Gunmen Kill RCCG Pastor in Lagos

The Resident Pastor of King of Kings Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mile-12, Lagos, Bolanle Ibrahim, was yesterday shot dead by a yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

Naira recorded marginal appreciation against dollar

The Naira on Monday in Lagos appreciated marginally against the dollar at the parallel market, gaining N2. The currency exchanged at N468 to the dollar as against N470 it traded on Friday. The Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N565 and 510, respectively. At the interbank market, however, the naira depreciated against the dollar, eroding the gains of Friday in that segment. It shed N4.31 to close at N308.81from N304.50 posted on Friday. Trading at the Bureau De Change (BDC) window showed that the currency closed at N385 to the dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N564 and N504, respectively. A BDC operator, Mr Abubakar Adamu, expressed optimism that the naira would appreciate further in the coming days.

48-year-old hands over family to son, commits suicide

A 48-year-old man, Segla Hunvu, has committed suicide in the Mowo, Badagry area of Lagos State.

Our correspondent learnt that Hunvu, who stayed on Jogbenu Street, Torikovi Town, Mowo, was found dangling with a rope around his neck on Thursday.

A relation, who did not want his name in print, told PUNCH Metro that Hunvu had informed his eldest son, a few days to the incident, to take care of himself and his younger ones.

He said, “Hunvu came to the Ajegunle, Apapa area on Monday to see his younger brother, Michael Hunvu. We did not know he came to bid us farewell. He had earlier told his eldest son, who is a teenager, to take good care of himself and his younger ones.

“He did not come out clearly to say he wanted to kill himself. Nobody knew the reason he killed himself. It is suspected that he was frustrated.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that Michael reported the matter at the Morogbo Police Division.

A police source told our correspondent that after Hunvu left the Ajegunle area, he entered his house when his children were not around and hanged himself in a room in the house.

He said, “The children tried reaching him on the telephone, but calls made to him did not connect.

“It was after some days that his body was found in the room.”

Our correspondent learnt that policemen, who visited Hunvu’s apartment, found him hanging from the rope, took photographs and deposited the corpse in a morgue.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the family members had requested the corpse for burial.

(PUNCH)

Bag of rice will sell for N5, 000, dollar will exchange for N150, fuel for N30 – Prophet Okeowo

Prophet Ade Okeowo of Word of Liberty Evangelical Ministry, Ikorodu, Lagos State, has revealed that Nigeria will soon experience a turnaround as prices on commodities will crash in no time, stating that God did not, however, specify that the revelation would come to pass under President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

He specifically mentioned that God told him the cost of bag of rice and fuel, will be drastically reduced.

He made this revelation in a chat with Encomium, urging Nigerians to stop casting blames on President Buhari, as he needed time to fix the country.

He said, “That’s what God has revealed to me. Listen to me attentively; I am not speaking my words but God’s.

“Now, people buy rice N25, 000 per bag but God told me that we’re going to buy a bag of rice as cheap as N5, 000. A US dollar will exchange for as low as N150 and fuel will sell for as low as N30 or N40 per litre. That’s what God said will happen in this country.”

Asked if his prophecies will come to pass during Buhari’s administration, the cleric said, “God didn’t tell me that one but He revealed to me all of these and more beautiful things will happen after all the pain, but Buhari’s efforts will lead to that.

“Nigeria will be forced to a stage of break up but God will intervene.”

The Prophet further noted that Buhari is not to blame for the economic woes.

He said, “We should not blame anybody. People should not even hold Buhari responsible at all. From what God has revealed to me, He sent Buhari to Nigerians as an angel.

“God has also revealed to me that Buhari shouldn’t be worried, that everything will soon be alright. God showed me that Nigeria is like a second hand car (Tokunbo). We all know that if you buy a second hand car, it’s surely not in a perfect state. You will be fixing this today, that tomorrow until it’s fully fit. And it’s not something that will be done overnight.

“We all need to understand that if we want the country to move forward. Buhari is the one buying all the spare parts to repair the damaged car called Nigeria. By the time he completes the repair, the vehicle will move and everybody will enjoy it. That’s just the parable of Nigeria’s situation now.

“Everything will soon be alright. There are many Josephs that God is going to use to uplift this country, and Buhari is one of them.”

Recalling the other prophecies of his that have also come to pass in recent times, the Prophet said, “I predicted the Olympic soccer final. I said Germany would defeat Nigeria, it came to pass. I even said it’s going to be 2-0. I said the gold medal was for Brazil, they all came to pass.

“I predicted President Jonathan would lose the 2015 presidential election, a lot of people didn’t believe it. Even some prophets almost bet their lives on it that Buhari would lose, but it was revealed to me that Buhari would win and he won.

“Even, God revealed to me that no matter what other governorship candidates in Oyo do, Abiola Ajimobi will emerge victorious and it came to pass. I still have a message for him.”

The father of two concluded by saying “God told me to warn Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to beware of the way he chose his commissioners so that they will not destroy his government.

“Also, Governor Amosun of Ogun State should be careful of some people in the state, because some of them are hell bent in destroying his government as well.”

Lagos set to impose death sentence on kidnappers

Lagos State Government may soon join the growing number of states such as Edo, Ogun and Anambra that have imposed death sentence on kidnappers.

According to a private member bill sponsored by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, any person, who kidnaps, abducts, detains, captures or takes another person by any means or tricks with intent to demand ransom or do anything against his/her will commit an offence, and liable on conviction to death sentence.

The bill went through a public hearing on yesterday at the Lateef jakande Auditorium within the Assembly premises with some stakeholders in attendance.

Attempt to kidnap is also criminalised under the bill and it was suggested that such a person would be committed to life imprisonment.

Also, the bill is against false representation to release a kidnapped or abducted person under Section 4, and this attracts seven years imprisonment.

Furthermore, the bill provides that any person, who knowingly or wilfully allows or permits his premises, building or a place belonging or occupied to which he has control of, to be used for the purposes of keeping a person kidnapped is guilty of an offence under the law and liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of 14 years without an option of fine.

A legal practitioner, Mr Richard Komolafe from the United Action for Change (UAC), who spoke at the stakeholders meeting, commended the bill but said that death sentence was no longer fashionable all over the world.

Komolafe said:”Hanging itself is inhuman by conventions as against life imprisonment. I appreciate this bill, it is very timely, but we hope it will be passed in time.”

He, however, urged the lawmakers to find a way of not getting genuine rescuers from being roped in cases of pretentious kidnap.

Another stakeholder, who is the Director of Legal Drafting in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Yejide Kolawole, who also commended the bill, said that it was essential that element of conspiracy and attempt to kidnap be added in the bill.

“I suggest 21 years imprisonment for conspiracy to kidnap, depending on the level of involvement. However, seven years penalty for section 4 is too mild. I suggest 20 years to deter those who would want to engage in the crime.

“On Section 5, anyone who instigates kidnapping should be given a stiffer penalty of 25 years, though the person does not participate overtly in act.

“On Section 7, owners of a building used to aid kidnapping should have a higher punishment than mere forfeiture of property,” she said.

Also, a Chief Magistrate in Lagos State, Mrs Seri Sholebo said that it was fundamental to add conspiracy to kidnapping, stressing that the ministry had not been able to convict offenders on conspiracy since 2011.

Sholebo however, suggested 180 days window for trials of offenders rather than the stipulated 60 days due to anticipated delay in handling the cases.

A Director in the Lagos State Office of Public Defender (OPD), Mr. Borokini Fatai wanted to know what could happen if the trial could not be concluded within 60 days, as he said that a defence counsel could ask for the withdrawal of the matter after the stipulated number of days.

Ambode sacks finance, transport, tourism commissioners

Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday fired the commissioners for Tourism, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker; Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi and Transport, Dr. Ekundayo Mobereola.

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, announced the cabinet reshuffle by the governor.

The statement said Ambode directed the Special Adviser, Arts and Culture to take over as the Acting Commissioner for Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

The Special Adviser on Transportation will take over as Acting Commissioner for Transportation, while the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance will take over as the Acting Commissioner for Finance, pending the appointment of new Commissioners in the respective ministries.

Ambode thanked the former Commissioners for their service to the State and wished them well in their future endeavours.

No reason was given for the decision

(PUNCH)

My wife brings her lovers home for sex, man tells court

 A businessman, Kingsley Agina, has approached an Igando Customary Court in Lagos, to end his 10-year-old marriage to his wife, Obianju, accusing her of bringing men to their matrimonial home for sex. Agina, 49, told the court on Monday that his wife, with whom he had four children also, poisons his food. “My wife is promiscuous; she used to bring men into my house to sleep with them, whenever I travelled abroad for business. “There was a day I came back from my business trip, I discovered that my glass center table was broken. “I asked my daughter who broke it, she told me that it was one uncle her mother brought home that broke it. “There was also a day I discovered that my bed was shaking, I called a carpenter to come and repair it. “ But when we lifted the bed up, we saw several used tissue paper under the bed,’’ he said. The petitioner alleged that his wife used to withdraw money with his ATM card and give her boyfriends. He also accused his wife of poisoning his food. “Since year 2008, I have noticed that my food was being laced with poison, which has resulted to my deteriorating health; I could not sleep nor walk. “I have spent about N5 million on medical treatment, but I never get well in fact my health is getting worst. “My mother-in-law is a native doctor, she has a shrine; she has been the one giving her daughter poison to kill me so that they can inherit my property. “Since I became sick, my wife’s parent never called or came to my house to ask how I was feeling,’’ he said. Kinsley begged the court to dissolve the marriage on the ground of lack of love. Obianju, 35, a businesswoman, however, denied all the allegations. She said that it was her husband that was promiscuous. “My husband brings home different girls of different sizes and colours. “I once saw condom in his bag, so I went to buy him a packet of condom and gave him. “ He queried me on my action and I told him that he needs it, so that he will not contact any disease to infect me. “I have been faithful to our marital vow; I have never had sex with any other man. My husband married me a virgin at the age of 25,’’ she said. The mother of four said that she never poisoned her husband. “How will I poison the father of my children, what do I stand to gain, my hands are clean, I don’t know how poison got into his body,’’ she said. Obinaju said that the N100, 000 she withdrew with her husband’s ATM card was for the upkeep of the house. She made a fervent plea to the court not to dissolve the marriage. The respondent said that she still loves her husband. The court president, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, after listening to the couple adjourned the case to Dec. 6 for judgment.

Bus driver docked for threatening to kill wife

A 50-year old commercial bus driver, Solari Oputa, was on Monday docked at a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, for allegedly assaulting and threatening his wife, Keji, with death.
The accused, who resides at No 1 RS Oputa st., Cele Naiza, Ijanikin area of Lagos, is facing a two- count charge of assault and threat to life.
Prosecutor, Insp. Innocent Uko told the court that the accused committed the offence on Oct. 10 at his residence.
He told the court that the accused, who had earlier boasted that nothing would happen to him, allegedly assaulted his wife with an iron rod, attempted to strangle and threatened to kill her.
He said the offences contravened Section 411 and 56 (A) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria 2011.
Section 56 provides that any person who threatens violence and found guilty of a misdemeanor, is liable to one year imprisonment
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mr Abiodun Etti, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
Etti ruled that the surety must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.
He adjourned the case to Nov. 1 for hearing.

 (NAN)

AY Makun’s movie, A Trip to Jamaica, set for world premiere

“A Trip to Jamaica”, a movie by award-winning Nigerian stand-up comedian, Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY, will be premiered worldwide on September 25 in Lagos.

AY, who is the principal character in the movie and its executive producer, on Wednesday said that the star-studded movie is a hilarious installment of the Akpos series shot in Lagos, Atlanta and Montego Bay in Jamaica.

He said, “After the success of  30 Days In Atlanta, there were a lot of calls for more. So we decided to do a spin-off to showcase further adventures of Akpos.

“A Trip to Jamaica’ bridges the gap between Nollywood, Gollywood, Hollywood and the Jamaican movie industry.”

He added that artistes cast in the movie were drawn from Nigeria, Ghana, America and Jamaica.

According to AY, the cast include award-winning actress Funke Akindele, Hollywood veteran Eric Roberts and Paul Campbell from Jamaica.

Others include: Nigerian Nse Ikpe-Etim, Ghanaian ‘lover boy’ Chris Attoh, Dan Davies from Hollywood and Rebecca Silvera who was the former Miss Jamaica.

The movie also includes; cameo appearances from Music Stars Cynthia Morgan, Patoranking and Olamide.

The veteran comedian added that the premiere would be preceded by a novelty football match that would feature prominent Jamaica ex-footballers against ex-Nigerian players.

A Trip to Jamaica was created to celebrate the best of our cultures.

He said, “Using a football match which will showcase these great players who have all worn their individual countries national colours at international competitions is a fitting way to herald the release of the movie.

“The football game will be witnessing live comedy and musical performances as a way of celebrating the cultures of these unique countries.”

He said ex-footballers to play in the match include: Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, Peter Rufai, Joseph Yobo, Mutiu Adepoju, Victor Ikpeba, and Ghanaian’s Stephen Appiah.

Artistes from different countries are expected to grace the premiere.

He added that the movie would be available on cinemas across Nigeria on September 30.

It was co-written by AY and Dianne Diaz and directed by Robert Peters, the US based multiple award winning film maker who also directed ‘30 Days in Atlanta’.

AY had made Box Office records with his 2014 film, “30 Days in Atlanta”, which recently earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The movie was officially recognised by the 2017 Guinness World Records as one of the films with the highest domestic gross in the territories of Bollywood, Nollywood and Hollywood.

(NAN)

Man brutalises wife’s niece for using air conditioner

A 27-year-old beautician, Latifat Adeyemi, has been battered by her aunt’s husband, Rasak Alabi, aka Alfa, for allegedly turning on an air conditioner in their house in Solebo, Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

Alabi reportedly claimed that the gadget consumed excessive power, and allegedly hit the victim with a spanner in the face and flogged her with a piece of cable, which led to her admission in a private hospital.

It was reported that for the past 10 years, Latifat and her grandma had been living in a bungalow at the back of the house on Ile Eye Street, which was reportedly built by Alabi’s wife.

It was learnt that Alabi, who had separated from his wife for the past 20 years, moved into the building in 2015 after reconciling with his wife, a nurse, who is based in the United States of America.

Our correspondent was told that since Alabi moved into the house, there had been misunderstandings, which had led to the eviction of some relatives in the house.

Latifat said she was staying in the house because she had to cater for her grandma.

She said, “My aunt is a nurse and she is based in the US. She put her mother in the house and asked me to cater to her. Grandma and I had been living in that house for over 10 years.

“Alfa (Alabi) and my aunt separated over 20 years ago. They never had a child together. But last year, they reconciled and the family said we needed a man in the house; so he moved into the house. He evicted our last born, but I stayed behind because of grandma.

“Last week Friday, when I returned from Surulere around 7pm, I saw that he had broken into my apartment and removed the AC there. He said the AC consumed too much power.

“I made a call to my uncle and I told him that I would be packing out of the house because I was fed up. As I turned around, he hit me in the eye severally with a spanner and as I ran off, he picked a cable piece and flogged me.”

She said she went to the Ipakodo Police Station to report the incident, adding that operatives who followed her to the house met the gate locked.

Latifat said the police turned back when they could not gain entrance.

Her half-sister, Rasheedat, said there had been disagreement between Alabi and Rashidat in the past, adding that the AC was only an excuse for the suspect to chase her out of the house.

“This is the only girl left in that house because of grandma. He had been finding excuses to send her away,” she explained.

Raheedat said shortly after the incident, Alabi reported to a vigilance group, Onyabo, that his car had been vandalised by Latifat’s siblings.

He was also alleged to have later gone to the Igbogbo Police Station to make other accusations.

Raheedat said the police called for a peace meeting between the parties, but the suspect rejected the move and ejected the grandma from the house.

“The old woman, who had left her husband’s house for the past 30 years, had returned to the same place again,” she added.

 Alabi’s phone rang out many times when our correspondent called him.

He had yet to respond to a text message sent to his phone on Saturday.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect had been declared wanted by the police.

“The suspect is evading arrest, but we will get him,” she added.

PUNCH

Hoodlums force 23-year-old girl to take India hemp before raping her

A 23-year-old girl (name withheld) has experienced one of the worst sexual attacks in Lagos in recent times.

The incident took place around 10pm on Sunday, August 28 at 106, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, around Pako Bus Stop.

The victim's aunty, a trader in the area, said the young woman had come to her stall around 9pm that day to collect some money.

“I told her to wait so we could pack up together later in the evening. She did. But around 9.30pm when I was still not ready, she said she would go home. She had been sick, so, I thought it was better. Some minutes after 10pm, I packed up and left,” the woman said.

But to her surprise when she got home, she was told Judith had not been seen since she left for the shop.

The family quickly mounted a search for her in the neighbourhood.

Her two brothers went in search of her on streets in the area and they did find her.

One of her brothers who spoke with our correspondent, explained that when he found the victim, he could not believe his eyes.

“Her slippers were all torn, the dress she was wearing was heavy with blood. She was unsteady on her feet. She could hardly stand up,” he said.

A picture of Judith taken soon after she was found showed the ivory-coloured skirt she was wearing blotted with large patches of blood behind and in front.

His brother told our correspondent that when he became frantic and started asking what happened to her, she could hardly talk.

“She said some men raped her. Two men now came out of the front of the house where I found her. One asked me what I was shouting about. He said, ‘Because she was raped, is that why you will not let people ‘hear word’? Is she the first person that will be raped here?’ After all, I gave her Igbo (hemp) and she took it.’

“I was shocked. I could not believe that he had the confidence to tell me he was even the one who gave her Indian hemp. My sister said they forced her to take the Indian hemp and two of them raped her on a chair in front of a shop.”

The victim told her family that the men grabbed her as she crossed the expressway on her way home.

She said when they covered her mouth and dragged her to house number 106, which faces the expressway, they took her inside and forced her to take Indian hemp three times before they raped her.

The two men who allegedly raped her were later identified as Wasiu and Monaco, the names they are popularly known by on the street, while the man who boasted of being the one who gave her the Indian hemp was identified as Olanrewaju Osinubi.

Wasiu and Monaco are currently on the run.

The victim's brother explained that while he argued with the two men, who initially came out, other men came out of the house and joined them, threatening that if he did not leave with his sister, he would be beaten up.

He said, “While we were arguing there, I luckily saw a patrol van of policemen from the Dopemu Police Division passing by and I quickly approached them and explained how my sister was raped.

“The policemen came down from their vehicle and because the crowd of boys in front of the house were threatening, one of the policemen cocked his gun and they all fled.

“But, I immediately grabbed the one who said he gave her Indian hemp to smoke (Osinubi) before he could escape. The police took him and we all went to the station.”

While at the station, it was learnt that the victim continued to bleed heavily as everywhere she sat was soaked with blood.

The police asked the family to take her to the Mirabel Sexual Assault Referral Centre for treatment that night.

But by the time they got there around 12.30am, the centre was close.

But officials at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where the centre is located, referred them to the Ifako General Hospital, where sexual assault cases are also treated.

After the initial treatment there, Judith was again referred to the Mirabel Centre the following day where she was eventually given comprehensive treatment.

It is unclear whether the centre has sent the report of tests conducted on the victim back to the police as is usually the practice.

However, the victim’s family alleged that they became like bystanders as soon as her case got to the police station.

Her brother told our correspondent, “Before we knew what was happening, a man had come and said he was the lawyer of the one that was arrested (Osinubi). I was shocked when the suspect and his lawyer demanded that the case be transferred to the Isokoko Police Division, Agege, instead. We who were the complainant had no say in the matter.”

It was learnt that the case was eventually transferred to Isokoko where two policewomen were detached to follow the victim’s family home.

Again, the family said they were shocked when they got home and the policewomen told The victim to take them to where the incident occurred.

“She was sleeping when they came. She was still in a terrible state. The police brought the suspect to our home and told us to wake her up so that she could take them to where it happened. It was so ridiculous that they could make her go through that at that point. I was angry but we eventually agreed,” the victim’s brother said.

the victim’s aunty, who followed them to the scene of the attack, said they asked the victim to point to where it happened and she did.

“She showed them the place and even the chair on which she was raped. It was very wet as they had just washed off all the blood,” the woman said.

However, the family said they were surprised when the police charged Osinubi to court on Friday, September 2, 2016 for simply obstructing police work.

According to them, the police have not shown any sympathy for the victim in handling the case and they fear she might never get any justice.

It is not clear what the police are doing currently to track down the two suspects on the run as the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, did not pick calls to her line.

However, an activist, Mrs. Esther Ogwu of the Esther Child Rights Foundation, whom the family has approached for help on the matter, said has notified the Sexual Assault department of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice about the case.

“We expect that an urgent step would now be taken on this matter.  This is not a case that  the police should even think of sweeping under the carpet.

“This case is not just about her, it is about other young women and girls who are in danger as long as those men are still on the loose. But I do not think the police have realised how terrible it must be for the victim that she may not get justice,” she said.

 
(PUNCH)      

Photos: Governor Ambode leads an all male walk against Sexual & Gender Based violence

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode today led an All Male Walk against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), vowing that his administration would leave no stone unturned to ensure that all perpetrators of such crimes are made to face the wrath of the law.
The walk, which proceeded from Ikeja under Bridge through Awolowo Way to Lagos House in Alausa, witnessed the participation of dignitaries from all walks of life, including members of the State Executive Council, members of the State House of Assembly, key government functionaries, entertainers, youths, artisans, workers, among others.

Four UNILAG students to prison over cult activities

Four undergraduates of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, identified as Raheem Yusuf, 21, Adedoyin Adeyemi Abraham, 24, Olanrewaju Idowu, 36, and Safraini Oluyemi Peters, 24, have been sent to jail by a magistrate court for their alleged involvement in cult activities within the school premises.
The Lagos state police command had arrested the students for allegedly being members of a secret cult known as Aloral Bucania.
The police during the arraignment of the students yesterday, informed the court that on August 4th at about 9am in Room 318, Biobaku Hall of the institution, the suspects had planned to carry out some cult activities that was likely to cause a breach of public peace.
Acting on a tipoff, the students were arrested and arraigned on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy to cause a breach of public peace and belonging to an unlawful and secret society.
They were docked before Chief Magistrate Oluwayemisi Adelaja on Charge No: D/45/2016. When the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty. The Chief Magistrate, Oluwayemisi Adelaja granted the defendants N200, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.
She ruled that the sureties must show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government, affidavit of livelihood and be residents of the state. She ordered that the students be remanded in prison custody until their bail conditions have been met.
She adjourned the case till September 26th for trial.

My husband stripped and beat me to pulp – Wife tells court

A trader, Margaret Agwu, on Wednesday told an Igando Customary Court, Lagos, that her husband, Onu, strips and beats her to a pulp sometimes.

Margret, who made this known when she testified in a divorce proceedings against Onu, told the court that her husband had turned her into a punching bag.

“He once punched me in my stomach and I lost my first pregnancy after a fight. I have lived every minute of my life in fear but I cannot go back to my parents because of the bride price,” she said.

Margaret, 45, had urged the court to annul her 33-year-old marriage citing husband’s duplicity.

She said, “When I was 12 years old, my husband came to my village to ask for my hand in marriage with a promise to my parents that he would send me to school.

“He also lied to my parents that he is a businessman that he owned a provision store and that he lived in a flat.

“My parents told him that they cannot release me for marriage because I was too young and besides I was still schooling.

“Onu told my parents that he will send me to school after the marriage, my parent agreed and he paid the bride price.”

Margaret regretted that on getting to the city, she discovered that her husband was not what he made her and her parents believe he was.

“When I got to his house, I discovered that he was staying in a one-room apartment, selling popcorn at the roadside.

“He also refused to fulfill his promise of sending me to school,” she said.

The petitioner said that she would not have reminded herself of the husband’s deceit but because he had turned out to be a brute, who beats her at the slightest provocation.

Margret also accused her husband of absconding with all their five children 16 years ago.

“When I called him after he packed out, he just told me that he was no longer interested in the marriage and since then he refused to pick my calls.

“His relations told me he relocated with the children to Port Harcourt. It is 16 years now that I have not seen nor heard from them.

“I heard that my husband gave our first daughter’s hand in marriage without my knowledge and that she had given birth to a son,” she said.

Margaret urged the court to help her to return the N600 bride price paid by her husband and dissolve the marriage, saying “I am no longer in love and I want to move on with my life.”

When an official of the court called Onu on the telephone, he said that the petitioner was no longer his wife.

In his judgment, the President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, said that it was obvious that the marriage had hit the rocks.

“Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour court summons, therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the union.

“The marriage between Margaret Agwu and Onu Agwu is hereby dissolved from today, both parties are no longer husband and wife.

“Both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation,” he said.

Mark Zuckerberg's visit gives Nigerian startups much-needed boost

 

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's visit to Nigeria, his first to sub-Saharan Africa, has put the country's tech businesses firmly in the world's spotlight.

Zuckerberg staged a surprise visit to the country's economic capital Lagos on Tuesday and his first stop was a local innovation center and tech hub in Yaba, an area on the mainland of Lagos known as Nigeria's Silicon Valley.

There was no fanfare amid tight security and some of those working at the Co-Creation Hub, called CcHUB, didn't even know Zuckerberg was coming.

He appeared nervous, a little startled even, as he launched into an impromptu speech about why he was there. 

He said: "This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I'll be meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I'm excited to learn as much as I can."

At the CcHUB, he talked to children at a summer coding camp and entrepreneurs who visit the center to build and launch their apps. 

 

Zuckerberg thrilled Nigerians by walking around the streets of Lagos without any signs of armed guards or heavy security. He was also spotted jogging on the Lekki Bridge Wednesday morning. 

Figures released Wednesday show Nigeria has officially dipped into recession as its second quarter GDP fell by more than 2% compared to last year.

However, running a business in the country has always been tough for young entrepreneurs such as Bosun Tijani and Femi Longe, who co-founded the hub Zuckerberg visited in 2011.

Successful startups in Nigeria thrive against the odds of weak infrastructure, anemic power supply and general lack of funding and investment.

Tijani told CNN that Zuckerberg's visit would give Nigeria's fledgling startup scene the shot in the arm it desperately needs.

"By coming here first, he's given a lot of hope to young people here," Tijani said.

He added that entrepreneurs like Zuckerberg were inspiring because his approach to Facebook has never been about making a lot of money.

"It's been about creating something that's going to change the world and obviously if you do that, you are bound to reap the benefit," Tijani said.

Idris Ayodeji Bello, an 'afropreneur' and angel investor from Nigeria, said, "Mark's visit was a much needed external validation of the sweat and immense efforts, mostly unsung, of the young Nigerians who have kept at it. And it was heartwarming to see all the attention his visit got, even from some young people who are rarely excited by much beyond music and entertainment."

Like a lot of entrepreneurs on the continent, the founders of CcHUB have been quietly plugging away before catching the attention of one of the world's biggest tech founders.

Zuckerberg singled out their business because of their proven track record in building and incubating startups that tackle the country's myriad social issues such as Lifebank, an app that locates available blood supplies and delivers it to  

Another entrepreneur who met Zuckerberg was Adebayo Adegbembo, who runs Genii games, a platform to make it easier for kids to learn about African culture both in Nigeria and the diaspora. He said Zuckerberg learned a few words of Yoruba and spoke of his love of languages.

"To have Mark show that kind of interest in us is a huge stamp of approval," Adegbembo said. 

Tijani and his business partner had a vision of creating a tech business district and persuaded the government and a local cable provider to install fiber optic cables on their street providing affordable and fast Wi-Fi access to anyone within the hub's vicinity.

When they started there were five tech businesses, now there are 60 and the area attracts an increasing number of entrepreneurs. 

During a Q& A streamed live on Facebook on Wednesday, Zuckerberg talked about plans to make the company's tools and apps more affordable for SMEs in the country.  

He added that he was proud of recently putting the Hausa language, largely spoken in northern Nigeria, on the platform and revealed plans to expand to other Nigerian languages.

Nigeria is the largest market in Africa for Facebook; 16 million Nigerians using the platform monthly, with 7 million logging onto the site daily: 97% of them on mobile, according to figures from the network.

Zuckerberg has also made no secret of his interest in Nigerian startups and other African tech industries.

In June, he invested millions of dollars in a Lagos-based startup called Andela via the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and in May he launched Free Basics, a partnership with a local telecoms provider, which allows people to browse websites for free, a very appealing prospect in a country where data prices can be prohibitively high. Although, it is not without controversy as critics have said it violates the central tenets of net neutrality, which stipulate that all Internet content and users should be treated equally. Cherry-picking free content isn't considered fair or right, according to the critics.

But it appears to be more than just the numbers stacking up for Facebook and Zuckerberg. He has said he is in the country to listen and learn and take ideas back to California on how to support businesses across the continent. He's also very interested in the creative partnerships and in exploring where tech and creativity intersect.

While in Lagos, he met with leading figures in Nigeria's Nollywood film industry and talked about how the burgeoning industry could be a huge revenue driver for the country. He said: "One of the things I am most excited about my trip to Lagos is going to check out Nollywood. Nollywood sounds like a national treasure and the ability to produce video content that is moving and emotional transcends boundaries and will help tell stories of the amazing innovation, engineering and culture to the whole world."

 

 

I love beautiful women, know how to spend money – Oba of Lagos

The Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has expressed his love for beautiful women, stressing that no one can stop him from loving them.

The influential Yoruba royal father added that he knows how to make money, which is why he can spend money as he desires.

In a chat with Channels Television, the 72-year-old monarch revealed how much he had desired to be the Oba of Lagos for 56 years.

Akiolu said, “I have been praying to God since 1964 to become the Oba of Lagos, on July 12 when Oba Adele died. I was playing football when I saw people carrying iced block and I helped them to carry it, I didn’t know what happened and the next day, the newspapers reported that pages were seen carrying iced block.

“Then I started praying to become king because they called me a page.

“I know how to work for money and spend money and I love beautiful ladies and there is nothing anyone can do about it,” he declared.

Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Visits Nigeria

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg makes a stop in Lagos on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa.

The social network founder said he would be meeting with developers, entrepreneurs and learning about the start-up ecosystem in Nigeria.

“The energy here is amazing and I’m excited to learn as much as I can,” Mark said on his Facebook page where he announced his arrival.

“Our first stop is the Co-creation Hub Nigeria (CcHUB) in Yaba [a community in Lagos State].

“I got to talk to kids at a summer coding camp and entrepreneurs who come to CcHub to build and launch their apps.

“I’m looking forward to meeting more people here,” he added.

My wife accused me of using “juju’’ to marry her, Pastor tells court

A Lagos pastor’s 19-year-old marriage has hit the rocks following the dissolution of the union by the court afters the pastor alleged that his wife accused him of using charms to marry her. The 50-year-old Pastor Idowu Abiola has finally separated from his wife, Esther, who accused him of being fetish and marrying her with ‘juju.’

An Alimosho Customary Court on Tuesday gave the order after the pastor had sued for divorce on grounds of defamation of character. The court’s President, Alhaja S.O. Mumuni, in her judgment, said it was obvious from available testimonies and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court that the marriage had hit the rocks.

“Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour the court’s invitation; therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the marriage. “The marriage between Idowu Abiola and Esther Abiola is hereby dissolved from today in accordance with the Lagos State Customary Law, 2013, Cap.19.

“Both parties are no longer husband and wife, they are free to marry any partner of their choice without any hindrance or molestation,” she ruled. “My wife accused me of using “juju’’ to marry her when she saw a fetish object I recovered from a church member after a deliverance session and which I intended to burn.

“She moved out of the house five years ago to an unknown destination, claiming that I married her with charms. “I called her family to inform them of her action and they promised to talk to her and plead with her to come back, but up till now she has refused to come back, “he said.

Abiola accused his wife, who had failed to appear in court after several summonses of attempting to kidnap their children on two occasions. He added:“First, she came to the house without my knowledge and absconded with our three children.

“I received a tipoff from a neighbor and I rushed down. I saw them at a bus stop and rescued my children.
“After that attempt failed, she went to their school with a bus and a policeman to `kidnap’ the children but the school authority prevented her and called me.’’

The pastor said in January 2010, his daughter gave him a paper she saw on the floor while sweeping which revealed that his wife would remarry in April 2010. “Before my wife packed out, I saw the paper in which she wrote that she will remarry by April, she also wrote in that paper the name of the man she will be getting married to.

“I confronted her but she did not deny it. True to her words by April that same year, she moved out of the house.”
The petitioner tendered the paper as evidence in the court. The father of three said that a week after his wife packed out of the house, she returned to destroy his property.

“My wife damaged my window net and louvers, entered my house, tore all my clothes and destroyed all the photographs we took together including the ones I took with the children.” He pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage since he was tired of waiting and that he would want to move on life.

‘Woman attempts to set neighbour ablaze in Lagos’

A 27-year-old woman, Achonu Ugochi, was on Monday arraigned before a Surulere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly threatening to pour petrol on another woman and set her ablaze.

The woman, who lives in Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, is facing a four counts bordering on assault and threat to life.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Christopher Okoliko, insisted that the accused committed the offences at about 4:30pm on August 19 at Orile-Iganmu, Lagos.

According to him, the accused and the complainant, Chinyere Okpalla, reside in the same compound.

Okoliko said, “There was a disagreement between them which led to exchange of blows.

“The accused flogged the complainant with a stick causing her serious injuries,” he said.

“The accused did not only flog her with the stick, but also threatened to pour petrol on her with the intent to set her ablaze.

“The accused also detained the complainant and her family in her house by locking the gate to their apartment with a padlock, thereby depriving them of their liberty.”

The offences contravened Section 56 (a), 170 and 270 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Sections 56 (a) and 170 provide one year imprisonment, while Section prescribes two years for deprivation of liberty.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety.

The Magistrate, Mrs. M. Dan-Oni, fixed August 28 for mention.