Connect with us


BIG STORY

Inside Lagos: Policeman’s Son Absconds With Lady’s Benz, $700 Bitcoin

Published

on

A Lagos-based 28-year-old man, Damilola Areje, has allegedly absconded with a 2019 Mercedes Benz GLE 43, worth N52 million, and $700 worth of Bitcoin belonging to a 32-year-old businesswoman, Nneka Chiemelu, who is into real estate and construction.

According to Nneka, Damilola, an acquaintance whose father, Inspector Adegbola Areje is a policeman, allegedly stole her car from her apartment in Lekki Phase 1 and absconded with $700 worth of Bitcoin which was paid into his wallet by one of her clients on Friday, July 22, 2022, at 04:05 pm.

Report has it that all four of Damilola’s phone lines had been switched off and his active Instagram handle deleted since the theft.

Narrating her ordeal amid tears, Chiemelu said, “Damilola requested that I help him with the sum of N20,000 that he needed some money to pay for flyers to promote his business, and I promised to give him the N20,000 on the condition that he takes up a site supervision job at my place of work upon completion of the work in order to assist him rather than just hand him the money.

“He was expected to resume at 9 am but he resumed at 2 pm and requested that I help pay for his Uber ride which I did through a bank transfer to the Uber driver’s account.

“An hour later, he asked if I could allow him to charge his phone in my car so I gave him my car keys to proceed, and he went into the car and pretended to be charging his phone.

“A few minutes later, a guest came into the service apartment that I manage, wanting to pay an outstanding fee and asked if I had a cryptocurrency account so that he could pay through that means, and I told him that I had none. So I asked Daniel whether he has the means to receive payment through Bitcoin, and he said he does and accepted to help receive the payment on my behalf. So my client made a payment of $700 into his Bitcoin wallet and he confirmed receipt right there in the presence of my client and myself.

“A few minutes later he asked to leave, a request which I declined, telling him that he could only leave after he has transferred the $700 paid into his Bitcoin account to me, but he lied that his service provider was poor, so he was waiting on the network. While we waited on the network I wanted to get food and he asked if he could come with me and I accepted, I then excused myself to quickly meet with some to inform them that I was stepping out for a few minutes, but by the time I got out, Damilola had gotten into my car and instead of honking at for the security officer to open the gate for him, he called on one of my staff members to open the gate for him, and he absconded with my Mercedes Benz and my $700 worth of Bitcoin.

“At first, it didn’t occur to me that my car had just been stolen, so I called him but his numbers were not reachable but his WhatsApp was still active and displayed that he was online at the time. I texted him to come back and that I was very hungry and I needed to get food, but he ignored my chat until he went offline. About 20 minutes later when I didn’t hear from him, I decided to take an Uber to his residence, upon getting there, I was informed by the security that he had just packed up his things and left the premises. I tried calling his numbers again but he had switched them off and also deleted his social media handle.

“So I went to a nearby police station at Maroko where his biological father, who is a police officer works, to report the matter on that Friday. I also made a post on my Instagram handle asking the public to help me report him if found anywhere for stealing my car, I received different comments on the post from him, his mother and some other users claiming that I was a liar and that the car belongs to him, I responded to almost all the comments asking them to go ahead to the police station and give their own account on who owns the car, and I also told him that if it was true that the car belonged to him, he has no reason to hide, he should instead come out to make his statement to the police.

“On July 27, I received a message from an international number on WhatsApp from an unidentified person whom I suspected to be Damilola, asking me to pay him N500,000 to help me with information of his whereabouts, but when I asked for his account number, he sent a Bitcoin wallet address instead.”

Narrating how she got her car, Chiemelu said, “I purchased my car from Unique Motors on July 7, 2021, with a deposit of N27 million through bank transfer, and I am expected to pay the car dealer a balance of N25 million later, and I have the receipt, although I was yet to register the car.

“Meanwhile, I was later advised to request for a transfer of the case to the Police Headquarters in Lagos to hasten the investigation process and I have done that.

“On Monday, July 25, the matter was transferred and till now after a whole week, I have not heard anything from the police concerning my car.

“However, on Tuesday, July 26, my contacts at the Vehicle Inspection Office tracked the registration of the car through its chassis number, and discovered that Damilola, in a bid to claim ownership of my car, had registered the car in his name on that same Tuesday, using my home address, and one of his telephone lines which is now switched off.”

Efforts to reach Damilola, Friday evening, proved futile as all his telephone lines were switched off.

When our correspondent reached out to his father, Inspector Areje, the policeman stated that he was not at liberty to comment on the issue considering the fact that he is an officer of the Nigeria Police Force and his son is involved in the matter.

However, the Lagos State Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who spoke to our correspondent, confirmed that the case has been transferred to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, adding that the Police was yet to conclude investigation on the matter.

Hundeyin said, “It is true that the case has been transferred to the Police Headquarters at Ikeja due to its sophistry. However, investigation is ongoing, but there’s been no breakthrough yet.

“Meanwhile, we’ve written to the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency because they have details of every car bought in Nigeria. However, we learnt that Mr Damilola is Miss Chiemelu’s boyfriend, and it seems like there’s a tussle over ownership of the car.

“However, we’re still in search of Damilola and the car although the car doesn’t have a tracker and that’s not making things easy. However, we’re on top of the matter, and we’d make our findings known once investigation is concluded.”

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Super Eagles Legendary Goalkeeper Peter Rufai Dies At 60

Published

on

The Super Eagles have honoured former Nigerian goalkeeper and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Peter Rufai, following reports of his passing.

In a statement posted on Thursday via X, the national team referred to Rufai, popularly called “Dodo Mayana,” as an iconic figure in Nigerian football whose impact will always be remembered.

“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the statement said.

The statement praised Rufai’s outstanding career, highlighting his remarkable performances and influence beyond football.

“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond. Rest well, Peter Rufai,” it added.

Rufai was a key member of the celebrated Nigerian team that won the 1994 AFCON and qualified for the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup in the same year.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

When Lagos Drew The Line On Plastic Waste, It Chose The Harder, Better Path — By Babajide Fadoju

Published

on

On July 1, 2025, the Lagos State Government began full enforcement of its long-announced ban on single-use plastics less than 40 microns in thickness. These included styrofoam food packs, polystyrene cups, plastic straws, and thin carrier bags. This was not just another policy roll-out. It marked a significant environmental turning point for one of Africa’s most densely populated cities.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, had spent months leading the charge. At every forum and press briefing, he maintained that the state would not shift the enforcement date. And when that date arrived, the government kept its word. What many had assumed would be delayed or softened became a reality across markets, food vendors, eateries, and shopping outlets. Lagos had drawn the line.

The decision did not happen overnight. In January 2024, the government had announced the ban on styrofoam products, warning that other forms of non-biodegradable single-use plastics would follow. Manufacturers, food service businesses, and packaging companies were given an 18-month window to adapt. By January 2025, after multiple consultations with key industry players including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Restaurants and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria (RFSPAN), and the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), the government granted a six-month extension. That grace period ended on June 30, 2025. The very next day, enforcement began.

Commissioner Wahab consistently emphasised that the decision was not driven by convenience or popularity, but by necessity. Lagos, with its coastal geography, had become especially vulnerable to the effects of plastic pollution. Thin plastics and styrofoam containers were not just littering the streets; they were choking the city’s drainage systems, causing repeated flooding, and disrupting the natural flow of water across low-lying areas. The government had been forced to spend billions clearing clogged drains, dredging canals, and evacuating waste. These were resources that could have supported education, housing, or healthcare. Continuing with the status quo would have been reckless.

Across the world, over 70 countries had adopted similar bans or restrictions. Some had introduced taxes on plastic bags. Others had outright prohibited the use of certain materials. Lagos joined that global conversation not to make a statement, but to solve a real problem. For years, markets like Mile 12 and Oyingbo had been overwhelmed by plastic waste. Waterways like the Ogun River and Lagos Lagoon had carried tonnes of microplastics downstream. With each rain, the damage multiplied.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) played a central role in translating policy into action. In the weeks leading up to enforcement, LAWMA organised community outreach campaigns, market sensitisation, and stakeholder meetings. Waste collectors were briefed on how to spot banned items and how to separate recyclable materials. LAWMA officials worked directly with traders, waste vendors, and informal sector recyclers to ease the transition. Educational materials were printed in English, Yoruba, and Pidgin to reach as many residents as possible.

Despite all these efforts, resistance remained. Some business owners argued that alternatives were more expensive. Others claimed they had not received enough notice. But Wahab was unflinching. He stated clearly that any manufacturer or distributor who had failed to find a safer, eco-friendly alternative after 24 months was simply not ready to comply. The policy had been public knowledge since 2024. The time for excuses had passed.

There was also concern about job losses, especially in the plastic production and distribution chain. The government responded by highlighting the opportunity for innovation. Biodegradable packaging, paper alternatives, reusable food containers, and local compostable materials were now in demand. New jobs could be created in eco-friendly product design, waste sorting, and recycling infrastructure. Wahab noted that Lagos would support businesses willing to shift in this direction, but would no longer subsidise pollution in the name of economic convenience.

The path Lagos chose was not the easiest, but it was the most responsible. It took political will to push through a decision that affected thousands of daily transactions, from street food sales to major retail chains. It took environmental clarity to say no when delay would have been more comfortable. And it took administrative strength to follow through on enforcement, when doing nothing would have been easier.

Now, the hard part continues. Enforcement must be consistent. Public awareness must be sustained. And alternatives must remain within reach of ordinary citizens. But with this bold step, Lagos signalled that it would no longer be held hostage by harmful habits and unchecked commercial practices.

The story of July 1, 2025, was not just about plastic. It was about leadership. It was about vision. And it was about protecting a city that refuses to collapse under the weight of its own waste.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

AMCON Sells Ibadan DisCo For N100bn

Published

on

The Asset Management Company of Nigeria has confirmed the sale of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

Gbenga Alake, managing director and chief executive officer of AMCON, revealed the details of the transaction during a media briefing with journalists on Thursday.

In April 2024, the federal government announced plans to sell five electricity distribution companies managed by banks and AMCON.

Ibadan DisCo, which was under AMCON’s management, is among the five companies listed for sale. Others include the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Kano Electricity Distribution Company.

During the briefing, Alake stated that the company was sold for N100 billion.

He mentioned that AMCON would soon transfer the company to the preferred bidder.

“Today, I announce to you that Ibadan DisCo has been sold. When we came in, it has already been sold. It was sold for how much?” Alake said.

“We got in and said no, it cannot be. We said they should go and submit a new offer that we were not going to sell for that.

“At the end of the day, we got almost double of what Ibadan DisCos was going to be sold for.”

He explained that the sale has sparked legal disputes, with “so many interests now fighting and writing”.

Alake maintained that despite the matter being in court, AMCON remains confident that the process was properly handled.

“We have sold it… and whatever is still happening in court, we will face it,” he said.

On May 15, reports emerged that the African Initiative Against Abuse of Public Trust, a civil society group, had filed a suit at the federal high court in Abuja against AMCON, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, and Ibadan DisCo over an alleged planned sale of a 60 percent stake in the company for $62 million.

The civil society group, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/866/2025, described the sale as “secretive and illegal,” claiming the price was “corruptly undervalued”.

The group also argued that the transaction would result in a $107 million loss compared to the $169 million paid for the same stake during the 2013 privatisation of Ibadan DisCo.

Continue Reading



 

Join Us On Facebook

Most Popular