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A 29-year-old lady, Iretioluwa Biodun, has been dragged to court for allegedly cutting off the tongue of her neighbour and confidant, Babangida Sulyman, in Ogudu area of Lagos State.

The lady, who carried out the act last week Tuesday, was charged to court on Friday.

Biodun, who stays at Alhaji Abass Street, Ogudu, with her elder sister and the husband, was said to have struck a relationship with Sulyman, who is the son of her landlady, resulting in her sending him on several errands.

The bond between Biodun and Sulyman, 23, was said to have been so strong until some months back when he turned down requests to purchase things for her mum’s tenant again.

This was said to be based on the instruction of Sulyman’s mum, Hassanat Ali, in March 2017.

This drove a wedge between the two, who were seen to be unusually close.

However on Tuesday at about 8pm, Sulyman and Biodun met at a shop close to their house.

The shop owner was said to have intervened in their matter when Biodun scolded Sulyman.

On asking what was wrong, Sulyman told the shop owner he would explain to her later on.

At about 11:30pm when Sulyman went to make use of the bathroom, Biodun was said to have attacked him, cutting off his tongue.

The husband of Biodun’s elder sister, Olumide Agbolade, raised the alarm when he discovered what had happened.

Hassanat Ali said: “They related with each other like siblings.

“She used to send him on errands as far as Ikeja and they went out together.

“I had warned him to stay away from her six months ago when they had a disagreement and she called him an ingrate.

“I saw them together three days before the incident happened and I warned him again.

“I was sleeping when Agbolade banged at our door, calling Musa, Sulyman’s elder brother, to come and see what Biodun did to Babangida.

“By the time we got to the toilet, there was blood everywhere.

“My son could not talk.

“I saw the severed tongue and the jewellery Biodun wore that night in a pool of blood.

“I exclaimed and asked her what happened, but she did not say anything.

“Some neighbours rushed into our building and started beating her.

“I had to caution them and she was handed over to the police.

“Three different hospitals rejected my son before he was eventually admitted to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.”

One of Sulyman’s brothers, Yahaya Sulyman, said the Investigating Police Officer in charge of the case visited the victim at the hospital to obtain his statement.

Yahaya alleged that the IPO later altered the statement and claimed that Biodun injured Babangida while he was kissing her.

He said: “I am not living with the family.

“I got a call on Wednesday about the incident and rushed to the hospital.

“I met Agbolade there and asked him what transpired.

“He said he wanted to urinate when he heard Babangida screaming and on getting into the toilet, he was bleeding from the mouth.

“Doctors said they could not stitch the tongue.

“A policeman came to the hospital to obtain his statement.

“He could not talk.

“He gave him a pen and paper and he narrated what happened in writing.

“We were surprised when we learnt that the IPO was saying he wanted to kiss her.

“Biodun’s family was pushing for settlement through the police.

“They brought a document for us to sign and offered us N30,000, but we rejected it.

“The DPO intervened and he directed that she should be charged to court.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations, Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed the development.

Famous-Cole equally confirmed that Biodun had been charged to court on Friday.

BIG STORY

Lagos State Government To Concession Red And Blue Line Rails For Sustainability, Loan Repayment

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The Lagos State Government has announced plans to concession the operations of the Red and Blue Line rail systems to the private sector in order to ensure their sustainability and repay loans taken for the rail projects.

This announcement was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, during a recent TVC News interview, where he discussed the measures being implemented to ensure the continued viability of the state’s rail systems.

Osiyemi explained that the concessioning process would involve transferring the operations of the rail systems to private sector players for a defined period. This approach is intended to ensure the continued operation and effective management of the rail projects.

“The ultimate game is for all our rail systems we’ve done—that is, the Red Line and Blue Line—there is going to be some concessionairing with the private sector for a period of time to ensure sustainability and continuity,” he stated.

He added, “The concessioning would help pay back the loans taken for the rail projects.”

The commissioner emphasized that the concessioning strategy aims to ensure efficient operations and long-term financial sustainability, in line with the state’s vision for a world-class transportation network.

  • More Insight

Osiyemi further highlighted the substantial financial and technical challenges involved in operating rail systems, describing them as capital-intensive projects that require significant resources and specialized expertise.

To tackle these challenges and build local capacity, he noted that the Lagos State Government has enlisted foreign partners to temporarily manage the operations of the trains.

These partners are expected to not only ensure smooth operations during their tenure but also transfer critical skills to Nigerian personnel. The plan includes a structured training program lasting one to two years, after which the management of the rail systems will be fully handed over to local operators.

“What we have done is we have consulted foreign partners who, of course, would run these trains for a particular period of time and train our people—that is, transfer of skills.”

“They will train our people for one to two years, then hand over for our own management,” Osiyemi explained.

  • Things You Should Know

The Lagos State Government, under its Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan, has set out an ambitious vision to develop a network of rail systems across the state.

Currently, only the first phases of the Red Line and Blue Line rail systems have been completed, with passenger services already in operation.

The Blue Line is a 27km electric rail line designed for sustainable operations. Its first phase, covering 13km from Lagos Marina to Mile 2, was completed in 2023 and began commercial operations in September, carrying over 2 million passengers to date.

The Red Line, spanning 37km from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in Lagos, operates on diesel. Its first phase, a 27km stretch, includes eight strategically located stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.

The construction of the second phases of both the Red Line and Blue Line rail systems is being managed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which also oversees the operation of the trains.

Beyond the Red and Blue Lines, the state has plans for additional rail systems, including the 68km Green Line (Lekki Free Trade Zone to Marina), the 85.7km Purple Line (Redemption Camp to Ojo), the 48km Orange Line (Ikeja CBD to Agbowa), and the Yellow Line, all aimed at enhancing the state’s transportation network.

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BIG STORY

Lagos Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab Condoles With Families Of Epe Accident Victims

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Condolence Message from the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred in our community, Epe, claiming the lives of two promising young adults, a dedicated tricycle driver, and leaving several other people injured. This heartbreaking accident has left our hearts heavy, as we mourn the loss of these young souls who were full of hope and dreams, and an industrious individual who worked tirelessly for his livelihood.

As a member of this community, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends affected by this terrible loss. I can only imagine the pain you must feel, and I want you to know that you are not alone in this moment of grief.

Let us honor the memories of these individuals by advocating for safety and awareness on our roads. As we move forward, may we find comfort in community and strength in one another. May their souls rest in peace, and may their families find solace and healing in the days to come.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Monday Okpebholo Sworn In As Edo State Governor

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Monday Okpebholo, a serving senator, has been sworn in as the governor of Edo State.

Okpebholo took his oath of office at about 1pm on Tuesday during the inauguration ceremony in Benin, the state capital.

As the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo won the September 21 off-cycle governorship election in the state.

He polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second with 247,274 votes.

Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came third with 22,763 votes.

Dennis Idahosa was also sworn in as the deputy governor of Edo.

Dignitaries, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, chair of the governors’ forum; Philip Shaibu, reinstated deputy governor of Edo; and other governors from the party, were present as Okpebholo took the oath of office.

The new governor later rode in an open-top van around the stadium, acknowledging cheers from supporters.

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