The Nation Newspaper

Tag: wife

  • Jonathan’s wife begs court to unfreeze accounts with N3.5b, $5.8m

    Jonathan’s wife begs court to unfreeze accounts with N3.5b, $5.8m

    •Judge to hear motion Nov 23

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Patience, has asked a Federal High Court to lift the temporary freeze issued on 16 accounts allegedly held in banks by her and some firms linked to her.

    The accounts, said to contain $5.8 million and N3.5 billion, are domicile in six banks.

    Mrs. Jonathan’s request is contained in a motion she filed before the court, and in which she faulted the method adopted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in obtaining two ex-parte interim freezing orders on the accounts.

    She contended that the freezing orders have lapsed and should be vacated, having been first made on May 30 this year and renewed on October 10.

    Mrs. Jonathan said the accounts were maintained by her, the Incorporated Trustees of her foundation -Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation – and nine other companies in which she has interest.

    She argued that the orders of interim forfeiture made on May 30, 2017, including a subsequent one issued on October 10, 2017, have become spent and could no longer be extended, because the original order was obtained through an improper use of court process by the EFCC.

    She stated in the motion filed by her lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) that the Federal High Court in Abuja, on May 30, 2017 granted an ex-parte order in favour of the Federal Government against all the accounts own and operated by her and the companies

    She said the same Federal Government later went before the Lagos division of the court, presided over by Justice C.M.A Olatoregun to obtain similar order on October 10 in respect of accounts held by her, Finchley Top Homes Limited and Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation.

    Mrs. Jonathan added that prior to the grant of the ex-parte motion by the court in Abuja, the Federal Government had filed a similar application before Justice Olatoregun of Lagos division but failed to disclose the fact that it had obtained same reliefs in Lagos.

    She said the owners of the money were never served with the interim order and that they became aware of it during a hearing of a petition she lodged at the National Assembly.

    When the case was called yesterday before Justice Binta Nyako, Ozekhome urged the court to first here his client’s motion before the one filed by the EFCC for the extension of the orders earlier made by the court.

    Lawyer to the EFCC Richard Dauda insisted that his application should take precedence.

    Justice Nyako, however, adjourned to November 23.

  • Segun Awolowo, Bola Shagaya, others celebrate Tunde Ayeni’s wife

    Segun Awolowo, Bola Shagaya, others celebrate Tunde Ayeni’s wife

    BILLIONAIRE businessman Tunde Ayeni is not a novice when it comes to throwing high octane events that enable people to shake their waists and forget their worries. And when such events involve Biola, his wife of many years, he bends over to ensure a shindig that eloquently expresses his enduring fondness for her.

    Thus when the gong sounded for Biola’s entry into the league of 50-year-olds, wine flowed like a river at the grand event organised by Ayeni in her honour. The likes of Princess Oyin Adeyemi, Tunde Lemo, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Toyin Okeowo and Segun Awolowo animated the atmosphere with their presence. But it was the ‘birthday girl’ that outshone everyone with her captivating attire and courteous demeanour.

    At 50, Biola retains a peerless beauty befitting someone half her age. While her husband plays big in banking and business, Biola unobtrusively discharges her role as the solid pillar he leans on for strength. Like two magicians, they have managed to weave their differing personalities into one enduring union.

  • Falana makes fresh case for release of El-Zakzaky, wife

    Falana makes fresh case for release of El-Zakzaky, wife

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has made a fresh case for the release of Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and wife Zainab on health ground.

    His request was contained in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari dated November 7 and titled: “Fresh request for the release of Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and Hajia Zainab El-Zakzaky”.

    He said El-Zakzaky, who already lost his left eye, is again on the verge of losing the right eye.

    He added that the case of the wife is far worse than that of her husband.

    Falana said: “Sheik El-Zakzaky already lost his left eye and he is on the verge of losing the right eye sequel to the brutal treatment meted out to him by the armed soldiers. The State Security Service (SSS), the lawyer added, denied him foreign medical treatment recommended by the local specialists, who had attended to him. Even the alternative arrangement put in place by the family of the Sheik to bring eye specialists from abroad to treat him in custody has equally been rejected without any legal justification.

    “It may interest Your Excellency to know that the medical condition of Mrs. Zainab El-Zakzaky is by far worse than that of her husband. For reasons best known to the State Security Service, some of the bullets lodged in her body during the brutal attack of December 14, 2015 have not been extracted up till now.

    “In the circumstances, she has been subjected to excruciating pain and agony on a daily basis. Her life which is currently in danger may be saved and prolonged if she is allowed to receive adequate medical attention without any further delay.”

    The senior lawyer said he was moved to urge Buhari to consider ordering the release of the couple on health grounds since the Federal Government is not prepared to direct the SSS to comply with the orders of the Federal High Court.

    Falana drew the President’s attention to the fact that “the Judicial Commission of Enquiry, which was set up by the Kaduna State government to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the violent attack unleashed on the Shiites in December 2015 did not recommend the indefinite incarceration or prosecution of Sheik El-Zakzaky and his wife for any criminal offence whatsoever.

    “Therefore, they should be allowed to regain their fundamental right to personal liberty guaranteed by Section 35 of the Constitution and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” he contended.

    Falana noted that the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, on December 2, 2016, ordered the release of Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Hajia Zainab El-Zakzaky from the illegal custody of the State Security Service.

    “The court also awarded them reparation of N50 million and directed the Federal Government to provide a temporary accommodation for the couple since it was established that the Nigerian Army and the Kaduna state government had burnt and demolished their private residence located at Zaria in Kaduna State.

    “In your Excellency’s New Year message of January 1, 2017, you urge the members of the Shia Community to embrace peace and obey the laws of the land. At the same time Your Excellency directed all law enforcement agencies in the country ‘to treat them humanely and according to the rule of law’.

    “But in utter contempt of the aforesaid orders of the Federal High Court and in total disregard of Your Excellency’s directive, the State Security Service has refused to release the couple from illegal custody. Thus, the dangerous impression has been created by the State Security Service that the Federal Government does not operate under the Rule of Law.

    “Having been illegally detained without trial by the defunct Babangida junta and having recently travelled to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, we have no doubt that Your Excellency will appreciate the plight of our clients.

    “As the Federal Government is required to be humane and refrain from subjecting citizens to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment,  we urge Your Excellency to terminate forthwith the physical and mental agony that has been inflicted on our clients by releasing them from illegal custody and allowing them to travel abroad for urgent medical attention,” the senior lawyer said.

  • Man beats pregnant wife to death

    Man beats pregnant wife to death

    An FCT High Court on Wednesday ordered the remand of  37-year-old man, Mathew Ankyoor, in prison for allegedly beating his eight-month pregnant wife to death.

    The judge, Justice Peter Affen, adjourned the case until Nov.16 for the hearing of bail application  filed by the defendant’s counsel, Mr Ocheme Adama.

    “Motion for bail is hereby fixed for hearing on Nov. 16.

    “In the interim, the defendant shall be remanded in Kuje Prison pending the hearing and determination of the motion for bail,” he said.

    Earlier, the Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Donatus Abah, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 5, at Lugbe village, Abuja.

    Abah told the court that the defendant beat up his wife, Doosur Ankyoor, who was carrying eight months pregnancy to death.

    He said the defendant beat her severally leading to her death and that of the unborn child.

    He said the offence contravened Sections 221, 235 and 236 of the Penal Code.

    Section 235 deals with preventing the child from being born, and 236 causing the death of an unborn child.

    Ankyoor pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    His counsel, Adama, had prayed the court to grant bail to the defendant to enable him take care of the three children left behind by his late wife. (NAN)

     

  • EFCC invites ex-NIA DG, wife, others

    EFCC invites ex-NIA DG, wife, others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday invited the immediate past Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ayodele Oke, his wife, Mrs. Folashade Oke and others implicated in the  $43.45million recovered at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The others were unnamed.

    But sources close to Oke said last night that the ex-NIA DG was yet to receive any letter from the EFCC.

    A statement by the EFCC, however, said the invitation of the former NIA DG and others was part of the resumption of the investigation of the cash haul.

    The statement said: “In furtherance of its investigative activities to unravel the circumstances surrounding the $43.45 million cash recovered by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Lagos sometime in April 2017, the Commission has invited former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folashade Oke.

    ”Mrs.  Oke had refused to honour previous invitations by the commission which resumed its investigation into the matter, following the Federal Government’s decision to relieve Mr. Oke of his position as DG.

    ”Besides the couple, other suspects are equally being invited to determine their culpability or otherwise in the humongous cash, in foreign currencies and naira notes, stashed in a residential building at Osborne Road Ikoyi, Lagos.”

    A judge of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Muslim Hassan, had on June 6, 2017 granted a final forfeiture order of the funds since no one appeared before the court to claim them.

    He said:  “I am in complete agreement with the submission of the learned counsel for the applicant (EFCC) that the property sought to be attached are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and that by every standard this huge sum of money is not expected to be kept without going through a designated financial institution; more so, nobody has shown cause why the said sum should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Having regard to the foregoing, I have no other option but to grant this application as prayed.

    “For the avoidance of any doubt, I hereby make the following orders: 1. A final order is made forfeiting the sums of   $43,449,947 found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at Flat 7B of No. 16 Osborne Road, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, which sum is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

     

  • Niger traders screened for breast, cervical cancers

    Niger traders screened for breast, cervical cancers

    Wife of Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Bello has conducted free breast and cervical cancer screening on over 500 women traders.

    The exercise which took place at the Kure Ultra-modern Market, Minna, the state capital, cost N3.7 million

    The three-day free medical screening which was organised by her non-governmental organisation, RAiSE Breast and Cervical Screening Centre, and conducted by her team, was to ensure that market women benefited in large numbers.

    Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. Amina Bello, who was represented by her Chief Press Secretary, Aisha Wakaso, told the gathering that the governor’s wife’s concern about the health of women and children informed the decision to embark on the exercise.

    While urging women within the state capital and outside to present themselves for the exercise, Dr. Amina said, “After this three days free screening, it will attract the sum of N7,000 for any woman coming to the Centre to be screened. I strongly believe that prevention is better than cure. Women don’t have to suffer and die needlessly. I urge women across the state not only in Chanchaga Local Government to come out in their number. We brought the exercise to the market because there was low turnout in the earlier ones we did.”

    The council chairman of Chanchaga Local Government, Alhaji Yusuf Fuka who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Alhaji Surajo Ismaila appreciated the governors’ wife for chosing his council to conduct the screening while pledging the commitment of the council to assist future screening to ensure that breast and cervical cancers can be nipped in the bud.

    Also, the Director, Family Health Care, Fati Garba commended Dr. Bello for being at the fore front on matters that pertained to women, not only in Niger state, but all over the country, “ Her firm belief on issue of these two group of people is the reason why we are here, today.”

    Some beneficiaries after being screening thanked the first lady for the kind gesture calling for the need for intensive advertisements, so that women can avail themselves of the free medical screening.

    Mrs. Florence Anthony, leader of women cosmetics sellers and Halima Yusuf, who heard of the free exercise said they were happy the governor’s wife conducted the screening, adding, “This is the first time to benefit from her programmes. We are grateful; our screening is okay.”

     

  • Vice President’s wife decries rate of abandoned children, others

    Vice President’s wife decries rate of abandoned children, others

    Vice President’s wife Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo has decried the rate of abandoned children, violence and pregnancy among teenagers.

    She spoke at the first annual conference of Heritage Adoption Support and Advocacy Group (HASAAG) at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos over the weekend.

    Mrs. Osinbajo said it was heartbreaking that 17.5 million children are abandoned, 60 per cent of teenagers under the age of 18 suffer violence in the East, 24 per cent of girls under the age of 18 get pregnant in Lagos and 40 per cent suffer from increased male infertility.

    HASAAG is an offshoot of The Heritage Homes orphanage founded in 2006 by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo.

    The vice president’s wife urged Nigerians to do something about the situation.

    “So many areas have potential to change for the better. We must choose to fight the negativity that is around adoption and raise our voice to speak out against the stigma, uncertainty and fear attached to adoption.

    “Bearing and adopting children are both ways to parenthood. The power of adoption is the power of love. We all should love even those who we did not give birth to.

    “People are vulnerable and poor, at risk, in abusive circumstance, hungry, feeling unsafe and we have so many abandoned children. It should not be difficult to see someone in pain and help them. Encourage infertile couple, support and help them financially. There is nobody that cannot make a difference.”

    She called for advocacy for the ease of adopting and review of the adoption processes, adding that adopters should love those who they have adopted.

  • Kebbi governor’s wife praises firm

    The wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Zainab Bagudu, has lauded WACOT Limited, an agro  production  company, for its contributions to the development of the state.

    She gave the commendation when she visited the company’s rice factory in Argungu, Kebbi State.

    The rice mill was inaugurated by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in company of Governor Atiku Bagudu and other top government functionaries on August 1, this year.

    Commending the company for the development the factory has brought to Argungu community and Kebbi State,  Dr. Bagudu, whose delegation included the wives of the governors of Ondo and Zamfara states: Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu and HajiaAsma’uAbdulAziz Yari among others, said: “I thank the management of WACOT for their support for the Kebbi State government and the impact and development they have brought to the state. I urge you to continue to operate in the cordial and peaceful manner with which you relate with the people, to create more job opportunities for our youths”

    Dr. Bagudu also flagged off a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of WACOT Limited tagged “Pick a Bag”, which was instituted with the aim of providing clothing for the underprivileged in their communities of operation.

    For this, she presented bags of clothes donated by members of staff of WACOT to the under-privileged in Argungu Local Government.

    Conducting the visitors round the rice processing mill, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, TGI Group, the parent company of WACOT Limited, Mr. Sadiq Kassim, said the factory was the first phase of WACOT’s rice milling plan, which targets an increased capacity of 500,000 metric tonnes in the next few years.

    He said N10 billion has been invested in the mill with the capacity to process over 120,000 metric tonnes of paddy per annum and create over 3,500 jobs.

    He further disclosed that the mill has empowered a lot of local farmers, saying “we do not farm rice, but we work with the farmers from seed to harvest to ensure high quality paddy, which we then buy off them. We purchase paddy from up to 50,000 farmers here in Kebbi State”.

    As part of the company’s social responsibility efforts, Sadiq said WACOT has focused on women, children, healthcare and nutrition – core pillars of the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent, health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N) campaign championed by the  wife of the President Mrs. Aisha Buhari.

  • Ajimobi’s wife gets honorary doctorate degree

    Ajimobi’s wife gets honorary doctorate degree

    •Governor, wife offer scholarships to indigent students

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, and his wife, Florence, last Friday offered scholarship to indigent students of Ajayi Crowther University at Oyo town, where the governor’s wife got an honorary Doctor of Science in Public Administration.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and a philanthropist, Chief Tunde Afolabi, were also honoured with doctorates.

    The occasion was the university’s ninth convocation ceremony, where first and postgraduate degrees were awarded.

    The governor announced the scholarship in his remarks at the event, while his wife earlier, in her acceptance speech, promised to sponsor 10 students as part of her contributions to the education of youths.

    Responding to an appeal by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dapo Asaju, Mrs Ajimobi also promised to buy a generator for the Information Communication Technology centre she recently donated to the university.

    “I want to thank the governing council of this university for the honour done to me. I stand here this afternoon with a promise to continue to engage in activities that will advance the course of education.

    “Ajayi Crowther University has done well as it has turned out brilliant graduates who are making waves all over the world. This is the best period to renew my pledge and commitment to the service of humanity as well as service to the less privileged.

    “I will install a generator to provide power to the ICT centre I donated to this university few months ago. In addition to this, I will give scholarships to 10 girls to study Business Administration from next session, as part of my contributions to the education of the girl-child.”

    The governor pledged to also sponsor the education of undisclosed number of students.

    He urged parents, institutions and public-spirited individuals to assist the government to fund education.

    Given the parlous state of the economy, Ajimobi said, it was no longer realistic to expect the government to solely fund education because of many competing demands.

    He said: “The story of Ajayi Crowther University has confirmed that well-meaning Nigerians can come together and promote a noble cause that will have multiple advantageous effects on the society.

    “We are today empowering our younger ones to be productive to the nation by unleashing the new graduands to make better changes for our country.

    “This is an institution that does not take subvention from anybody; yet, it is producing quality products yearly. I can tell you that Ajayi Crowther University is an epitome of quality.

    “This is a clarion call to parents, guardians and the rest of the society that we should not leave the education of our children to government alone. Everybody must participate to bring back the glory of the yesteryears in education.”

    The vice chancellor advised the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the university.

  • Akpororo dedicates house to wife, daughter

    Akpororo dedicates house to wife, daughter

    It is a new dawn for comedian Jephthah Bowoto, simply called Akpororo, on October 9, 2017, as he unveiled his new house, an event which coincided with his daughter’s birthday.

    The comedian dedicated the new home to his wife and daughter, saying; “Except the Lord builds a house. The labourer labours in vain. Father, thank you for this one. I dedicate this to my wife and daughter”.

    The Airtel ambassador started off as a local gospel musician, and, in 2008, participated in the Opa William’s National Comedy Challenge, winning the Calabar zone of the competition.

    In 2009, Akpororo moved to Lagos and contested twice in the AY’s Open Mic Challenge, coming second in his first attempt and coming tops afterwards. He rose to popularity in 2013 following his performance at “Basketmouth’s Laff and Jam” show.

    In August 2014, he staged his first major comedy show “Akpororo vs Akpororo” at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre.

    In 2014, Akpororo delved into acting, starring in the films ‘Headgone’ and ‘The Antique’; with the former earning him three nominations at the 2015 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards.