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Dr Kayode Ajulo (SAN), Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, says the state has begun investigations into the ownership of the truck involved in a tragic accident that claimed many lives in the state.

Ajulo made this known in a statement in Lagos on Friday.

The Attorney-General, who expressed outrage over the fatal incident, said that Ondo State would prosecute the truck driver and his employers once they are identified.

‘In the controversy over ownership of the truck, what is inhuman is that the owner should have at least commiserated with the families of the dead but chose to be silent.’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that an auto crash that occurred in the Akungba-Akoko area of Ondo State on Wednesday claimed the lives of 10 people, including a pregnant woman.

The crash involved a truck that allegedly lost control and rammed into some shops along the Owo-Akungba-Ikare Akoko Expressway, killing the victims on the spot.

The Attorney-General said the investigation is aimed at identifying the owner of the truck before prosecution can commence.

‘This is due to the controversy surrounding ownership of the truck, with many media houses initially reporting that it was owned by the Dangote Group.

‘Whoever owned the truck will be fished out and will be joined in the prosecution.’

He expressed anger over the alarming rise in fatal accidents involving trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles across Nigeria and in Ondo State.

‘These tragic incidents have claimed the lives of innocent citizens, including this recent devastating crash that took the lives of a pregnant woman, her child, and others.’

Ajulo condemned the reckless driving displayed by heavy truck drivers, declaring that such behaviour is utterly unacceptable and must be confronted immediately.

He reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to safeguard Ondo State residents on the roads.

‘Enough is enough. The loss of lives due to criminal negligence can no longer go unchecked.

‘From this moment forward, both the drivers involved in these horrific incidents and the company itself will be held vicariously liable.

‘We will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law for this criminal negligence.’

The Attorney-General called for an urgent and thorough review of the operational protocols of truck owners, including compliance with safety regulations and the training provided to truck drivers nationwide.

He urged the public to be vigilant and report any reckless driving incidents involving heavy-duty trucks, assuring that the state government remained committed to taking all necessary measures to enforce road safety and protect lives.

‘The lives of our people are paramount. We will not allow profit to take precedence over safety.

‘As the community grapples with its grief, the clamour for stricter regulations and accountability among commercial transport operators grows louder, demanding that such senseless tragedies be prevented in the future.’

He commiserated with the families of the deceased, assuring them that they would get justice.

Meanwhile, the Dangote Group on Thursday refuted the allegations linking it to the truck involved in the Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State road accident.

‘The company wishes to make it clear that the truck involved in the unfortunate incident does not belong to Dangote Group or any of its subsidiaries.

‘Verified vehicle registration details confirm that the truck with plate number JJJ 365 XB is owned and operated by an independent logistics company with no affiliation to Dangote Group,’ the statement read.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has given the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, till Monday, October 27, to open his defence in the terrorism charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, fixed the new date on Friday following Kanu’s complaint that his former lawyers, led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, had not released his case file to him for study.

When the matter was called, counsel to the Federal Government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, announced his appearance and told the judge that the business of the day was for Kanu to begin his defence as earlier ordered by the court.

However, no lawyer appeared for Kanu.

The IPOB leader, who entered the dock with a bundle of documents, announced his appearance for himself and thereafter informed the judge that his legal team, sacked on October 23, had not released the case file to him.

He said he was constrained to ask for an adjournment to enable him to obtain the case file and study it in order to prepare fully for his defence.

Besides, he said he intended to call 23 witnesses from within and outside the country and urged the court to issue an order to the Department of State Services (DSS) to permit the foreign witnesses to have access to him.

He also asked the judge to order the DSS to allow his lawyers to have access to him on non-working days, which was promptly granted by the court.

At this point, counsel to the Federal Government said Kanu’s complaint was strange because he had been in the courtroom for hours with his former lawyers.

Awomolo also reminded the judge of the six days granted to Kanu to open and close his defence in the matter and urged the court to strictly adhere to the order.

Justice Omotosho, in a brief response, said he was mindful of granting an adjournment because of Kanu’s claim of not having access to the case file.

The judge said the allegation that Kanu Agabi had not released the case file was strange and unbelievable but added that he would oblige the defendant an adjournment. He, however, warned against undue delay, especially the wastage of the court’s judicial time, adding that several other cases had suffered delays because of Kanu’s matter.

Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned till Monday, October 27, for the IPOB leader to open his defence.

Justice Omotosho disclosed on Thursday that he had signed the witness summons requested by Kanu and that they were available for him to collect and serve on the said witnesses as required.

Kanu, in a notice to defend filed on October 21, listed the names of prominent Nigerians, including former and serving governors, ministers, military, and security chiefs, as his intended witnesses, whom he said should be compelled to attend court.

The IPOB leader also sacked all members of his legal team on Thursday and announced that he was willing and ready to conduct his case by himself.

An appeal has been made to members of the Muslim Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (MUTAN) and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) to foster stronger collaboration in protecting the interests of Muslim students.

This call was made by participants at a MUTAN/MSSN parley held recently in Ikotun, Lagos State.

In a lecture titled ‘Sustaining Cordiality between MSSN and MUTAN’, the Coordinating Director of Education Quality Assurance, District IV, Alhaji Abdulfattah Salvador, emphasised the need for greater cooperation between the two bodies.

He expressed concern over the duplication of programmes and efforts by both organisations instead of embracing synergy.

‘Unity is the foundation of strength in Islam, and it is through collective effort that we achieve progress,’ he said, quoting Qur’an 3:103: ‘And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.’

Alhaji Salvador noted that the two organisations complement each other, with MUTAN members contributing maturity due to their advanced age, and MSSN members bringing in the dynamism of youth.

In a second lecture titled ‘Beyond the Paycheque: Building Resilience Through Multiple Streams’, Mrs Kafilat Salahudeen urged Muslims in paid employment to utilise their spare time after office hours to pursue additional income-generating activities.

Salahudeen, a recently retired Lagos State government official, highlighted possible ventures such as running extra lessons for students, merchandising and engaging in e-commerce.

She also encouraged Muslim teachers to make use of the MUTAN cooperative to access interest-free halal capital.

Adding his voice, the MUTAN Chairman for Education District I, Mr Ademola Adefajo, reiterated the call for greater collaboration between members of both organisations.

He particularly urged MUTAN members to be active in the association by attending meetings and participating in its activities, stating that better outcomes could be achieved through collective effort rather than individual action.

The event also featured the conferment of awards of honour for distinguished service on Alhaja Lateefah Raji, a retired school principal, and Mrs Kafilat Salahudeen, a retired director.

In her appreciation remarks, Alhaja Raji urged members of both MUTAN and MSSN to prioritise the welfare of students in all their engagements.

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has intensified efforts to ensure that all products manufactured within the Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ) comply with national and international quality standards.

This follows the agency’s ongoing sensitisation programme for operators in the zone on its newly introduced Special Economic Zone Conformity Assessment Programme (SEZCAP) – a tailored initiative aimed at guaranteeing that products from Nigeria’s Free Trade and Special Economic Zones meet the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS).

Speaking during an interactive session with operators in the CFTZ, SON’s Director-General, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, explained that the SEZCAP was developed to suit the unique operational environment of the Free Trade Zones, which he described as ‘a country within a country.’

Represented by Mr Akinware Ayodele, Deputy Director of the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), Okeke said the new framework complements SON’s existing schemes, MANCAP for locally manufactured goods and SONCAP for imported products, by addressing the peculiarities of production within the zones.

‘Our goal is to ensure that goods produced in the free trade zones meet national standards, safeguard consumers, and contribute to Nigeria’s overall economic growth,’ Okeke stated.

He commended operators who have already been certified or are in the process of certification, noting that compliance with SEZCAP will not only promote consumer protection but also enhance investor confidence and the country’s industrial competitiveness.

In her remarks, Mrs Lydia Okaba, Head of Operations, CFTZ, applauded SON for the sensitisation initiative, saying it had clarified longstanding issues surrounding the applicability of MANCAP and SONCAP within the zone.

Okaba described the SEZCAP registration process as digital, faster, and more transparent than previous systems, but appealed to SON to consider a downward review of the certification fees pegged at ?2 million annually and ?1.5 million for renewal, which she said were high given current economic challenges.

Also speaking, Mr Nanik Mirpuri, Managing Director of Combination Industries FZE, lauded the SEZCAP initiative as timely and crucial for maintaining product credibility both locally and internationally.

Mirpuri, whose company has operated in the Calabar Free Trade Zone since 1997, revealed that Combination Industries was the first to register under the SEZCAP scheme and had previously partnered with SON to develop standards for its products – a demonstration, he said, of shared commitment to quality assurance.

While commending SON’s collaboration with investors, Mirpuri called for a ‘level playing field’ between manufacturers operating inside and outside the free trade zones, urging the agency to harmonise certification costs and regulatory expectations.

‘It is important that all manufacturers, whether within or outside the free trade zones, adhere to the same quality and compliance standards to maintain fairness and competitiveness,’ he said.

The SEZCAP initiative marks a significant stride by SON towards strengthening Nigeria’s industrial ecosystem, ensuring that goods produced within the country’s free zones are not only marketable domestically but also meet global export standards.

Dozens of traders were displaced and properties worth millions of naira destroyed on Thursday following the demolition of the popular Costain Market in Lagos by the state government.

The operation, carried out by a combined team from the Lagos State Task Force, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), was led by the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transport, Mr. Sola Giwa.

Eyewitnesses said the officials arrived in the early afternoon with bulldozers and security operatives, dispersing traders and passersby with teargas before pulling down rows of shops, stalls, and a mosque. The sudden demolition left traders scrambling to salvage their goods as thick dust and confusion filled the air.

Many affected traders alleged that the demolition was executed without prior notice. ‘It was around 1 p.m. I was on my way to deliver goods to Victoria Island when I saw Task Force vehicles heading toward our shops,’ said Alfred Wisdom, a snack producer who claimed to have lost over ?5 million in cash and stock. ‘Before I could return, they had broken into my shop and carted away my weekly sales. They said my business was illegal. This is disheartening.’

Wisdom lamented that the incident followed closely after the Otumara community demolition, where over 500,000 residents were displaced just six months ago. ‘It feels like we’re being targeted. We got no notice, no chance to pack our wares,’ he added tearfully.

Religious centers were not spared. The Imam of the demolished Markaz-ul-Mahani Mosque, Ustadz Abdulsallam Olawale, confirmed that the mosque and several nearby structures were destroyed. ‘They said they were clearing commercial buses, but then turned on traders and worshippers,’ he said. ‘Many victims of the earlier Otumara demolition had stored their belongings here – all gone now.’

He appealed to the Lagos State Government for compassion. ‘We are pleading with Governor Sanwo-Olu to consider the human cost of these actions. Where do we go from here?’

A property owner and traditional leader of Otumara, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, condemned the demolition, describing it as unlawful and excessive. He said the affected land had valid Federal Government allocation papers. ‘The officials came in a commando manner, unleashing terror on innocent traders,’ he said. ‘When I tried to ask for an explanation, I was verbally assaulted. This must stop. It was when I challenged him and query why him, being an S.A to the Governor on Transport would meddle into property demolition that he called in officials of the Lagos State Task Force and KAI into the scene to embark on the demolition. This is nothing but misuse and abuse of government power and authority.’

As of press time, the Lagos State Government had yet to issue an official statement explaining the reason for the demolition or whether affected traders would receive any form of compensation.

The Managing Director of FAE Limited and Vice-President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Princess Layo-Bakare Okeowo, has said that manufacturers are still being made to pay the 4 per cent Free on Board (FoB) levy, despite assurances of policy suspension by the federal government.

Responding to a question from the media on the controversial levy on Thursday, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (LCCI) Fourth Quarter Press Conference held in Lagos, the industrialist added that attempts, including a recent meeting between the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and men of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), to make the government see the harm in imposing such a levy, had not yielded the desired results.

Okeowo, who is also the Chairperson of BEST Board, argued that rather than suspend, the government should eradicate the policy since its implementation would go a long way in hiking operational costs, with such costs being passed on to the final consumers eventually.

‘Manufacturing is presently bleeding. Introducing such a policy at this time is a way of eating us up. It will, without doubt, add to the costs of operations, which will, at the end of the day, be passed on to the final consumer, because we won’t swallow it, we’ll pass it down,’ she stated.

She also expressed concerns that the introduction of the levy would put the nation’s manufacturers at a disadvantage on the global market, especially with the country being a member of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Speaking on the present state of the nation’s economy and the business community’s expectations of the last quarter of the year, President of LCCI, Gabriel Idahosa, expressed optimism that the stability in the forex market and the disinflationary trend being witnessed in the economy in the past few months would go a long way in boosting investor confidence.

The LCCI boss argued that a stable currency would go a long way in driving investment flow, since the average investor wants to invest in a stable environment.

‘The fact that the nation’s currency has been stable for some time now, for the first time in so many years, gives us hope. It gives the hope that the nation’s economy is gradually finding its footing and will continue to do so if some of those fiscal and monetary policies are sustained,’ he stated.

Idahosa, who also used the opportunity to unveil the Chamber’s new journal, Business Environment Journal, explained that the publication was to reinforce the Chamber’s belief that improving the nation’s business environment requires a collaborative effort among policymakers, private sector leaders, investors, and development partners.

‘Our goal with this journal is to inform that conversation with credible evidence, constructive analysis, and forward-looking recommendations,’ he added.