News
FG Moves To End Amnesty Programme, Group Kicks

The Federal Government has concluded plans to terminate the Presidential Amnesty Programme in May 2023.
It was gathered that the office of the National Security Adviser had directed the Interim Administrator of the Amnesty Programme, Major General Barry Ndiomu (retd.), to commence the process of winding down the programme.
Ndiomu, who was appointed about two weeks ago, replaced the former PAP head, Milland Dikio, although no reason was given for his unceremonious removal which was announced in a statement by a presidential media aide, Femi Adesina.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme was established by President Musa Yar’Adua’s administration in 2009 as part of the government’s measures to reduce militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Buhari Appoints ex-General Amnesty Programme Administrator
It was reported that 30,000 former militants had been enrolled into the programme with over 65 per cent of participants said to have been successfully reintegrated.
Despite reportedly gulping over N5 billion monthly, international development consulting firm, Nextier Security, Peace and Development said the PAP had failed to address the various challenges that necessitated its establishment.
The firm, in a report released in 2020, explained that the programme was taking a heavy toll on the revenue of the Federal Government, while rewarding militancy and aggressiveness in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
However, multiple sources said Ndiomu had been directed to shut down the programme within eight months.
He was said to have disclosed this to the PAP members of staff during a meeting last week.
A source said, “The interim administrator informed the (member of) staff during a meeting that the ONSA has directed him to wind down the amnesty programme within eight months. In essence, Ndiomu was appointed as the undertaker of the amnesty programme. The workers were shocked and sad to hear the news.
“But there is no justification for the decision because a similar programme to rehabilitate displaced persons in the North has not been shut down. So, why should they shut down the amnesty programme which is empowering many Niger Deltans? This is unacceptable and may spark another round of unrest in the region.’’
Another source observed that the scrapping of the amnesty programme was not acceptable to the Niger Delta region, saying the fact that the government awarded a N4.5 billion pipeline protection contract to a former militant leader, Government Ekpemopolo aka Tompolo, was not a tenable reason to end the programme.
But reacting to the development, the President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof Benjamin Okaba, argued that the government should ‘’re-strategise the programme’’ rather than end it.
The Ijaw leader admitted that the rehabilitation phase of the amnesty programme had not been fully achieved while the training aspect had successfully produced many beneficiaries.
Okaba, however, said whatever failure had been identified should be blamed on those who were in charge of its operations, insisting that the programme itself did not fail.
According to the INC leader, the disarmament of the militants was one part of the programme that had run smoothly, adding that the rehabilitation phase posed the greatest problems.
Okaba stated, “What I’m saying is that the amnesty programme itself did not fail, it is the operators of the programme that failed. The intentions of (former) President Yar’Adua in putting together the programme was to address the fundamental developmental question in the Niger Delta.”
READ ALSO: Niger Delta: Stakeholders Call For Transition Of Amnesty Programme
‘’So, if they want to scrap it, what is the alternative to the amnesty programme? Now that there is no alternative to the amnesty programme, I think the best option is to re-strategise.”
When contacted for a reaction on Saturday, the PAP spokesperson, Ms Donu Kogbara, promised to respond on Tuesday but when asked to provide an immediate response, she said, “If you are keen to wrap this up quickly, let me see whether I can talk to the interim administrator later tonight or tomorrow,” in a text message.
The Head, Strategic Communications, ONSA, Zakari Usman, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to his phone on Saturday.
News
Court Dissolves Petitioner’s Marriage Over Lack Of Love, Care

An Area Court sitting at Centre-Igboro, Ilorin in Kwara State, on Thursday, dissolved the four-year-old marriage between Aminat Mustapha and Wahab Adeshina, following the petitioner’s insistence.
The petitioner told the court that she was no longer interested in her marriage to her husband following claims of lack of love and care.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while delivering ruling, the presiding judge, Mr Toyin Aluko, held that the respondent had written to the court, accepting the divorce application made by his wife.
READ ALSO:Why I Charged My Husband Money For Sex —Woman
Aluko, consequently, dissolved the marriage between the parties, and ordered the woman to observe one month iddah (waiting period) before she could remarry.
Meanwhile, the court granted custody of the two children in the marriage, ages one and three, to their mother.
He ordered the father to pay a monthly sum of N20,000 for the children’s feeding and maintenance.
The court also held that the respondent will be responsible for their education and healthcare.
Again, the court held that the father has unrestricted access to his children, but at reasonable time adding that he should be notified before any decision is taken on his children.
The judge ordered the petitioner to get a copy of the judgment and send same to the respondent.
News
Tinubu Embarks On Three-state Visit

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday on a working visit to Borno, Bauchi and Lagos.
This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Friday in Abuja.
While in Borno, the President will commission projects executed by the Borno State Government under Gov. Babagana Zulum, in collaboration with the Federal Government.
He will also attend the wedding ceremony of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of former Borno Governor, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, and his bride, Hadiza Kam Salem.
READ ALSO:Ambassadorial Nominees: Ndume Asks Tinubu To Withdraw List
From Maiduguri, Tinubu will proceed to Bauchi State to condole with the state government and the family of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, the renowned Islamic cleric and leader of the Tijjaniyya Muslim Brotherhood.
Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi died on Nov. 27.
After the condolence visit, the President will travel to Lagos, where he will spend the end-of-year holidays.
During his stay in Lagos, Tinubu is expected to attend several engagements, including the Eyo Festival scheduled for Dec. 27.
The festival, to be held at Tafawa Balewa Square, will honour notable personalities, including the President’s late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, former Lagos State governors Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Michael Otedola.
News
My Wife Dented My Image, Took Our Marital Crises To Radio Stations — Husband

…He ran away from home after I was delivered of twins —Wife
Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has ruled that a couple, Folaji and Ifedayo should go their different ways after it pronounced their marriage dissolved.
The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, who gave the judgment, stated that this was imperative to dissolve the marriage for peace to reign.
The plaintiff, Folaji, who dragged his wife to court, accused her of not loving him, always fighting him, and sometimes displaying violence.
Folaji explained that the root of their differences was Ifedayo’s bias for his mode of worship.
According to the plaintiff, he attends a white garment church, which mode of worship the defendant abhors and therefore refused to attend services with him.
Folaji also said that Ifedayo concealed from him the fact that she was suffering from a particular ailment, which he became aware of after she was advised at the hospital to carry out series of tests.
Folaji stated that the differences between him and his wife degenerated to the level that he became a regular face at the police station and also at radio stations, where his wife took their matters to.
READ ALSO:‘My Husband Kept Coffin Under Our Bed, Planned To Use Our Child For Ritual’
The plaintiff told the court that the defendant had done a lot of damage to his image, and thus prayed the court to put an end to their relationship so that he could pick up the pieces of his life.
The plaintiff sought easy access to their children and promised to give them feeding allowance weekly.
He further requested an order restraining his wife from threatening him and from interfering with his private life.
Ifedayo, in her response, agreed that their union be dissolved.
She stated that her husband was inhumane and that he packed out of their house before she was discharged from the hospital after she put to bed a set of twins.
The defendant further said that the plaintiff had never visited her and their children since he walked out of their marriage.
According to her, her husband sent her N20,000 through his counsel after he dragged her to court, but that she declined it because it was a ridiculous amount to feed a set of twins.
Folaji, in his testimony, said: “My lord, my wife, and I had a proper wedding, and I paid her bride price.
“I expected my wife to be submissive to me and do my binding, but the reverse is the case.
“My wife is stubborn and troublesome.
READ ALSO:My Husband Felt Insecure After I Got A Job, Accused Me Of Infidelity —Wife
“She swore never to attend my church because it’s a white garment church and that she loathes our way of worship.
“The more I encouraged her to attend, the more she kept her distance.
“She later reluctantly agreed to attend service once a month.
“My wife is secretive. She hid from me for years the fact that she was nursing an ailment. I only became aware of this when the doctor confirmed it after she went through a series of tests when she took ill.
“My wife, rather than being remorseful, decided to make life tough for me.
“She became troublesome and never ceased to fight me.
“She is violent and always hit and harmed me with any dangerous objects within her reach.
“We always dragged ourselves to the police station where we became a regular face.
“My wife, determined to dent my image, took our issues to radio stations where I was invited and our differences were aired.
READ ALSO:My Husband Felt Insecure After I Got A Job, Accused Me Of Infidelity —Wife
“I walked out of our marriage when I could no longer tolerate my wife’s misbehaviour.
“She reported me again at the welfare office and, after mediating in our differences, I was asked to provide her with foodstuff and not money, which I did on a regular basis.
“But she has insisted that I would not have rest of mind.
“I pray this court to dissolve our marriage and grant me free access to our children. I promise to make provision for their upkeep on a weekly basis.
“I further request an order restraining my wife from threatening and interfering with my private life.”
Ifedayo, in her response, said: “I agree that our marriage be dissolved. My husband is inhumane and has no conscience, which were the causes of the crisis we experienced in our marriage.
“I was admitted in the hospital to be delivered of our set of twins, but I returned to meet an empty house. My husband deserted me and our newborn children.
READ ALSO:My Husband Shows His Other Wives More Affection, Woman Tells Court
“He never checked on them nor gave anything for their upkeep. He only gave them N20,000 of recent through his counsel after he came to court.
“I rejected the money because such an amount can not feed sufficiently two children of their age, not to mention other needs.
“I plead that the court grant me custody of our children and make my husband responsible for their upkeep.
“I want him to give attention to their feeding and pay their school fees as and when due.
“He should likewise be available any time they need medical attention.”
Giving her judgment, Mrs Akintayo said although both had a valid customary marriage and bride price was paid, the court had no choice than to grant their prayers of divorce since they now express their disinterest in it.
Akintayo ruled that they were no longer husband and wife.
She granted custody of their children to the defendant, stating that they were still minors in need of motherly care.
The defendant was granted access to their children on a weekly basis while he was ordered to be responsible for their welfare.
News4 days agoWage Dispute: Court Orders PSG To Pay Mbappe €61 Million
Sports4 days agoJUST IN: Dembélé Named FIFA Best Men’s Player, Bonmatí Wins Women’s Award
Headline4 days agoAircraft Crashes In Owerri With Four Persons Onboard
Metro3 days agoAlleged Organ Harvesting: Bereaved Families Rush To Check Corpses
Business4 days ago9th FirstBank Digital Xperience Centre Launched In UNIBEN
News4 days agoOkpebholo Presents ₦939.85bn ‘Budget Of Hope, Growth’ To Edo Assembly
Business4 days agoCBN Revokes Licences Of Aso Savings, Union Homes As NDIC Begins Deposit Payments
News3 days agoForest Reserve: Okpebholo Broker Peace Between Host Communities, Investors
News4 days agoTrump Places Nigeria, 14 Others On Partial Travel Restrictions To US
News4 days agoOPINION: Man-of-the-people, Man-of-himself












