All appears not to be well between popular U.S-based Nigerian dancer, Korra Odidi’s and her husband – a medical practitioner, Justin Dean.

The couple, based in Los Angeles, got married in 2017 and recently celebrated six years of being together.

They welcomed their first child in July 2019, and second in 2022.

Korra and Justin met in China on a popular dating app — Tinder. She taught language through dance in Shanghai, China, while Justin worked as a sports therapist for the Chinese National Olympics Team.

The artiste then became famous in 2019 when she auditioned for the popular American reality dance show “So You Think You Can Dance” while she was six-month pregnant.

She made history as the first pregnant woman to ever audition for the show.

Despite the criticisms and backlash for some of her daring photos, the belly-dancer also ventured into the music industry. She started music professionally in 2015, and dancing in 2007.

The lovebirds — Korra and Justin, were known for their public display of affection, especially on social media.

But this week, a shocking break-up announcement took many by surprise because they had always painted a picture of being “happily married”.

Many fans had thought the divorce story was a sort of publicity stunt to promote Korra’s new books: “Korra and the Last Seed of Odinani” and “My Active Pregnancy: A memoir of my trimesters”.

But Justin, who has been vocal about the divorce on social media especially Instagram, stated that divorcing his wife would be the hardest decision of his life.

His remarks came barely a week after they welcomed their second child.

Justin further narrated his plight in the marriage which he said he has been trying to salvage.

Among other reasons, the 34-year-old doctor also said he was leaving the marriage for his mental health.

In the now-deleted post Dean wrote: “I am tired of narcissism, cheating and lack of accountability. I have been trying since 2018 to save our marriage, and if I don’t do exactly what she says, she divorces me (sic). I have been a prisoner that has his family used against him if she does not get exactly what she wants.”

“Korra Obidi and I are getting a divorce. It’s over! I won’t be treated this way longer. I did my absolute best to make it work.”

“I didn’t want this. I did my best. I’m heartbroken. I supported her. I loved her. I don’t deserve the way I was treated,” Justin wrote on social media.

When many fans saw this terse post, social media was agog, many felt for Korra because she just gave birth to her second child. They wondered if the dancer’s attitude to her husband might have been related to postpartum depression (PPD). Fans took to the couple Instagram pages, urging them to stay and resolve their differences.

While Korra is yet to fully address this issue and claims, the mother of two broke her silence, revealing she was fully committed to taking care of her newborn baby and herself.

Thanking fans for their support during this time, she said: “I’m 100% committed to taking care of my newborn and myself.”

Also, in another live video, she said that being a mother of two had been a different ball game for her.

In her words: “I’ll tell you something, being a mother of two is a different ball game, this is a full-time job.”

“I’m doing it by myself. Respect mothers, respect women,” she said, kissing her newborn baby.

 

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, trended all week long. He became the major news item after an order sacking him from office along with his deputy, was made by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The now controversial judgment is still being discussed by Nigerians with opinions sharply divided.

After his initial uncomplimentary tirades against Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court for asking him to vacate office, Umahi on Wednesday recanted and tendered an apology to the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). This volte face kept the embattled All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the new.

Justice Ekwo had last Tuesday ordered the sack of Umahi, his deputy, Eric Igwe, and Hon Francis Nwifuru, Speaker of the state assembly, over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. In his judgment, Ekwo held that their defection was unconstitutional.

Umajhi, a two-term governor, who was elected on the platform of the PDP, joined the APC in 2020. Shortly after, the Speaker and some lawmakers joined them in their new party. In his ruling, Ekwo ordered all the lawmakers who defected to vacate their seats.

The judge held that all salaries and allowances collected from the period of defection to the present should be forfeited to government coffers. In his immediate reaction, a visible angry Umahi said the judgment was null and void and of no effect. He spoke in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, while addressing journalists in his office.

He vowed that he will not obey the judgment but will obey the state high court which did not fault his defection to the APC and similar ruling in Zamfara State that also okayed the defection of Governor Bello Matawalle to the APC. He described the judgement as a hatchet job and feared that justice was now being merchandised.

He said: “I have listened to the judgment of Ekwo and it is very obvious that he was on a mission, he was making all efforts to overturn the rulings of the Supreme Court and Appeal Court on the issues like this. We have heard the rumours before now that he was determined to give judgment against all known laws and the constitution.

“First, to embarrass APC, two to embarrass the Federal Government…for me, I do not feel worried but I feel so sorry for the judiciary. The Executive may have problems, the Legislature may have problems but the moment justice could be purchased, then we are in trouble in this country and the ruling this afternoon is clear evidence that this country is in trouble.”

The governor’s reaction came under widespread condemnation with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) hitting hard at him for disrespecting the judiciary with his castigation of the judge. Umahi however apologised on Wednesday. “I’m using the opportunity to let Nigerians know that nobody castigated the judge and we will not and because the matter was not before any judge,” he said.

“Today, we have appealed the judgement. We have done three things; we have done the appeal at Enugu, and when I say that, we have two judgements, I say that the judgement in Ebonyi state, which has equal powers with that of Abuja. We said we will obey the judgement in Ebonyi State. We will appeal the judgement of Abuja. We didn’t say we will disobey otherwise we would have not appealed,” he said.

The governor added that he has mobilized over 17 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting. “We are before the Appeal Court of Enugu State and that of Abuja. We have also filed a stay of execution. So, we are still the Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State” he stated.

That may be cold comfort for him given that until these courts or the Supreme Court rule to the contrary, Ekwo’s judgment would be hanging like a Sword of Damocles over him, his deputy and the affected legislators.

Many would be wondering if Umahi who thought he was fleeing a fiery frying that was the Ebonyi PDP, has not now landed squarely in the APC fire if the judgment sacking him is upheld.

A former Nigerian ambassador to The Netherlands, Nimota Akanbi, is definitely not enjoying her current time in the limelight.

Akanbi, who is currently chairman of the National Secondary Education Commission, has been trending on social and conventional media platforms since a video showing a fully kitted policeman carrying her plate of food at a social event popped up online during the week.

Though the former envoy has severally denied that it was her food the security detail was carrying, many Nigerians have refused to spare her, insisting the video represented the humiliation police officers attached to VIPs across the country are being subjected to.

Akanbi’s explanation that the policeman was carrying his own food at a community engagement they both attended in Ilorn, Kwara State, wasn’t bought by most social media commentators, who were quick to point out that Akanbi, who was seen at the head of the queue of people serving themselves at the party, unlike others, had no plate of food in her hands.

Miffed by the viral video, the Nigeria Police Force says it has summoned the yet-to-be-named orderly to come and explain what transpired. Not a few Nigerians are waiting for the outcome of the summons.

The Force described the scenario in the video as embarrassing and unprofessional. According to Acting Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, “the police authorities frown against such an act.”

“He (the policeman) has been identified. He is coming to Abuja to meet us. We’ll ask questions from him and take necessary action.”

But Akanbi urged Nigerians to disregard the viral video, saying that it might be the handiwork of her detractors.

“The truth is that I allowed him (police orderly) to pick his food. I am a teacher and disciplinarian. I understand the importance and nature of the work of security operatives, and would never do anything to demean them,” she said.

Opinions have remained divided over the recent face-off between Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) officials in Abuja, over the ongoing strike by lecturers in higher institutions of learning.

The split over the now-viral video is between those who condemned the conduct of the minister and those insisting the NANS president presented his position on behalf of Nigerian students poorly.

It would be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had on February 14, embarked on a one-month warning strike owing to a failed agreement between the association and the federal government.

The students, who were led by their president, Comrade Sunday Asefon, had protested at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja demanding an end to the industrial strike in universities.

During the protest, an impromptu meeting was called with the leadership of the ministry. With the minister at the meeting were the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abdulrasheed Abubakar, and Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, among other officials of the agencies under the ministry.

At some point, Adamu walked out because he felt insulted over Asefon’s statement concerning “his son’s graduation from a foreign university”.

The footage of the minister’s exit surfaced on the internet during the week and many Nigerians berated Adamu for his conduct.

The minister reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the manner he was spoken to by the NANS president. Asefon also accused the minister of feeling unconcerned about the plight of Nigerian students.

While addressing the minister, he said: “The key issue ASUU has continued to hammer on is the revitalisation of our institutions, which is important for every student to key into. But you cannot be discussing the revitalisation of our institution without Nigerian students being in that negotiation committee.

“Nigerian students want to be part of this committee. We want to really know what is going on between ASUU and the federal government… We are tired of the incessant strike in our education sector.

“Honourable Minister, we saw it on social media, you celebrated your son who graduated from a university outside this country. Our parents do not have that money to send us outside the country. But let us enjoy what we are paying for. We want adequate funding for education in this country.

“If our schools are not open, this will not be the last protest. This is not a threat – when we said we would be coming out, here we are. Today, Niger road is blocked, Benue is blocked, Adamawa is blocked. If care is not taken, this will be worse than EndSARS.”

In his terse response, the minister who appeared angry said instead of protesting at the ministry, the students should have addressed the issues with their lecturers.

“Perhaps the only point that you made that is even worthy of attention is that you said students should be involved in this (discussion) and I think it’s probably a good thing,” Adamu said.

“And it’s the only thing I’m going to take from everything you have said here. Thank you.”

Then, he stood up and walked out of the meeting.

But, later in the night, accompanied by the heads of some of the agencies under the education ministry including Messrs Abubakar and Oloyede, the minister returned to meet the students to seek their understanding.

According to the NANS president, the decision to agree to meet the minister was to resolve the lingering crisis so that the students could go back to school.

In a statement issued by the director of press at the ministry, Ben Goong, the minister said the ongoing negotiation process has been fruitful “and is expected to lead to a quick return of the striking lecturers back to classes.”

While Adamu’s conduct has set many tongues wagging, he missed the beautiful opportunity to speak on the efforts of the ministry in resolving the ASUU crisis and the ministry’s lofty initiatives and interventions, but rather he felt ‘ridiculed, and walked away.

The face-off represents a tale of two leaders – Adamu and Asefon – who could have done better with their discussions but they apparently got carried away by emotions.

This week, the Christian community and personalities from all walks of life showered encomiums on the respected cleric and General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, as he clocked 80 years of age. The octogenarian who has led RCCG for over 40 years, has been married to his wife, Folu, for 55 years. He joins the ranks of other prominent clergymen – Pastor Kumuyi (80), Elijah Abina (86), Gabriel Olutola (88) – who despite their advanced age are still preaching tirelessly and waxing stronger.

Among the flood of tributes for the cleric popularly called ‘Daddy G.O.’, his wife said: “My dear Boye, your favorite schoolgirl has nothing much to say than to give glory to God for your life. You have been a mentor, father, best friend and everything I have asked for from God and even more.”

President Muhammadu Buhari said he believed Adeboye’s contributions to the betterment of Nigeria and other countries stood out clearly as testimonies of his divine calling.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor in RCCG, said his life was a unique lesson for all and sundry as his humility and integrity remained steadfast despite huge achievements.

Similarly, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) described Adeboye as a global icon and an inspiration for millions. Born on March 2, 1942 in Ifewara, Osun State, the pastor obtained a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from the University of Ife, Nigeria in 1967; a Masters degree in Hydrodynamics from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1969; and a Doctorate degree in Applied Mathematics from the same university in 1975.

The former mathematics professor at the University of Lagos, took over the leadership of RCCG from the founder of the church, Pa Josiah Akindayomi over 40 years ago.

Under his leadership, the church has recorded phenomenal growth with over 40,000 parishes in 195 countries.

In the past years, Adeboye’s ministry has transcended spirituality to include service to mankind in the areas of basic needs, such as health, education, charity, entrepreneurship and a host of others.

In commemoration of his 80th birthday, he and his wife will commission a dialysis centre at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi by the end of March.

RCCG Assistant General Overseer, Pastor Johnson Odesola, stated that Adeboye who was looking forward to celebrating his 90th birthday for one month, had decided not to celebrate any birthday until that landmark.

For many, he remains a role model who abandoned power, position and popularity to serve the body of Christ selflessly..