Nigeria ‘missing out’ on current scramble for Africa’s cocoa

The price of cocoa on the global market has increased because of a reduction in production output from Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, choice markets for European chocolate makers.

Reuters reports that Ghanaian beans are currently trading as high as £200 per tonne while Cote d’Ivoire’s stand at £85.
The supply pressure was worsened after the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) in Cote d’Ivoire said it will suspend programmes for the 2018-2019 season to avoid a supply glut.

“Given the increase in global cocoa supply and falling prices since 2016/17, the CCC has decided to carry out a census of the coffee and cocoa orchards,” the council said in a statement although it did not say when the census will begin.
“Pending the finalisation of this census, we inform you of our decision to temporarily suspend any distribution of improved plant material, seeds, cuttings, etc, from the 18/19 season.”

A dealer told Reuters that “the shippers locally are running around looking for cocoa to be able to honour their contracts”.
An increase in West African cocoa shipments to the US has also reduced supplies to Europe.
Traders say cocoa from Nigeria and Cameroon would have served as replacement but output has been slow from both countries.

Nigeria used to be ranked fourth in cocoa production after Indonesia, Ghana and Ivory Coast.
The country is currently ranked seventh in cocoa production. - Cable Nigeria

Human trafficking: Oba of Benin forces native doctors to revoke curses placed on victims

Edo State victims of human trafficking can now call the bluff of agents who threaten them with dire consequences of oaths sworn to in the process of taking them abroad.

The oaths which are often administered by native doctors engaged by the agents were reversed yesterday by the same native doctors.

The oath reversal was at the instance of the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, at a special meeting in his palace to stop human trafficking in the state which comes tops in the illegal act in Nigeria.

An oath taking process ,according to victims, involve the invocation of parts of their bodies as collateral to force them pay back the money spent by the agents to take them  mainly to Europe where they end up as prostitutes.

Hundreds of native doctors converged on the Oba of Benin palace yesterday to heed the monarch’s call.

Oba Ewuare 11 said Governor Godwin Obaseki had pleaded with him to help reduce the spate of human trafficking in the state.

The state, he pointed out, has had enough of the embarrassment that comes with human trafficking and it is time to put an immediate end to it.

He said while the palace has nothing against the practice of native medicine, it will not condone a situation where it is used to “perpetrate evil in the land through aiding and abetting human trafficking.”

He said: “You native doctors whose business is to subject people to oath of secrecy and encouraging evil act in the land, you have to repent, stop doing it.

“This is not a joking matter and if you do not repent, you’ll see the repercussions.”

He cursed human traffickers and native doctors who subject Benin sons and daughters to oaths of secrecy, initiate them into cults or encourage violation of the order banning Community Development Associations.

He warned that anyone persisting should be ready to face the wrath of the gods.

He then directed the native doctors present to revoke the curses and oaths already placed on trafficked victims.

The Benin Monarch declared: “We want to use this medium to tell those who are under any oath of secrecy that they are now free. We revoke the oath today.

“What the palace stands for is peace and the development of the state. I want to use this medium to tell you that the act of using charms to aid trafficking, the palace seriously frowns at it.

“We want us to join hands together to fight against human trafficking in the land.”

Those who took part in the swearing exercise were priests from various shrines in the state such as the Ohen Okhuae, Ohen Ovia, Ohen noriyekeogba, Ohen Ake, Ohen Niwuo, native doctors, Ohen Sango,  Odionwere, Iwueki and the  Enigies. - The Nation

Fulani herdsmen kill 15, injure scores in Plateau communities

Barely 24 hours after the official launch of a-five-year road map for peace strategy in Plateau State by President Muhammadu Buhari, suspected herdsmen have reportedly killed 15 persons in the state.

The attacks occurred in Nzharuvo community of Bassa Local Government Area Thursday night.

Fifteen persons lost their lives in Daffo and Bokkos, while several others were injured and houses set ablaze.

According to a youth leader in the community (Nzharuvo), Mr. Danjuma Auta, the victims were mostly children and a woman.

“With the persistent attacks on our communities, most men no longer sleep at home. We do keep vigil at border areas to our communities, we wonder where the attackers of our community came from.

“It is an unfortunate incident, these killers are heartless. They do not have mercy for even innocent children. They macheted the children to death, as we speak, we are preparing for their burial,” he said.

Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with DAILY POST, the councillor representing Daffo, Hon. Danjuma Mabas said, “As I speak to you, the entire Daffo District is on fire, as herdsmen are rampaging the area, killing and setting houses ablaze.

“Presently, ten persons are confirmed death, several others injured and also many are missing.

“As I speak, there is no presence of any security in the area.”

He added that several people have been displaced from about eight villages.

“A number of aged people in the affected villages are also missing”, Mabas said.

According to him, several other people were currently being treated of varying degrees of gunshot injuries.

“The whole place has been left to the mercy of the attackers,” he said.

Attacks in the Daffo villages have persisted since January 24, 2018 when about seven people were killed around Josho community.

The latest attacks began on Wednesday when five women were shot in Nghakudung village in the Josho area.
Confirming the incident in Bassa LGA, the PPRO of Plateau Police Command, ASP Mathias Terna Tyopev, said, “Some unknown gunmen attacked and killed four Irigwe at Datanko village and one Fulani Christian at Nzharuvo village in Miango district.

“The deceased persons were identified as Emmanuel Joseph, 16years, Christopher Joseph 16years, Peace Joseph 6years, Henry Audu 25years and Samuel Isah 48years.

“Meanwhile, Samuel Isah has been buried while the four others corpses have been deposited at Jos University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

“Chenka Amos, a four year old boy is still lying unconscious on admission at Enos Private Hospital Miango.”

He assured that investigation was still in progress, as intensive patrol would be sustained.

On the Daffo district, in Bokkos LGA incident, the spokesperson said as at the time of filing this report that he will get back to our correspondent later. - Daily Post

MR corruption !! Arms deal: How Dokpesi collected N2.1bn for doing nothing – Witness

Mr. Abubakar Madaki, a prosecution witness in the on-going trial of former Chairman, DAAR Communications Plc, Mr Raymond Dokpesi, Friday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja ‎that the accused received money for rendering no services.

Madaki, under cross examination by Dokpesi’s counsel, Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN), said that: “Dokpesi was paid for doing nothing, for rendering no service”.

The witness said that the N2.1 billion, under investigation was funds from the office of the National Security Adviser.

According to him, all the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser are for national security.

The witness, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) said that he was part of the team that was appointed by the commission to investigate funds meant for national security that were allegedly diverted.

When Agabi sought to know what evidence he had of the diversion, the witness said: “the funds were found in their accounts when they had no reason to take it.

“This is because they could not account for any contract they executed for such payments.”

Justice John Tsoho adjourned the matter until April 13 for continuation of cross examination of the witness. - Daily Post

Remi Sonaiya declares for 2019 presidential election

Prof. Remi Sonaiya, the presidential candidate of the KOWA Party in the 2015 elections, has said she will contest again in the 2019 presidential election.

Sonaiya expressed her optimism that she will make it in the primary, despite interest from four other KOWA aspirants.

She stated this while speaking at the commemoration of the 2018 International Women’s Day at the WFM91.7, Arepo, Ogun State.

The event was organised by the Media Women Forum, with the theme “Mobilising women for politics.”

“Yes, I am coming out. I am planning to run as one of the aspirants in KOWA Party. Four other people have indicated their interest in the ticket, so let’s see what happens after our primary,” she replied when asked if she was planning to contest next year.

“My message to women is that the time to stand is now; the reason is that we have short-changed ourselves as a nation. We cannot have a developed nation without women’s involvement. We have the skills and abilities to prepare for leadership.

“By leaving the leadership position to men alone, we have denied ourselves our rights. I really hope that women will be determined and stand, in not just talking about the situation of things, but assuming responsibilities. We should not be begged to take charge.” - Daily Post

PL : Allardyce lauds Everton's 'masterful' Rooney

Sam Allardyce lauded the "masterful" performance of Wayne Rooney despite his missed penalty in Everton's 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

The hosts were wasteful in the first half at Goodison Park, but Gaetan Bong's own goal – forced when Theo Walcott sought to get on the end of Yannick Bolasie's teasing delivery – broke the deadlock on the hour mark.

Rooney played in a deep-lying role and enjoyed plenty of time on the ball, with Cenk Tosun doubling the Toffees' lead before the former England international saw his spot-kick saved by Mat Ryan.

It did little to diminish Allardyce's view of Rooney's overall contribution, with the 63-year-old singing his praises. 

"What a masterful job he did for me," Allardyce told the club's official website. "His passes were the reason we were so fluid I felt in the fist half and then again the second half.

"I think the only thing that let us down first half was our quality in front of goal, that improved second half brilliantly with three instances, particularly the first goal, which was an own goal, which was unfortunate Theo didn't score it.

"The second goal was a nice little lay-off to Cenk and a beautiful finish and then the skill into the box from Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] to get the penalty – I don't think anybody's got any doubt about that, it's a brilliant piece of skill to get around the defender in that tight situation.

"It's just a shame Wayne didn't finish off what would have been an outstanding performance. I suppose missing it at this level when you're 2-0 up it's not so bad, so it was still an ousttanding performance, but that would have been the crowning glory for him."

The visitors were reduced to 10 men late on following a straight red card for Anthony Knockaert, who dived in two-footed on the returning Leighton Baines, and boss Chris Hughton offered no defence of his player and expressed surprise at his side's lacklustre showing. 

"I've not spoken to Anthony. Of course I will, but I've got no complaints," said Hughton. 

"I was surprised, particularly with the form we've been in. You can't come to Everton, who have been very good at home, and play at a level that doesn't allow you to get anything from the game.

"At half-time, having not played well, we were still very much in the game. For all the corners that they had and ball in that final third, they never really had clear chances.

"There was an opportunity for us to come out better and improve in the second half and unfortunately we didn't."

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The result lifted Everton up to ninth, while Brighton – who sit 11th – still have some work to do to pull away from relegation trouble. - Goal

PL news : Antonio Conte unconcerned by Chelsea profligacy

 Conte was not overly concerned by the amount of chances Chelsea wasted in Saturday's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, adamant the overall performance was a pleasing one.

Chelsea had little difficulty against Palace for the majority of the match, opening up a two-goal lead by the 32nd minute thanks to Willian's opener and a Martin Kelly own-goal.

The hosts were dominant after the break too, creating several opportunities to trouble Wayne Hennessey in the Palace goal, while the post came to the visitors' rescue to deny Olivier Giroud in the 67th minute.

Conte acknowledged they could have been more clinical, but overall it was a performance that impressed him.

"I think we created a lot of chances to score a lot of goals and we conceded to make it 2-1 at the end and, for sure, there was a little pressure," he told BT Sport.

"But we were very good to keep the ball outside of our box [after Palace's goal]. We deserved to win.

"We played a really good game, especially in the second half and we created chances to score.

"We tried to finish the game, kill the game, but I think that we tried and the goalkeeper made good saves.

"We hit the post. For sure, when you have so many chances it's important to be clinical, kill the game, but we must be pleased with the performance of the team as a whole and now we must prepare for Barcelona."

The match was a frustrating one for Giroud, who is still searching for his first Premier League goal since joining Chelsea.

Giroud saw one effort cleared off the line and also hit the post, but Conte feels the Frenchman had a "positive" display nonetheless.

"I think Olivier was unlucky," Conte added. "He had two clear chances to score; he hit the post and then in another situation it was a deflection off the defender.

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"But I think his commitment was positive for the team. We must be pleased with him."

How I Will Defeat Buhari In 2019-Omoyele Sowore

The Publisher of the popular news website, Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has thrown his hat into Nigeria’s political ring. He is now gearing up to run in the country’s forthcoming presidential election in 2019. 

In this interview with Editor-in-Chief Musikilu Mojeed, Mr. Sowore explains why he is joining politics, how he will defeat President Muhammadu Buhari, how he will run Nigeria if elected, and what he will do with Sahara Reporters once he becomes president.

PT: You have indicated you might run for president in the 2019 election. Why are you crossing into partisan politics? 

SOWORE: I’ve always been in the forefront of the agitation and struggle to move Nigeria forward – first as a student and youth activist during military regimes. Since 1999, my focus has been on improving and sanitizing the democratic space. This is a natural progression of my commitment to moving Nigeria forward. This will not be politics as usual. I have always been a part of the movement to move Nigeria forward. I have always played a leading role in that movement. 

This is a movement. It will be the largest mobilization of Nigeria’s ignored and dispossessed people. It will be the most direct engagement of a people in their own political future. I’ve always offered Nigerians a platform for amplifying their concerns and dreams for Nigeria. I am continuing that struggle. Yes – we will be part of a coalition of parties. These will all be progressive parties – committed to nothing other than the advancement of the Nigerian nation. It is Nigeria’s moment to see revolutionary politics in action!

PT: Are you not abandoning activism that way?

SOWORE: Activism is simply advancing a pro-people agenda. For too long we have focused on using borrowed voices in the political realm while we’ve focused on creating awareness. That has failed. Since 1999 – the progressive movement has been disappointed by the actions and inactions of those we have left to handle the affairs of Nigeria while we reduced ourselves to election monitors, NGO leaders, and street protesters. 

In the course of doing these, we have inadvertently supported some of the cruelest and mediocre to occupy political power. Sometimes the most revolutionary thing to do is to get into the ring. Obama was an activist who became president. Mandela was an activist who became president. Everyone will agree that their principled commitment to struggle continued even when they were in office. So it is possible to stay committed to an activist agenda even when in office.

PT: Are you saying Buhari has failed and not worthy of being re-elected?

SOWORE: Just a little over a week ago – over 100 young girls were taken by Boko Haram in Dapchi. Buhari’s appeal was supposed to be a tough stance against corruption and an ability to address the security crises posed by Boko Haram. No single major victory has been notched in the anti-corruption fight. Boko Haram is still alive and kicking. And the president’s inaction and lack of leadership are causing the herdsmen-farmers conflicts to take on an even more dangerous dimension. The Nigerian state is in shambles.

PT: Election is less than a year away. Are you still holed up in your base in New York? When are you going to find a party and then mobilize support for your candidacy?

SOWORE: I think it is incontrovertible that in and out of Nigeria, I have been an effective contributor to the struggle for the advancement of good governance in Nigeria. The efforts to mobilize progressives and to form a coalition of progressive parties and organizations is underway. I am using my time in the U.S. to mobilize diaspora Nigerians. This weekend, for instance, I will be holding a town hall in Maryland with Nigerians. I am also spending a great deal of my time meeting with my strategy and policy teams – members of whom include some really accomplished Nigerians. Unknown to many I have been on the ground Nigeria in the last two months.The work goes on. I will certainly be spending more time on the ground in Nigeria.

PT: Prosecuting election in Nigeria is known to cost several billions of naira. Where will you find the resources for this project?

SOWORE: Elections are always expensive – that’s true. However what is also true is that monies spent in Nigerian politics are not mainly focused on political mobilization or electioneering campaigns and organization. As a political movement for true change, we will not be spending money on buying votes or distributing rice to the electorate. Our monetary needs will be greatly reduced. We will be sourcing funds directly from the Nigerian people. Nigerians have demonstrated a capacity to devote their resources to projects that they believe in. The recent team that represented Nigeria in bobsledding at the Winter Olympics raised almost $200,000 – a lot of it from Nigerians. We are already seeing and receiving commitments for support. Our approach will revolutionize the way politics is funded in Nigeria. There is also a lot of support that is coming in the form of goodwill donations. For instance – I’ll be in Maryland this weekend at a town hall. A group of concerned Nigerians are funding that event. We also have something that counts for a lot – an army of technology savvy supporters and media platforms that will amplify our voice to the Nigerian people. 

Barack Obama raised millions of dollars from Nigerians in the US alone in 2008/2009 and subsequently after. 100,000 Nigerian contributing $200 per person can help fund a clean election devoid of dirty money. With that, we can win the presidency and bring them back a lot of change!

PT: You are from the south of Nigeria. There are those saying you should wait until 2023 when Buhari or any other northerner would have completed the North’s turn of leadership rotation? What do you say to that?

SOWORE: Where has our “Turn – by – Turn” politics gotten us? I’m a firm believer that when it comes to the life of a nation – all sentiments must be set aside and only the most capable hands should be employed to manage the affairs of Nigerians. If I believed in Buhari’s ability to lead NIGERIA, I would have supported him. When Jonathan – a Southerner like me was in office, I had a principled opposition to the way he was running Nigeria. It was Albert Einstein that said, “it is madness to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome.” Nigeria has a unique opportunity in 2019 to elevate competence over tribalism, elevate character over dishonesty, principle over indecisiveness. I’m sure when the dust clears there will be candidates from across Nigeria expressing an interest in the presidency. Let Nigerians decide who should lead them.

Our patriots from across Nigeria won’t bother about zoning when they realize the person running the country is completely detribalized and doesn’t treat anyone different because of their tribe, religion, creed, and class. We have had it all. Mediocrity hiding behind zoning and a wicked, selfish sense of entitlement. The only thing zoning does is empower political actors to enrich themselves and plug their friends and cronies in the position of authority to steal, kill and destroy. For the rest of us north or south, we are zoned to misery.

PT: Recently Garba Shehu, a spokesperson to the president, said Buhari’s followership in Kano and across Nigeria is so huge and phenomenal that it has to be studied by political scientists. How can you defeat such a man in 2019?

SOWORE: Buhari’s followership is large – but remember that it took four tries and an alliance with the South-West and with progressive democratic forces before he was able to become president. We are all witnesses to the unprecedented set of circumstances that saw an incumbent president defeated at the polls. If there is anything we have learned in the last few years, it is the fact that the Nigerian electorate has become impatient with purposeless leadership. My candidacy is generating significant interest across Nigeria, especially amongst the youth. The youth demographic is the largest single voting block. The coalition of progressives, youths and previously disenfranchised Nigerians that we are building will be a force to reckon with. I have been in the business of building movements since my time as a student activist in the late 80s and early 90s. I am confident that we will be able to build a broad coalition of Nigerians committed to taking their country back and setting it firmly on a path to prosperity and unprecedented progress.

PT: What will you do differently if elected president of Nigeria?

SOWORE: Nigeria struggles because past presidents have had three major issues. Firstly, there is an abject absence of a clear vision as to where the country should be headed. Where should Nigeria be in the next five, 10 or even 50 years? Where are the national plans that map out the country’s vision and the paths to their actualization aside from the propaganda we see on NTA? Today, we are impressed by China’s sustained growth, but since 1953 China has produced a series of 5-year plans that has guided their growth. Now they are on their 13th five-year plan (2016-2020). With that China became the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth using its populace as its best resource. China solved its housing crisis and even now boast of unoccupied apartments in “ghost cities” built in the last 10 years. China built one of the fastest rail services with an amount of money equivalent to the sums stolen during the oil imports scam. Same goes for the UAE. Dubai was built into the architectural marvel that is now a magnet to Nigeria’s thieving elites. I will be instituting a series of four-year plans to overlap with Nigeria’s political tenure system that will chart our path to growth and progress. Secondly, even where a clear vision might exist, nepotism, tribalism, and favoritism has robbed us of the service of our best people. I am a completely detribalized Nigerian. My antecedents are that of an activist that has worked to build alliances and networks across this nation over the last 30 years. 

I understand first hand the value of having competent and capable people in the right positions. I’ve created a world-class media company in the last 12 years and taught in a private college for eight years helping to mold some of America’s greatest minds.

Thirdly, corruption has crippled us as a nation. Where past presidents have been slow in tackling this issue and sometimes even complicit through their actions or inactions in promoting corruption, I will be decisive in dealing with this cancer that has ravaged the Nigerian nation.

PT: You are a long-term activist and indeed a very popular figure across Nigeria. But Gani Fawehinmi was an activist who served Nigerians all his life. He made to be president in 2003 but the same people he served for almost his entire life abandoned him at the polls. Are you not worried you might get a similar treatment?

SOWORE: Gani was, as you said, a household name across Nigeria. The reality was that in 2003, there was still some hope and expectation by the Nigerian people that the status quo political system would be able to lead Niferia to progress and growth. It is now clear that those largely naive aspirations were ill-founded. After numerous failed governments, Nigerians have demonstrated that they are ready to try new concepts and ideas and to go beyond the status quo in seeking solutions. That led them to pick a south-south Ijaw man as president in 2011 and in electing an opposition candidate who had failed to win the presidency three times before, in 2015. Gani came before his time. Also, there are other factors now present in our current political reality. For example, the power of social media helping young people to engage and interact, the power of technology to help change election outcomes, an accuracy of results, real-time reporting and capture of results. 

It is also important to state that elections in 2003 and beyond under Obasanjo and the Peoples Democratic Party were not worthy to be referred to as credible elections. For instance, just imagine if Nigerians seized the opportunity offered by Gani in 2003 and thus elected him over an Olusegun Obasanjo, just imagine where will be today. Imagine, an Obafemi Awolowo or Aminu Kano over a Shehu Shagari. There is an appetite by the Nigerian people for candidates with character, and a proven and demonstrable track record of being able to drive for real change. The APC has failed Nigerians in this area. The movement we are building will be offering revolutionary change.

PT: On the platform of which political party are you planning to run?

SOWORE: That is something we are working on. We are currently in discussions with progressive groups and parties, the goal is to have a broad coalition of progressive parties that could lend their structures and ideologies to defeat the old order. When the time is right we will be announcing what party platforms that will be utilized.

PT: You have spent over 12 years of your life building SaharaReporters into a formidable news and anti-corruption platform? What becomes of the website now that you are crossing into partisan politics?

SOWORE: Sahara Reporters will continue to speak truth to power. The platform is more than just Sowore. When I win the presidency, I will be turning over all of my assets to a blind trust that will run it. Sahara Reporters will continue to be run by independent-minded citizen activists. Even now, the website is managed by several others who have been groomed and schooled in the founding traditions of the website. That is what Sahara Reporters is and that is how it will remain. SaharaReporters is driven by its ever loyal readers and users!

PT: Thank you very much for speaking to us.

SOWORE: Thank you very much too for interviewing me. - Premium Times

Northerners should be blamed for insecurity in Nigeria -Ohanaze

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has revealed that dominance of Northerners in security agencies is to blame for lingering insecurity in Nigeria.

The group in a statement by its Spokeman, Prince Barr Uche Achi-Okpaga said Nigerians are being killed because there is no cross-fertilisation of inter-regional security initiatives at the top levels, adding that all security agencies are headed by Northerners.

The statement reads in part, “Now every security agency is headed by the North, every military and para-military agency is headed by the North. Every anti-graft agency is headed by the North and virtually Fulani.

“Why on earth would they not be sentimental? Are they not human beings? That is why we have severe insecurity all over the place because, at the top security echelon, there is no cross-fertilisation of inter-regional security initiatives. So, today, in a bid to sustain northern political hegemony, we are playing politics with security and Nigerians are killed in their tens and hundreds incessantly.

“Until we restructure to address these imbalances and shelve the Federal Government of many items on the Exclusive Federal list and assign them to the states, Nigeria will remain like a stationary machine; all motion, no movement.

“If we restructure Nigeria today, all the increasing agitations for self determination from Biafra, Ijaw, Oduduwa among others will subside appreciably.

“Every day we cry of lopsided appointments, but it has continued unabated”

Further speaking, Achi-Okpaga said its interest is not Igbo presidency but in good governance.

“Our interest is not on lgbo presidency but on good and purposeful, devolution of powers and respect for the lives and dignity of all individuals and tribes in Nigeria.

“We have reiterated this severally that, by the current political architecture in Nigeria, Igbo Presidency without restructuring means little or nothing at all. Any quarter that intends to use 2023 lgbo presidency to assuage or hoodwink us is on a wild goose. “ - Daily Post

My hubby has turned our matrimonial home to brothel, estranged wife tells court

Delighted that her 15-year-old loveless marriage was dissolved, Mrs Balikis Oki, yesterday painted her estranged husband’s notoriety for unbridled promiscuity at a Lagos court.

“My husband always brings his girlfriends home to sleep with overnight and would ask me to step aside,” the 33-year-old trader told an Igando Customary Court in a Lagos suburb.

She said her husband, Oluwashina Oki of 15 years lacked respect for their matrimonial home as he turned it into a brothel.

“My husband is fond of bringing his lover home for the night and he will ask me to excuse them, and if I refuse, he will force me out of the house.”

The petitioner also accused her husband of abusing and mocking her father because he is physically challenged.

Bilikis said: “Whenever we have a misunderstanding,  he will abuse and mock my father who is physically  challenged and that hurts me to my bones.

“My husband is fetish and diabolical; he always comes home with different charms.Sometimes he gives me some substance to use which I always collect from him but will not use.

“He is an irresponsible husband and father. I pay the children’s school fees and other bills.”

The mother of three said that Oluwashina always embarrassed her and called her derogatory names in public.

She pleaded with the court to terminate the union as she could no longer cope with the man and that the love she once had for her husband had faded.

Oki denied all the allegations and instead accused Balikis of infidelity.

“Balikis is also cheating on me.She receives calls from her boyfriend on  a daily basis.”

The 41-year-old businessman said that his wife became wayward in 2006 and that she started moving with women of “questionable characters”.

“I have warned her several times to stop mingling with them but she refused,” he said, and urged the court not to grant his wife’s wish for the dissolution of marriage.

“I still love her,” he claimed.

Delivering his ruling, the court’s President, Mr. Akin Akinniyi, said the petitioner was adamant in spite of mediation from the court and family intervention.