Category: Metro News

A 44- year-old woman, Oluwatoyin Falade, on Wednesday prayed to an Orile Agege Customary Court to dissolve her 11-year-old marriage on grounds of infidelity on the part of her husband, Segun.

The petitioner, who lives at 23, Tunde Davids Close, Agege, Lagos has two children for Segun, ages, eight and 11.

“My husband is a flirt, he runs after anything in skirt.

”I had two girls before I married him and those girls are 15 and 18. They stay with me and I don’t trust my husband because he chases everything in skirt.

“My husband changes women anyhow and he doesn’t respect me. If the court doesn’t dissolve the union, I will run away with my kids,” she burst to tears.

Oluwatoyin said that people mock her in the neighborhood because of her husband’s infidelity.

” I am fed up, Segun cannot change, chasing after women and ladies has become the order of the day for him,” she said.

She alleged that he doesn’t take care of her and the children.

In his response, Segun, 46, a Lagos State Judiciary worker, admitted to infidelity.

“I will not lie, I bring in different women to the house but I am ready to change. I have been begging her to please forgive me,” he said.

He said he takes care of the children and his wife.

“My Lord, you can see that my wife is robust and fresh. It is obvious that she is not suffering.

“I bought her a phone recently and I pay the children’s school fees,” he said.

Segun said that he was not ready for the dissolution and promised to make things right if given another chance.

The Court’s President, Mr Adewale Adegoke, told both parties to be at peace with each other.

Adegoke adjourned the case until May 30 for alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

The failure of state water boards to provide water is the major cause for the proliferation of boreholes across the country, the Executive Director of Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRC) Engr. Magashi Umar Bashir, has said.

Bashir, who spoke during the working visit of the Minister of Water Resources in Abuja, pointed out that the NIWRMC, which is an agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, is collaborating with borehole drilling association to curb the menace of rampant drilling of boreholes particularly in city centres.

“The commission cannot stop people from drilling boreholes in their houses. That is why you have all this proliferation of boreholes everywhere. That is also due to the fact that the Water Boards cannot provide water to the people,” he said.

The NIWRMC boss mentioned that through the Water Use Licence issued, the commission has generated N73,669,110 from the year 2020 till date.

While announcing plans to increase its revenue, he explained that the commission’s current revenue represents almost 100 per cent increase in revenues generated between 2015 and 2019.

 “The commission is aware of the revenue deficit in the nation’s revenue needs and is determined to make sure that users of raw bulk water pay the appropriate charges.

“In pursuit of our enhanced revenue generation agenda, the commission has issued demand notices with expected income of N826,215,000,” he added.

He further reiterated the commission’s commitment to provide equitable and sustainable development, management, use and conservation of Nigeria’s surface and ground water resources through a water allocation plan for Upper Benue, Lower Benue, Lake Chad catchment areas.

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, hailed the Commission for its giant strides in discharging its regulatory duties despite the ferocious pushback of vested interest.

Adamu pointed out that the Commission could have achieved more in terms of effective implementation of regulations of water resources if the Water Resources Bill had seen the light of the day.

He expressed concern over the politicising of the Water Bill which according to him, the refusal of lawmakers to pass the bill has deprived the nation of the reforms needed in the water sector.

He vowed to continue to pursue the bill till the very end, saying the independence of the NIWRC is crucial to harness the full benefit of the Commission.

“The bill is trying to democratise the process of Water Resources in the country. We will not relent until we will get to the bottom of this. We will continue to operate within the framework of the existing laws for now. The antagonists of the Water Bill cannot change that,” he stated.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that it is determined to harmonise overlapping regulations within the various secretariats, departments, and agencies (SDAs) that are militating against the ease of doing business in Abuja.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammed Bello, made this known at the opening of a two-day retreat on the harmonisation of revenue and promotion of ease of doing business in the FCT.

Bello was represented by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, at event, which was organised by the FCTA.

He noted that Abuja, being the mirror of the country, must be a model in the ease of doing business agenda of the administration.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to harmonise revenue collection across the FCT.

“As you are aware, there are currently multiple agencies and departments responsible for collecting various types of taxes and fees from businesses and individuals. This has created confusion, duplication, and inefficiency, within the system.

“The FCT IRS was created to meet this challenge amongst others. However, despite its current efforts, we all must appreciate that there is a lot of room for improvement which I am sure this retreat will look into critically and recommend ways for advancement in this regard.

“I have no doubt that we shall make significant progress in the collective revenue generation and business promotion drive,” Bello said.

The retreat, according to Bello, brings together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to rub minds and exchange ideas on how best to ensure the FCTA attains the highest IGR-generating sub-national status.

“As you all know, the uniqueness and dynamism of the FCT attracts people and businesses from all over the world. It is the seat of the Nigerian government, a budding centre of commerce and trade, and a hub for innovation and creativity.

“However, as with any growing and evolving city, there are challenges that we must address to ensure that the FCT remains competitive, efficient, and attractive to investors and entrepreneurs.

“The FCTA has, over the last few years, embarked on some reform programmes to encourage the establishment and growth of small and medium enterprises in the nation’s capital.

“Amongst them is the implementation of a digital platform for the issuance of permits, licences, and approvals known as the FCT business portal, which will allow businesses and individuals to apply for and receive all necessary permits and licences online, without the need for physical visits to government offices.

“In addition, we are working to streamline and simplify regulations and procedures for business registration, property registration, and land use planning. These will help to create a more transparent, predictable, and efficient regulatory environment for businesses,” the Minister added.

An Ondo State High Court has sentenced a 63-year-old pastor, Ajayi Famakinwa, to 18 years imprisonment for raping and impregnating a teenager.

The 15-year-old victim is the daughter of one of the convict’s tenants.

Pastor Famakinwa was said to have carried out the act on the pretense of healing the victim of the demonic spirit tormenting her

Famakinwa was said to have also had sex with the victim at the market at night.

Presiding Judge, Justice Yemi Fasanmi, sentenced Famakinwa after he found him guilty of rape and defilement of his tenant’s daughter. The convict was first arraigned on February 2022 on two counts of rape and defilement along with sexual abuse and exploitation.

The Prosecutor, H.M Falowo, informed the court that the defendant had unlawful sexual intercourse with the victim which resulted to pregnancy.

The victim had told the court that Famakinwa sexually abused her three times in his room and in the market stall at night.

Justice Fasanmi, in his ruling, held that the denial of the convict of being responsible for the pregnancy was an afterthought.

The Judge condemned the convict’s act for impregnating the poor girl and turning her to a struggling single mother.

“The defendant’s conduct, his admission of the crime to the Divisional Police Officer at Ayede Ogbese on October 17, 2021 in his voluntary confessional statement to be responsible for the pregnancy and other evidence of the prosecution amounted to sufficient corroboration that the defendant committed the offence.

“Based on the above and in strict adherence to the provisions of the law, I have no alternative than to sentence the defendant accordingly and I so hold.”

 “Though the defendant appeared remorseful in court, he is convicted as charged and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.”