The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • The contract (1)

    The first time I saw Max, he had come to do some shopping in my boutique. Back then, I never knew that that chance meeting would have a profound effect on my life. With time, we would grow very close, something that should not have happened as I was a married woman and infidelity is something frowned upon by society.

    Before you start casting stones at me for cheating on my husband, you need to hear my story first to understand the circumstances that made me stray outside my marriage.

    I got married to my husband, Bennie about three years ago. I still remember the ceremony which was held in our local church. It was a grand one, as my husband, who is very rich, spared no expense in ensuring that it was an event that would be the talk of the town for a long time. All my friends had been so envious of me back then.

    “Amanda, aren’t you lucky! I envy you o!” Dorothy, a good friend and one of my bridesmaids had said as I got ready on the morning of my wedding day.

    “Bennie’s such a great catch! I wish I could get someone like him!” said another. They all went on and on about Bennie’s good qualities and what a great husband he will be. If only they knew. For as I sat that morning staring at my reflection in the mirror while the make-up artist worked on my face, my mind was churning with different thoughts. Uppermost was the nagging thought, ‘Was I doing the right thing or was I making a big mistake that would haunt me later?’

    Even as I stood before the pastor at the altar and exchanged vows with Bennie, that thought kept popping up. But I pushed it aside and put on a brave face, smiling and trying to look like a typical happy and radiant bride on her big day.

    You might be wondering why I still went ahead to marry Bennie with all my misgivings. Well, there’s a plausible reason behind my decision. You see, I met Bennie at a very low point in my life. It was at a time when nothing was working and it was as if the whole world was about to collapse on my shoulders. I had finished school but had been unable to get a job after several years of job-hunting. Worse still, my mother who had been my sole support after my father abandoned us years ago, had fallen ill with a sickness that defied solution. There was also a younger brother who was still in secondary school. They both looked up to me for support but how could I play my role in the family without a job?

    At that point, I was ready to do any job as long as it paid some money. So, when I heard a manufacturing company was looking for some factory workers, I went to apply. But to my shock, I was rejected for the job because of my qualification.

    “You have a degree so you are overqualified for the job. It’s school certificate holders we are looking for,” the supervisor in charge of the recruitment told me brusquely. I pleaded with him, telling him I was ready to do the job even with my degree but he refused and ordered me to leave.

    I was walking dejectedly towards the front gate of the company when someone called out to me.

    “Excuse me, young lady,” the voice said. I turned round. It was a man in his thirties, I had never seen before.

    “Sorry to butt in this way but I heard you talking with the supervisor concerning a job back in the office. What exactly are you looking for?” he asked. I studied him for a moment. He was dressed in a dark suit and blue tie and he looked quite respectable like a top executive.

    “And why do you want to know?” I countered, wondering if he was an official in the company.

    “I can see you need a job badly. Maybe I can help you,” he stated. He brought out a complimentary card and gave it to me.

    “I run my own company. There’s an opening there now. So, why don’t you come and see me and we can talk,” he stated.

    I gazed at him warily, not sure if he was serious or not, then looked at the card again.

    “Mr Bernard or whatever your name is. As you can see, I’m in no mood right now for silly games. So, if you will excuse me, I will be on my way,” and I turned and made for the gate once more.

    “What makes you think I’m not serious about this?” he said behind me.

    I turned round again.

    “Because I’m a total stranger to you and people don’t just offer jobs to strangers they don’t know. At least, not in this country,” I said.

    “We’ve been talking for some minutes now so you can’t say we are still strangers,” he noted, smiling a little. He had this sincere look in his eyes that made me relax a little.

    “Look, I understand why you are being wary. You can’t trust people these days. But try and come to my office and I will see what I can do for you,” he said.

    Based on that invitation, I went to his office the following week and he gave me a job right there. It was like a miracle. I was so happy, I felt as if I was walking on air as I went home that day to break the good news to my mother.

    I resumed work not long after and I couldn’t be happier. My boss, Mr Bernard was a hard-working man who drove his workers hard so they could achieve maximum results for the company. He also treated us well and was not mean to the staff.

     

    The proposal

    I noticed he travelled a lot, mostly business trips. On one of such visits to Abuja, he invited me to accompany him.

    “You will need to check the sales records at our office there. So, get ready,” he ordered.

    We were in the city for about a week and we worked most of the time. After that trip, we travelled together to some other cities and even outside the country. It was on our return from one of such trips to Kenya when the office gossips started to circulate the story about my affair with my boss. I laughed when I heard it as it was all lies. Though we had travelled to different places and stayed in the same hotels, he had never shown any romantic interest in me. He was friendly and treated me well but he always acted like a boss to a subordinate to me.

    I knew he was still single and I often wondered why a successful man like him, with money and such good looks was still unattached.

    Some time later, on another of our trips, I told him about the gossip in the office concerning us. It was evening and we were having dinner in the restaurant of the hotel.

    He laughed at my story.

    “People love to talk. So don’t let it bother you,” he stated.

    I smiled at him.

    “Of course it doesn’t bug me since I know it’s not true,” I rejoined.

    He was silent for a while then he looked at me with a serious look on his face.

    “Perhaps we can make it real, give those gossips something to really talk about,” he stated.

    I looked at him warily.

    “What are you talking about?” I asked.

    Then reaching across the table, he took my hand and said:

    “Marry me, Amanda. Be my wife so I can take care of you.”

    His proposal was so unexpected that I sat for a while, just staring dazedly at him.

    “You’ve not been drinking sir, so you can’t be drunk…” I started to say when he interrupted me.

    “I know this must be a surprise to you. But I’ve thought about it and I believe it’s the sensible thing to do. I need a wife, you need a man to look after you. We both get what we want and it’s that not what matters?” he noted.

    When I pointed out to him that there was more to marriage than that, he said:

    “I see where you are going. All that Hollywood stuff like love, romance, desire, passion. I don’t believe in all that. Maybe because I’m a realist who doesn’t believe in fairytales…”

    As if his proposal was not strange enough, there was more to come. Something to do with a contract which stipulated clearly the terms of the ‘union’…

    •To be continued

     

    •Names have been changed to protect the identity of the narrator and other individuals

    •What is the contract all about? Don’t miss the exciting details next Saturday!

    •Send comments/advice to 08023201831(sms only) or psaduwa@yahoo.com

  • My husband is double dating, what should I do?

    Please my husband is double dating; what should I do? AA, Ogbomosho.

    My dear sister, I won’t deceive you and help you break your home. The truth is that most men have other women apart from their wives in their lives. It is not in my position to condemn your husband because if you ask him, he would have his reasons for having an affair.

    We should be asking some important questions:

    Hope he has not stopped carrying out his duties as a father and a husband?

    Does he still respect and gives you his love and attention?

    Is he now a visiting husband or he still comes back home?

    We spend too much time worrying when our husbands stray and in some cases, we even fight and throw tantrums. All these won’t solve the problem. And if the man has gone really far as to have actually established another home and has even started raising kids in that other home, there’s very little can do except to try to do your own best to be a good wife and leave the rest for fate to determine.

    While you may be moping, brooding and wondering why he is sharing your love with another woman, I think it is best to ask yourself where you might have gone wrong. If you’re found wanting in any way, please adjust and see if he can begin to see the good in you and you alone.

    Although, sometimes there are just not any particular reasons why men stray, but below are some of the common reasons why men seek the company of another woman, despite taking care of their wife.

    •Boredom– Men tend to get bored of their married life. Life, at times, become monotonous. The wife may be too involved with household chores and children and may not have the time for him. He is in search of excitement and finds it in another woman.

    •A roving eye – Men are supposed to have a roving eye. They like looking and admiring other women. They like to taste something “new” and “different.”

    •A nagging wife – Many husbands get fed up with a nagging wife at home and prefer the loving and caring company of another woman.

    •A neglected wife – Many women do not take care of themselves. They go out of shape. They lose out on their figure. At home, they do not take care of their appearance or dress up properly. Naturally, a man gets fed up with his wife and prefers a better looking woman.

    •Sexual incompatibility is also a reason why men go in for another woman. A few years down the line the husband may feel his emotional and physical needs are not being met and tends to seek the company of another woman. The husband often finds an outlet for his physical and emotional needs by having an affair with another woman.

    •To try out something new is often a reason given by the husband for indulging in an extra-marital affair. He often feels he needs a change of scene and would like to spend time with someone who is “different” and perhaps “more exciting”.

    •Easy access to female companionship is another factor which provides an opportunity for a husband to have an extra-marital affair. Often on business trips, he tends to take advantage of being with another female colleague and enters into a relationship with her.

    •Male ego is also another factor for men to cheat upon their wives. Husbands often feel superior about being a man and like to focus on their “macho” qualities of being able to attract another woman.

    •Peer pressure also encourages a man to cheat upon his wife. Some friends may cajole him into trying out something “new”. They often introduce him to other females with whom he can spend more time.

    •A wife paying too much attention to children and household chores often forces a man to go in for relationships outside marriage. He feels neglected. He wants more attention and since he is not getting it at home he prefers to get it from an outsider.

  • Driver’s family to Edo lawmaker:We suspect foul play in our son’s kidnap

    Driver’s family to Edo lawmaker:We suspect foul play in our son’s kidnap

    Their accusation is borne out of illiteracy—Lawmaker 

    Felicia Igbinovia is currently in agony. At the corner of the gate leading to the Edo State House of Assembly, she sat weeping inconsolably. At times, she would jump up running around shouting for whoever cares to prevail on Hon. Victor Edoror to bring her husband back. She has joined her husband’s family to lead a three-day protest to the Assembly Complex over the whereabouts of her husband, Victor.

    Her husband is a civil servant attached to Hon. Edoror who is representing Esan Central Constituency in the house. Edoror is a first-term lawmaker elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    On Sunday February 3, Hon. Edoror called Victor to take him to a function at his constituency and on their way back, unknown gunmen waylaid them and abducted the lawmaker and his driver at Irrua, administrative headquarters of Esan Central.

    Two weeks later, Hon. Edoror was released but his driver is yet to be seen or heard from. The kidnappers are not calling to make any ransom demand. A lawmaker told The Nation that the kidnappers never mentioned the driver during the period of negotiation for the release of Hon. Edoror.

    The questions on the lips of Victor’s family are: Where is our son? If he were killed, where is his body?

    A three-day protest by the family members to the premises of the Edo State House of Assembly paralysed activities at the complex as workers were locked out for several hours before policemen intervened and restored order.

    The family said they are suspecting foul play about the fate of their son, alleging that the lawmaker is not showing enough concern to ensure the release of their son.

    Placards carried by the family members had inscriptions such as: ‘Edoror, bring back our son’; ‘Where is our son, your driver?’ ‘Tell us what you have done to our son’. ‘Why are you silent on our son’s release?’

    Felicia alleged that Edoror asked security officials to chase her away when she went to demand the whereabouts of her husband.

    She said: “Edoror called my husband on Saturday to take him to Irrua, that one of his relatives had an accident. Since that day, I have been waiting for my husband and I have not seen him. I asked the lawmaker, he said he didn’t see my husband, that they were kept in different places. They came to my house three times asking me not to worry, that if the lawmaker is released, my husband would also be released.

    “I am not sure this is kidnapping anymore. I went to his house to demand for my husband but he asked his security details to drive me away. One threatened to shoot me and I dared him to shoot.

    “He does not call us. He said the kidnappers gave him a cell phone and N3,000 but that he cannot make calls with the phone except the kidnappers called him.”

    An elder brother of the driver, Osahon, said the lawmaker has refused to meet with them over their missing brother.

    Reacting, however, Hon. Edoror said it was uncivilised and myopic of the family to accuse him of using his driver for rituals. He said the kidnappers were yet to contact him or make any demand for the release of his driver.

    Edoror explained that the kidnappers took his driver away in his yet-to-be registered official vehicle, adding that the kidnappers, did not mention his driver during his two weeks’ ordeal in their den.

    He said he heard gunshots while in the kidnappers’ jeep and they told him that his driver had been shot.

    According to him, “I have been putting heads together with the family to look for what to do. The kidnappers are not calling. They are not asking for anything.

    “The accusation that I have used their son for rituals is borne out of illiteracy. It is uncivilised. Look at my hands, I was tied for two weeks. I was kept in a cubicle and couldn’t stand straight. I sympathise with the family. I don’t want to believe that the driver was a part of my kidnapping. He is very close to me. I took him as my younger brother. I attend to his private needs. The security agencies should determine whether he was one of them or not.

    “The truth is that it is myopic for them to think that I am a ritualist. How can I use somebody for rituals?  In no distant time, the truth will come out. I have known the driver for three months now. I am an open person. When I was with the kidnappers, they never discussed about my driver. What surprised me was that the kidnappers told me I wasted their time because I had a little delay.

    “When the incident happened, the driver drove towards the kidnappers’ vehicle that had blocked us. He parked the car and ran out towards them holding his head. I was shocked at the way the driver surrendered to them easily. I was dumbfounded. I thought, how could the driver run out of the vehicle?

    They took him away to the other car and left me in the jeep. They put him in my car and the other car. They were eight all of them armed with assault rifles. I cannot do thanksgiving now because I have not seen my driver.”

    It was gathered that Governor Adams Oshiomhole has mandated the Directorate of the State Security Services and the State Police Command to resolve the kidnap saga and rescue the driver.

  • Three boyfriends down the line and my brother still hasn’t approved

    Hello Aunty Adeola, I am 21 years old and I have had 3 boyfriends within 2 years. The first one is the one that deflowered me and I love him but my brother doesn’t like him and that was why how we departed. The same thing happened with the second guy. Now there’s the third one that I love, but because he doesn’t have enough money to spend for me, my brother and his children don’t want to see him with me. I don’t have a father that is why I am staying with my brother and he has also said he doesn’t like my guy’s family. Please I need your advice; what am I going to do?

    I’m really sorry to hear this. Your brother doesn’t seem to know that he is disturbing you emotionally and that is like taking a part of you away with his selfishness. If he had complained about the conduct of any of these young men you have introduced to him, then maybe I would have supported him. But for him to be treating you like merchandise worthy of sale to the highest bidder is not fair enough.

    Some men are not too happy that girls and young women these days put money before love and they would use all avenues to preach to girls to love first before asking for money. Yet, we have a man who is actually encouraging his sister to marry for the sake of money. Did his own wife marry him for money sake? Try to find out. I’ll like to know if he has daughters. If he does, he should wait for them to grow up so that he can exchange them for money. In fact, he has enough time to groom them into ladies who would bring rich men home. As for you, keep your matters away from him until you’re ready for marriage. I pray that by then, God would have blessed this man you’re dating now so that your brother can eat his words. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give him some of the money o, after all, in a way, not accepting the man would contribute to that one working hard to become successful.

  • I’m a young girl having a serious virginal odour but I am not the dirty type

    Sis Adeola, please I really need your help….its personal. I am a young girl having a serious virginal odour which just started a month ago. I am not the dirty type so I wonder what could be the cause; maybe it’s an infection but it’s getting out of hand so much that even when I’m in class I perceive it. Just want you to help me find out what is happening through your experience and a possible treatment.

     

    Vaginal Odor: Causes and Treatment

    Vaginal odor can be a very embarrassing problem. Even if your sexual partner doesn’t notice it, a fishy or unusual vaginal odor can make you feel very self conscious about yourself. What are the possible causes of vaginal odor? What are some of the ways to treat it? When should you worry? Here are some of the things that all women should know about vaginal odor.

    Possible Causes of Vaginal Odor

    Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal odor. This vaginal infection is even more common than yeast infections, and many women do not realize that they have it. Vaginal odor may worsen after sexual intercourse. Women who have bacterial vaginosis may also notice a thin, white or gray vaginal discharge.

    Yeast infections can also be a cause of vaginal odor. Women who yeast infections are more likely to notice symptoms than those with bacterial vaginosis. A cottage cheese-like discharge and vaginal itching are two other common symptoms of yeast infections.

    According to MayoClinic.com, chlamydia and gonorrhea are two sexually transmitted diseases which can cause an unusual vaginal odor. Most women do not experience symptoms with either of these STDs. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can occur if chlamydia or gonorrhea are left untreated, can also cause an unusual vaginal odor.

    Women who wear tampons may experience vaginal odor if one gets left inside the vagina. However, this is a very uncommon cause. Poor hygiene is one of the more common causes of vaginal odor. Less common causes of vaginal odor include cervical cancer and vaginal cancer.

  • Don’t teach my student nonsense

    February was really bad for some of us. For me, certain things came up that shook my stoic deportment to life. I had borne the pains and anguish for some time before I decided to reach out to a dear friend on phone in the middle of the night. I’m glad I made that call. I was able to pore out my heart and at the end of the early morning, I was much better.

    When I thought mine was the heaviest burden to carry, one of my mentors/father made a phone call to me that I should see him. As soon as I got there, he begged that as part of my work schedules for him, he needed me to teach him the basic use of the computer. I was surprised at that request. This is one individual who wouldn’t care about sending SMS let alone learn the use of the computer. Why the sudden interest? I needed to know. Not one to display emotions, he told me that a large sum of money (enough to buy me a clean house in a good part of Abuja) had been transferred from his account without his knowledge. The money has been traced to Hong Kong and he’s hopeful they nab the people who did it.

    While investigations are going on, he would like to dedicate just one hour per day to teaching him how to use commands on the computer so he would begin to open his emails himself, do internet banking and generally be literate enough to ensure that no one else has his passwords.

    I couldn’t refuse that demand. Yet, I couldn’t say that yes, not only do I have more knowledge of the computer than an average user (after all, I’m an author who has written all my published books straight from my laptop) I actually learnt to use the computer on my own. I didn’t’;t go to any computer school for that. Years of practice and on-the job efforts got me this far and made me a pro. I prayed that he wouldn’t ask me to teach him how to recognize your letters without looking at the keyboard – those are things they teach you in computer schools. Asking him to go to a computer school would mean special schools that open from 7.00pm to 8.00 would need to be located for him. (All big people are always on the move and 9.00pm is still day time for a lot of them).

    Lo and behold, Baba wanted to teach him what I had prayed he wouldn’t ask me to – recognizing letter without looking at the keyboard. Up till now, I don’t know how I managed to take his mind off that. What I know is that today, after just four days of teacher/student arguments, he is able to boot his computer, type words and start new paragraphs, highlight letter to increase font sizes, close files and a few other things. I have to sometimes remind him of commands like ‘Enter’, ‘Backspace’and ‘Control’, but we’re getting there.

    The highlight of the lesson is that since Baba has never been alone with a woman since the years I’ve known him the lessons are done in the presence of his PA and his son. Baba obviously doesn’t understand why these young men laugh when I say things like , ‘open’, ‘close’, ‘enter’, ‘control’, ‘go down’ and ‘shift’. As they are idle when we are busy, their minds must be playing some silly tricks and they are enjoying it.

    As for me, I pray I’m able to help Baba computer literate before the end of March and while I laugh at the games of these young men, I pray they don’t end up teaching Baba nonsense.

  • Obu House: Artifact disappear from NCMM monument site

    Obu House: Artifact disappear from NCMM monument site

    The Obu House in Idi Anaga Compound, Elu Ohafia, Abia State,1 is a historical monument under the National Commission for Museum and Monument (NCMM). It houses some priceless artifacts. Tourists from within and outside the country troop to the site to see some of these ancient relics. But the place is currently crumbling and may soon collapse. As if that is no enough, some of the artifacts have also been stolen. Okorie Uguru recently visited the site

     

     

    The Obu House which the indigenes of Ohafia refer to as Obu Ndi Anaga in Elu, Ohafia Council Area of Abia State, is a tourist site with priceless artifacts. The monument has been attracting tourists to Ohafia for many years. It houses artifacts that are hundreds of years old.

    A replica of some of the artifacts in Obu House is close to 10 feet wooden artwork that adorns the entrance of the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.

    However, Obu House is currently on the brink of extinction as a result of neglect by the NCMM and the activities of a syndicate artifact robbers that are currently pillaging Ohafia and carting away priceless artifacts.

    To understand the Obu House and its artifacts, one has to understand some ancient tradition of the Ohafia people.

    In the olden days, the Obu of every clan was very important in the life of the comunities. Community meetings and rituals were held in them. Activities that took place in the Obu help to protect certain societal values of the people of Ohafia.

    The Obu Anaga served many purposes. it was the place where war strategies and other kinds of adult meetings were held. It was also a place were Ndi Anaga clan held sacred celebrations.

    There was a special ceremony by the Ndi Anaga clan where sacred pot of soup and fufu bowl would be cooked and brought into the house. All the male adults of the clan would come and dip their hands and eat from the same pot. Normally, before the commencement of the festitvity, the deities of the land would be appeased for protecting the clan and prospering them with bountiful harvest from their farms. The reason for the adult eating from the same pot was that if any clan member poisoned his kinsman or slept with another kinsman’s wife were to eat from the pot, the person would die within a year. The Obu created a kind of bond of unity among the Ndi Anaga people and also served as a check against any one committing evil in the clan.

    Inside the Obu are priceless carved wooden art works that are as old as the founding of Ohafia. The carved works are about six in number. There are two tall ones that held the thatched roof of the mud house with four extra that support the first two. These wooden supports are ancient art works with motifs on the body that depict different aspects of day to day life of the Ohafia people in the olden days.

    When this reporter visited the Obu last Sunday, the site was in a deplorable condition. The wooden gate, about three feet which serves as a gate to the place, had given way. The metal corrugated roofing sheet used to protect the Obu House is gradually peeling and falling off from the roof. The artifacts are exposed to the elements. There are gaping holes inside the house whereby rain water penetrates to further damage the priceless work inside and accentuates the process of decay and distruction of the artifacts.

    Inside, the priceless ancient wooden artworks are gradually being damaged by the elements. Some unscrupulous elements had cashed in on the present state of the Obu to steal one of the priceless art works.

    Chief Eke Kalu, who spoke to this reporter on the state of the monument was the former keeper of the house. He said if the NCMM were alive to their responsibilities, it would not have allowed the place to digenerate to such level. “It is really in a deplorable condition and needs urgent attention. The roof is partly off and at the mercy of the elements. It may not survive this raining season if nothing is done.”

    Elu town, the host community, has also put in place a committee to look after the monument in the absence of the NCMM. The head, one Mr. Agbai Oti said they had written several letters to draw the attention of the NCMM but nothing had been done so far. He said the curator of Umuahia Museum, one Mr. Nwaneri had visited the place but so far nothing has not changed. “We have written to the curator to tell him that the place is crumbling . We have written two to three letters and nothing has been done,” he said.

    This writer later called the curator of NCMM, one Mr. Nwaneri on the stolen artifact and the state of the monument. He said he had visited the place for an on the spot assessment and promised that renovation works would commence this month.

    On the inability of the NCMM to secure the place leading to the loss of artifacts, he said the museum has no staff on ground to take care of the monument and that NCMM was partnering with the host community. He said it was individuals within the community that stole the artifacts and that it had been recovered.

    However, the community said the artifacts have not been recovered, even though there are some people who are suspected of having a hand in the disappearance of the stolen artifact.

    The Obu Ndi Anaga was taken over by the Naitional Commission of Museum and Monuments (NCMM) in 1961. Between then and 2006, NCMM employed an attendant who did not only act as a tour guide to tourists visiting the site but was also responsible for the day to up keep. All these was to change when the keeper was disengaged from the employwmnt of the NCMM leaving the site without direct keeper. The curator of the National War Museum , Umuahia was supposed to supervise the place, but that has not been the case. The visits of NCMM officials to the monument have been infrequent and had yielded little or no positive result for the place.

    Mr. Agbai Oti, the leader of the community committee on the museum said the the nation risks losing the anceint works if nothing is done urgently.

    He said the people of Elu Ohafia are calling on the NCMM to renovate and secure the place to avoid the rest of the artifacts from being stolen.

     

  • 46-yr-old mechanic kills pregnant lover, two-yr-old son

    It was a sad story of two love birds: Barely two months after an auto-mechanic, Adekunle Jegede, and his lover, Hadiza, started an affair on a pleasant note, their romance turned tragic a few days ago. Jegede was said to have killed his lover and her son while she was on a visit to his residence in Akingbade area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    The father of five used to ply his trade in Ilesha, Osun State, before relocating to Ibadan when he encountered a reversal of fortune. He is said to live alone but visits his family in Ilesha periodically. He was said to have met Hadiza late last year and promised to marry her.

    The deceased was still nursing a two-year-old boy called Jonathan, who she had from a botched marriage to an unidentified man when she was living in Lagos before relocating to Ibadan when the father of her son denied paternity of the child.

    The story allegedly changed when Hadiza told Jegede she had taken in and that he was responsible for the three- month pregnancy. The development had infuriated Jegede so much so that he allegedly denied responsibility for the pregnancy.

    Hadiza then sought the intervention of one of Jegede’s siblings to plead with his brother not to deny the pregnancy. Jegede had reportedly given a condition that he would only accept responsibility for the pregnancy if doctors could confirm that he was truly responsible for it.

    Jegede, who had promised to take the deceased as his second wife, had allegedly invited her to his residence on Tuesday January 29, 2013 for a ‘crucial discussion’.

    The deceased had planned to spend the night in her lover’s house so they could both see the doctor for the test the next day Wednesday, January 30, 2013.

    Not long after the deceased went to bed, Jegede reportedly woke her from sleep asking that she accompanied him to see a friend in the neighbourhood.

    They had not walked a distance when Jegede seized the woman with her baby strapped to her back and smashed her on the ground, killing her instantly while her son cried ceaselessly.

    Apparently not ready to leave traces, Jegede allegedly killed the boy too and returned home after accomplishing his evil mission. However, concerned neighbours who had seen Hadiza the previous night asked for her whereabouts from Jegede but his response was not convincing, hence, they invited the police.

    But what could have led 46-year-old Jegede to kill his fiancée and her two-year-old son? He told the police shortly after he was arrested following a man hunt. He said: “I met her last December and she was nursing a child. She was rejected by the man who impregnated her. She started coming for weekends in my house and a few weeks later, she informed me of her pregnancy. I asked why she would say that when we ‘met’ only a few times.

    “Some days after, she came with one of my siblings about the issue and that one pleaded with me to accept it. I told them that I would only accept subject to a doctor’s confirmation that the pregnancy belonged to me. So a day before the day we were to meet the medical doctor, I asked her to come and sleep in my house so that we could go for the test the next day.

    “I hatched the plan to get rid of her shortly before midnight at the frontage of my residence. I woke her up and asked her to accompany me to a place. She strapped her baby and came with me. As we were walking along, I slowed down for her until she was a step ahead of me. When we got to a spot near a bush, I pushed her down and while she was struggling with me, I strangled her,” he said.

    He gave gory details of how he killed the innocent baby, saying: “The baby kept crying and I thought he could draw people’s attention to the scene thereby exposing me. I reached for the cloth his mother used to wrap him (Jonathan), freed him and smashed his head on the ground.”

    A neighbour had reportedly told the minions of law that there was a heated argument between Jegede and the deceased, adding that some neighbours had brokered truce between them not knowing that he was nursing any evil plan.

    The foul odour from the decomposing bodies was said to have attracted neighbours to an uncompleted building where they were kept.

    The suspect was said to have denied knowing the whereabouts of his lover until he was taken to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) where he allegedly later confessed to the crime. He had initially lied to the police accusing his physically challenged boss of being responsible for his lover’s death. His tissue of lies could not, however, prevail following a thorough investigation by Inspector Dauda Animashaun and Corporal Tunde Ajibade. The two police officers handling the case exposed Jegede’s complicity in the killing of Hadiza and her son.

    A top police officer in the Oyo State Police Command, who initially confirmed Jegede’s arrest, claimed that investigations were ongoing. He added that the suspect would be arraigned in court once investigation was completed.

    Meanwhile, the suspect was arraigned on Thursday at the Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court, Ibadan on a two-count charge of murder and mutilation. Magistrate Fatimoh Badrudeen ordered that the suspect be remanded in Agodi Prisons, while the case has been adjourned till March 19, 2013.

    Commenting on the incident, a neighbour, who asked not to be named, blamed the deceased for not finding out much about the suspect before agreeing to a relationship with him.

    “The late woman is to be blamed for not being vigilant enough. She barely knew the suspect before going into a relationship with him shortly after she was thrown out of her pervious marriage. Besides, she was still nursing a baby when she started dating him and did not bother to ask him probing questions concerning his marital life.

    “The saddest part of it all is the fact that none of her family members knew the suspect and that must have been the reason why no one asked her except vigilant neighbours whose curiousity led to the arrest of her lover. The incident is, indeed, a food for thought for ladies to watch out for the kind of men they go out with.”

  • Trends to love

    Trends to love

    •Hot pink accessories

    Pink fashion accessories are great to brighten up any look. If your outfits feel boring, a bright coloured pink accessory will perk it up!

     

    •Distinct black and white

    Not your typical colours, but this trend is easy enough for the everyday fashionistas to pull off.

     

    •Low heels and ballet (flat) shoes

    Wearing flats and low heels are in! No need to squeeze your feet into high heels and feel uncomfortable all day.

     

    •Short suits

    Ladies, put your skirts away and pull out your shorts. Turns out this look was on dozens of runways and is the perfect blend of masculine and holy hotness. I love this because you can mix and match what your already have in your closet.

     

    •Bold stripes

    Stripes never go out of style.

  • Embellish your look with JACKETS

    Embellish your look with JACKETS

    THERE are diverse ranges of styles in fashion and one of them includes the trendy jackets.

    Gone are the days when jackets are made from imported fabrics only or what we popularly call ‘suit material’. These days we have variety of fabrics used and our popular ANKARA is one of them.

    Ankara is a beautiful fabric and comes in various patterns and designs. Most jackets are tailored to fit and there is always something nice for all body shapes and sizes.

    Owning a jacket is quite essential and can be paired with trousers, jeans or skirts.

    Tank tops and t-shirts or flowery or patterned blouses even dresses these days are great with jackets, just pair with heels or flats depending on the mood you are in and you are good to go.

    With our atmospheric conditions, owning a jacket is quite essential and suitable.