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Philanthropist To Wealthy Benin Men: Stop Selling Water To Masses

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A philanthropist and legal practitioner, Barrister Olayiwola Afolabi, has described as unfair and shameful the act of selling borehole water to the masses by some wealthy men in Benin.

Barrister Afolabi who made this submission in Benin at the occasion wherein his chamber supply borehole water to Yoruba, Efeyi and other streets in Benin, noted that God gives water free hence anyone who can afford to sink borehole should give it free to those who can’t afford it.

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The legal practitioner who used the occasion to distribute food items such as indomie, etc, to residents of these streets for the yultide, said one can sink borehole and may not find any water if God does not want it to be.

READ ALSO: ‘Our Mandate Is All Basic Education Centres Have Access To Social Amenities By 2024’ – NGO

“You can sink borehole and there may not be water if God does not want to give you water. This is no showoff but we just want to shame big men that sell water. Besides, when such persons die, are they going to carry the water to their grave? So, the essence of the programme is to shame big men who are found of selling water, even in our area,” he added.

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The Ekiti-borned legal practitioner who said there are some persons who do not have job and solel depend on sales of water for survival, noted that such persons are allowed to sell water, just as he added that well-to-do men selling water to the masses is condemnable.

He called on wealthy men who have borehole in their compound to supply water to the general public for free.

Barrister Afolabi said, “But there are some big men, they have money yet they will be selling water ranging from N10, N20, this is unfair, so, that is why we are telling the whole world that it is not about money. When you have money and you can afford to sink borehole in your compound, don’t sell water to people. Give them water free because God also gives you free.”

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A resident of Efeyi street who happens to be one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Kudi Babalola, said Barrister Afolabi bursted his fence to supply them water and that the water rushes 24 hours, just as she added that no big man in the area has ever done that.

“I want to thank Barrister Afolabi for the water he gave to us. He bursted his fence and supplied us water, no other big man for this area can do this.

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Barrister Olayiwola Afolabi

“The water is rushing 24hrs, so we don’t buy water,” she said.

On her part, Mercy Itamah, resident of Efeyi said if other big men in the state can emulate Barrister Afolabi the state will be a better place for everyone.

She said, “Barrister Afolabi is a philanthropist; he has given water to three streets now. We are now enjoying water. If other big men in Edo State can emulate Barrister Afolabi, the state will be a better place for us.

“This man is helping poor people in Edo State, and look at him now, he gave us water and still share indomie for us, so, if other people can still do this kind thing, we will really appreciate it.”

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READ ALSO: International Migrant Day: NGO Wants End To Human Trafficking, Irregular Migration, Others

Also speaking, Monday Itua, appealed to other wealthy men to try and supply water to the masses who cannot afford to sink borehole in their houses.

“I must thank Barrister Afolabi who gave us water in this Yoruba street, Afeyi and other streets. I am so surprised some big men are in this town, they sell water. I am appealing to every big man that they should try and give water to the masses so that the money they want to use to buy water they can use it for another thing,” he appealed.

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I Caught My Wife With Her Lover Naked In Our Bedroom —Husband

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Please forgive me —Wife

A man of Lusaka’s Chipata Compound, Zambia, Prisca Zulu, 30, was caught with a naked man in her matrimonial bedroom.

Mpanga, a metal fabricator, who had been away on duty in Chongwe for six weeks decided to surprise his wife by arriving back home unannounced.

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But on arriving home, the 38-year-old husband ended up with a shock of his life.

According to Zambia Observer, Mpanga stated that his wife reacted strangely to his, “Honey, I am home, announcement.” She just peeped through the window and closed the curtain.

READ ALSO:My Wife Denies Me Sex, Neglects Our Children —Husband

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After allowing himself in the house through the kitchen door, Mpanga noticed that his wife’s steps were distorted with worry and panic written all over her face.

Suspicious, Mpanga headed for the bedroom where he found a strange boxer on their bed along with other male clothes scattered on the floor.

When he picked the boxer to examine it, his wife attempted to grab it from him and this triggered a scuffle.

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Mpanga during the fight fell on a heap of clothes that hid a man beneath it.

Mpanga on pulling the man from the heap of clothes and seeing the massive weapon he carried in his groin area immediately understood why his wife of years had suddenly developed a limp in her walk.

READ ALSO:My Wife Crushed My Scrotum, Arrested Me With The Police —Husband

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With the help of neighbours, the naked man who was identified as David Mbere was marched to Kabanana Police Station while Mpana kept the clothes as evidence of his wife’s infidelity.

Mpanga then went to the Mstero Local Court seeking K30,00 compensation from David for adultery.

In court, David said he had slept with Prisca only on two occasions while the cheating wife admitted to her infidelity, but begged for forgiveness from her husband saying she treasured her marriage.

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Ruling, the magistrate, Harriet Mulenga, ordered David to compensate Mpanga with K35,000 while she counselled Prisca.

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ISWAP Makes $191m Annually Taxing Locals In Lake Chad Region — Report

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The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has quietly built a functioning state-like economy across the Lake Chad region, controlling farms and cattle business through a complex taxation and governance regime that rivals Somalia-style jihadi fiefdoms.

According to a report by The New Humanitarian news agency, ISWAP collects an estimated $191 million annually through a formalised system of levies on fishers, farmers, traders and migrant workers.

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Originally a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN News) operated under the UN until January 1, 2015. On March 21, 2019, IRIN relaunched independently as The New Humanitarian.

The news agency, which said its report was based on painstaking investigations, stated that what the extremists make per year vastly outstrips the official tax intake of the Borno State government, which it said took in only about $18.4 million in 2024.

This investigation explores the system of rule and revenue streams that ISWAP has built in what it refers to as the dawla — the so-called caliphate it has established in parts of northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.

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READ ALSO:Military, DSS Arrest ISWAP Leader

The report is based on in-depth interviews with fishers and traders that regularly visit ISWAP territory on a string of islands in Lake Chad, as well as former ISWAP officials and clerics who have left the group and quietly resettled in northern Nigeria,” the agency said.

The New Humanitarian report identified three primary types of revenue for ISWAP.

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Zakat: a faith-based levy on livestock, netting around $3.7 million yearly.
Haraji: a tax for outsiders engaging in economic activity within ISWAP territory, often fishers and seasonal workers, collected through entry permits of roughly $13 each.
Darayib: a broader category including fees on trade, cattle, charcoal, and agriculture, imposed at checkpoints and markets.

“These payments,” the report said, “are enforced systematically with receipts, designated inspectors, and severe penalties for non-payment, allowing ISWAP to finance military campaigns, pay fighters and bills, and even offer rudimentary public services.

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READ ALSO:ISWAP, Boko Haram: Why Tinubu Govt, Govs Can’t Dialogue With Bandits – Shehu Sani

ISWAP administers three broad categories of taxation: zakat, haraji and darayib. Each tax has a separate receipt that is issued after payment.

“ISWAP collects zakat from cattle-owning farmers worth roughly $3.7 million a year. The tax ranges from 3.3 per cent to 1 per cent, depending on herd size — the lowest rate levied on herds of more than 60 to 80 animals.

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“ISWAP does not physically take the cattle but instead collects the cash equivalent — based on a pre-determined market value, eliminating the possibility of herders undervaluing their livestock.

“It also imposes a similar tax structure on sheep and goats but does collect the animals, reportedly for festive occasions and other internal uses within the group,” the report said.

READ ALSO:Gaza Civil Defence Says Israeli Strikes Kill 30

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While violent and ideologically driven, ISWAP has adopted pragmatic governance models. In many of its controlled areas, locals report being taxed for perceived “protection.”

“Before entry into ISWAP’s territory, every individual is required to pay a $13 fee. Those with cash pay immediately at the first checkpoint before being allowed to proceed. Those without the money are permitted to enter after making a pledge to pay following their business activities.

In such cases, the group leader is held accountable for ensuring that all deferred payments are settled. Each person receives a permit or receipt, which serves as proof of payment and protects them from harassment by ISWAP’s inspection task force operating on the islands. With this permit, individuals are not disturbed.

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READ ALSO:ISWAP Kills 8 Boko Haram Members, Seizes Large Quantities Of Ammunition

“Once inside, fishers are required to pay additional fees to be in allocated fishing areas. The amount depends on the size of the area requested and the fishing method they intend to use,” the report said.

Quoting fishers it interviewed, The New Humanitarian said: “These fees range from $13 to $196 and cover an entire fishing season, usually from February to June.

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“Before exiting the territory with their goods, each fisher or fish trader is charged a fishing tax of around $2.60 per 100-kilogram carton of fish. During a normal fishing season, ISWAP can generate around $156,000 from entry permits alone.”

The Nigerian military has been unrelenting in tackling extremist groups in the entire North East area, which includes the Lake Chad region.
(TRIBUNE)

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My Wife Used To Slap Me, Lock Me In The Room, Man Tells Court

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Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has listened to a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Jelili, against his wife, Kudirat, whom he accused of irresponsibility, lack of love, constant fight, public embarrassment and threat to life.

Jelili said before the court that Kudirat never showed him love and care while she also shirked her responsibilities as a wife in the home.

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The plaintiff stated that the defendant had no regard for him and was in the habit of treating his counsel and orders with disdain.

According to the plaintiff, these always led to their being at loggerhead almost all the time.

Jelili further told the court that Kudirat not only fought him but was in the habit of slapping him any time they had a misunderstanding.

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READ ALSO:My Wife Crushed My Scrotum, Arrested Me With The Police —Husband

He further said that his wife always locked him up in the room any time they fought and would refused that he went about his business for the day.

According to the plaintiff, any time he escaped, the defendant would come after him and fight him in the public, thereby embarrassing him.

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Jelili stated that he had suffered much pain and ridicule in the hands of his wife and therefore prayed that their union be dissolved.

He, therefore, sought an order of the court restraining his wife from coming to his home and work place to fight him.

The plaintiff further entreated the court for their children’s custody.

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READ ALSO:My Wife Is Promiscuous, Sleeps With My Close Friend — Husband

According to him, his wife had constantly failed in her responsibilities towards them.

Kudirat refuted all the charges brought against her.

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She also refused that her husband had custody of their children.

Jelili, in his evidence, said: “My wife and I met in 2013, and we started living together as husband and wife shortly after this.

“We held no marriage ceremony, and I did not pay her bride.

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READ ALSO:My Wife Abandoned Me, Deserted Home For Three Months —Husband

I failed to carry out these because her parents were not in support of our relationship.

“They therefore did not give their consent to our marriage.

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“I regret every day that I went into marriage with my wife.

“Our union has brought humiliation and pain.

“My wife constantly abandoned her duties in the home.

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“She never cared for me and our children and showed no interest in our welfare.

READ ALSO:‘I Found Out That My Husband Was A Cultist, Drug Addict One Month Into Our Marriage’

What we ate, wore, or did were never of interest to her.

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“Kudirat had no regard for me and treated me with scorn.

“She placed no value on my words and always disregarded my counsel while she went against my orders.

“My wife always ensured our discussions ended in argument and then a fight.

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“My lord, my wife did not stop at only fighting me, but would also slap me.

“Kudirat would slap me and lock me up in the room, thereby refusing that I went to work or do some other things.

“On some occasions that I made my way out of the room, she would run after me and fight me in the public, thus ridiculing me.

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READ ALSO:My Husband Starved Me, Beat, Left Me Stark Naked After Tearing My Clothes, Woman Tells Court

My wife not only fought me at home and in the public, but she also came to my workplace to fight and slap me.

“My lord, my wife’s misbehaviour had brought me constant shame.

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“I pray to be permanently disengaged from her.

“I also sought an order restricting her from coming to my house and office to harass, threaten and fight me.

“I further plead for our children’s custody because she has never been a good mother unto them.”

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The court president, Mrs O.E Owoseni, adjourned the case for further hearing.
(TRIBUNE)

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