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Lagos Government Destroys Shanties, Dislodges Squatters Under Ijora  Bridge [VIDEO]

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The Lagos State Government has commenced the destruction of illegal shanties occupied by squatters under the Ijora Causeway Bridge.

The government had earlier on Sunday given a five-day quit notice to squatters under the bridge and the Lagos Blue rail Line overhead bridge in Ijora to remove all their shanties for constituting a danger to the Lagos Blue Line corridor or risk demolition and removal.

The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, while giving the quit notice lamented the security risk the occupation of underneath the bridge by mini buses, block moulders, fuel sellers and miscreants posed to the safe operation of the blue rail line service, and said the government would not allow it to continue.

Sharing videos on his X handle on Saturday, Wahab stated that the enforcement team was led by ACP Bayo Sulaiman under the directive of the state governor to dislodge the squatters and clear the area.

He wrote, “Following the expiration of a 5-day quit notice issued to squatters under the Ijora Causeway Bridge by #followlasg last Sunday, the Enforcement Team of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources #LasgMOE and Special Intervention Squad on the Restoration of the Lagos Badagry Rail Corridor Clean-Up led ACP Bayo Sulaiman begin enforcement by dislodging the illegal squatters and clearing up the area as directed by Lagos State Governor, #jidesanwoolu.”

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Ogun Home Lesson Teacher In Police Net For Defiling 13-Yr-Old Girl

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The Ogun State Police Command has arrested Femi Onayemi, for defiling a 13-year-old girl in the Obada-Oko area of the state.

Report has it that the suspect had earlier been hired by the girl’s parents to tutor her at their home in the community in 2023.

It was gathered that the survivor’s parents were shocked when the suspect scaled the fence of their home to gain access to the 13-year-old’s room and commit the heinous crime.

The spokesperson for the state command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and stated that Onayemi had been arrested.

She said, “The parents of the minor approached our division at Obada Oko on June 12, 2024, to report the incident. The suspect was employed in 2023 to help the survivor with her studies at home.

“However, on June 9, 2024, the suspect was caught committing the crime after he had jumped over the fence of the house. Our men swung into action immediately after the matter was reported.

“The suspect was also believed to be attending the same church that the survivor attends every Sunday. He confessed to the crime after we arrested him.”

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63-Yr-Old US Woman Wrongly Convicted Of Murder Freed After 43 Years In Prison

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Sandra “Sandy” Hemme, a 63-year-old Missouri woman, who was imprisoned for more than 40 years for murder, has had her conviction overturned after spending 43 years in prison for a murder she did not commit.

According to The Guardian on Sunday, Hemme was convicted in 1985 based on her incriminating statements, made while she was a psychiatric patient.

However, a judge has now ruled that there is “clear and convincing” evidence that she was innocent of the crime.

Hemme, now 63, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 1980 murder of a library worker, Patricia Jeschke, in St Joseph, Missouri, after Hemme made statements to the police incriminating herself while she was a psychiatric patient.

Livingston County Circuit Judge Ryan Horsman on Friday ruled that “evidence directly” ties the murder of Jeschke to a local police officer who later went to prison for another crime and has since died.

The judge said that Hemme who has spent the last 43 years behind bars, must be freed within 30 days unless prosecutors decide to re-try her.

The judge’s decision followed a January hearing where Hemme’s legal team presented evidence linking the murder to Michael Holman, a former local police officer who has since passed away.

Hemme’s conviction was the longest-known wrongful conviction of a woman in US history.

Her legal team, with the Innocence Project, argued that authorities ignored Hemme’s contradictory statements and failed to disclose evidence that would have helped her defence.

Her attorneys in a statement said, “We are grateful to the Court for acknowledging the grave injustice Ms Hemme has endured for more than four decades.”

Hemme initially pleaded guilty to capital murder to avoid the death penalty, but her conviction was later overturned on appeal.

She was retried in 1985, with the only evidence against her being her contradictory and factually impossible “confession” made while she was a psychiatric patient.

In a 147-page petition, her attorneys seeking her exoneration argued that authorities had ignored these inconsistencies.

At the time, 20-year-old Hemme was undergoing treatment for auditory hallucinations, de-realization, and drug use. Her attorneys noted that she had a history of inpatient psychiatric care, having spent most of her life in treatment since the age of 12.

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Teju Ajayi’s ‘DISCOVER LAGOS’ A Perfect Homecoming Guide For Diasporans

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In a bid to include diasporan Nigerians in the beauty of the evolution of the city on water, Teju Ajayi has begun pre-production plans for a six-part documentary titled ‘Discover Lagos’.

The documentary, according to the team is a groundbreaking project that aims to present the vibrant culture, rich history, and untold narratives of Lagos State, Nigeria through the unique perspectives of diasporan experiences.

The series will delve into various facets of Lagos, including its historical significance, cultural landmarks, picturesque beachfront, and beach houses. This is asides a showcase of thriving art galleries, an efficient transport system, bustling markets, and innovative modern developments.

Speaking on the project, Teju Ajayi, who is a practicing Architect and a connoisseur of tasteful luxury, and fine things revealed that the documentary series, beyond everything, is a guide for diasporan Nigerians who yearn to reconnect with their Lagosian roots and seek recommendations for leisurely visits. “Discover Lagos” will serve as an all-encompassing guide to exploring everything this unique city has to offer.

“The reality is that when many plan to come into the Lagos of today, particularly diasporan Nigerians and other members of the diaspora, they still assume the Lagos of before. But Lagos is a whole lot more, and every day there’s a lot more to discover. This is what has birthed the ‘Discover Lagos’ vision.”

On the makings of the documentary series, he explained that, “In making the documentary, the plan is to engage audiences through captivating storytelling and stunning visuals. We understand that the moment you mention documentary, some audiences consider it boring. But Lagos has become a fully realised metropolis and as such the Discovering Lagos journey will be both enlightening as well as entertaining with one volume at a time.

We want people to be able to constantly revisit it.

“In addition, we are in talks with relevant ministries in Lagos to ensure that we get our storytelling right.”

Upon conclusion of production, Ajayi shared that ‘Discover Lagos’ will be made available on streaming platforms as a number of them have shown interest in carrying such an innovative project.

The project is due to be premiered by December 2024. We aim to deliver a compelling and unforgettable experience for our esteemed audience globally.

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