Woman files for N800,000 damages against man who impregnated her 14-year-old daughter

A mother identified as Rhoda Joshua, on Wednesday prayed a Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Karu, Abuja to order a 27-year-old student, John Okechukwu to pay her N800,000 damages for allegedly impregnating her 14-year-old daughter.
According to the mother, Okechukwu had since 2016 been having sexual relationship with her daughter who was a Secondary School, SS, 1 student in a school in Nasarawa State

Joshua said, “My Lord, my daughter has been seeing this guy since last year when she was 13 and as a mother I noticed she had started having sex with him.
“I warned her and even beat her to stop it but instead of bringing home a result of flying colours home she brought this pregnancy home nine months ago.
“I kept cautioning my daughter against the relationship and advised her to face her studies because I am a widow but she told me the guy said he wanted to marry her

“He impregnated her while she was still in school so she had to drop out and since she took in till now that she will give birth he has never given her even one naira for her or the coming baby.
“I have been the one taking care of her, the pregnancy and her younger one and I have no support from anywhere.

“So, I am pleading with this court to order him to pay me the sum of N 800, 000 in damages for allowing her to drop out of school because of the pregnancy and for not taking any responsibility since my daughter became pregnant and for refusing to marry her.

“He promised to marry her but since she became pregnant till now that she will soon put to bed, he has refused to even take us to his family members, keep to his promise or take any form of responsibility.’’
Okechukwu, who admitted impregnating the 14-year-old girl, however, said he was not ready for marriage but he would be providing little sum for her upkeep.

He said, “My Lord, she will have my baby and that is my responsibility and I will be giving a token toward that.
“Even if I don’t marry her that baby will make our relationship everlasting.

“I am also a student and cannot get married now but I will try and be giving a token for the upkeep of the baby. I am not sure of the future itself.’’
The 14-year-old when asked by the court if she was ready for marriage said, “I cannot marry him because he did not keep to his words of getting married to me and taking good care of me since I became pregnant rather he denied me and said he can’t marry me.’’

The presiding judge, Abdullahi Baba, after listening to all parties involved, said the case could only be heard in a customary court.
“The issue brought by the plaintiff before this court is centred on marriage and this can only be determined by a customary court of law.
“So, let this case be transferred to the Customary Court in Karu for proper trial,’’ Baba said. - Daily post

Robbers who stole Segun Odegbami’s N12million wristwatch arraigned

A robbery gang who attacked the residence of ex-international, Segun Odegbami, appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday.
The accused are: Oke Moses, 18; Abdul Azeez, 22; Ajibade Rahmon, 24; Isaac Okenuga, 29; Olusola Orisansope, 22; and Daramola Abiodun, 22.

They are standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on burglary, conspiracy, receiving stolen property and stealing.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Chijioke Njoku, told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 1 at No.13, Saro Close, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He said Moses and Azeez burgled Odegbami’s house and stole items worth N14.1 million including: a Rolex watch worth N12million, Iphone 7plus valued at N490,000, a Samsung Galaxy S3 phone worth N150,000 and two Apple laptops worth N600,000.

He said that the accused also stole a box containing clothes and shoes worth N500,000 and a phone recharge cable worth N5,000.
Njoku submitted that the other accused persons received the stolen goods from Moses and Azeez also in June, at different days after the robbery.
After denying all charges, the Magistrate, Mrs F. O. Botoku, granted the accused bail in the sum of N1million each with two sureties that must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned till August 17 for mention. - Daily Post

Biafra: ECA ”tears Obasanjo apart” for asking Nigerians to stop Nnamdi Kanu

The Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) has replied former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his statement that Nigerians should stop the agitation for Biafra as it would lead to a coup d’état.‎

Obasanjo, while at the International Conference Centre, Abuja during the launch of the biography of late Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari on Tuesday, said Nigerians must do everything possible to stop the agitation for Biafra led by Nnamdi Kanu.

He stressed that a failure to do so could lead to a repeat of the 1966 coup and the events that led to unprecedented bloodshed in the country.
ECA described Obasanjo’s statement as a “classic case of mindless prevarication” which was not only unfortunate, but dangerous to the very survival of Nigeria.
In its statement signed by the Secretary, Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, ECA said Obasanjo knew more than anybody else that only an early return to true fiscal Federalism anchored on regional autonomy can save Nigeria now

“Obasanjo and Gowon should come clean in their old age and drive the process of restructuring Nigeria back to the regions and sincerely heal the wound of yesterday.
“Anything else is mindless prevarication which is not only unfortunate but dangerous to the very survival of Nigeria.

“Obasanjo knows the section of Nigeria that raised their flag of secession at Ikeja military cantonment in July 1966, while shouting Araba Araba, thereby inspiring other regions that secession is possible.

“He is aware that only a consensual agreement of form, format and structure can sustain Nigeria as opposed to the quite uncomfortable unitary structure imposed by the military.

“Obasanjo knows that billions of naira have been spent on attempts on consensual agreement at Aburi Ghana, Abacha’s conference, Obasanjo’s conference and Jonathan’s confab. Obasanjo knows that the unworkable unitary structure is at the root of all our miseries and sorrow as a country.

“He knows that he did not see the Abdusallam Abubakar 1999 Constitution until he was sworn in as president. Obasanjo knows that he and his colleagues created the problems that have held Nigeria down till date and as such, only righting the wrongs can save Nigeria now.

“General Gowon reversed General Ironsi’s decree 34 of May 1966. He also knows General Gowon began the orgy of creating states by military fiat, he knows Gowon asked for emergency powers to prosecute the war, thereby centralising enormous powers at the centre.

“Obasanjo is aware that it was General Gowon’s petroleum decree and the G Dina panel, both of the late 1960’s under General Gowon that took all the resources and minerals of the entire federation and vested all under General Gowon’s central government.

“Obasanjo knows that the over centralisation of powers at the centre, is at the root of all the troubles bedevilling Nigeria today.
“He knows that Nigeria will never know peace until we go back to the arrangement earlier agreed by the founding fathers of Nigeria in the 1950’s.
“Obasanjo deliberately avoided the truth and chose to beat about the bush, simply because he is probably too proud to accept the self evident fact that the structure they created cannot survive”‎, the group stated. - Daily Post

Cuba to open affordable ‘short time motels’ for lovers

In Havana, Cuba’s capital city, lovers will soon have the opportunity of renting rooms by the hour – for the purpose of lovemaking.

The love motels called ‘posadas’ are particularly important in Havana for two reasons.
One is that lovemaking is often done in open spaces in the city and the second reason is the problem of overcrowding and scarce housing.
The housing situation has reportedly forced couples to make love in parks, dark staircases, the beach and the seafront.

Apartments are shared by many families in Havana while couples often remain together even after getting divorced.
Posadas will, therefore, come in very handy to those who require privacy for some alone time.
The love motels used to be popular in Cuba but they were turned to hurricane shelters in the ’90s during the country’s economic crisis.

The new posadas, according to state housing officials at the provincial housing company of Havana, will be affordable and easy to rent. - Cable Nigeria

''Corruption United'' : Patience Jonathan petitions reps over ‘harassment by security agencies’

Patience Jonathan, wife of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, has urged the house of representatives to call the security agencies “harassing her” to order.

Gogo Bright, a lawmaker from Rivers state, presented the petition to the house on Thursday.
Bright said as a result of the sacrifices made by her husband for the country, the house should wade into the matter and call the security agencies to order.
The lawmaker said no former first lady has been harassed like this before.

“No former first lady has been harassed like this before,” Bright said.
“But for the sacrifices that her husband has made for the country, the house should consider and call the security agencies to order.”

The petition comes a day after an ad hoc committee of the house invited her husband to explain his role in the contentious Malabu oil deal.
On December 7, 2016, the house had received a similar complaint from the former first lady. - Cable Nigeria 

Chelsea striker, Costa could be set for China move Read Sport

Diego Costa could be set for a move to China on-loan… from Atletico Madrid.

According to the Mirror, Atletico Madrid are set to make their offer for Costa, despite being under a transfer ban until January.
Atletico are unable to register any new players to their squad until January but can still ‘sign’ players.

If they complete the move, Costa would have two options; train with Madrid until January or leave on loan.

It looks as though it will be the latter with the report claiming that Madrid are in discussions with Chinese clubs to send Costa out on loan.
The report claims that Costa is keen to leave Chelsea after falling out with manager Antonio Conte but there could be an issue over the transfer fee.

Chelsea are demanding £40m for the Spanish forward but Atletico are only willing to pay £22m up front.
The two clubs will need to iron out a fee before a loan to China can be arranged.

Rooney set to take pay cut to secure Everton reunion

Despite firm interest from elsewhere, Rooney's first choice has always been the Toffees, whom he left for Old Trafford in 2004 as an 18-year-old.

It is understood that United are willing to waive a transfer fee, while Everton are capable of offering Rooney a deal of £150,000 a week.

United would have been willing to let Rooney go to the Chinese Super League at the end of February but, the 31-year-old still felt he had more to offer at Premier League level and, before being dropped from the England squad, was determined to be involved at the 2018 World Cup.

Everton's offer marks a considerable pay cut given Rooney currently earns around double that, but it is believed he is willing to accept the offer such is the pull of his former club.
Rooney will join Michael Keane, Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen, Sandro Ramirez as Everton's summer recruits. - Indepenednt,ie