Metro

Activist Laments Police Extortion On Lagos Roads

Published

6 months ago

February 10, 2025

Editor

A human rights activist, Segun O’law, has raised concerns over widespread extortion allegedly involving police officers and government officials in various parts of Lagos State.

O’law was seen in a viral video installing road signs along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, highlighting how some motorists were being unfairly targeted by law enforcement officers.

In the video, he explained how police officers deliberately wait for unsuspecting motorists to drive on unmarked restricted roads before arresting them for alleged one-way violations.

Speaking, O’law said the motorists were usually coerced into paying large sums of money to avoid having their vehicles impounded.

He also lamented the lack of proper road signage on federal roads, which he believed was being exploited for extortion.

He said, “We are doing this because the road is a federal road and nobody would imagine that there will be an unmarked road along the area. Imagine someone coming from Sagamu, driving through Abeokuta down to Sango, then got to Abule Egba and after descending the bridge, entered a restricted lane ahead on federal road. How will an interstate driver expect to enter a restricted lane without signage?

“That is where we have the issue. It takes less than a litre of paint to write, ‘Do not enter here’ but they prefer not to put it because they want to extort. These activities are being carried out by some police officers who hide to arrest the motorists.”

Speaking on what informed his decision, O’law said the extortion had escalated to an alarming level, describing the scale as overwhelming.

He said, “Nothing else prompted the action than the fact that the extortion was getting too much. Now, it is no longer N5000 or N10,000. It is now N150,000, N200,000 and N300,000 that they extort from people. They use scare tactics by driving the victim to a corner and threatening to take him to the station and thereafter charge him to court from where their vehicles get impounded. And since no one wants their vehicle impounded, they will ask them to bring that amount. And because Lagosians are not that patient, a lot of them just part with the money.

“So they are making the money every day. You can’t even imagine the number of people they milk every day. It has become so alarming that we have to stop it. If you stand there for one hour, you will lose count of the motorists they rip off.”

He however noted that the exercise was still ongoing along the expressway in the meantime.

He said, “We are still along the Sango-Oshodi Road. The BRT lane along the corridor is what we are still covering. Most of the BRT lanes in the state are unmarked. By the time, we are done with that, we will move to Ketu-Ikorodu Road. It is a movement already and we just can’t stop because we have to rescue ourselves from the hands of this extortionist.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached as calls made to his telephone were not responded to. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

The PUNCH had in a four-part series reported how police and government officials extort motorists plying unmarked routes in the state.

This was after the Lagos State Government prohibited driving against traffic (one-way) and auctioned 134 vehicles forfeited by their owners over the offence.

The exercise was greeted with mixed reactions, as some residents recounted driving on unmarked roads and accused the state government of not fulfilling its part.

The areas visited by our correspondent in the report included Mushin, Itire, Yaba, Dopemu, Iyana Oworo, Ajao Estate and Oshodi Isolo areas.

Metro

Court Orders Divorce-seeking Woman To Pay Her Husband N120,000

Published

59 minutes ago

August 17, 2025

Editor

A Shari’a court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, has ordered a businessman, Malam Baballe Ibrahim, to allow his ex-wife, Hauwa’u to move her belongings out of his house.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad, gave the order after dissolving the one-year-old marriage between Ibrahim and Hauwa’u by way of khul’i (redemption).

This means that the wife must refund the dowry paid by Ibrahim before the wedding to redeem herself from the marriage.

The judge ordered Hauwa’u to return the N100,000 dowry to Ibrahim and another N20,000 given as “Kudin Gaisuwa” (money given to her parents during the introduction).

Ibrahim had refused to grant Hauwa’u divorce.

He also locked her out and demanded that she should pay him everything he had spent on her when he started courting her and during the one-year marriage.

“I took care of her and provided everything she needed during our marriage.

“I bought skin and hair care products, clothing and make ups for her,” he said.

Metro

I Worked Hard Abroad In Order To Pay House Rent, Our Children’s Fees, Even Though My Husband Is Alive —Wife

Published

1 hour ago

August 17, 2025

Editor

…I fed her, our children conveniently despite earning N100,000 — Husband

Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the 14-year-old union between a couple, Jadesola and Akintunde, on the grounds of lack of love, laziness, constant fight and assault occasioning harm.

Jadesola, who dragged her husband to court, stated that she bore the task of providing for their home from the outset of their marriage, though her husband was alive, hale and hearty.

She explained that she was responsible for 80 percent of the financial engagement in the home.

According to her, she paid more than half of their children’s school fees, adding that it was the same with their rent.

The plaintiff further said that she worked round the clock abroad so that she and her husband could acquire a joint property.

Jadesola added that she walked out of their marriage after she returned home from her sojourn and realised that her husband was solely dependent on her.

The plaintiff thus prayed the court to end their relationship and grant her custody of their children because he lacked the ability to take care of them.

She also requested an order restricting her husband from threatening and interfering with her private life.

Akintunde denied all the allegations brought against him but agreed to divorce.

He stated that he was earning N100,000 per month and that he paid their children’s school fees as and when due.

The defendant said the plaintiff walked out of their marriage after she returned from seeking greener pasture.

Akintunde added that Jadesola went away with their children and changed their schools without his consent.

He added that she blocked his WhatsApp number on their son’s phone.

Akintunde further said that Jadesola frustrated every effort made by their families to reconcile them.

The defendant prayed the court for custody of their children, stating that he took great care of them for the two years his wife sought greener pastures.

Jadesola, in her testimony, said: “My husband and I got married in 2011 and we lived together for 10 years.

“I took up the responsibility of the breadwinner in our home from the outset of our marriage, although my husband was alive, hale and hearty.

“I provided 80 percent of the funds used in running the home.

“I contributed the largest share for our house rent and children’s school fees.

“We were obviously living from hand to mouth.

“I sought greener pastures in order to bring ease into our marriage.

“I worked endlessly during my sojourn abroad to ensure that my husband and I jointly acquired some properties, and I returned home at the end of two years.

“It became glaring after I returned that my husband’s survival was solely dependent on me.

“I walked out of our marriage after we had a heated argument which resulted in a fight.

“He beat me to a pulp and almost killed me.

“I took our children along and had continued to be responsible for their upkeep.

“I pray this honourable court to dissolve our wedlock and grant me custody of our children.

“I further request an order restraining him from threatening and interfering with my private life.”

Akintunde in his response said: “My lord, I never failed in carrying out my duties in the home despite earning N100,000 per month.

“I contributed generously towards the payment of our rent and our children’s school fees.

“There was never a time our children went hungry.

“I, in addition, took great care of them when she was away from home for two years in search of greener pasture.

“My wife changed and took to complaining and nagging after she returned from her sojourn.

“We fought almost all the time.

“She moved out of our home after our last fight and reported me at the police station.

“The police mediated in our differences and made us sign a settlement agreement.

“She took our children along with her and changed their school without my knowledge.

“I went to our children’s school and was informed that their mother had withdrawn them.

“Jadesola denied me access to our children even though she signed an agreement at the police station to grant me access to them on weekends.

“She blocked my WhatsApp number on our son’s phone.

“She frustrated every effort made by the police and our two families to reconcile us.

“My lord, I agree that the court dissolved our union, but I plead that our children’s custody be granted me.

“I took good care of both of them when she was away from home for two years seeking greener pastures.”

The court president, Mrs S. M. Akintayo, giving her judgment stated that since both parties agreed to divorce, the court had no choice than to grant both the relief sought.

Akintayo thus pronounced their union dissolved.

She in addition gave an order restraining the defendant from both threatening and interfering with the plaintiff’s private life.

Akintayo considering the custody of their two children, stated that their female child was approaching puberty and would need her mother’s attention and guide.

Akintayo therefore put their female child in the plaintiff’s custody and the male in the defendant’s custody.

Metro

My Wife Abandoned Me, Our 3yr-old Son, Moved In With Another Man —Husband

Published

2 hours ago

August 17, 2025

Editor

He never said he couldn’t take care of our children —Wife

A man, Jimoh, has approached Grade A Customary Court, Mapo 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking that his 25-year-old wedlock with his wife, Aminat, be dissolved on the grounds of lack of love and care, domestic violence and abandonment.

Jimoh stated that Aminat walked out of their marriage after living together for 18 years, leaving their two children who were in their tender age behind.

The plaintiff stated that the defendant moved in with another man after abandoning him.

According to Jimoh, Aminat took their first child away from him after raising him to the level that he gained an admission into the tertiary institution.

He added that his wife came back late last year demanding to take their second child away from him.

Jimoh explained that Aminat would be a bad influence on their children because she now associates with women of questionable character.

Jimoh prayed for the dissolution of their marriage.

He also entreated the court for their children’s custody.

The plaintiff further requested an order restraining his wife from threatening and interfering with his private life.

Aminat agreed to the dissolution of their marriage.

She explained that she and the plaintiff had an agreement of sharing equally the financial responsibility of their children.

Jimoh in his testimony said, “I impregnated my wife while we were dating and she moved in with me.

“We did not carry out any marital rites and I did not pay her bride price.

“We both lived together for 18 years and our union was blessed with two children.

“We had our ups and downs like any other couple, but still kept a smooth relationship.

“My wife, to my chagrin, walked out of our marriage and moved in with another man.

“She abandoned me and our two children who were aged 13 years old and 3 years old respectively, I took up the challenge of taking care of them.

“Our first child performed well in his WAEC and was admission in a tertiary institution.

“My wife came and took him away without my consent.

“She returned again late last year demanding to take our second child.

“She has refused that I had rest of mind which was why I came to court.

“She has been sending people to threaten me since I came to court.

“My lord, I pray that end our relationship and grant me custody of our children whom she abandoned for years.

“I also request an order restricting her from threatening and interfering with my private life.”

Aminat in her response to the allegations told the court that all her husband told the court were lies.

She said: “My lord, although all he said are lies, I agree that our marriage be dissolved.

“My husband never complained that he could not take care of our children.

“We both bore the financial responsibility of their upkeep equally and I never defaulted in our arrangement.

“He refused that I had access to our children. The last time I saw them was in 2022.

“My lord, I entreat the court to grant me their custody.”

Giving her judgment, the president of the court, Mrs O. E. Owoseni, stated that there was no marriage to be dissolved because no customary marriage held between the two, and no bride price was paid.

According to her, both of them were only cohabiting and that they were not married.

Owoseni further said that she abandoned their two children at ages 13 and 3, when they needed her care and attention, while she also dumped her husband for another man.

Owoseni stated that their first child was old enough to decide with whom he wanted to stay with between both parents.

According to her, their second child was approaching puberty and would need guidance and mentorship of his father.

Owoseni therefore granted the plaintiff custody of their second child.

She mandated both the plaintiff and defendant to be responsible for his upkeep.

(TRIBUNE)