News
‘I Was Forced To Leave Our Home,’ Man Pleads For Dissolution Of 13-Years Marriage In Court
In a startling revelation at the Grade A Customary Court in Mapo, Ibadan, spare-part dealer Olawale Idowu pleaded for the dissolution of his 13-year marriage to Yemisi due to persistent violence. Residing at No. 25, Okeolode Aremo area, Ibadan, Idowu recounted his harrowing experiences with his estranged wife.
Idowu narrated his relentless endurance throughout their marriage, only to face continuous aggression from Yemisi. “Despite my efforts to keep the peace, Yemisi remained volatile.
I was forced to leave our home on December 16, 2023, after she attacked me violently in the middle of the night,” he explained. He further disclosed that Yemisi would often slap him and tear his clothes without provocation.
When summoned to court, Yemisi’s reaction was defiant. She tore the court notice and threw it back at Idowu. As evidence of the abuse, Idowu presented the torn clothes and the damaged summons to the court.
In her defence, Yemisi claimed that Idowu had abandoned her for another woman. She admitted to the midnight altercation in December but argued that Idowu’s mother exacerbated the situation by threatening her and involving the police, leading to her arrest.
Presiding over the case, Mrs S.M. Akintayo noted the absence of evidence regarding the payment of bride price, a crucial element in validating a lawful customary marriage in Nigeria.
Consequently, Akintayo declared that there was no marriage to dissolve between Idowu and Yemisi, as it never legally existed.
Despite Idowu’s request, the court awarded custody of the couple’s three children to Yemisi. Akintayo ordered that Yemisi must not deny Idowu access to their children and that both parties should share responsibility for their welfare, education, and other needs.
The court instructed both parties to go their separate ways and granted a restraining order against Yemisi, prohibiting her from threatening, harassing, or interfering in Idowu’s private life henceforth.
A civil society organisation in Zamfara State has strongly criticised Governor Dauda Lawal, accusing him of gross incompetence and failure to secure the lives and property of the citizens under his watch.
In a scathing statement signed by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Dr Suleiman Ibrahim Usman, the organisation alleged that Governor Lawal has abandoned his responsibilities, choosing instead to blame his predecessor, Dr Bello Matawalle, for the state’s persistent security challenges.
“Governor Lawal has failed woefully in his primary duty of safeguarding the people of Zamfara,” the group said.
“Rather than tackle the escalating insecurity, he spends his time pointing fingers at his predecessor, all while living lavishly and ignoring the plight of his people.”
The group criticised what it described as the governor’s “luxurious lifestyle”, claiming that while communities in the state suffer from hunger, sickness, and fear of bandit attacks, Governor Lawal is busy acquiring exotic vehicles.
“It is disgraceful for a leader of a traumatised state to indulge in such extravagance,” the statement read.
The statement further accused the governor of mismanaging the state’s increased federal allocation and internal revenue, questioning what tangible security investments have been made since he assumed office.
“Under Governor Matawalle, despite limited funds, security agencies received over 200 Hilux vehicles and motorcycles. What has Governor Lawal done with the increased allocation?” the group queried.
The civil society group also criticised the ongoing road projects in the state, describing them as mere reconstructions of long-standing roads rather than the development of new infrastructure.
“These are not new roads; they are just politically motivated renovations focused mostly on his own local government area,” the statement alleged.
It condemned aides of the governor for attacking the current Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, saying he had contributed to improved security in the state.
“Thanks to Matawalle’s interventions, many villages are now able to sleep with both eyes closed, and farming activities are gradually returning,” Dr Usman claimed.
“It is only hypocrites or those who have never stepped foot in Zamfara that would commend this administration. We challenge anyone to visit the state and see the suffering of the people firsthand.”
National
Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable To Equip Church Leaders for Spiritual Harvest, Says KARM Leader
The Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries (KARM) has unveiled plans for a significant gathering dubbed the Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable, aimed at equipping church leaders and workers for what its convener describes as an “imminent harvest of souls.”
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Apostle John Enelamah, leader of KARM, in a statement released to journalists,on Tuesday.
The conference, scheduled for 11-12 April 2025 at the Jesus the Way Gospel Mission Auditorium in New Era Layout, Akwunanu, Enugu, is expected to draw ministers and church workers from across Nigeria’s South East and South South regions.
Apostle Enelamah emphasised that the event would not only address the spiritual needs of attendees but also tackle their temporal concerns, while fostering discussions on expanding the reach of the Christian faith.
“The Ministers’ Roundtable is a forum where ministers and church workers will come together to fellowship and receive the Word of God, equipping them for the great work ahead,” Enelamah said.
“God’s move and revival are sweeping across the nations, and Nigeria has a pivotal role to play in these end times.”
Enelamah highlighted Enugu’s strategic importance in the South East as a key reason for hosting the event there, noting that the conference would serve as a springboard for further outreach in the region.
He also revealed plans for a future gathering, the Mission To West Africa (MTWA) Conference, set to take place in Umuahia in February 2026.
The Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable will feature prominent Christian leaders, including Archbishop Chris Ede of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Enugu Archdiocese; Bishop Obi Onubuogu of Rock Family Church; and Apostle Chuks Alozie of the Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team.
The event will be hosted by Rev John Uga, with sessions running from 9am to 4pm on 11 April and resuming at 9am on 12 April.
In his statement, Enelamah urged ministers “thirsty and hungry for greater exploits in their ministry” to attend, promising a spiritually enriching experience that would “build up our most holy faith.”
He added that KARM intends to collaborate closely with ministers in Enugu and other parts of southern Nigeria to strengthen the church’s mission.
The Global Information Team (GIT) has urged the newly appointed management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), led by Ojulari, to honour a prior commitment to absorb 12 staff members from the now-defunct Hyson Nigeria Limited, warning that failure to do so violates international labour standards.
The appeal, spearheaded by GIT’s head of investigation, Anabel Crown, follows the dissolution of all trading joint ventures by the NNPCL board in late 2023, which saw Hyson Nigeria Limited officially wound up on 31 December of that year.
The move was part of a broader consolidation effort to bring all trading operations under a wholly owned NNPCL entity.
At the time, assurances were made that the 12 Hyson employees would face no job losses and would be seamlessly transferred to NNPC Retail Limited—a promise that has yet to materialise.
Under the tenure of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari, who was recently removed by President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the transition stalled, leaving the workers in limbo.
The GIT now calls on Ojulari’s administration to revisit the matter urgently, either by absorbing the staff into NNPCL or offering them substantial severance packages akin to those provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria to its relieved employees.
“This prolonged uncertainty is not just a breach of trust—it’s a violation of international labour law,” Crown told Elanza News.
“Keeping workers promised employment in suspense amounts to deceit and deception, with devastating consequences for their livelihoods and families.”
The situation has been compounded by alleged mismanagement during the transition.
Sources within GIT allege that the former managing director of Hyson Nigeria Limited deliberately withheld a crucial letter that would have facilitated the staff’s absorption into NNPC Retail Limited.
“This was an act of selfishness, with no regard for the wellbeing of these workers or their families,” Crown said, pointing to the rigorous interviews the staff underwent, with results submitted to the NNPC Retail board—then chaired by Kyari—for approval that never came.
The affected workers, described as “fathers and children” by GIT, have faced severe hardship, deprivation, and even starvation as the matter remains unresolved.
“These are people who went through a thorough recruitment process and were deemed successful, yet they’ve been left to suffer,” Crown added.
In a direct appeal, GIT has called on President Tinubu, who serves as the substantive Petroleum Minister overseeing NNPCL, to intervene. “As the father of the nation and a true democrat, we urge Mr President to wade into this matter.
These workers deserve sympathy and swift action—absorbing them without delay is not just a matter of humanity, but a defence of their rights and privileges,” the GIT statement read.
The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of NNPCL’s operations following Kyari’s exit and Ojulari’s appointment, with stakeholders watching closely to see if the new leadership will prioritise transparency and accountability.
For now, the fate of the 12 Hyson workers hangs in the balance, their plight a stark reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic delays.