The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Woman

  • ‘Woman with passion for politics should go for it’

    As Nigeria prepares for the general elections next year, some people say more women should vie for political positions, particularly those seen as exclusive preserves for men. Revd Mother Abimbola Esther Ajayi, founder and general overseer of the Love of Christ Generation Church (LOC), based in the United Kingdom, is one of such. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, she shares her thoughts on politics, religion and more as well as her church’s forthcoming revival.

    Giving was that nugget that nurtured me into the woman I have become. My family background, my experiences as a child, seeing benevolent ones prospering as they gave more, instilled the quality in me; and it is when one grows older that those lessons instilled in one come alive in one’s life.

    I grew up in a home of Irawo where they cooked in large pots where people came over to join in the meal. Nearly every day, a goat is killed. That has been in us. That was when I first discovered the power of giving. This man is always giving everybody; still, he is getting richer.

    One Mrs Soremekun is another person that further inspired me towards giving. After my second child, she came to a shop where I worked to buy some furniture and dinning sets to be delivered to Baba Enoch Adejare Adeboye. And in 1987 on a Christmas day, I  delivered the furniture. The woman did not come back. She just paid for everything and left. How could somebody do such a thing? I had wondered

    Also, when I became more conversant with the Bible, I got a deeper insight into the act of giving. For example, Luke 6:38  says: “Give and it shall be given unto to you, good measures, pressed down, shaken together and running over.” It means it is not the size of what you give that the Lord will pay you back with because he will pay you back even more. And why can’t I give to get more, but people don’t want to trust God like that. I have learnt to trust my Creator, because the more I give, the more the Creator of the universe will give back to me. And this nugget is what drives me as a minister and the General Overseer of the Love of Christ Generation Church (LOC) based in the United Kingdom, and what inspires our forthcoming “Celebrate the Comforter” conference/ revival as well as the establishment of the Esther Ajayi Foundation.

     

    The Esther Ajayi Foundation

    The foundation aims at touching lives. When it was launched, we pledged to reach a million lives by the end of 2018. I am glad to announce to you that so far, we have gone a long way in meeting this ambitious target. At the last edition of the Ovation Carol Night, we empowered seven people that were showcased during the event. We’ve been to Ghana, Israel, United States and Nigeria touching lives. In Nigeria, we have two buildings where we will be empowering people – one for the disabled and the other for people at the Odogbolu Local Government. We also have other activities in the works. As a body, we believe that every new day is a privilege and not a right, so we must continue to serve the living God by worshipping Him in truth, by extending our hands of love to all, especially those who need it.

     

    ‘True worship

    of the living God’

    The true worship of God is expressed by loving your neighbour as yourself, selflessly. There is an adage that I always say: “Gratitude is my attitude and giving is in my character.” Nigeria is a great country and if you and I become a little bit selfless, it will help to turn a lot of things around.

    We, at the Love of Christ Generation Church (LOC), believe in God-given mandate – love for God and selfless service to our Creator and to humanity. And that is what inspired our annual revival conference, tagged: “Celebrate the Comforter”. Through it, we evangelise, win souls for Christ, take people from the shackles of poverty and celebrate the wonders of God in their life. This year’s theme is “The Comforter 2018”.

    It brings together Celestial and Cherubim and Seraphim churches as a means of spreading the Word of God – the Sword of the spirit – in which we solidly believe in without mingling anything fetish with it and His name. This conference aims at serving dual purpose. First, it is designed to provide a good platform for us to meet and interact and also strengthen the relationship that has been established between us and the media crew of this great nation Nigeria.

    Last year, this joint revival with theme “Unity in the Holy Spirit” held on July 29, at the Excel Centre, London recorded a huge success with a crowd of almost 4000 members. This year’s edition will hold July 27 at the United Palace, Broadway New York.

     

    Advice for women on the forthcoming elections

    As a woman, if you have passion for politics, go for it. And at some point in this country, I see women winning those positions that have hitherto been won by men. It will happen. Some people might say that they don’t know how to go about it, ‘start from anywhere, start from your street, talk to people that this is your passion’. This is what you think you can do and then before you know it, you are all over the world. And to those who are wondering if Nigeria is ripe for a woman president or governor, I tell them, we will get there someday at some point. if there is a Liberian former president, an Oprah Winfrey, a Hilary Clinton, and even if America cannot have a woman president yet, it will happen sooner than you think.

     

    My husband, my best friend

    My husband is my best friend and my teacher in secondary school. We’ve been together for over 40 years.

    We met in secondary school. We came in on the same day as new students in Form One, Ikeja Grammar School, Oshodi. We were there waiting for the principal, Mrs Kehinde Abayomi when we started talking. I don’t like to sit down and read because I assimilate easily, but I must say that my husband is by all ways smarter than me in education: I repeated Form Three, and he went ahead of me. He is good in Biology, Chemistry and Physics; and he teaches these subjects well and put me through. This drew us closer together. He was among the very few who would score 99 per cent in those subjects and contest their not scoring 100 per cent with the teachers. Someone like me when I score 70 to 75 per cent, I feel on top of the world, but not them. That’s why we called them PhyChemBio.

    But tragically, up till today nobody can believe he was not given someone else’s result in WASC. I did not have any F9 in my WASC result, and so my “teacher’s” F9 still remains a shock to us; but what can we do? Anyway, although he finished before me, even after we left secondary school and I went to Ibadan, we kept in touch  and still remained friends. Then I went to the Bible School and he came to join me and the rest is history – a reunion that is amazing.

     

    Combining the ministry

    with the home front

    That has been no problem at all. I love caring for people, so it just seems natural to share my time properly between my family and ministry. They don’t compete with each other. Moreover, cooking, in fact, my selling point is cooking: ask my husband and he will tell you, to the point that his family named me, Iya Adewunmi (my first son is Adewunmi) “Elefo gboko gboko” after a certain vegetable delicacy.  You cannot resist my Egusi special. (Laughs). They call it “Iya Adura Signature dish”.  Let me give you the recipe of my Egusi soup. I prepare it by mixing it with raw egg, then crayfish. Add the Egusi mix to the palm oil, then put pepper and vegetable

     

     

    My advice to young couples

    Humility should always come before anything. I can prostrate for my husband. He is husband and was my senior in school. And I have remained that sweet and loving and sweet Bimbo that he married. And nothing gives a man joy than a supportive wife. Women, support your husband and men do same. Character is the key: one’s character can take one to great places. They may call you “Mugu”, a  “fool”, don’t listen to anybody. At the end, peace love and marital bliss would be your reward.

  • Underage driver ‘kills’ NYSC member, woman in Aba

    An underage commercial bus driver, whose identity could be established last night, has reportedly killed a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and another woman in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

    The incident, The Nation gathered, happened on Ohanku, off Ngwa Road, in Aba South Local Government Area.

    Some residents told our reporter that speeding caused the killing.

    It was learnt that the driver lost control of the vehicle and ran over the victims.

    Investigation revealed that some conductors and mechanics use vehicles in their custody for commercial purposes, without the knowledge of the bus or car owners, to make brisk business.

    It was also learnt that the underage driver had been handed over to security agents, while another account said the lad fled the scene immediately the incident happened.

    The bodies of the deceased were said to have been deposited in a nearby morgue.

    “The commercial bus driver was heading to Owerre-Aba when he lost control of the car and killed two persons – a man in NYSC uniform and a woman. He also crashed into a shop and part of a building. People on the scene said they warned the driver for his recklessness,” a source said.

    Police Commissioner Anthony Ogbizi and the command spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), did not respond last night to the text messages sent to their phones on the incident.

  • Ibadan violence: Woman to undergo breast, spinal cord surgeries

    Families of victims of the violence that occurred at Bodija Market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have urged the government and good-spirited Nigerians to render financial assistance to a woman who sustained bullet wounds in the clash between policemen and butchers last Thursday.

    The 26-year-old victim and fashion designer, Sefiat Mutiat, was believed to have died, following the injury she sustained in the clash.

    Now in critical condition, Mutiat is billed to undergo surgeries in her breast, womb and spinal cord at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan.

    Some aggrieved butchers at the market had engaged armed policemen in a violent clash over an order by the Oyo State government that butchers in the city should relocate to an abattoir at Amosun Village, near Akinyele.

    About six persons were reportedly killed while several others were injured in the clash.

    The Bodija Market police station was torched and property estimated at millions of naira were vandalised.

    Mutiat was said to be in the market to deliver a cloth she sewed for a customer.

    She was hit in the neck, a family source said at the weekend on a radio programme monitored in Ibadan.

    The family source, who is an elder sister to the victim, said the fashion designer was presumed dead when she was hit by the bullet but was later revived at a private hospital.

    Mutiat’s sister added that the mother of one was referred to UCH, where she is receiving treatment at the Emergency Ward.

    She said: “It was at UCH doctors told us that the bullet had affected one of her breasts, her womb and spinal cord. They told us that if we want her to live normal life again, she has to undergo surgeries.”

    The distraught sister said the family had spent over N800,000 on medical bills, adding that there was no hope for the family to raise the millions of naira needed for the surgeries.

  • Woman ‘pours hot water’ on hubby

    A 32- year-old woman, Joy Imeribe, who allegedly poured hot water on her husband was yesterday charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused, a trader, who lives at 21, Karounwi Street, Itire, Lagos, was arraigned on a one-count charge of assault.

    Prosecuting Inspector Clifford Ogu said the accused committed the offence on May 29.

    Ogu said the accused’s husband, Ibe, alleged that his wife came home late. The woman was said to have become irate when he asked her why she returned home late.

    The prosecutor said the following morning, the accused poured boiling water on her husband while he was eating breakfast.

    He said the man was badly injured and was rushed to the hospital by some neighbours.

    Ogu said the couple had been married for 13 years and have four children.

    “The case was reported at the police station and the accused was arrested, ” Ogu said.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate J. A Adegun granted the accused N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Adegun adjourned till July 4.

  • Woman beats house help, 13 to pulp

    A 38-year-old trader, Iyabo Lawal has been arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly assaulting her 13-year-old house help, Kehinde Loclay from Cotonou.

    She was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Olufunke Sule-Amzat on a one count charge of child abuse.

    Prosecuting Inspector Benson Emeurhi told the court that Iyabo committed the offence on May 11, at about 7am at 91 Olonade Street, Yaba, Lagos.

    Emeurhi informed the court that the defendant was accused of always beating the complainant, Kehinde Loclay, a 13-year-old girl from Cotonou.

    According to him, “Kehinde was brought to Lagos by one Iya Modinat to be a house help”.

    Benson said the defendant was almost got killed by the defendant one day in the course of beating because she didn’t wake up on time but for the neighbours who rescued her.

    Iyabo however pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Olufunke Sule-Amzat granted the defendant N20,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She ordered that the addresses of the sureties must be verified.

    She adjourned the case till July 3.

  • Woman, 45, held for ‘maltreating’ eight-year-old boy

    A 45-year-old woman was yesterday arrested by the police for allegedly maltreating an eight-year-old boy after accusing him of being a wizard.

    Commissioner of Police (CP) Imohimi Edgal told reporters in Ikeja that the act was “a case of man’s inhumanity to man.’’

    “This is a case of man’s inhumanity to man reported by Chinonye Iyonetu, eight-year-old, against Charity Iyonetu of Animal Kingdom, close to Seme Border, Lagos.

    “The complainant alleged that the suspect is the elder sister to his father.

    “That sometime in 2016, the suspect came to their village, Agbaai, Nkota Local Government Area of Imo State and brought him to Lagos after his mother abandoned him and left to an unknown place.

    “He claimed that the suspect always maltreat him, accusing him of being a wizard,’’ the CP said.

    He added: “However, the ordeal of the little boy came to the fore when on May 9, at about 9am, the suspect used horse whip a.k.a Koboko, to flog the complainant, inflicting injuries all over his body.

    “She thereafter locked him in her one-room apartment with his two hands tied behind his back and left to her shop. The complainant was crying and shouting for help which made Peter Aluku to call the Police.

    “When the police team arrived, they broke the door of the house and rescued the child”.

    Imohimi said the suspect would be charged to the Special and Sexual Offences Court as soon as investigation was concluded.

  • Man remanded for attempting to rape 110-year-old woman

    What pleasure does a 56-year-old man wanted to derive from raping a 110-year-old woman?
    This is a riddle for an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mrs. Taiwo Ajibade to resolve.
    The accused person, Abraham Benjamin, has been remanded in prison custody for attempting to violate the very old woman.
    Mrs. Ajibade ruled that the accused person should be kept behind bars pending receipt of legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
    She ruled that the case file be duplicated and a copy sent to the DPP for advice.
    Police Prosecutor, Caleb Leranmo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 30 at No. 12, Igbehin Street,
    Ado-Ekiti.
    The prosecutor told the court that the accused attempted to rape the centenarian in her home on the said date before she was rescued by a Good Samaritan.
    The offence, according to him, contravened Section 359 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
    The Magistrate adjourned the case till May 22 for mention.

  • Woman accused of slapping policeman

    A 27-year-old woman, Faith Michael, was yesterday arraigned before a Karu Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja, for allegedly slapping and intimidating a police officer.

    Michael was arraigned on a five-count charge, of joint act, obstructing public servant from discharging lawful duties, assault, defamation of character and intimidation.

    The prosecutor, Vincent Osuji, said Sergeant David Akoru reported the matter at the Karu Police Station, Abuja, on April 15.

    He said the complainant alleged that on April 14, the defendant with an unidentified man assaulted and intimidated him.

    “While the complainant was at his duty post at CBN junction, Karu, Abuja, he intercepted a commercial motorcycle rider.

    “The defendant, who was a passenger, stopped him from discharging his duties and alleged that the complainant forcefully demanded for N50 from the motorcyclist.

    “Before the complainant knew what was going on, the defendant brought an unidentified man, currently at large, who slapped him and intimidated him, boasting that they will remove his uniform,” Osuji said.

    The judge, Hassan Ishaq, granted the defendant N20, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum. The case continues on May 18.

     

  • Woman burns daughter with iron for lying

    The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old woman, Ayo Sheriff, for allegedly burning her daughter, Aishat Sheriff, 16, with a pressing iron.

    The incident occurred at Ijora-Badia.

    It was gathered that the mother was furious after she realised her daughter had lied she was keeping N250 that was meant for Aishat’s boss.

    According to the police, Aishat, an apprentice auxiliary nurse, was given N500 by her boss to give someone N200 on her way home, use N50 as transport fare and return N250 the following day.

    The teenager, who’s also a secondary school pupil, failed to handover the balance to her boss and when asked, she lied that her mother was with the money.

    Unknown to Aishat, her boss called her mother and the latter was shocked and denied having the money.

    She was said to have plugged an electric iron on her daughter’s right limbs as soon as she got home for disgracing the family.

    The Nation gathered that the victim’s Guardian and Counsellor in school noticed the burnt injuries on her body the following day in school, questioned her and she opened up.

    Thereafter, the counsellor, it was learnt notified the orphanage and the police, who moved to the woman’s house and took the victim and her siblings away.

    According to police spokesman, Chike Oti, a Superintendent (SP), the victim and her younger sisters have been taken to Chosen Orphanage Home, at Gastya Estate, Ijora-Badia.

    He said: “The incident happened on April 24. The girl and her two younger siblings are being sheltered in Chosen Child Orphanage Home.

    “The Commissioner of Police (CP) was miffed at the sight of the horrible wounds inflicted on a child by her mother. He therefore called on parents to correct their children in love. He said the rate at which cases of domestic violence was increasing was a source of concern to the command.

    “The Gender Section of the Command, headed by Mrs Adejoke Cole, a Superintendent (SP) had concluded investigation into the case and would charge the suspect to Ikeja Magistrates’ Court today.”

  • Woman bags two years for N34.5m rice, oil fraud

    An Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Isabo, yesterday sentenced Yemisi Ezekiel to two years imprisonment for defrauding four customers of rice and vegetable oil valued at N34.5million.

    Chief Magistrate Adeola Adelaja held that the evidence of the prosecution witness proved that Ezekiel, 45, was guilty of the three-count charge of stealing and obtaining under false pretences.

    The magistrate, however, gave the convict an option to pay N400, 000 as fine.

    Earlier, prosecuting Inspector Sunday Eigbejiale told the court that Ezekiel and her accomplices, who are at large, committed the offences on December 28, 2015 at Owode-Egba, Ibadan.

    Eigbejiale said Ezekiel obtained 1,825 bags of rice and several gallons of vegetable oil from four different rice dealers and promised to pay later, a representation she knew was false.

    “The defendant, who supplies different companies rice and groundnut oil, collected 769 bags of rice valued at N9.2million from Shorunke Samuel.

    “She also obtained 447 bags of rice valued at N6.3million from Gbemisola Onile and 609 bags of rice worth N5.9 and gallons of oil worth N490,000 from Bunmi Ibigbemi.

    “The defendant also borrowed N3.5 million from one Badirat Muri and N1.6 million from Bunmi Ibigbemi, which she refused to pay back,’’ he said.

    Eigbejiale said the offences contravened Sections 390(9), 419 and 516 of the Criminal Law of Ogun, 2006.