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Tag: widow

  • Widow petitions AIG over alleged blackmail by retired colleague

    Widow petitions AIG over alleged blackmail by retired colleague

    An Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI), Mrs Justina Ekpo has petitioned the police over allegations of blackmail, cyberstalking, and threat to life among others by a retired colleague.

    Ekpo, widow, in a petition to the Assistant Inspector of Police (AIG), Zone 6 Calabar, dated November 16, 2023, alleged that Mr Ime Nta, a retired Deputy Inspector of Immigration (DCI), has been blackmailing her on Facebook and other social media platforms.

    She said that retired DCI Nta posted on Facebook that she was responsible for the death of her husband, Mr. Emmanuel Ekpo, who died as an Assistant Controller of Immigration (ACI) while on service in Spain in August this year.

    In the petition by her counsel, Ita Ekpo of Alex, Ita, and Partners, Mrs Ekpo said that Nta also accused her of employment and passport racketeering, seizing her husband’s corpse, and bullying her in-laws among others.

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    She threatened to sue Mr. Nta in court for character assassination, attempted kidnapping, and murder among others, adding that she would seek justice to restore her battered image.

    The petition reads in parts: “While grieving over her loss, her attention was drawn to a series of false and malicious publications trending in the Immigration platform and subsequently on Facebook and other websites in which her pictures and that of her husband and family members were splashed alongside false narratives accusing her falsely of being responsible for the death of her husband and other unprintable allegations in violation of the Criminal Code and the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention Act).

    “As we speak Sir, the said Mr. Nta has unleashed kidnappers on our client’s trail as some men claiming to be immigration staff in vehicles with no plate number have been visiting our client’s door in Abuja claiming to have a message from the Head of Immigration but when our client refused to open up the men tried to force their way in.

    Responding, retired DCI Nta said his allegations against Mrs Ekpo are all true, insisting that he was ready to prove the allegations in court.

    Nta, who was earlier arrested by the police and later granted bail on health grounds, said: “I have evidence to prove all my allegations.”

  • Govt urged to give priority to widow issues

    Govt urged to give priority to widow issues

    The Executive Director of Halleluyah Diet Nigeria, Lady Queen Angela Ohuabunwa, has urged the government to give priority to issues concerning widows in the society.

    Ohuabunwa, who made this known when she financially empowered 15 widows in Abuja on Saturday, condemned discriminatory practices against widows.

    She said the gesture, which was to celebrate her birthday, was also driven by her passion for the well-being of widows in the society.

    She said, “It is a mandate given to me by God to reach out to the widows. So I am doing what God asked me to do. I am very passionate about widows too. It’s my birth month and I needed to reach out to them to honour the word of God.”

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    Ohuabunwa, who is also the Founder of Let Your Light Shine Programme on Love FM, Abuja, also urged members of the society to take the issues concerning the welfare of widows more seriously.

    “I pray the government should look into issues concerning widows. It should be given more priority. The Lord will touch the government to look into the needs of the widow and to do it right.”

    On the discrimination widows face, she said, “Do not make them feel rejected. Don’t make them feel abandoned. Bring them in to your heart, because a lot of them are traumatised.

    “Sometimes, imparting widows is not just about physical cash, but the words of encouragement; because people have diverse kinds of traumas and troubles and they need diverse kinds of interpretations to reach out to their needs.

    “Some don’t even need your money. They just need that love and care, that attention.”

  • Widow laments life after husband’s murder

    Koromiaware Kenneth (22) has lamented her ordeal, following the murder of her husband, Kenneth Adebor, at Nembe-Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, a day before the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Mrs. Kenneth, who is four months pregnant, said her husband was killed by political thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She urged security agencies to arrest his killers.

    She spoke at the weekend when former Governor Timipre Sylva visited to commiserate with her family.

    Mrs. Kenneth told Sylva that life had been difficult since her husband died.

    She said: “What will I tell my baby? How will I cope? On that day, my husband told me to cook for him. After that I went to my friend’s place. I later spoke to him and he told me he was at home but I later heard that he was dead.

    “I still feel so bad because I am pregnant. The pregnancy was four months when he died. Since his death, life has not been easy. PDP thugs killed my husband. Security agencies should find the killers for making me a widow at 22. It is traumatising for a young girl like me to be a widow.”

    Sylva sympathised with the window and her family, saying the party was with her in her grief. He promised that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would continue to support her.

    He said: “It is touching to see a young girl like this become a widow because of politics. What are we really looking for? When the husband was killed nothing was going on yet because it was a night before the election.

    “The PDP candidate came into the community with thugs, and this young man was just walking by, but he was cut down by the thugs without any provocation. Now look at his young wife.

    “I needed to see her because as a party member, the husband was quite committed to APC and we have to come together as friends to do something for him. She just told me that she is due to deliver in August, so we have to support her.”

  • Widow seeks justice from Buhari

    Mrs. Ada Jumbo Ochigbo, the widow of the slain Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ (NSCDC’s), official, Superintendent Ogar Jumbo Ochigbo, who was allegedly killed by two traffic wardens in Abuja last week, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.

    The deceased was alleged to have been killed by the traffic wardens in the presence of his wife and two children aged three and six.

    The traffic wardens allegedly hit him on the head with a baton and dragged him on the floor to a nearby police station for allegedly committing a traffic offence.

    He later died and his body was deposited at the General Hospital, Asokoro, Abuja, mortuary.

    Ada, a teacher, told The Nation at the family’s home at New Haven community, New Nyanya in Nassarawa State: “Please help me ensure justice for my husband. We seek justice; that is all I ask for. My husband did not commit any traffic offence.”

    The deceased’s friends are angry with the police explanations implying that Superintendent Jumbo died ‘peacefully’ at a police station. They also feel provoked by police spokesman Frank Mba’s explanation that the two main suspects were traffic wardens and not mainstream police officers.

    In a statement last Thursday, Mba said contrary·to reports, the deceased slumped and died during preliminary interrogation·at Nyanya Police Station at about 9am last Wednesday.

    Mba alleged that the deceased violated traffic rules and was arrested by two·traffic wardens on Nyanya Highway, Abuja.

    “He was arrested and he drove himself to the police station· with members of his family, who were with him at the time·of arrest·and a traffic warden in his car. Traffic Wardens are not conventional· police personnel, this is why they wear· yellow· top for easy· identification.

    “He slumped and was later confirmed dead during interrogation at the police station. His body has been deposited at the mortuary of Maitama District Hospital for autopsy,” he told reporters.

    “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 was apprehended by two traffic wardens, who are not conventional policemen,” Mba said.

  • Police killing: Court awards N7.9m as compensation to widow

    The Federal High Court, sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has awarded N7.9 million to Mrs Queen Akarewan, widow of Christopher Akarewan, who was killed by policemen in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state on October 13, 2011.

    The deceased was shot for refusing to pay N50 bribe at a checkpoint on his way home.

    Akarewan, a commercial cyclist, was said to have offered N30 when the police stopped him at the checkpoint, instead of N50.

    This was said to have led to an altercation between him and two policemen, John Aghaulor and Igodi Gbefamoghan, leading to his killing.

    The two police officers were reportedly dismissed.

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    Justice Abdu Dogo said the victim’s life was unlawfully terminated, contrary to Section 33 of Nigerian Constitution.

    The judge said the constitution permits anybody who is interested in existence of person whose life is taken unlawfully to take redress in a court of competent jurisdiction.

    He added that the killers were in the service of the police when they committed the crime.

    Justice Dogo ordered the command and the police commissioner to pay N7.9 million as damages to Mrs Akarewan.

    The judge condemned the unlawful and extra-judicial killing of the deceased over a bribe of N50.

    He ordered that the money should be paid within 30 days of the judgment date.

    The widow, through her lawyer Tope Temokun, approached the court on January 5, 2013, claiming monetary damages of N8 million against the police command, the police commissioner and the police officers responsible for the killing.

    She averred that the killing of her husband had multiplier effects on her life, their four children and his aged mother, as he was their bread winner.

    Counsel to the defendants, Edward Ojemu, who held brief for Tolu Abisagbo, said the plaintiff had no right to institute the case.

    The lawyer said the police had no link with the crime their officers committed.

    Temokun hailed the judgment, saying the court remains the last hope of the common man.

     

     

  • Widow gets bungalow after losing mud house to rain

    Succour came the way of a homeless widow in Ubogidi Ozalla community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State when she was presented with a new bungalow in place of her mud house. The gesture was extended to her by a philanthropist and Igwe-elect of the community, Chief Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu. The bungalow was built within 18 days.

    The Igwe elect embarked on the project when it came to his knowledge that part of the widow’s mud house collapsed and almost killed her after a heavy rainfall the previous night.

    At the presentation of the new house to the widow, the Igwe elect said he returned from the United Kingdom and was informed of how the widow’s mud house collapsed in the night and almost killed her.

    “I placed a call immediately across to my family in the United Kingdom and informed them of the ugly incident in my community. My parents, wife and children told me to erect a bungalow for the widow Mrs Chinyere Odobe without hesitation as nobody can tell what would be her fate if she continues to stay in the mud house.

    The next day I mobilised workers and moved to site. The workers were at work day and night and completed the project within 18 days.

    This brief and solemn ceremony of commissioning and handover of the building to the widow was to give God the glory for making it possible for the widow to live in a modern house in her life time.

    “I have houses in Nigeria and United Kingdom while someone nearly died for lack of good house in my community. God provided for me and I have to use it to serve humanity in any little way my resources can carry.

    “God used me to build a house for the widow but she has no pots, bed to lay her head with her children and can hardly afford a meal in a day as she survives with her children on menial jobs and serving masons at building sites. I am appealing to good-spirited individuals, philantropists, donor agencies, churches, non-governmental organisations, local and state governments to come to the aid of the widow in providing some of her basic needs so that she can eke out means of livelihood to be alive.

    “I am happy to God that I have the means to build the house for the widow. I call on other people to assist the widow in any little way to make a living. No matter anywhere one may have travelled to in the world, East or West home is the best.”

    He urged youths of the community to shun all forms of criminal activities and avoid consumption of illicit drinks, hard drugs among others and believe in hard work, adding that he was born and bred in Ozalla/Ugbogidi and knows what poverty is in the community before travelling abroad for greener pastures.

    One Mr. Charles Ideyi who witnessed the presentation and after listening to the life story of the widow with five children offered to provide bed and mattress for the widow while the former majority leader of Nsukka legislative council Hon. Ozo Okomai also offered to provide beddings to enable the widow move in to the new building.

    The widow Mrs Chinyere Odobe with tears of joy said: “I never believed to be alive and live in a cemented house of this nature called my own. I lost my husband several years ago and ever since then I and my children have been living from hand to mouth.

    The worst was that part of the mud house which is the only thing my late husband left collapsed and almost killed me at night under heavy rainfall; I managed to escape and ran to Igwe-elect Samuel Asadu (Okenwa Ogadagidi) in tears and he offred to wipe out my tears.

    “I and my son Obi Odobe serve masons at building sites to eat and return home to rest in the squalor which is our only inheritance.

    People do give us food items at times; we use firewood to cook whenever we see what to cook. Life has been miserable on us since the death of my husband. I have five children; some have been taken away to the city. Obi has been the only source of our feeding. God will always protect and guide Ogadagidi for the love he has shown to me and my children, sheltered a widow and provided food and drinks for the opening of a new building for me. I am crying because I never knew that I can live in a magnificent building till I die.”

    Commissioning the building while dedicating it to God, the administrator Nsukka West development centre Mr. Chinedu Aniche asked God to end poverty in the family because the bible says don’t treat a widow bad because if she cries unto me (God) I will hear.

    Dignitaries that witnessed the commissioning, dedication and handover of the building include five catholic priests, three Anglican clerics, deputy chairman Nsukka Local Government Area Hon. Cosmo Agbo who promised to laise with the executive chairman of the council Chief Patrick Omeje to assist the widow and traditional ruler of Ozzi Edem Igwe Asogwa with members of his cabinet while women and children of the community sang and danced to the glory of God.

  • Widow arrested for biting house-help in Onitsha

    The police in Anambra State have arrested a widow for allegedly biting her eight-year-old minor at Housing Estate, Fegge Onitsha.

    The suspect had been accused of battering the minor, who hawked sachet water after returning from school, anytime she disobeyed her instructions.

    It was gathered that trouble started when the victim, a native of Osumogho in Ihiala Local Government Area, forgot to switch off the gas cooker after cooking.

    “She held her closely and bit deeply into her body for allegedly wasting her gas,” a neighbour, who pleaded not to be named, said.

    A rights activist Dede Uzor Uzor said his findings revealed that the minor had been undergoing series of abuses, including biting.

    He said he reported the matter to Fegge Police Station, which led to the suspect’s arrest.

    Efforts to contact the Fegge Divisional Police Officer, Mr Rabiu Garba, were unsuccessful.

    But a senior police officer, who spoke in confidence, said: “The woman is in our custody.”

  • Prophet ‘defrauds’ widow of N18m

    … threatens to out wipe family

     

    A 56-year-old Celestial Church prophet Peter Onanuju has been arrested by the anti-fraud command of the Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Alagbon for alleged N18million fraud.

    Ononuju, a resident of 41, Jubril Martins Street, Lawanson in Surulere was paraded Tuesday by Police Commissioner Nkem Okoro at the FCIID, Alagbon, Ikoyi.

    He was said to have collected the money from a widow, Oluchi Dillion in the guise of acquiring a plot of land for her son at Ibeju-Lekki.

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    According to the victim, the incident occurred in April last year but she realised she had been duped when the suspect started threatening to wipe off her entire family.

    She said it was at the point of demanding for documents of the land that she discovered it belonged to the suspect’s ex-wife.

    She said: “I have known him for over 30 years. He was my lover then. He used to sleep in my father’s house when we were young. I gave him the money in trust and I never knew he could do this to me.

    “As a man of God, I in confided him that I need to buy a property and he told me he knew someone that has one. He told me he had seen the one of N12 million and he said I should not pay him the money through the bank. I paid the first N2million into his account and then he said his account was bad that I should not pay in there again.

    “I paid him the money in instalments. He collected N12 million for the land and N6 million for Governor’s consent. I later discovered that the land in question belongs to the prophet’s ex-wife who has remarried and was based in the United States with her husband.

    “My son discovered her contact from her Facebook and when we contacted her, she told us that she was not selling. In fact she rained abuses on us. When the prophet realized that the game was up, he started threatening to kill us. That was why I ran to the police. He told me that he fan defend himself but we cannot.”

    Okoro said: “When the lady discovered the fraud, she reported to my office and I detailed detectives to go after the prophet and he was promptly arrested.

    “During investigation detectives discovered that the suspect collected N16 million cash and N2million into his bank account. This goes to show the suspect had another intention.

    “He is currently on court remand in our custody. We are still investigating this case and at the end of the process, the suspect would be charged to court.

    “I use this medium to warn fraudulent minded people, organisations to change their ways or face the wrath. People should also be wary of those who claim to be pastors when transacting business because they tend to cash into gullible nature of true believers to swindle them.

    “The so called prophet took advantage of the relationship he has with the widow to swindle her. From the beginning he had the intention of defrauding the woman.

    “He started threatening to kill the woman and her children when they discovered that he had swindled them,” said Okoro.

    But the suspect denied defrauding the widow insisting that he had genuine business deal with her, adding that problem broke out when one of the woman’s sons demanded for a refund.

    Ononuju, who said he did not need Power of Attorney to sell his ex-wife’s property, claimed that she was aware he sold it.

    He however refused to mention her name nor provide her contact details for verification of his claims.

    Ononuju said: “I acted as a middle man. She came to me to say that I should help look for a land. Because of the existing relationship between the two families, I went all out to ensure that I get her a good land but look at where it has landed me.”

  • Airtel empowers widow

    Telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has fulfilled its pledge to a widow who lost her husband in a fatal accident while on duty as a police officer. Through its on-going Touching Lives platform, Airtel has provided the widow, Mrs. Omowunmi Sasere, and her six children, with accommodation, a furnished two-bedroom apartment in Magboro, Ogun State.

    The company also provided her with professional kitchen equipment so that she can start a catering business. Other items donated to Sasere include a 3.5 KVA generator, freezer, television set, catering utensils, gas cooker, cylinder, pots, among other appliances. “After what happened to my husband, life has become unbearable for me; the extended family of my late husband abandoned me and my six children. House rent became a very big problem; feeding my children is with the grace of God, life has been unbearable but I thank God for this day, because God has used Airtel to bless me and my family. Airtel searched and paid for a two-bedroom flat, furnished it and provided all other household items for us. God will bless Airtel for their support,” said an elated Sasere

    Sasere’s nominator, Mr. Fagbiyi, was surprised with what Airtel did for his relative. “I nominated my sister when I saw what she was passing through. And I did not believe Airtel Nigeria, through its Touching Lives initiative, can do what they have done today. This is wonderful! May God bless Airtel for their support,” he said. Airtel made the donation recently. Airtel Touching Lives is an inspiring corporate social responsibility initiative that seeks to offer practical relief, succour, hope, opportunities and credible platforms to liberate and empower the underprivileged, disadvantaged and hard-to-reach persons in the society.

     

  • Widow replaces husband as church General Overseer

    •Tributes as Salami is buried

    The wife of the late General Overseer/Senior Pastor of Chapel of His Glory, Rev. Modupe Salami, has been announced as successor to her husband, Dr. Kunle Salami.

    The President of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Wale Oke, made the announcement at a thanksgiving service at the Chapel of His Glory headquarters, Glory Land, Adebayo, in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

    Oke anointed Mrs. Salami the church’s new G. O. alongside its council members to work with her.

    The new council members are: Prof Jacob Oluyege, Mrs Dupe Bamidele, Prof Oluwole Akeredolu, Prof Gbenga Aribisala and Prof Mrs Adekemi Oluyege.

    Oke advised them to continue to support the ministry as the church entered a new era.

    Mrs. Salami’s ordainment was announced barely 24 hours after her husband’s remains were interred.

    Salami died on May 14 in Maryland, the United States of America (U.S.A), after an illness.  He was 57.

    The late cleric was the host of a popular radio preaching programme, Morning Dew, and author of many Christian books.

    Oke said he did not attend Salami’s burial a day earlier because “the father is not expected to attend the funeral of his son”, having ordained the deceased into the ministry.

    He urged the church to cooperate with Mrs. Salami to succeed in the onerous task of overseeing the church and expanding the work of the kingdom.

    There was a harvest of tributes at the funeral of Dr. Salami last Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    A funeral service in honour of the late cleric was held at the Ekiti State Pavilion, New Iyin Road, with guests from far and near paying their last respect.

    Those at the service included a former governor of old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua; wife of Ekiti State deputy governor, Mrs. Janet Olusola; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev. Felix Ajakaye and President of Agape Ministries, Bishop Felix Adejumo.

    The National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Felix Omobude; wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Folu Adeboye and national leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were represented.

    Fellow clerics, children, church members and other associates of the deceased testified to his good life.

    The late Salami quit his job as a university lecturer for full-time evangelism.

    Delivering the sermon at the funeral service, Bishop Mike Bamidele said the late preacher would be remembered for his selfless service in God’s vineyard and to humanity.

    In the sermon, titled: Let Your Life Count Instead of Counting Your Years, Bamidele said Salami was a father and mentor to many, a giver and sponsor of education of many children who were not his biological children.

    The bishop noted that the human life is like a flower, grass and vapour, which cannot last forever.

    He urged the audience to use the period of their existence to positively impact the lives of others around them.