hire a contractor and keep it moving.

7. You’re Her Confidante

So by now, you realize that you’re in the” friend zone”, but you don’t care. You think you still have a chance to woo her, so you continue to be her shoulder to cry on hoping that one day she’ll come to her senses and realize what a wonderful, caring, compassionate man you are. So you endure endless hours of her late night calls crying to you about the jerk who broke her heart (again). You encourage her complaints about all the no-good men out there and remind her that if she were your woman, you’d never hurt her and treat her like the queen that she is. Little do you know, she’s a glutton for punishment, only likes “bad boys” and thinks nice guys like you are weak and pathetic. Dude, run…or else she’ll just continue to use you up and walk all over you. You’re wasting your time if you think she’ll change her mind about you – and if she finally ever does, it’ll be too late…because you will have found a woman who appreciates you.

8. You’re Her Sex Toy

Now, this might not be a problem for most men out there, but if you are genuinely interested in having a real relationship, getting married and having kids one day, then you might want to find a woman who wants you for more than sex. Believe it or not, there are women out there, like men, who have jump-offs who they will never be seen out in public with. The sex is earth shattering, but she doesn’t want a relationship, OR, she doesn’t want a relationship with YOU. Maybe you’re too short, don’t have a job, have multiple children with multiple women, have some teeth missing…who knows. Either way, she doesn’t want her girlfriends to know about you, so you become her dirty little secret and she calls you after midnight to come by and crack her back. Now, again…some, if not most, men would be fine with this arrangement. But if you’ve somehow caught feelings for her, then it’s best you leave now before your heart gets broken into a million little pieces once she finds a guy she can actually be seen in daylight with.

Where is Patience Goodluck Jonathan?

Despite her return to Nigeria in pomp and circumstance about one month ago, First Lady Patience Jonathan is still sick.
Shortly after the public relations exercise that attended her return, she retired into a medically-induced bed rest that has her kept her away from the public, unable to attend to official duties.

On October 26th Mrs. Jonathan appeared with her husband and the Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko and his wife to cut her 55th birthday cake in the presidential villa, since then she has disappeared from the public.
A presidency source stated that Mrs. Jonathan’s doctors in Germany have also continued to visit and watch her recovery.
When Mrs. Jonathan returned from a prolonged medical trip to Germany in October she spoke effusively about being given a second chance, but denied having been in a hospital.
The publicity given her return was designed to end all forms of speculation about her true condition because the presidency had badly miscalculated by not revealing her actual medical status to the country.
Since her return, Mrs. Jonathan has not been able to accompany her husband on any official trips in or outside of Nigeria, including visits to her home state of Rivers, or that of Mr. Jonathan, Bayelsa.
In addition to all this, she has not attended to her duties in Bayelsa as Permanent Secretary, a position she seized with grand fanfare months before she left the country on an extended trip she said was not for hospital treatment purposes.
It is unclear how long Mrs. Jonathan’s bed-rest will continue as she remains inaccessible to the public, or how her absence is impacting her official duties in both Abuja and Bayelsa

Nollywood Actor, Pete Eneh Fails to pull through Amputation

The Nigerian movie industry otherwise known as Nollywood recorded another setback, Thursday, when it lost  one of its veteran actors, Pete Eneh  to the cold hands of death.

Pete lost the battle for his life days after he had one of his legs amputated  due to infection , at  Park Lane hospital in  Enugu. The amputation was earlier reported by Greenwich News. His health was said to have deteriorated after the amputation.

Confirming the news of his death,  former Chairman of  Enugu State chapter of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Mr. Ofiafuluagu Mbaka, said, the celebrated actor died around 1 pm yesterday, in Enugu, though he could not give more details about his death.

The infection, according to reports, started last year, after he had an injury on his leg.
His case got worse when he couldn’t get proper medical attention. The actor was said to have been amputated to stop the infection from spreading to other parts of his body.

Eneh was a visible member of Nollywood.   He featured in hit  Nollywood movies such as “Lonely Life”,  “Divided Kingdom”, “Prince of Ignorance”,  “Heavy Rain”, “Naomi ”, “Not Your Wealth”among other movies.

Justice Kayode Eso is dead.

Eminent Nigerian Jurist, Justice Kayode Eso is dead.

Justice Eso died in his home in Lagos on Friday morning, according to family sources.

Justice Bobakayode Eso was born on September 18, 1925 at Ilesa, in Osun State, Nigeria. He proceeded to Trinity College, Dublin where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law with Hons Degree in Legal Science in 1953 and a Masters in 1956.

Described as the Father of Judicial Activism in Nigeria, Justice Kayode Eso is the greatest protagonist for an Independent Judiciary and very well known
for his relentless efforts in maintaining discipline and protecting the integrity of his court.

A fearless and Courageous Judge, two of Justice Eso’s celebrated landmark judgements are listed below:

- The mystery gunman case, which is the trial of Wole Soyinka over his role in a broadcast which the government of the defunct western region of Nigeria termed offensive. Justice Eso returned a verdict of not guilty on Soyinka, and shortly after the judgement, he was transferred from Ibadan to Akure, then regarded as a rural station;

- The celebrated case of Chief Obafemi Awolowo Vs Alhaji Shehu Shagari, in 1979 will forever remain green in Nigeria’s jurisprudence.  The Apex Court in deciding the law relating to election cases had by a majority of 6-1, affirmed the election of Alhaji Shagari as duly elected President. However, the courageous decision of Justice Eso in this case remains legendary. In his dissent opinion, Justice Eso  held that at least two-third of 19 states could only be 13 and not 12 2/3

He has received several Awards and University honours too numerous to mention.  He is Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON): 1979; He received LL.D honoris Causa, University of Ibadan: 1990, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka: 2001; and Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) 2012.

He was married to Helen Aina Eso and had 2 children and five grand children.

Breaking. Irate Youths Take To The Street Following Shooting That Left 7 Members Of One Family Dead In Kaduna

Hundreds of youths in Azasak near Zonkwa, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna state are currently protesting the killing of about seven members of a family.

The youths who are holding leafs and items of clothing are chanting their protests, which mainly has to do with the withdrawal of military personnel from the area.

"If the military personnel can't protect the people, they have no business being here. They should go. We will protect ourselves," Samaila Bala said.


Kaduna police spokesman, Aminu Lawal could not pick the call put to him by our correspondent to respond to the development.

Yet to be identified gunmen on Wednesday night attacked Azansak near Zonkwa, Zangon Kataf Local government of Kaduna state killing seven members of one family.

The incident began at about 11pm, according to an eyes witness, when the gunmen invaded the community and started shooting sporadically in the air. The shooting went on for over 30 minutes, he told reporters.

According to the National President of the Bajju Youth Association Gad Ezekiel the attackers killed all the members of a family leaving behind only a little girl.

"We saw a trailer park in the day time. At about 11pm, when we had gone to to sleep, we began to hear gun shots. I rushed with my wife and daughter to a safer place. When we came back, all the people in the house had been burnt right in the house. We don't know what is happening but after the incident we discovered that we could not find the trailer anymore," said Emmanuel Musa, a resident.

Nuhu Baba, another resident of the area told newsmen that in spite of a military check point in the area, the gunmen shot sporadically in the air for over
30 minutes but no security man went to the area to save the people until after the gunmen had left.

The police in Kaduna is yet to make a statement concerning the killings.

Nigeria's Super Eagles Defeat Venezuela 3-1 in Friendly

Super Eagles goalkeeper and skipper, Austin Ejide saves at the feet of Venezuela forward Jose Rondon (23)

The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Venezuela 3-1 in a rather ill-tempered friendly match, that was played in Miami, US.
After both teams failed to convert multiple scoring opportunities in the first half, Nigeria broke through when Brown slotted his shot past goalkeeper Daniel Hernandez in the 48th minute.
Nosa Igiebor doubled the advantage, with a goal of sheer quality – the midfielder controlled the ball expertly on his chest and let fly from almost the halfway line.
The Venezuelans pulled one goal back, after a defensive mix-up and it took some brilliant goalkeeping from Austin Ejide to keep the Eagles ahead. They however got the third goal, when Newcastle star, Shola Ameobi, making his debut for his country of birth, used his strength to hold up the ball and set up Onazi Ogenyi to smash in from inside the box.

FG/Boko Haram Negotiation: Presidency Confirms On-going Talks

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, has confirmed that the government is currently engaged in talks with the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. It however said that the dialogue was not the type envisaged by Nigerians.

Media reports has it that Abati, who spoke to news correspondents Abuja, said that, “talks are ongoing at the background. But the talks are not the kinds being envisaged by Nigerians.”

According to Abati “I know that some Nigerians are expecting that a venue should be chosen and a banner will be placed there indicating that the Federal Government is holding dialogue with the group there… That is not the kind of talks we are talking about here. The ongoing talk is a back channel one in which those who know members of the group are talking with them on behalf of the government.”
The sect, among others things, has asked for compensation for its killed members; that its demolished mosque be rebuilt; that its members in custody be released; and that the dialogue venue should be in Saudi Arabia. It spoke through Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, the second-in-command to its leader, Abubakar Shekau.

20 Year old woman throws baby into well. Claims She was abandoned by the man who impregnated her

A 20-year-old woman, Ganiyat Salawudeen, is currently in police custody after she was arrested for throwing her five-month-old baby inside a well, where she was residing in her mother’s family house at Alagolo area, Oja Oba, Ibadan
Media reports has it that, Ganiyat threw the baby, whose name was given as Timothy Odugbemi, into the well at about 8.30p.m on Monday November 5, after which she raised the alarm that she could not find her baby.

After a search by family members and neighbours, which extended till the following morning, Ganiyat was reported to have confessed to throwing the baby inside the well after much prodding. People were said to have rushed towards the well to see if it was true and it was a shocked crowd which beheld the still body of the tot when he was brought out of the well.
On hearing about the incident, the Divisional Crime Officer in charge of Mapo Division, Mr Bayo Ogundiran, reportedly led a team of detectives to the scene and arrested the mother, while the baby was taken to Adeoyo Hospital, Yemetu, where he was confirmed dead. He was thereafter deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.
Ganiyat said she could not also explain what made her throw her baby in the well, expressing the belief that forces greater than her must have overwhelmed her at that moment.
Narrating how the incident occurred, Ganiyat said:
“On that day, I bathed the baby in the evening, changed his clothes and we both went to bed. About 8.30p.m, I rose from the bed, carried the baby and took him to the back of my room window where the well is situated”.

“A spirit just came over me and asked me to throw the baby inside the well. I pushed the planks on the well aside, threw the baby inside and covered it again”.
After some time, I told the tenant living in the house that I could not see my baby. He said he saw me moments before with the baby. I left my residence for my parents’ place at Oniyanrin area and told my mother that I could not find my baby but she kept asking me where I kept the child.

“The following morning, many people came and were shouting at me, asking me where I threw the baby. An elderly man in our family then came to me, cajoling me to tell him where the baby was. Then I told him that the baby was in the well. While some people rushed towards the well, others started beating me with horsewhip, cane and different objects. When the baby was brought out, he was already dead. A police patrol van came and I was taken to the police station.”
Ganiyat, who said she was an apprentice learning fashion designing, disclosed that she was impregnated by one Kehinde Odugbemi, who was already married, and that she delivered the baby on June 4. She added that the man could not be traced until the day of the naming ceremony when he came in the evening to christen the child. She said Odugbemi also came on June 12 to give her N1,000, adding that that was the last time she set her eyes on him.
Ganiyat was said to have given birth to a boy before the birth of the deceased baby but could not get any man to claim the child. The boy, who is said to be three years old, is being taken care of by Ganiyat’s mother.

EFCC Arraigns 7 Oil Subsidy Thieves in Lagos Court

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Sunday said it would arraign seven more suspects allegedly involved in the N5.4bn fuel subsidy scam.

The commission said five of the suspects would be arraigned today (Monday) before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja on  13 counts of stealing and forgery.

They are Nasaman Oil Services Limited, Mamman Ali, Christian Taylor, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez (still at large).

The remaining two suspects, Rowaye Jubril and Brila Energy Limited, the anti-graft agency said, would be arraigned before Justice Okunnu on Tuesday, November 13, on 13 counts of conspiracy, stealing and forgery.

The two suspects were said to have obtained N963, 796, 199.85 from the Federal Government by falsely representing the sum as subsidy accruing to them for the importation of 13, 155,807MT or 17,393,767 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

A statement by the spokesperson of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects had allegedly obtained  N4, 460,130,797.94 from the Federal Government by claiming that the sum represented subsidy accruing to them under the petroleum support fund for the importation of 61,049,937.00 litres of PMS.

Meanwhile, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has blamed the Federal Government for lacking sincerity in tackling corruption in the oil industry.

He noted that many of oil subsidy thieves were friends of government, who he said, allegedly financed the last general elections.

On the Nuhu Ribadu Subsidy report, the former minister, who spoke to newsmen on Friday in Uyo, said he knew from the beginning that government was not going to do anything with the report.

He said, “Corruption in the oil industry is one that benefits those in government. The list of oil subsidy thieves, shows that all those mentioned are all friends of the administration that contributed to the last elections. So it will be naive for anyone to believe that people that financed an election will be sent to jail.”

INTERVIEW: I had to play with a live python in a Nollywood movie role - Chika Ike

UN Ambassador and Nollywood actress, Chika Ike knows her onions when it comes to interpreting her roles in movies as well as engaging in buying and selling. Having featured in several movies since debuting in the industry nearly a decade ago, her dexterity in the interpretation of roles has endeared her to most movie directors.
Recently, the 27 year-old actress showed her stuff in a multi-million naira flick, ‘A Minute Silence’, where she was meant to pose  for a shot with  a live python.  In this encounter, she recounts the horrible experience and explains why she prefers to keep her private life out of her acting career.

You are already a brand after putting in nearly ten years in the industry. What is your staying power?
I can only attribute  my success  to God because without Him, I’m a nobody. I’m also a sucker for hard work. I believe that in whatever you do, you’ve got to put in your best in it.
In a highly competitive industry with multi-talented actors and actresses, it is not easy. But I give God the glory, I’m a very spiritual person. Without God, I can’t really do anything. I grew up under  the influence of my parents who inculcated the values of discipline, hard work and tolerance in their children.
Would you ascribe your success in the industry  to your excellent interpretation of roles and professionalism?
Yes, that is what I actually mean by hard work. You have to be very professional in whatever you are doing in order  to achieve success.
So, it is a combination of spiritualism, favour of God, hard work and professionalism.

What frightening experience have you had in the course of your acting career?
Basically, every job has its own hazards. Acting also has its own challenges too. I have had a lot of experiences. As an actress, you have to be at different locations. I shot a film recently that I was in the forest for seven days. You know, the sight of reptiles and animals can be very frightening.
There could be scorpions, monkeys and other dangerous animals hidden in the bush but as an actress, you’ve got to put that behind you and do the job. I just finished a movie recently where I had to pose with a live python. It was the most frightening role I have ever played in recent times. Carrying a python that can  turn against you at  any moment can  be very frightening.

What was going through your mind when you were carrying the python?
A lot of things went through my mind. I felt anything could happen because animals are not easy to control. You can only try your best, human being sometimes might not be able to control wild animals. I felt the python was going to turn against me. Even when a colleague was encouraging  me  to carry the snake,I was  praying it didn’t to attack me.
It was frightening; very scary. It took me a while before I could carry it. People were like telling me not to be scared. I was like running away but they kept telling me Chika, No! No, it won’t attack  you.  Later, I  agreed to carry it with one hand but the director insisted I must hang it around my neck. I screamed and screamed , but I finally did it.

It means you can do anything for money?
No, I will never kill for money.

What if you have a Hollywood script that you’ve got to act nude for a whooping sum of money?
I will not take the job.

A big sum of money in dollars sometimes is irresistible?
Honestly, I won’t do it. I will not go naked for any movie.
A lot of rumours are making the rounds about your crashed marriage, could you please put the records straight?
You see, human beings are terrible, but the issue is that as long as you are breathing,  people will continue to talk about you. Even if you are dead, people will still talk about you whether positively or negatively. Rumours will always come up, especially when one is in the limelight.  So, let them  continue to talk about me, I don’t want to talk about it.
But that will not help the situation either; is it not better to put the records straight, or you have decided to move on without a man in your life?
Basically, it is my private life and I don’t want to talk about it. I think private matters are handled privately. So, issues about marriages, relationships, friendships are personal, people are entitled to handle their own issues their own way. So, I like to keep my private life private.

Apart from acting, what other things do you do?
I have a foundation called Chika Ike Foundation which is geared towards helping children on the streets, giving them  hope and encouraging them to become better persons in future. I launched it officially in May 27, this year, where we organised a party for over 3,000 children in Lagos.
The party was themed “Educate a Child” and we gave out over 3000 Customized CIF (Chika Ike Foundation) school bags containing school materials, T-shirts, lunchboxes, note books and snacks. It was held at the Light Chapel playing ground.
It was fun galore. I visited public schools in Enugu and Delta States recently and I’m planing to replicate the same in other states before the end of this year. It has actually been taking my time, but I love it because I’m passionate about it. Again, my fashion business: Fancy Nancy Collections is another area that takes my time. The Lagos branch is going to be opened soon. So, it has been a handful of activities for me.

What inspired you into setting up the foundation?
I grew up in a neighbourhood where people could not afford the basic necessities of life. I saw my mother helping them when they needed help. I saw a lot of kids being exposed to violence, child abuse, peer pressure. So I learnt from my mother’s generosity to the kids and her gestures towards caring for others. I was close to them and I could feel their pain. Since then, I told myself, ‘if I’m going to set up a foundation, it has to be one that has to do  with kids. That is my passion.

Some of your colleagues have taken the initiative to premiere some movies. Are you thinking in that direction?
Yeah! It is good to be ambitious, and anybody that is ambitious will think of doing something special and worthwhile in the industry. Of course, I give them kudos for doing it and I’m assuring you that mine will be out, hopefully very soon.

What are you doing right now then?
I’m currently shooting a movie in Enugu. We will finish the production very soon.  The movie is  entitled, Kleptomania. It’s about a girl that has a sensation and spur to steal. This was actually brought about by a curse by her old mother while stealing her money to help her own boyfriend. The old woman cursed her and she started stealing. At a point in the movie and in the story line, she had an accident and her legs were cut off. It was physically challenging.

Are you the lead actress in the movie?
Yes I am. I worked with Pete Edochie. It was a beautiful storyline, with lovely casts.

How much did it cost?
I really don’t know, but I know it cost the producers a lot of money. If you put all the casts and cost together, it is huge. It is not easy getting Uncle Pete Edochie and myself in a movie like that.

When is it going to be out?
Hopefully in March 2013.

If you look back into your life, would you regret any of your actions?
I don’t really like looking back at life in such a way because I see everything you do in life as a learning process. I am not somebody that would not try and later start skulking and wishing it had never happened. Of course, I will feel bad, but I don’t allow that to weigh me down. I just have to move on and take it as one of the lessons in life. That way, it makes you stronger.

I have heard people call you African Sweetheart, why this name?
(Laughs) Of course I’m an African Sweetheart. I don’t really know why they call me that but I believe I am one. Every African woman should be a sweetheart. But I gladly take the name. Come to think of it, if you look at me, you’ll know that I am a full blown African woman and I am proud about that.

Lagos Police Opens Fire On A Banker Who Called Them To Rescue Him From An Armed Robbery

Badejo. Inset the bullets used and Lagos CP, Manko

An employee of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Femi Badejo, and his security guard, Joshua Moses, were shot by policemen in Lagos on Saturday after they responded to a distress call about a robbery at the banker’s home in Ikota area of the state.

Greenwich News learnt that the robbers had attacked Badejo and his neighbours around 4am and one of the neighbours made a distress call to the police, but by the time the policemen arrived about an hour later, the robbers had fled.

Badejo said he and his neighbours were in the compound discussing what had transpired when the policemen stormed the building and started shooting sporadically.

He is currently receiving treatment at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos Island.

Badejo said, “I live in a one-storey building and there are four tenants occupying the ground floor. Around 4am, armed robbers stormed our house.

“The robbers robbed all of us occupying the ground floor. They stole my clothes, money, phones and other valuables. While the robbery was ongoing, one of the tenants called Maroko Police Division.”

Badejo said after the robbers had fled, scores of policemen arrived at the house while one of them started shooting indiscriminately, adding that he was hit five times.

He said, “We (neighbours) were all inside the compound counting our losses when we heard a bang on the gate. Immediately the security guard opened, one of the policemen started shooting indiscriminately.

“The security guard was shot in the pelvis and in the back but the bullet pierced through his chest. I immediately took cover under a car but the policeman came to where I was and started shooting at me.

“Another policeman came behind me and shot. The first shot came through my feet and fractured my leg. Two shots grazed my thighs. Another shot went through my biceps and came out, while one went through my wrist.

Badejo added that it took the intervention of the other neighbours as well as the Divisional Police Officer of the station to prevent him from being killed.

 Badejo and the injured guard were immediately rushed to the hospital. The guard was subsequently transferred to General Hospital, Broad Street, and then Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.  He is said to be in a critical condition.

One of our correspondents learnt that Badejo was scheduled to give a lecture at a summit organised by the bank on Saturday.

According to a colleague who craved anonymity, the company executives were curious when he did not show up as scheduled.

He said, “Badejo is in Total Quality Management Department at the head office. He is part of the team working on the 21st century transformation which the bank is working on. He was supposed to deliver a lecture at 8.30am but when we did not see him, we began to wonder what went wrong.

“It was not until later that we received words from one his relatives that he was shot by policemen.”

Badejo, who berated the police for lack of professionalism, said, “When the policemen came into the compound, they didn’t even ask any questions. One of them just started shooting. Even the armed robbers did not even assault me, they only took my belongings.”

On Tuesday, a commercial motorcycle rider, Adigun Atilola, was shot by a policeman at Ilupeju during the clampdown on okada riders. The following day, a policeman, Oluwatiyesi Gboyega, also allegedly shot and killed a bus conductor during an argument over N50.

A call placed to the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, on Sunday was not answered and neither did she reply a text message sent to her on the shooting of the banker and securityman.