The police in Edo State have arrested the General Overseer of Gloryland Church, Pastor Ekene Samuel, for impregnating and procuring abortion for a 17-year-old member of his church identified as Miracle.
According to police investigations, the married pastor allegedly charmed and had sex with the teenager identified as Miracle. When he found out she was pregnant, he contracted one of his deaconesses, Happy Johnson, to help him get rid of the pregnancy. Happy took Miracle to the Gracevill Medical Center along Ewah road in Benin city for the abortion.
Trouble started after one Henry Aikhuaman reported that Miracle was missing. The search by the police led to the discovery of Miracle on a sick bed at the hospital.
When interrogated, Pastor Ekene said
“Last year I had an extra marital affair with her in August. She came to me this year that she was pregnant. I asked my member here to take her to the hospital. She was taking some drugs to remove the pregnancy. The baby died in her womb. The doctors did surgery on her because she was having appendicitis. The hospital asked me to pay N380, 000 and I have paid N150, 000 before I was arrested. She did not die.
“These charms were items returned by people I prayed for through deliverance. Some are also for me. I also do spiritual work. I have anti-poison and others.”
The police say the pastor and his accomplice would be charged to court soon.
Former reality Tv lovebirds, Nina and Miracle, took to Twitter last night to react after CeeC revealed that Miracle told Nina that Tobi and Alex had sex after they left the Big Brother House.
However, it quickly had a twist as it appeared the two stars (Nina and Miracle) swiped aim at each other with their tweets.
We all woke up to the shocking news earlier this morning on the BBNaija reunion show when 2018 finalist, CeeC dropped a huge bomb that has blown people away ever since. Catch up here ICYMI
CeeC had stated categorically that besties in the house, Alex and Tobi had coitus in South Africa moments before they left for Nigeria.
Her revelation caused Alex to break down in serious tears as she even left the show in total embarrassment with the cameraman following her around.
Social media has been set abuzz with with CeeC’s action, with many in total awe as to how far she’s willing to go to tarnish someone’s image.
A video of the shocking moment CeeC gave the revelation – like it’s nothing – is now making the rounds online. Watch the video below,
Watch moments Alex started breaking down in tears;
There was commotion earlier today in Enugu state after it was claimed a young lady ran mad after being dropped off by a driver in the metropolis.
According to a twitter user who witnessed the incident, the young lady was dropped off by the driver of a Totota Venza car and allegedly went mad moments after that at Maryland estate junction axis.
The incident caused a huge scene in the area as people gathered in their numbers to see for themselves.
This is coming months after a young lady allegedly stripped naked and ran mad at the Abkpa area of Enugu, Tuesdays after she dropped from a public bus at Texaco filling station. On waiting to get another bus that will take her to Obiagu, she started stripping herself.
According to passersby, they claimed the young lady must have been used for money rituals.
The lady was captured on camera roaming on the streets utterly unclad, as people were taking pictures and videos of her.
A final year English Education student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, lost her life, yesterday, while heading home after lectures.
Helen, who shared some pictures minutes before the incident, was crushed after a motorcycle rider lost control while trying to overtake a trailer at Nkpor and hit her into the path of the trailer.
Winner of the Big Brother Naija Double Wahala Show, Miracle Ikechukwu has reacted after CeeC revealed yesterday that Alex slept with Tobi in their South Africa Hotel immediately after the show.
Let’s bring you up to speed!
Alex yesterday, revealed that after the show ended, Cee-C came to her hotel room, where she was with Tobi to thrash things out with him after they were at loggerheads during the show. She said Tobi refused to speak to her and closed the door on her.
According to her, Tobi stayed in her room because the lock in his room was bad and Miracle’s room wasn’t available.
When it was Cee-C’s turn to speak, she broke a mighty table and alleged that Alex had sex with Tobi in her hotel room.
According to her, she said the first thing Nina told her on the plane on their way to Nigeria was that Alex and Tobi had sex in the hotel room.
Nina also got into the conversation, by also disclosing that it was Miracle who told her that Tobi revealed to him that he had sex with Alex in her hotel room.
The revelation made by Cee-C saw Alex break down in uncontrollable tears and then walked out from the reunion show. At one point, she even threatened to break the camera when she was being followed.
In reaction to this whole drama. Miracle in what seem to be a direct shot at CeeC tweeted saying; “Pls don’t bring my friends and I into your reunion lies and propaganda.??✈️”
Pls don’t bring my friends and I into your reunion lies and propaganda.??✈️
It all started when Ebuka asked Alex about the dramas that happened in the house between herself, Cee-C and Tobi Bakre.
Of course Alex said, “Nothing was going on between the three of them”.. Then a little drama ensued….
Alex revealed that after the show ended, Cee-C came to her hotel room, where she was with Tobi to thrash things out with him after they were at loggerheads during the show. She said Tobi refused to speak to her and closed the door on her.
According to her, Tobi stayed in her room because the lock in his room was bad and Miracle’s room wasn’t available.
When it was Cee-C’s turn to speak, she broke a mighty table and alleged that Alex had sex with Tobi in her hotel room.
According to her, she said the first thing Nina told her on the plane on their way to Nigeria was that Alex and Tobi had sex in the hotel room.
Nina also got into the conversation, by also disclosing that it was Miracle who told her that Tobi revealed to him that he had sex with Alex in her hotel room.
The revelation made by Cee-C saw Alex break down in uncontrollable tears and then walked out from the reunion show. At one point, she even threatened to break the camera when she was being followed.
Watch the video below;
Some reactions below;
@caritwinkle: Ceec coming on national TV to tell that Alex and Tobi had sex shows she still loves Tobi and is bitter with Alex.
@_hrh_sandrakes: So what if Alex slept with tobi?was she suppose to take permission from ceec? I hate nonsense.
@Misturr_KayC: Nina na fooool?? Said she had something to say only to scatter what is left of the tobi and alex sex table.
@sunnyukc: Ceec wanted this conversation to move in a matured direction but Alex was busy throwing stones everywhere,now Ceec has shattered everything!
@Ms_Knzi: So cee-c is evil because she doesn’t cry? ?.okurrr. Alex gave her own version, Cynthia kept her cool. Just smiling. And when Cynthia brought receipts… Boom..tears everywhere. Lesson for all: Don’t dish what you can’t take. #doublewahalareloaded
@_hrh_sandrakes: So what if Alex slept with tobi?was she suppose to take permission from ceec? I hate nonsense.
@Gozman5050: Tobi told miracle : guys do dat always. Miracle told
nina: during knacking.
Nina told ceecee: gossip
Ceecee told d world: confirmed witch.
Nigerian singer and member of Davido’s DMW record label, Mayorkun, has bought himself a brand new 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.
He shared this photo of himself posing in front of the whip with his name on the plate number and captioned it: ‘About to be 25, sitting on 35 million! I might as well spoil myself a lil! Too grateful!.’
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, have arrested 11 suspected internet fraudsters for offences bordering on conspiracy, possession of fraudulent documents and attempt to obtain money under false pretence.
The suspects are: Ganiyu Sherif Abiodun, Akinyele Sherif, Oluseye Soremekun, Kolawole Rasheed, Kolawole Kazeem and Ibrahim Anjorin.
Others are: Temitope Samson, Damilola Samson, Uduogwu Freeborn Eboagwu, Ojomu Gbenga and Okougbo Dervick.
They were arrested in the Lekki County Homes and Igbo-Efon areas of Lagos State, following intelligence report received by the Commission, recently.
Items recovered from the suspects at the time of arrest include seven exotic cars, 16 laptop computers and 20 phones.
They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke at the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
The tribunal had on today (Friday) declared Adeleke winner of the governorship election held in Osun State last year.
Gboyega Oyetola of the APC was declared winner of the governorship poll, but Adeleke challenged the outcome of the poll at the tribunal.
Reacting to the judgment on his twitter handle, The Peoples Democratic Party, Presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku said the judiciary had proven to be the last hope of the common man and defender of democracy.
“Truly, the judiciary is the last hope of the common man and the defender of our democracy. Congratulations Sen. Ademola Adeleke,” Atiku said.
A young boy identified as Prince, is currently battling for his life at a hospital in Enugu after consuming a poisonous substance.
According to a note he left before taking the drastic step, he stated that he had been betrayed too many times by people he showed love and he was tired of it.
He added that the resulting pain strained his relationship with his girlfriend and she no longer loves him.
However, he was rescued just in time and rushed to a hospital, where doctors are currently battling to stabilize him.
2face Idibia’s management, Now Muzik, has once again reacted to the continued allegations by his former band member, Blackface.
In a statement released by Now Muzik’ Adejimi Oni…
‘contrary to the position held in some quarters that our client, Innocent Idibia, AKA 2Baba has failed or refused to respond to the ridiculous accusations by Austin Ahmedu AKA Blackface, we would like to state that this is untrue’.
What 2Baba and our founder/CEO, Efe Omorogbe have done is refuse to create time to engage in an unproductive media banter with Blackface every time he wants to release new material.
Both 2Baba and Omorogbe have stated publicly that Blackface’s claims of song theft and media/live performance blacklisting are unfounded and malicious.
Blackface has been advised to seek legal redress if he believes his claims are true and if not, cease and desist from making unsubstantiated defamatory public statements about both 2Baba and Omorogbe.
Blackface’s refusal to file a suit or discontinue the defamation forced our lawyers to institute a defamation suit against him at the Lagos State High Court. His lawyers have entered a defence and the case is currently on-going.
2Baba and Omorogbe are confident that the court will handle the matter. They will not fuel a media trial by commenting on a case that is already before a competent court of law.
The position advanced in a press statement issued on February 3, 2016 remains the same and no further response is deemed necessary.
Temple Music music act and former BBN housemate, Bisola has dropped a brand new single, which is titled “Good Old Days”.
The record label’s 1st woman returns us to the Good past times when life was basic and additionally intriguing. At the point when as a kid is constantly fun and not stresses, She shares some intriguing melodies, stories and recreations that unites everybody to have some good times during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
Former Nigerinan president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has disclosed that Nigeria is more divided now than it was during the civil war.
He said this during his speech at the 2019 annual retreat/conference and general meeting of members of the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria (ACAEBIN) held at Park Inn, Abeokuta in Ogun State on Thursday.
According to Obasanjo, the country would experience more division if it does not begin to partner with other countries to develop other sectors of the economy.
“When we look at this country today, even during the civil war, we were not as divided as we are now. Today, we are in danger if we don’t take partnership serious. That partnership should be within our people, Africa and the rest of the world,” he said.
Obasanjo stated that until the government gets its politics right, the country will keep experiencing setback in whatever it does, just as he stressed the need to translate the growing population of the country to economic development.
“The first is politics which is governance. Unless we get governance right, any other thing we are trying to do will not be right.
“The second is population. Our population at Independence was estimated to be 45 million, but today we are almost 200 million. By the year 2050, we will be over 400 million. Normally, population should be an asset but looking at the condition we are in now when in the North-East of Nigeria, the percentage of adult literacy is about 53 per cent, and education being the basic of all human development, you can see that we have a problem.
“How do we think of setting education to be useful? Those people who will make our education of over 400 million people in many years’ time are already born, and you cannot unborn them. So the problem is here, what do we do?
“We must provide education, housing, healthcare and most importantly, employment for them. One thing that I believe will help us to provide employment is agricultural business.”
The former president also urged the government to ensure security is guaranteed across the country.
The Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, has declared Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the 2018 governorship election in the state.
At its sitting in Abuja on Friday, the tribunal voided the cancellation of elections in seven polling units in the state, therefore holding that Gboyega Oyetola, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not validly returned.
Reading the ruling on behalf of a three-member panel of judges, Justice Peter Obi held that the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had no powers to cancel the election in the seven polling units on September 22, 2018, which led leading to the rerun election on September 27, 2018.
In reaction, Davido took to his Instagram page to rejoice.
IMOLE TI DE !!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GREAT PEOPLE OF OSUN STATE ! ?????????????????????
God no dey sleep!!! MANDATE RETURNED!!! IMOLE TI DE !! OSUN IM ON MY WAY!! ????????????????
A few days ago, the Church of Satan rejected Daddy Freeze’s opinion and insinuated that the fact that he said marital vows were satanic was a clear indication that he wanted to get out of his marriage.
In response to this, Daddy Freeze placed the Church of Satan side by side with the Church of ‘God’, and then, he went on to quote a particular Bible verse which he said acted as a fort for him.
The Bible verse was a shady reply that depicted a condemnation of the Church of Satan and insinuated that they symbolised darkness while he (Daddy Freeze) stood for light.
See his post below:
When the church of ‘god’ and the church of Satan agree against Daddy Freeze on issues one bible verse comes to mind! ~FRZ
–
◄ 2 Corinthians 4:4 ►
New Living Translation
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
A young Nigerian man has taken to Facebook to lament after spending N50,000 to celebrate a girl’s birthday only for her to make it clear that she is not ready for any relationship.
According to Fanta Boy Ekwem, pictured right, ”If I ask for my money back now or beat her up people will say am a stupid boy, but na the girl stupid pass. Why can’t she accept me if not for anything but for the sake of what I spent on her birthday.”
Read his full post below:
“Am heartbroken why are Girls this wicked? Where can this wickedness led you girls?
There’s this girl living in my street she came to me and told me that she is doing her birthday, she said she will like me to be there I said okay I will come.
This last Wednesday was the birthday I told some of my friends that we gonna go there and surprise her so we got there at a hotel in Lagos island(De Heavens hotel).
I spent almost 50k to celebrate birthday for this girl that we haven’t even started dating properly.. but just a day after the birthday I walk up to her and declared my intention that I love her and I will like to date her that’s why I spent such money on her birthday.,
she made it clear to me that she is not ready for any relationship, I was disappointed after all I spent on her.
If I ask for my money back now or beat her up people will say am a stupid boy, but na the girl stupid pass. Why can’t she accept me if not for anything but for the sake of what I spent on her birthday.
In the picture is me and my friends I invited too. The person with mark is me.
The Nigerian Police Force has denied the allegation that one of its officers beat an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Jumbo Ogah, to death in Abuja.
Recall that on Wednesday March 20th, LIB shared a report of how Ogah was allegedly attacked and beaten up by police officers along Nyanya Highway in Abuja, for driving against traffic. It was alleged that Ogah died at the scene where he was attacked. Read here.
The spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Command, Frank Mba, held a press conference yesterday where he denied the allegation. According to him, Ogah violated traffic rules and was arrested by two Traffic Warden along Nyanya Highway in Abuja. He was taken to the police station where he slumped.
“It is usually unfortunate when any life is lost, it doesn’t matter the circumstances surrounding the loss of life, therefore, my explanation here should not be seen as an excuse, justification or a validation of the unfortunate incident. It should be seen as clarification and a sincere attempt to at providing the facts as I was given.
The facts as I was given indicate that the incident happened yesterday, about 9 am. The deceased who was later identified as a member of NSCDC was said to be driving along with members of his family precisely his wife. He was said to have disobeyed traffic regulations and accosted by two traffic wardens who are not conventional policemen.
On contravention, he was arrested and he drove himself to the police station with immediate members of his family who were with him at the time of arrest and a Traffic Warden in his own car. Traffic Wardens are not conventional Police Personnel that is why they wear yellow top for easy identification. They don’t bear arms either.
I was told that he drove himself personally to Nyanyan police station. He walked out of the car and they took him to the charge room and began to ask him questions. Simple preliminary questionss. It was in that process that he suddenly slumped. He was rushed to the hospital where he was eventually confirmed dead.
I was also told he was never in the full uniform of the civil defence as has been variously reported.
My personnel interaction with CP FCT reveals there was no sign of physical assault on the deceased.
However, the two traffic wardens involved are in detention pending autopsy to determine the cause of death,” he said.
A Nigerian man, Timring Napkur, as been arrested for allegedly raping and killing a pregnant woman in Gangnim Village of Langtang South Local Government Area of the state.
Parading the suspect before newsmen, the state police commissioner, Isaac Akinmoyede, said the suspect attacked the woman, Zainab Abu, who was seven months pregnant, at the bank of a river where she went with her two daughters to wash clothes.
“At about 0800hrs, of 28/2/2019, Timring Napkur ‘m’ of Gangnim Village Langtang South Local Government attacked a 7- month old pregnant woman Zainab Abu at a riverside where she went to wash her clothes along with her two daughters. The suspect raped the victim, strangulated and pushed her into the river where she got drowned and died.
“The victim’s two daughters, Aije 7-year old and Khadija 4-year old, escaped and reported the crime to their father. The suspect has been arrested and he is undergoing investigation, ” the police commissioner said
The suspect who looked remorseful, begged for forgiveness. The police chief said he will be charged to court soon.
Nigerian singer, Paul Okoye aka Rudeboy and his wife, Anita, are celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary today March 22nd.
The couple got married in 2015 and already have three children, a son Andre and a set of twins, Nathan and Nadia. Anita on her IG page wrote
15 years of friendship!
5 years of marriage!!
3 Adorable kids!!!
•
•
We bicker and argue, we quarrel and fight. But we still love each other with all our might.
We have differences which we grumpily bear but at the end of the day, we both make a great pair. Happy anniversary Partner!! #WeddingAnniversary #PaulOkoye#AnitaOkoye •
Paul on the other end, via his IG page, uploaded the photo of his wife, Anita appreciating and thanking her for birthing their lovely children, see his post below;
It’s our anniversary #5yrs❤️? just wanna say thank you for #Andre #Nadia and #Nathan ❤️ most especially the love and peace of mind …. love you ❤️ @anita_okoye #Nkejikeke #mamaejima ❤️
A woman, who suffered years of infertility before finally having kids of her own, has donated her uterus to another woman suffering infertility so the woman can experience motherhood.
Aprill Lane, 39, suffered infertility for years. Now, she has five kids, ages 7 and under. Late last year, she donated her own uterus so that another woman could have the ability to conceive and carry a child.
Lane said: “Infertility really, aside from the physical effects of it, it emotionally and socially affects you in a huge way. If I could help one other person be relieved of some of that, I would.”
Lane, who works for a biotech company, adopted her oldest son after she and her husband, Brian, were diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” and tried for four years to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Shortly after adopting their oldest son, Lane became pregnant with their second child, a boy who is 13 months younger than his older brother. Lane tried for a third child using IVF and, on her 10th cycle, she became pregnant with twin girls. A little less than a year after delivering them, Lane unexpectedly got pregnant and delivered another daughter.
A woman, who suffered years of infertility before finally having kids of her own, has donated her uterus to another woman suffering infertility so the woman can experience motherhood.
Aprill Lane, 39, suffered infertility for years. Now, she has five kids, ages 7 and under. Late last year, she donated her own uterus so that another woman could have the ability to conceive and carry a child.
Lane said: “Infertility really, aside from the physical effects of it, it emotionally and socially affects you in a huge way. If I could help one other person be relieved of some of that, I would.”
Lane, who works for a biotech company, adopted her oldest son after she and her husband, Brian, were diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” and tried for four years to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Shortly after adopting their oldest son, Lane became pregnant with their second child, a boy who is 13 months younger than his older brother. Lane tried for a third child using IVF and, on her 10th cycle, she became pregnant with twin girls. A little less than a year after delivering them, Lane unexpectedly got pregnant and delivered another daughter.
Throughout her infertility struggle, Lane helped run infertility support groups and started a scholarship foundation to help women pay for infertility treatments. Through her foundation, Lane heard about uterus transplants being done in clinical trials at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. And she decided to give someone her uterus so they too can have kids.
Lane said: “My husband and I both felt like our family-building had been resolved but we weren’t necessarily resolved with building a family for someone else. We knew pretty quickly after I got the call that I was selected [for the trial] that I was going to do it.”
Lane travelled from Boston to Dallas where she had a surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas to have her uterus removed for the recipient who remains anonymous.
Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, professionally known as DJ Cuppy took to her Instagram to share these beautiful set of new photos of herself and mother, Nana Otedola posing together.
DJ Cuppy is undoubtedly a very beautiful lady and with these new glowing photos she just shared for her teeming fans, we can understand where she got the beauty from ; as her caption would suggest.
Sharing the photos, she wrote ;
Got it from my Mama! ? #FamilyFirst #BaddestOutOfBeirut
See below ;
Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, professionally known as DJ Cuppy, is a Nigerian disc jockey and producer. She is the daughter of Nigerian businessman Femi Otedola.
Nigerian Dancehall singer, Burna Boy, in an interview with American OAP, Ebro Darden, spoke about his music, upcoming projects and his relationship with Stefflon Don.
Confirming his relationship again with the British-Jamaican rapper, the ‘Ye’ singer told the host of Ebro in the Morning: ‘On a more serious note, that is my wifey. If you wanted a wifey, Stefflon Don is the perfect person.’
See Video below ;
An innocent man who was sentenced to prison – regained his freedom after spending 24 years.
The man identified as Olaide Olatunji narrated how he was wrongly arrested, falsely accused of conspiracy to commit murder and thrown in jail after the torture and beatings by the police.
The man who was condemned to death – narrated his story to Joint Legal Action Aids after his release from prison.
Read below:
HOW IT STARTED.
I trained as a photographer but back in the 80s I didn’t have enough photography work to sustain me so I worked with my father who traded in cattle. My father was an old man so I joined him and I used to go to the bush to buy the animals. I was married with two sons….
That year, as the time for the Ileya Festival drew closer, we were going to supply some companies with cattle so I had to go and buy them from Niger state. He listed all the things that I was going to buy – cows, rams and goats. I left Lagos on the 30th of May, 1988 to Gwari in Niger state. I had to go inside the bush to select the animals I wanted so that I would get a trailer to convey them to Lagos.
THE ARREST.
Because of the language barrier, I needed an interpreter for the negotiations. We were in the bush when some policemen came and asked me if I was a visitor. I said yes, I was a visitor that I had been coming to the village for many years. The man said they were looking for people who ran into the bush.
I said I didn’t know anything about it that I was selecting rams there. Then they arrested me and took me to the police station even though the interpreter told them I had been coming to the village for some time.
The next day, the 1st of June, they said the case could not be handled at that station and it was transferred to the State CID at Niger. From there they transferred me to Ilorin in Kwara state. All the while, I never knew what they were accusing me of. After a week, some policemen came from Lagos, they said they were from the Anti-Terrorsist squad and they conveyed me and some people that were arrested with me to Lagos.
I was with N325,000 cash which I wanted to use to buy cows at Niger. The money followed me up to Ilorin but when we got to Lagos, I didn’t hear anything about the money again. The Police men did not give me or my family members.
PAIN , TORTURE AND TRIAL
They took me to Adeniji Adele Police Station, Lagos. That was when they started giving me hell. They hung me, beat and tortured me. That was the day I knew they were accusing me of murder. They said somebody was killed in Lagos and his car was snatched and they later found the car around the village where I was in Gwari.
The policemen said the people fled into the bush that was why they were looking for visitors around that area. All the while I had no idea why I had been arrested. The confessional statement in my case file, they wrote it themselves and forced me to sign. After that they transferred me to Ikoyi Prison and that was where they resumed another round of torture.
I spent almost 9 months there before they took me to court with four other men. I didn’t even know those men. They charged us all for conspiracy to murder. My lawyer told me to plead ‘Not Guilty’ so I did and from there they took me to Kirikiri Medium Security Prison.
SENTENCED TO DEATH
Four months later, they said we had a case to answer at Apapa Court. Osibodu Jaydis Babajide after reading the charges, they took us back to Ikoyi Prisons.The trial started in 1989 and it ran on for 6 years.
On February 15, 1995, Justice Da Silva sentenced me to death. I told the judge that day, “You have condemned me, but God did not condemn me.” My Mum, my Dad, my children and family members were in the court that day. I was transferred to the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.
LIFE AS A MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH.
They put me in a condemned cell. It was hell on earth. They kept 9 of us in a very small room. That was where we took our bath, ate, slept, defecated and eased ourselves. There were no beds. Who would give us beds? By law, they don’t let any condemned man come out. But sometimes, they let us out for about one hour in a day. Life in the prison was very rough. There, I hardly slept. The prison authorities gave us food but not good food.
In the condemned prisoners cell, you wouldn’t know which day they will call you and just execute you. In 1996, I can’t remember the date, we were 9 in the cell. They took 8 of them out, they never brought them back. When they call your name like that, you know what will happen. They executed all of them.
Then, when we want to communicate with our family or our lawyers, we go to the welfare unit and write a letter. We must wear our blue uniform and they’ll put handcuffs and chains on our legs. Any time we wanted to come out to welfare, or clinic or for visitation, they’ll put the handcuffs on us. That was until 2002 when we protested and they stopped it.
I have been hearing of what has been happening in Nigeria. I have been hearing of Boko Haram, of Obasanjo, of Goodluck Jonathan. All the information we have there is carried over information, you can’t get the exact information. It is what they say to us that we will believe.
My brothers used to visit me. My parents died when I was in prison and they told me. I felt bad but I could not do anything. I just prayed to God not to let me die in prison.
Around the millennium time, my family members brought a phone to me at the prison but it was not approved. I had to sneak it in and we hide to use it. If the prison wardens catch anyone with a phone, they will send the person to prison inside prison. Real torture.
WIFE AND CHILDREN
As a young woman, if my wife was my sister, I would have even advised her to marry someone else because no one knew when I was going to come out. I won’t advice my sister to wait for a man who doesn’t have hope of coming out. She has married again and I don’t feel bad about it. My children used to come once in a while but they don’t really know me. Now that I am out, they will know me better.
WHAT KEEP ME GOING.
My biggest encouragement there were the Christian brothers. They were very good to me. They took care of us, especially the catholics. They didn’t want to know whether you are an idol worshipper or whatever, they will just embrace you. I’m very close to the church now. When God does something for you, you just have to give thanks to God.
I thank God for Pastor Ariyo Popoola. He had been coming to prison for a very long time. He used to come and talk to us, preach to us, tell us that this is not the end of life and that we could become something in future. At that time, so many lawyers had duped my family, collected money and just dropped my case.
One day in 2005, he came to me and said he wanted to take up my case. Then, they used to call me Mr. No Hope. I didn’t believe him, I said he should go. He came back again after some months and said he wants to take my case. I said “is it by force, I won’t give my case to you”. But somebody encouraged me telling me that afterall, he was not asking me for money or anything like that. He introduced me to Chino Obiagwu, the Executive Director of LEDAP and Kingsley Ughe,the Chief Lawyer of JLAA.
When I met them, the first thing they said to me was “My friend, we am taking up your case and we are going to win that case. Are you ready to sign for us?” I said I will not sign with biro, I will use thumbprint. Then they said “I will give you a warning. Don’t call us, don’t send anybody to us. Are you going to have patience?” I said, “Is it me that you are talking to about patience?”
THE FINAL APPEAL
I didn’t even have faith at all. Sometimes, when Pastor Popoola came to prison, I would hide from him. The prisoners don’t go to the Court of Appeal, it is only the lawyers that were representing us. He didn’t even tell me anything and I didn’t bother to ask. Sometimes they were communicating with my family but I didn’t believe anything will happen.
THE CALL TO CHANGE AND GO HOME.
On the 5th of June 2012, they called me to come to the Welfare Unit to get the progress of my case. I said I wasn’t not going there. Some people that were sitting with me said I should go but I said I wasn’t going, that they will just be lying to me. Later I called Pastor Popoola. He said “Egbon” (Big brother), I said “wetin be dat” (what is it?). He said “o ti sele o” (It has happened). He said the court of Appeal has let me go. I just started shouting, I didn’t know what to do, how to thank him. I was very happy.
MY VIEWS ABOUT POLICE AND THE NIGERIAN JUSTICE SYSTEM.
The police are bad, they are not doing a good job. They are killing innocent people. Lawyers will collect your money, they will not do any job. If a person has spent 6 years on trial and is sentenced to 15 years, they will not count the years spent on trial, they will just start counting the 15 years from the judgment day.
Justice was not done in my case. Justice is for only people that are rich and it is not supposed to be so. Justice is supposed to be for all Nigerians. The man who calls himself a judge will see the truth and will not even listen. My judge was biased towards me and I don’t know why.
We still have people languishing in that prison. People that have spent 28, 30, 33 years. The government is not doing well. How long will somebody be in prison? Which time will he spend the rest of his life? Let the justice prevail.
People are changing there. A lot of people are becoming born again. Imagine, somebody who did not go to school for his whole life will attend primary school, secondary school and go to Open University there. Let the government come to the aid of these poor men. A 14 year-old boy is in prison there charged for robbery case.
LOOKING AHEAD.
I will still go back to my job. If the Government wants to help me, fine but I believe my family and my children will take me up. I’m very hopeful. The rest of my life is going to be a very good life because I am going to take everything so easy. If it comes, I give thanks to God, if it doesn’t come, I give thanks to God Almighty.
President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to correct lapses of his first tenure in his final lap in office, which begins on May 29.
He gave the assurance when he received the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by the National President, Chris Isiguzo, in the State House, Abuja.
The president, while responding to the many issues raised by the journalists bordering on insecurity, lopsided appointments, freedom of speech among others, said that he is going to improve on what he has done in the last four years.
Acording to him, “there will be a change, a positive change.”
Buhari also appreciated the role journalists play in a democracy, describing them as unique set of professionals.
Speaking to State House Correspondents on the reason for the visit, Isiguzo said: “Basically, we have come to congratulate the president on his re-election as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and of course, to also make it clear to him that to whom much is given, much more is also expected.
“He’s gone through the first-four years; by May 29, he will be through with that and he’s been given yet another mandate to lead Nigeria for another four years. We also made it clear to him that some of the major challenges we have had in the past four years, this is an opportunity for him to correct them, especially when it comes to the area of inclusiveness, carrying everybody along.
“That is the spirit of federal character principle that is enshrined in our constitution; that he’s got to carry people along, and of course, we talked about the security problem that we have, not just in the North-east, but even the banditry in the North-west; in Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto.
“We challenged him to ensure that the security architecture is overhauled to be able to effectively tackle these challenges that we have. We commended him for the fact that, as we speak now, there is no part of the country that is under the control of insurgents which is good, unlike when he came on board. But we also told him that it is very very important that terrorism is completely stamped out – effectively tackled and not technically degraded. We want it to be out of our national life.
“That was what we told him. Coming to us, we drew his attention to the fact that journalism profession has become more like a challenge to all of us. The problem that we are having every now and then, and of course, freedom of expression, it does appear that it is taking flight and we said if we are indeed a democratic nation, journalists must be given free hands to ply their trade.
“A situation where there is clampdown and harassment doesn’t speak well for Nigeria as a democracy and we told the president that.”
