Zambian Bank suspends female employee for sleeping with a job seeker

In Zambia, a female bank employee of ZANACO has been suspended for sleeping with over 200 different men both clients and job seekers, ZambianObserver reports.

The woman has been indentified as Mutale Winfridah who has been using her influence as a branch senior bank executive to sleep with different men promising them jobs at the bank and approving their bank loan applications in return to enjoying their bed energies.

According to ZambianObserver, the bank management decided to suspend her after more than 10 men formally lodged complaints against her.

It is reported that she is 39 years old and still unmarried because of her quest to attain different academic qualifications before finding a partner.

Warri/Uvwie Devt.: We will step on toes, Macaulay forewarns

By Elo Edromoda

Newly appointed director of the Warri/ Uvwie/ Environs Development Agency (WUEDA), Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay has said that "toes" will be stepped on to achieve the needed development in the oil city and environs.

Comrade Macaulay who is the pioneering head of the agency, spoke to newsmen penultimate weekend in Warri, describing the metropolis as one of the dirtiest in the country.

According to him, previous governments have tried to advance the city's look, as well as providibg other social amenities, but failed due to no base for "succeeding governments to build on.

"Before now, there was no strong base for Warri development. All approaches were ad-hoc. But in the wisdom of the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, there was need to establish something that is permanent and in his words, he wants ‘a holistic’ development. Not just about drainage or roads but cutting across social services including health, environment, education and everything about Warri to be handled by one agency."

He further explained that the state governor established the agency in an effort "to hold one organization responsible for what is happening (developmental strides)" in Warri.

The former SSG assured that the agency will take a holistic approach towards the development of Warri, bearing in mind the "sensitivity" of the people, just as he called on them to be ready to make the sacrifice for Warri to become beautiful.

"I responded to some questions during my swearing in reception which is still causing ripples and of course, that is the way it is going to go. We cannot put a new edifice on top a decaying one. If we wish to develop Warri and its environs, we need to clean it first and in the cause of doing that, there will be some displacements.

"For instance, a modern market has been built, but some people chose not to use the market, but to trade on the road side. Of course, we must tell them no, you have a market. Take a shop and sell your wares there. When I say we are going to step on toes, it does not mean we are going to deprive people of what is their right.

"We also know that there are a lot of illegal buildings cutting across natural water ways. Such buildings must go down. We cannot protect one man’s business and let the generality of the people suffer; the future of a whole generation of people. You cannot talk of building drainages when some people are building on water ways. So there are a lot of issues we will look at.

"Why should Warri be a city of caravans? That we must also address. People just get lands and the next thing is to erect caravans and start business. It is not perfect for the aesthetics of any city. We all say, Dubia is beautiful, London and New York and a retinue of other world renowned cities. Why can’t we make Warri beautiful by putting in effort?

"This is the only country where people run away from paying taxes but expect everything from government. Can it work? It’s not about saying government has not done it. What have you done in your own way to make things right? People should be ready for changes, and it cannot come by without some people making sacrifice," the WUEDA director stated.

However, he noted that the organization will be doing some paper work and sensitization on projects to be carried out for the next three months to enable it effectively take on the tasks ahead.

Why we live under the bridge —80-year old female politician, others

They are not really a sight to behold because where they call home is under the bridge in Nigeria’s sole mega city. TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE brings tells the pathetic stories of some ‘homeless’ Nigerians of advanced ages.

THEY could be passed by unnoticed since they are not of much value to passers-by. They are hardly disturbed and many of them also hardly disturb anyone. Unlike their much younger counterparts who could cause trouble anytime in the unusual and unbecoming abode fate has bequeathed to them, members of this group of under-the-bridge dwellers, who are in the twilight of their lives, lead a quiet life but the loudness of the silence around them was unmistakable when Saturday Tribune beamed a searchlight on them.

Under the Costain Bridge is a band of dwellers, five in total – three males and two females – each of them occupying a convenient corner of the vast open accommodation and they are not new tenants. These people, including an 80-year-old woman and a 67-year-old man, have done years in this condition.

Madam Comfort Oke, an indigene of Ilorin, Kwara State, is the oldest of the special accommodation inmates and has lived there for more than three years. Apart from being a homeless octogenarian, the woman is incidentally a card-carrying member of Lagos’ ruling party. She is, interestingly, too, a socialite.

On a daily basis, hundreds of thousands of people access the bridge, located in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, either with vehicles or on foot. But many may not have known, let alone believe, that underneath is the abode of some residents like them.

80 years and homeless

Madam Comfort Oke is 80 years old. When Saturday Tribune visited her at the location, it was a bit dark and lonely. The four other occupants, who look much younger, have separate and demarcated corners packed full of clothes and various household items to themselves.

Madam Oke’s corner is the second on the single row to the wall of the bridge if one accesses the place, where train tracks also run through, from the Iponri Police Barracks side. Tall and elegant-looking, even at her old age and despite her exposure to harsh living conditions, the octogenarian was having her siesta at the time Saturday Tribune called. After a brief explanation of Saturday Tribune’s mission to the people around, she was told she had a visitor. The woman spent about five minutes removing clothes from what serves as bed and two buckets of water to create a small space inside the place for our reporter to sit.

“You are welcome, my son,” she greeted our reporter in Yoruba language. “I am sorry for keeping you waiting. I was only trying to clear the space for your convenience. I thank you for visiting,” she continued.

According to her, she has dwelt here for more than three years, regardless of her old age and despite being mentally sound.

‘How I got here’

She narrated her story to Saturday Tribune. According to her, it was never her wish to be living under a bridge. “Living here, as a matter of fact, is a shameful thing for me, but I cannot help the situation,” she said as she fought back tears.

Madam Oke, with facial marks and who also speaks Hausa language fluently, had lived her active economic years in Lagos, the last three years or thereabouts, however, being under this particular bridge.

“I was born in Ilorin. I came to Lagos as a young girl and I went back home to marry. I was married to a native of Igbaja village, near Ilorin and we both lived in Lagos with our children till he died some years ago. The children started to live on their own…,” she said.

“Go on, ma,” Saturday Tribune said when it appeared that the old woman was not interested in speaking further about her family. After a while, she said, “If not for house demolition here and thereby the government and the death of my husband and one of my children, I would not have been living under the bridge.”

Madam Oke had lived in many rented apartments in Ebute Meta and Lagos Island, the last one, where she lived for many years, is at No 2, Sonola Street, Batula, Costain. The building is within the same neighbourhood as her current abode. She said she once owned a car as a relatively comfortable person. According to her, the house in question, like many of the previous ones she had lived, was demolished alongside others by the Federal Government to give way for the ongoing railway expansion project. “I have not been able to rent another apartment since the demolition,” she noted.

While disclosing that she was a highly patronised food seller mostly around Costain and Nigerian Brewery, she said she was, and still is, a well-known person in the areas. “Many people knew me. They called me Iya Ilorin (the woman from Ilorin). But now, I am old and I cannot do any hard work again due to a serious injury I sustained in one of my legs about eight years ago,” she noted.

Then how has Madam Oke been feeding and clothing herself? Her response was just like that of many other people, rich or poor. She attributed the provision of these basic necessities to God’s benevolence. “I am not a beggar, so, it is people whom I have known for a long time and helped in one way or the other when things were good for me, as well as my children, that have been supporting me in different ways. I am not an ‘anyhow’ person because when I had, I gave to people,” she pointed out.

‘I once contested election’

On what a typical day under the bridge is like, she said life there is almost as it is applicable to every other person elsewhere. “We sleep. We wake up, eat and play around. But at times, I do go on visits to people who live as far away as Alausa Secretariat or take a walk within the neighbourhood to avoid boredom. I cook whatever I want to eat here and bathe at that place (pointing to a cubicle about 20 meters away).

I do engage mai-ruwa (Hausa water seller) to fetch water for me and at times, some people around do it for me free. I use laundry services for the maintenance of my clothes.”

Regarding her safety, she said she felt secure as she had nothing to fear. “What will I be afraid of? We are all under the protection of God notwithstanding where we live. Here, everyone minds their own business,” she stated.

Madam Oke described herself as a socialite and politician. She claimed to understand what civic responsibility is all about. She said she had been performing such functions since she was 21 years old, and in Lagos State. To prove her claim, she dipped her hand in a big bag packed with clothes, brought out a small tied nylon where she kept her important documents and voila: she revealed her Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Permanent Voter’s Card, Lagos Resident Identification Card, All Progressives Congress (APC) membership card, National Identity Card and so on. “I may not have gone to school but I know what is going on in the country and I do my fair share of participation,” she said.

According to her, once she is furnished with any important public information, she ensures she acts appropriately. “That is why I am not a novice in politics and Lagos politics in particular. Since the Second Republic, I have been very active in partisan politics. I was a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now All Progressives Congress (APC).  I am a well-known person in the party, especially in Ebute-Meta, Costain and Apapa Road. I have spent my money and time and energy for the party. They call me in political circle as Iya Costain or Iya Jeunsoke. At election periods, I usually encourage eligible voters in this area to go and register for their PVCs. I can’t do without voting and mobilising people to vote. Ask any of the party leaders in the whole axis and they will not deny any of these,” she boasted. She, however, declined to mention any name so as, according to her, not to embarrass anyone. “But the people concerned, especially those who schemed me out of the arrangements know themselves and what they did to me,” she said.

According to Madam Oke, she once aspired to represent Costain as a councillor but was edged out at the dying minutes “on the flimsy grounds that I was a woman.”

She continued: “I told them that if they would not allow me to run, they should allow one of my children to run for the position. I said there was nothing with my children being considered for an election position at that level since they were qualified and in view of my support for, and contribution to, the party. I have paid my dues to the APC. Even as an elder in the party, I am entitled to a N5,000 monthly stipend but they only paid the money three times.”

However, for Madam Oke, hope is not totally lost as she still has life. “It is only the dead who have no hope in this world. I thank God for sparing my life,” she said.

On the last time she saw her children, she said it wasn’t too long but they hardly visited her. The reason, according to her, is because they had insisted on her returning to Ilorin and make a better life instead of living under the bridge in Lagos.

“They are not happy about this [living under the bridge] but I do tell them that they can rent an apartment for me here in Lagos where I have been living for many years, but there is no power to do that and that is why I am appealing to the government, corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to come to my rescue. I am old and cannot work again,” she stated.

Double dilemma

Interestingly, one of Madam Oke’s close neighbours was around when Saturday Tribune visited. The 67-year old Emenike Onuba is indeed the old man next neighbour.

Of all the dwellers there, only he has a mosquito net tied around his corner, apparently to prevent diseases such as malaria in that bug-infested area. Madam Oke claimed she had a strong immune system and because of that, she hardly fell ill.

Madam Oke told our reporter that Onuba was, like others, preparing to go out to engage in one menial job or another for survival. Though he was initially reluctant to speak, he later opened up on his journey to the under-bridge. Onuba is popularly known in the area as Atorinlaye Up NEPA. He explained the nickname: “I once worked with the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) as a technician. I worked at Oshodi Meter Station and at many other locations in and outside Lagos for some years. I was doing averagely well before I was laid off. Then I started a private practice, which I am still into, as an electrical technician. Hardly will you ask anybody in Ebute-Meta, Costain and Iponri and they will tell you that they don’t know Atorinlaye Up NEPA. I fix electrical problems for many people.”

On how he ended up living under the bridge, he said it was because he could not afford to pay rent in the area, just as he could not live in remote communities of Lagos where rent is considered cheaper. According to him, he can’t live in Abule-Egba, Agbado-Ijaiye, Alakuko, Sango- Ota or Ibafo, Mowe and those other “far places.”

“I am not familiar with those places and more importantly, all my customers are in this axis,” he said in Pidgin English. And at this point, Mr Onuba didn’t want to entertain further questions from Saturday Tribune as he excused himself to leave for work. “I want to go out for work and get some money. Therefore, I can’t continue talking with you,” he said and left with a small bag apparently containing his tools in his hand. He did not make himself available for his photograph to be taken.

BEDC interested in collecting money without providing light-- Adaka

Chief Dr. Fidelis Adaka was the former vice-president of the Nigerian Statistical Association, former Head of Department Field Operation Ministry of Economic Planning Delta State, Asaba.

In this interview with Isoko Mirror he bares his mind on some salient issues affecting Uzere community, from lack of electricity sippy in Uzere, the invasion of Uzere community by the people of Igbide  and the recent suspended Ruga settlement by the Federal Government.

Excerpts

 Can we meet you sir?

My name is Chief Dr. Fidelis E. Adaka(JP) former vice-president Nigerian Statistical Association (2012-2016),former HOD Field Operation Ministry of Economic Planning Delta State, Asaba.

Why is Uzere not having electricity supply and they contribute so much to the Nigeria economic?

We don't have light in Isoko, we can count the days we have electricity supply in Isoko. But that of Uzere community is more painful because we only have flash of the electricity supply once in a month or two months. The only thing BEDC are interested in doing  is  to collect our money as light bill monthly.

Isoko do not have electricity supply, but it is worst in Uzere and BEDC as an organisation we trade with are behaving like fraudster. For instance in Ughelli where I stay sometimes you find out that the payment of the previous bill does not reflect in the current bill is something to worry about.

So, such organisation shouldn't be in this area. But our government is interested, highly place personnel are interested in them, when you go deep and see the list of the owners of BEDC, you will be constraint to do anything about them.

But the Edo state government is fighting BEDC inability to provide adequate electricity but Delta state government is not saying anything about them. Why is so?

The Edo state issued is a different issue, you can see the strategic and development plan the Edo state government is having. If a governor and those who are in government give out work or projects and they supervise it there will be no problem. What is happening in Edinburgh is different from what is happening in Delta.

What is the way forward on the epileptic power supply in Uzere community? 

The way forward is very clear, is to have that electricity from the flow station. It can serve the community. This is what oil companies does in where they operate and in Nigeria here is happening already in places like in Bonny Island, Escravous, Okpai and other places. It is only in Isoko here they will say it will not work.

Therefore, the only system we can follow is to have a turbine like five, all we need to do is to get the legal backing for the project. This can help to supply electricity in Uzere and other neighbouring communities and it wouldn't cost us much if we are really committed to the project.

Although, I am aware that there are some government clauses but we have the capacity,capability and the will to manage the turbine if we have them.Our own share from the Community Development Board(CDB) within  three years if properly manage can give us the turbines we needed.

We have two flow station which are in OML28 and OML30 respectively.OML28 government refused it operation for more than nine years and the government is aware that we are protecting the oil facilities there, if OML30 is taking care of more than 112 communities that means OML28 take care of almost 112 communities.When the IDU made mentioned of it during their visit to president Muhammadu Buhari to look into it, the president affirmed that it will be given adequate attention may be that is why they are trying to do something now, but there is no much progress.If they can work on the OML28 our share from it and the one from OM30 is enough for us within one year to have turbines but OML30 alone within 3 years we can buy turbines.

What is preventing Uzere from having it now?

 You see, government policies, we aware that BEDC is not ready to help the system.Without electricity supply we cannot do anything.Without energy as an organisation you can't do anything meaningful is only when we have electricity supply we can move forward in the area development.We are calling on the Federal government, State government and the local government to come to our aid to help solve the problem of electricity in Uzere and Isoko.I am aware that IDU is already fighting to see how Isoko can have adequate electricity supply but BEDC is frustrating their effort.

What is your reaction about the suspended RUGA settlement by the FG?

An average man may not know what is RUGA, the Rural Grazing Area, what did you really want to graze?. When you cannot even established a refinery when you cannot give employment to citizens, when you cannot provide quality education to the people.

What have you done that will make us to donate our land for rural grazing.You are bringing RUGA, the people involved are not from the area, the whole idea is a fraud and it will not see the light of the day.They have a hidden agenda and it will not work.Even the governor of Delta State Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa has made it clear that Delta State did not want RUGA. The governor is our leader and he has spoken and we shall abide by it.

Beside cow rearing is a private business, it shouldn't be forced on us to give up our land. Whatever they are calling it, it will not work.

Recently Igbide community attacked Uzere community captured their people.What is Uzere community doing about it?

This incident occurred some days ago, in fact the aggression the Igbide is using to come to Uzere is terrible.They came to Uzere farmland with dangerous weapons  and captured our people to their community.The people they captured told us after their released that though we were not there, they said 50 able body men with more than 38 dangerous weapons, they were not just ordinary guns but sophisticated guns.We have become too religious in Uzere that we have not be able to appeal to our gods to take care of our enemies for us, if not Igbide cannot do that.If we appeal to our gods Eni and Ogburu will take them for us, they wouldn't see us to captured. The most painful aspect is that Igbide people capture women as they were taking them to their community they decided to leave the women.

This incident occurr along Uzere /Patani road,Igbide did not have any land there.Igbide only have part of Oruzu, part of it belong to Emede and Uzere, they left there which is 3km to where they capture our people.The capture people were release when pressure came from authority.Uzere community is a law abiding community.

Did they release them from Igbide or from the police station?

What happened was that they release only one initially and they told the DPO that they have release Uzere people. Because the one they release told us that the reason why they release him is because he told them he is pastor and he does little transport by carrying people to the farm that he used to feed his family apart from the pastoral work that he don't have anything to do with farmland.Until now we have machines that nobody has been able to identify at the police station that they are the owners.This shows some people are still missing.

Have they been able to identify that anybody is missing in Uzere?

In Uzere we fish every year, we feed our neighbouring communities in Isoko with fishes.The people they capture might not be only from Uzere now that we are doing fishing we have people that comes from neighbouring to buy fish, so we have strangers coming around to buy fish.So,is not only Uzere people were in the farmland.But we are still doing our census, asking our people if there is any person missing.

Sometime ago Igbide people came were arrested for harvesting our ponds in our farmland but they always lobby their way out from the police station.But we have to give kudos to the chairman of Isoko South Sir Itiako Constantine Ikpokpo for setting up a peace committee on boundary dispute to resolve issues concerning lakes, farmland to know the real owners.But when you set up committee you should also follow it up, as good as the committee is, if, there is no follow up the committee will die a natural death.

They handed over our people to the DPO Oleh Divisional Police Station, they took their medical report on the several injuries they sustained.But is very necessary if somebody stole from you and you should report the incident to the police but nothing of such was reported at the police station. So on what ground did they take our people in their custody, if it is in their land they capture our people they could have indicate it at the police station.

If you look at Igbide they are have issue with Okpolo-Enhwe, Olomoro, Emede, Umeh and now Uzere.

Even the part of the Igbide which is is so aggressive (Owodokpokpor) is our daughter from (Uzere) that got married to Ikreidhu from Igbide. Our in-law from Igbide asked for farmland. This land gave rise to Owodokpokpor-Igbide. If not they don't have any land there, it is that land that is making them to encroach Uzere farmland.

So what is the way out of this problem?

The solution still depends on government, look at the issue of Okpolo-Enhwe and Igbide they are yet to resolve it. They have issues with all the neighbouring communities. Are they the only community in Isoko can't they live in peace with their neighbours. Is it because they have people buying guns for them so that they can suppress and oppress other communities.

The only way forward on this issue for now is to maintain peace, we must preach peace as a Justice of Peace I must continue to preach peace.

Last year Febuary they were in Uzere, they came with their president, ex-president and highly place people from their community to plead with us to have mercy on their people we arrested in our farmland for stealing,we told them we are maintaining peace but we didn't heard from them again.

Sometime ago there is also a case in the magistrate court in which they were arrested and we charge them to court. In this case they held an Uzere man at gun point harvesting his fishing pond in Uzere farmland, people who went to farm rescued the man and apprehend the Igbide people, because their intention was to collect the harvested fishes from the man.

The police were trying to handle the case at Oleh but we decided to transfer the case to Asaba and charge them to court and they were sentence to jail.

What is the leadership of Igbide saying about this whole saga?

They said they have mad people and we told them if they cannot keep their mad people we equally have mad people because every community have mad people. So, they should go and manage their mad people.

We have made our case known to relevant authorities, the local government, the and IDU the umbrella body of Isoko nation.

Anti Christ brought solar calendar to change time, festival - Muslim cleric

says only Christianity, Islam will restore peace in Nigeria

Alhaji Abdulsalam Paxman Ekpuze is the country president of United Nations Positive Livelihood Awards Centre (UN-POLAC).

As an ambassador of peace, he runs a peace advocacy media programme which focuses on different religions, as part of his organization's efforts to make the world more peaceful.

In this interview with Elo Edremoda and Rita Ossai, he shares his thoughts on the similarities between Isoko historical practices and Islamic religion, the calls for local government autonomy and state of peace in Nigeria.

Excerpts:

You have just concluded Eid el Fitr celebration. What is the purpose of the celebration?

Ramadan is the month of fasting which is the ninth month, because its greater than any other period in the year but when you are not informed how would you know? That's why the Quran lets us know what needs to be done.

You mentioned that there are similarities between old Isoko practices and Islamic religion. Can you tell us?

The fact is that the movement of the sun, moon and stars are what we use for timing purposes. The Sun is for daily calculations, while the moon is for monthly calculations. This is how God made it right from creation, even to the knowledge of the Isoko people, the Bible and the Quran.

The time and calculations which our forefathers were using are in agreement with the Bible and Quran but they have been changed by the solar calendar which was introduced by the Romans. Before the change, the Isoko people were using the sun and moon to live naturally.

I remember when my grandmother was still alive, each time that the new moon appears, she always made a prayer. Today, because of civilization, nobody knows the value of the sun, moon and stars, again.

Is there anything people, especially our young, can do to understand how these heavenly bodies work, like it was in the olden days?

I am passing information. These things have been there, but people are not interested in seeking knowledge. Even most of our old ones are going without transferring it (knowledge) to the young ones. Fortunately, we have the Bible and the Quran which have been in existence.

Most of the cultures in the Bible and Quran are also found in Isoko culture. For example, before the Bible and Quran came, Isoko people have been circumcising their children, so we had a perfect way of living in Isoko.

The Bible and the Quran agree that the Lunar Calendar which the Isoko people know is 12 months. Each month has its influence on human beings.

Even the Lunar Calendar has four months that are sacred naturally and nobody is supposed to go to war, but we have decided to violate the rules of God and that is why we are lacking peace.

Is there a clash between culture and religion?

No. God created the whole world and all cultures are to promote peace and harmony among people. The same thing goes for religion.

The Quran was sent down in the month of Ramadan and Christianity, Islam and Judaism have come to play in uniting people from different ethnic backgrounds. We should put our differences apart because that's the only way to attain peace, truth and justice. We must make sure that the sun, moon and stars are utilized so that we can get the maximum benefit like the Muslims have.

Abraham came 600 years before Moses was born. Judaism came 1,200 years before Christianity and Islam came last, about 570 years after Jesus Christ, so when prophet Mohammed was born there was Christianity.

Does it mean that a new month starts at the sight of a new moon?

Yes. It is the anti Christ that brought in solar calendar. According to Daniel 7: 8-25, one of his (anti Christ) major target is to change time and festival and we have been following it (calendar) like blind people.

Don't you think that the oil exploration and other human activities which have caused climate change have in a way affected the natural order of things?

No, the development is only proving nature because there is no development that is not found in nature. The moon and sun have been moving since God created it but we went for 12 hours timing. That is how we have disconnected ourselves from nature, then problems arise as we are having today.

How would you describe the level of peace in the past  four years of President Muhammadu Buhari's reign?

Nigeria has been defaced and the constitution has problems. Except corrected, Nigeria will keep on having problems.

When Nigeria started, it only had three regions and each were taking care of themselves and paying tax to the federal. There was progressive competition. Now, it is only to go to Abuja and collect money and not to contribute anything.

Tribalism has almost killed Nigerians, so the only thing that can help us is Christianity and Islam because both religions have cut through so many tribes.

What are your thoughts on local government autonomy?

If local governments are fighting so that they can get more allocations and manage same themselves and the state governments say 'no,' that they will collect the allocations and put it in their pockets, this will be transgressing on all people.

However, if the local government autonomy is approved, then government will realize that the allocations must go down to the grassroots, in terms of development. That is why it should be approved.

Do you think the available resources for the local governments are used judiciously?

There is no government that can do without taxation so they should think of investing. I have never seen a difficult people like our people. We should use our time wisely and its enough reason why we must make use of nature.

What message do you have for the president of Nigeria and also the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa on the comments of the new dispensation?

They have taken bigger responsibilities, so for every man who suffers injustice, it shall be on them. They should be able to recognize the rights of every Nigeria. The killing of human beings are getting out of control, so they should think about welfare of the citizens. If they do it, God will help them in their administration and they will be blessed by God and men.

Is there any other word you will like to encourage Nigerians with?

I want to urge everyone to get a copy of the Bible and Quran and read it.

Flooding: Obodogugu residents want Okowa to terminate firm’s contract

Mr. Onyeka Okeke is not a happy man. He is a victim of the ravaging flood caused by torrential rains in parts of Delta State. The furious flood has wreaked havoc on his property including his means of livelihood.

Okeke who is the chairman of landlord association in Obodogugu phase II of Okpanam town in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state is blaming the contractor handling the state government’s erosion control project, Tractix Engineering Company for his woes.

He said the flood channeled by the contracting firm was affecting homes in the area especially when there is downpour, adding that fences, buildings among others have been destroyed each time the flood come calling.

“Two years ago, precisely on May 2, 2017, the same company did same thing. I wrote petition to the governor to come and see the sand they used in blocking the waterway. Later, the flood came and destroyed my house, vehicle and everything.

It was only the cloth I wore that day that was with me. Later I spent N11 million to rebuild my house and other things. To my greatest surprise, only N500,000 was given to me by the state government maybe as compensation.

“In 2018, the same company destroyed my fence, and when I approach them, they kept mum, and nothing was done. I have to rebuild my fence.

“Now, this year, the worse again happened. In the morning of Thursday June 13, 2019 morning I saw another hip of sand along the water way. I approach the supervisor of the company who refused to speak but one of the workers confided in me that, the sand was used to prevent flood from encroaching on the casting, which they had done.

“Few hours later, I was in the shop, when I received a phone call during that heavy rain, that water has taken over my house. Behold, when I got there, I could not recognise my house. My two cars were floating, all my livestock died, my fence was already down.

“Over 200 birds, 10 goats and a dog were killed by the flood. Not only were they dead but they were swept away by the flood. As it is now, I have nowhere to sleep,” he lamented.

Also, a resident in the area, Mrs. Onyebuchi Dolphin narrated her ordeal saying: “I was at work, when a friend of my in the compound called me that I should come home, that flood has taken over my house.

“When I got home, I saw my mattress, a box containing my school certificates and my children school bags floating on the water outside. I thank God that my two children were not at home because the fence fell on my window side which also the affected the house.”

A single mother of four, Blessing Ojika, narrated how flood destroyed “all our property, even my pot of soup was washed away by flood.

“The children and I escaped death, I did not know how we scaled the fence to other side, it was God that saved us.”

As a result, Okeke and some residents called on the state government led by Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to come to the aid of the community and save landlords in the area, alleging that activities of the construction company were denying landlords of their means of livelihood.

They appealed to the governor to terminate the contract of Tractix, insisting that the action of the company in its bid to remedy the flooding situation has caused more harm than good to residence of the emerging community.

Housewife who broke Plateau’s crime record

A 32-year-old housewife based in Jos, Plateau State, has added a new dimension to the commission of crime by allegedly involving herself in four criminal activities in one week. After faking pregnancy for nine months, Mrs. Leritshimwa Diyal  sought to cover up her deceit by allegedly stealing a three-month-old baby.

Within the said period, she also arranged her own abduction, demanded ransom and attempted to take her own life when she realised that the game was up.
Hers was an obvious case of a housewife driven by desperation to have a fruit of the womb. Hence, she jettisoned all known moral ethics and civil conventions and adopted some unimaginable options to bear a child for her husband.
Seven years after she got married, Leritshimwa could not bear a child. While her husband resorted to prayers in the hope of a miracle, she could not endure the family pressure on her to produce a baby. With time, her childlessness became a major threat to the survival of her marriage, forcing her to contemplate getting a child at all cost.
She began last year by lying to her husband that she was pregnant. Needless to say that the news of her long-awaited pregnancy excited the husband to no end. While her husband celebrated the belief that God had answered his prayers, the woman capitalised on her fibroid, an abnormal health condition that leads to enlarged stomach, to give him the impression that a baby was being expected.
While the man eagerly awaited the arrival of their first baby, the woman was busy plotting how to justify her pregnancy claims after nine months. Every month, she demanded money from her innocent husband for antenatal care, telling her husband that she was undergoing same at Jos University Hospital (JUTH). The poor man sensed no deceit and looked eagerly forward to a successful delivery of his first child.
On Sunday, May 25, three days to the expected date of delivery (EDD), Leritshimwa told some family members that she had started noticing signs that she was in labour and so was going to the hospital. Having left the house alone, she hid herself somewhere and called his husband and other family members that she had been kidnapped on her way to the hospital.
The news of her abduction sent danger signals to the family and the entire Jos community, spreading like wild fire and drawing curses from sympathisers who could not help wondering why some people would kidnap a woman already in labour. But there was no time to ponder. The panicking husband and the family must do the needful to rescue Leritshimwa and her unborn baby.
While Leritshimwa’s husband was trying to sort out the ransom demanded by kidnappers, she sent a message to him on May 26 that she had been delivered of a female child in kidnappers’ den. The confused husband pleaded with the ‘kidnappers’ to accept the N500,000 he was able to gather for the release of his wife and new baby. Three days later, Leritshimwa emerged with a female baby she claimed she was delivered of in kidnappers’ den. The entire family was happy to see her with a newborn baby girl, not knowing that it was stolen.
Unknown to family members, for all of the three days Leritshimwa claimed she was in captivity, she was actually in the hospital trying to steal a newborn baby. Having served in the hospital as an IT student of the College of Health Technology Zawan, Jos, Plateau State, she used her knowledge of the hospital’s terrain to effect the stealing of a new baby.
First, she wore her lab gown to disguise as a worker in the hospital and went to the labour ward where a woman had been delivered of a baby girl three days earlier. Disguising as a nurse, she told the mother of the newly born baby that the doctor directed her to bring it for a blood test. Believing Leritshimwa to be a nurse, the poor woman released the baby to her and she vanished with it.
A mother in trauma
The 30-year-old mother of the baby, Mrs. Mary Chukwuebuka, who spoke to journalists in Jos, recalled that the baby was taken away from her on Friday, May 31 by a lady who disguised as a medical personnel in the hospital, three days after birth.
Mrs. Chukwuebuka said: “The Lady who took my baby was dressed in a lab jacket just like the hospital staff. She came straight to my bed in the hospital and requested to carry the baby to the children’s ward for blood sample.
“At first, I resisted and said a doctor had just left after an examination but did not say that the baby was sick or there was need to run a test. The lady insisted that she was directed by the doctor to carry the child to the children’s ward for blood sample.
“I willingly released my baby to her, believing that she was a medical personnel working in the hospital. But when I realised that there was a problem, after waiting for a long period and went to the children ward but could not find my baby, I went to complain to the other doctors only to discover that my baby was missing.”
Different strokes for different folks
While Mrs Chukwuebuka and members of her family were devastated by the disappearance of their newborn baby, it was celebration in the family of Leritshimwa, where she was welcomed home with fanfare. On reaching home with the stolen baby, however, she urged the family to take her to a hospital for an examination of the baby. She was taken to the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) with the child.
At BUTH, she also lied that she was delivered of the baby in kidnappers’ den, and having been released, she needed proper medical attention. While she was on admission at BUTH, the news broke of a missing child already reported to the police by the management of Plateau Specialist Hospital. The police got an intelligence report of a woman who had brought a child to BUTH.
The Plateau State Police Command promptly wrote to the management of BUTH, requesting their cooperation in their investigation. It was later discovered that the baby that went missing in Plateau Specialist Hospital was the same baby found with another mother in BUTH. That brought an end to Leritshimwa’s antics.
Realising that the game was up, she had no way to defend herself of the crimes. She simply confessed to the police that she stole the baby from Plateau Specialist Hospital. She was promptly arrested and the stolen baby was recovered and returned to the original owner.
The investigation and the recovery of the stolen child took the police two weeks.
Suspect will face trial —Police
Speaking about Leritshimwa, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, said: “Due to painstaking and diligent investigation coupled with medical reports, the Police discovered that the suspect, Leritshimwa Dungjil Diyal, has not given birth as she claimed.
“When confronted with these obvious and naked realities, she broke down and confessed to the commission of the above-mentioned crime. The police are investigating her claim that the crime was committed by herself alone.”
According to the police boss, “the principal suspect, Leritshimwa Dungjil Diyal, is a 32-year-old married woman who is a student of the College of Health Technology Zawan in Jos South LGA. She perfected her plans to steal the child by leveraging on her knowledge of Plateau State Specialist Hospital where she once did her attachment.
“She also faked her kidnapping story, thinking it would give her strong alibi. She took the child to Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, with the advice of her mother. The case will be charged to court after investigation.
Paraded before newsmen at the CID Headquarters Jos, Leritshimwa told journalists that she preferred death to the public shame she had subjected herself to. She told journalists in Jos that she stole the baby out of desperation. wish I was dead. I don’t know why I did all this,” she said amid sobs.
Hospital celebrates, set to beef up security
The management of Plateau Specialist Hospital from where the baby was stolen could not hide their joy when the baby was recovered. Handing the baby over to the rightful owner at the hospital in Jos, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Philemon Golwa, expressed delight at the professionalism of the police who helped in recovering the baby and arresting the suspected thief.
Dr. Golwa said: “For this baby to be found alive, he is a miracle baby. We will build a monument in his name for surviving this ordeal at a very tender age. Today is a day of celebration of a life that was thought to be lost but now has been found.
“On that faithful day when we were told that this baby was missing, we were worried. We went to the police, they did their work and most of our staff here were interrogated and kept behind the counter and we had to allow them to do their work.
“I was not sure of what to say throughout the period, but God has made it this way that today, we are celebrating.
“Any baby that comes in circumstances like this, they turn out to be great people in the society. That is why we have to tell the whole world what is happening. We had a breakthrough, and the person that did the technical work of transferring the baby from here to another hospital has been nabbed and she admitted to her fault.
“The Police are trying to demystify how the baby was taken from the ward and how she found her way to another hospital. For us here, we celebrate with the parents. We have seen our lapses. After this, we are taking some measures to correct the abnormalities.
“The incident was very technical. We are going to reinforce some of the basic mechanism of security within the hospital. Not many people will be pleased but you have to bear with us because we need to curtail something like this.
“For the mother, we will follow up and ensure her treatment is completed. We will be monitoring the progress of the baby from time to time. We are going to immortalise the baby, and as part of our contribution, we are taking care of their bills. We don’t expect them to pay any bills again.”
Expressing their gratitude, the parents of the baby, Nwagod and Mary Chukuwebuka, appreciated all those who stood by them to ensure that the baby was recovered, saying they had decided to name the baby Onyiyechi (God’s gift).
Meanwhile, the husband to the childless suspect, Mr. Dunji Diyal, a local teacher in a private school, was livid when he discovered all that his wife had done in an attempt to have a child. Confused and dumbfounded, he was suspected by the police to have conspired with his wife to commit the crimes, but he was not arrested because of his psychological condition. He was, however, being investigated by the police to ascertain his involvement or otherwise. But his mother in-law, who was seen with the child and the suspect at BUTH, was arrested as a suspected accomplice.

How women scavengers make wealth from wastes

Determined to make a living a good number of local women in the Lemmna community near Calabar metropolis are now making fortunes from scavenging from a massive and popular dump site in the community. The Lemmna dump site covers a vast land of about five Olympic sized football fields. It is reported that bad gangs, hemp smokers, even armed robbers have turned it into their comfortable homes.

One of the scavengers, Madam Philomena Elemi from Abi local government area of Cross River State said she makes good money from picking wastes, including empty cartons, plastic bottles and other condemned items for sale. “I make good money.  I cannot work for salary at this stage,” she told our source. Philo, as she is popularly called, said she is a widow with nine children and has been working or scavenging from the dump site for more than 10 years.

It was not easy to get her to speak because of apparent fear, she even refused for her picture to be taken.  There is very strict rule against reporters visiting the site let alone interview workers. Philo claimed that there are 30 widows  and other married  women who are coming into the site even as there are men, and young people of questionable characters who loiter around the area. She said, like her, most scavengers at the site have been there for several years, and are not particularly worried of the terrible stench, hazardous atmosphere and general health risks associated with the mountainous diets and decomposing bodies of animals and even humans. She said they are very much used to the stench, flies, and hazards posed by the wastes, adding that every job has its own risks.

 Philo like other women and workers at the site kit themselves with rain boots,  overalls and face masks for protection. “For me, I have never slept in a hospital as a result of working here. I take good medical care of myself every day when I close from here. “I am a widow. I have nine children.  I prefer this job here. It is better than engaging in prostitution, begging for alms or engaging in illegal works. At least, I make good money from here to sponsor my children at various schools. I am their father, I am their mother. Some of them do come here to help me out. “There are many women like me here. Many are widows like me. We all pick up useful items here which we sell at, say N5 or N10 or such amount to buyers who come here and are willing to pay. Many of us sustain themselves from these wastes”, Philo said. Another scavenger, Rita, who said she is 22 years, told our source that she joined others when she could not afford her school fees and was forced to drop out.

A youth leader in the community, Festus Ben, speaking on reported activities of some criminal elements around the site said they have reports that such undesirable elements have once or twice launched out from the site but that they were equal to them. Police PRO, Irene Igbo said they have not received any reports about criminal activities at the site. An official of the state Ministry of Environment, who gave his name as Mr John, said there was an attempt by the state government to move the site to Awi in Akamkpa LGA. The official said Governor Ben Ayade has visited the site no fewer than two times and had told them that he would send experts who would recycle the entire wastes.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Peter Egba showed this reporter an ongoing building at the sprawling Ayade Industrial Park which he said is  for the recycling of wastes from  Lemma and other sites. “We do not want to recycle the wastes at Lemma to avoid the impact of the stench circulation.  We will evacuate the wastes to the new recycling plant which we are building at the industrial estate.  Government wants to turn the whole wastes into wealth for the state,” Egba said.

”How I killed, buried housewife four months after we met on Facebook” – Pastor Confesses

The Kwara state police command has paraded a man named, Dotun Okunlade, who claimed to be a pastor for allegedly strangling a 25-year -old married woman Igbo-ora, in Ibarapa local government area of Kwara State

According to the suspect, he said he met the said lady of Facebook in January this year and invited her over.

See his confessional statement below:

“I and the woman had been chatting on Facebook since January this year. I later invited her to Igbo-ora.

“Meanwhile, Mutiu, a friend had already told me about his challenges in life. He told me he was ready for money rituals. So, I decided to use the woman for money for him.

“When the woman later arrived from Ilorin, I went to pick her to Igbo-Ora from Iseyin. On her arrival at my house, on the 31st of May, this year, I gave her sleeping drugs after she complained about pains in her body.

“She slept off and I cut off her head and arms. Her head was later burnt to ashes for money rituals.”

I Sold Boys Heads For N170,000, Girls’ For N160,000 – Arrested Head Hunter Confesses

A 22-year-old man, Mustapha Aliyu, has landed in custody of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police for the gruesome murder and decapitation of a three-year-old boy for ritual purposes.
The three-year-old boy was the fifth victim the suspect had killed and beheaded before he was eventually caught.

The ritual head hunter was beaten to a pulp by resident of the area where had he killed the child victim identified as Usman Awalu. The deceased was said to be the child of a Fulani man resident at Rugan Fulani, close to Leleyi village in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
But for the quick intervention of the police, the lynching of the murder suspect would have resulted in his death, with the village rallying after vigilantes caught him with a bag containing the fresh head of the innocent child.
Caught in the violence of the lynch mob, a policeman who led authorities to arrest the suspect is said to be lying critical ill in one of the area hospitals.

The suspect, who claimed he had made good money killing innocent children and chopping off their heads, confessed that he used the money to purchase lands and build houses in the area.
Though not unmarried and without children of his own, the suspect, who said he was looking forward to getting married, told this reporter that he would not like anyone to kill his child.
In the following interview, the suspect narrates how he went into the bloody head hunting ‘business’.

“My name is Mustapha Aliyu. I am 22-years-old and I am from Lele-Gwari village in Kwali Area Council.

“I got into the business of killing children though my master who asked me to go and cut human heads for him. I met my master after I went to meet him to assist me with money because I wanted to go to school,  and he said ‘no problem’. After that he entertained me with rice and palm oil, and after I ate I started obeying his orders, I could not argue with him.”

“To start the killings, he equipped me with a machete, a cloth and charms; that was how I was recruited into killing innocent children.”

“He specifically asked me to bring heads of children for him and promised to give me N170,000, if I bring the head of a boy and N160,000 for that of a girl.

HOW I OPERATE

“My master gave me one charm with which I operate with whenever I go in search of my victims. All I do is put the charm on my hand and if I see any child I will just touch the child, and once I do that the child will just lose his or her senses and won’t be able to talk again; then I will take the child to a lonely place, push them to the ground and kill them with the machete and other things given to me by my master.”

“To separate the head from the body of the child, I usually hit the head two times, after which I will put the head in a bag and deliver to my master and he will give me the cash (payment) immediately.”

“So far I have killed four children, two boys and two girls, and this one was the fifth one before I was caught. Apart from the head, I don’t take anything from their bodies because that was the instruction my master gave me.

“My master bought me land for doing a good job and I have built houses with the money I made from the business. I am not afraid of sleeping in the house that I built using the blood of innocent children, I am happy with it.

“I am not yet married I am looking forward to getting married but honestly I will not be happy if somebody kills my child like this”used to pay me.”

Salawa Abeni unveils plans to wed again

Not a pushover in the entertainment industry, Queen Salawa Abeni has been on this terrain since she was 13. Now 58 years old, QSA, as she is fondly called, has her bag of success stories full.

Just back from Hajj after a 10-year hiatus, the Waka Queen, who was challenged in her health for five years revealed this was her first hajj after the illness that claimed all that she had.
“Glory be to Allah because this is a significant trip,” she said.
Recalling her ordeal some years ago, QSA believed her last pilgrimage was significant.
“I just returned from lesser hajj. I went to thank God after 10 years that I’ve been there. I was there in October 2008 but fell terribly ill on February 1, 2009. I was bed-ridden for five years. Today, I thank God I am back on my feet.”

How has she evolved over the years especially now that she sings modernized Waka?
“To be up and retain the position is not easy. I have to also evolve so that I wouldn’t be stagnant. I’ve had collabos with my son, Big Sheff, I’ve had to feature in many shows/concerts to pass the message across that Queen Salawa Abeni is back,” she said.


Fans
Accommodating and support me since I came back. The prayers, messages, kind words are quite encouraging.
Overcoming challenges
I always advise that anybody challenged should learn to pray to God. Also, such persons should not be shy to tell others about such challenges. I am not shy to seek assistance. If you like, abuse me and start telling others, I don’t care because I want the best for myself. Don’t be moved by criticisms/hearsays. I don’t give up. If you fall, you will rise again.
Mentoring
I have a handful of mentees and they are doing well. Though some of them don’t sing Waka, they have chosen to toe the religion line.

Inspiration
Whenever I’m on stage, my inspiration is the crowd. Whenever I see people and a crowd of loved ones, I am inspired. It strengthens me.

Life as an artiste

I believe an artiste should be focused and refuse distraction. For young artiste, I think they should sing meaningful songs that would extend beyond the time they are. Young people should be patient, prayerful and meaningful. I remember a concert I performed in Germany. I try as much as possible to allow fans understand whatever I am singing. God is also my strength because you cannot claim to be happy and singing without dancing.

Support System

God has always surrounded me with good people who assisted me and still do in every step of the way. The journey has not been easy especially when I was raising my kids. To be able to still be relevant after so many years in the industry is a mystery. My first trip abroad was in 1978. I also went for Hajj in 1978 and from there; God started upgrading me to the next level. After that, I started travelling abroad.


Memorable Concerts
I would not forget Benson and Hedges show which held at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos some years ago. It featured Sir Shina Peters, Femi Kuti and many big artistes. We were accommodated in Federal Palace Hotel and I was instructed to perform the last show. That could be a challenge to some artistes because fans could decide going before you climb the stage. The show was quite unique because you can’t even watch another artiste before your performance. When it was your turn to perform, organizers would come and request for your appearance. My turn was 6am. By time my name was announced, the crowd surged! They made so much noise and I was so happy. I started singing and they sang along with me. By 8.30am, the crowd still asked for more. They sang, ‘All we are saying, Salawa, give us more music,’ I was surprised because I would have continued but I had a show in Ijebu in the afternoon. It was a great time. Also, I would not forget another show I had in Queen Elizabeth Hall in England. That was about four years ago and two of us performed. I was the only black artiste because the other performer was a white man. I sang and the crowd asked for more because I was the artiste that closed the show.

Strength
It comes from God because I don’t drink or smoke. I realise that anytime I start to perform, I get inspired and the strength to go on and on comes upon me. You can’t perform without strength because I love dancing. At 58 now, I dance and dance while performing. Whenever I see older artistes like King Sunny Ade, Evangelist Ebenezar Obey, and others are still performing in their 70s. Even artistes in their 60s are performing.


Marriage/Career
Whatever you are doing that gets you a livelihood and you become famous or successful, people would get jealous and could bad-mouth you.
I was once married to Chief Kollington Ayinla but we are no longer together. I don’t want to comment on that because the union produced wonderful children. Now, I am not married but I have lovely kids. That a woman is successful in her career and still married is good. That’s a plus. On the other hand, it does not mean the woman who is divorced or single is of bad behavior—she is not abnormal. It could be a challenge and such women should move on and stop seeing everyone as an enemy.
They should also learn to ignore whatever negative words people are saying. There is no woman who doesn’t want to be married. Though there could be challenges, I believe God can give everyone a new beginning. Even at my age, I know and believe God can give me a new beginning. So, don’t give up!

Community conspiracy landed dad in life jail – Surviving daughter of freed centenarian prisoner

Miss Chisom Celestine is the only surviving daughter of Pa Egbohuche Celestine, the recently-released 101-year-old prisoner. She talks with OGBONNA CASMIR about the agony she suffered while her father was behind bars for 19 years

How did you cope in the last 19 years that your father was in prison?

I was 12 when my father was imprisoned. I survived with support from friends and those who knew about the case. They were the people who helped me all the years. My father was imprisoned at the Enugu Maximum Prison.

What was your reaction the day he was jailed alongside his son and a relative?

It was sad news. It wasn’t easy for me then. If not for God, I would have been dead by now; nobody to go to. There was no mother, uncle, brother or sister.

Did you ever think you would see your father alive again?

No, because there was nobody to seek help from on his behalf. I thought all hope was lost. I thank God Almighty who used a non-governmental organization, Global Society for Anti Corruption, to put a smile on my face again after many years of not seeing my father.

How would you describe the efforts of the NGO in assisting to secure your father’s release?

I can say that it’s wonderful. Their efforts were wonderful and I’m delighted in what they did. They really tried and what preoccupied my mind was how to pay them. I couldn’t have afforded it if they requested money, but they didn’t request a dime. I pray God to give them grace to continue fighting for people who don’t have anybody to fight for them. There are some people out there who are suffering the same way my people suffered all these years because they have nobody to advocate for them.

How did you react to the granting of pardon to some prisoners, including your father, by the past administration of ex-governor Rochas Okorocha?

On behalf of my family, I thank ex-governor Rochas Okorocha for the pardon granted my father. God will do for him what he cannot do for himself. To all that were released, I pray that the grace of God will keep them from putting their hands in anything that can tarnish their image again.

What offence was your father and others accused of?

My people accused him of killing his cousin’s brother, one Cyril Igbokwe. The said Igbokwe was trained and nurtured by my father and he lived with us up until he got money and built his own house.

Till date, my father and the entire family were yet to comprehend what happened. When my father and members of his family were taken to a police station at Akokwa till when they were transferred to the state police command, Owerri, my father and my brother were not allowed to make a statement.

It was based on an alleged confessional statement that my father and brother were convicted. My father was an ex-seminarian who wanted to be a Catholic priest but because he was an only son, he was not ordained Catholic priest. My brother was educated was not allowed to make statement on their own. They were charged for allegedly killing his cousin.

What do you intend to do to make your father enjoy the remaining years of his life?

The only thing I can do is to pray for more grace and more years for him. There is a part in the Bible where God told Samuel to tell Hezekiah that he would die, he pleaded to God and God added more 15 years to his life.

My father was the head of St. Jude Society in St. David Catholic Church, Owerri-Akokwa, where he served faithfully. He served as an usher from St. Banabas Church to Owerri-Akokwa to St. David Catholic Church during the time of Rev. Fr. Jude Agowa and Jude Ndugbu etc. During the regime of Gregory Ochiagha, my father served faithfully. I pray that God will look at his service to Him and give him more years to live.

What did the local church in his community do when the incident happened?

The parish priest in the church was transferred immediately the incident happened. The new priest didn’t know anything about him. The conspiracy was too complicated. I was about 12 years when the incident happened as I earlier told you. My elder sister who was fighting against the unjust treatment meted out to our family was killed by the same people in 2005.

Are you saying the church didn’t do anything?

Yes. The church didn’t do anything. The pressure was much from the people who conspired against us. They threatened to burn the house of anybody that helped us and many were afraid.

The case was heard in court and he was sentenced…?

My father is innocent. I can say that again and again. During the time of the first parish priest, he (priest) was a vibrant charismatic priest. He conducted community deliverance and burning of shrines. My father helped him in the mission.

Immediately that priest was transferred, they struck at my father because they saw him as a threat. He doesn’t support evil, when anybody wants to cheat anybody; my father won’t allow it. They said my father was against them since he didn’t  support them; so, they planned all means to intimidate him.

I was surprised the day the lawyer my late sister engaged to defend my father called me and said they had been transferred to Enugu Maximum Prison after sentencing them to death.

I asked him what happened and he said we could appeal the judgement. I didn’t know where to start or who to go to. I said if God could not exonerate him, let them die in the prison. But if they were innocent, God would prove Himself by ensuring their release.

What is your plea for your only brother who is still in prison?

My brother, Paul, is still in prison. I am appealing to the government of Imo State to also pardon my brother and release him to us. He is the only relative I have now. I can boast of his innocence too. I’m appealing to Governor Emeka Ihedioha to please help in releasing my brother. Members of my family have been wasted.

It was reported that your family house has been destroyed. Would you want to return to your community with you father?

I don’t want to return to the community if not for my father. If it is about only me, I would look for another place.