Metro

PHOTOS: Lagos Muslims Protest, Petition Lawmakers Over

Published

2 years ago

August 17, 2023

Muslims, under the umbrella of the Lagos Muslim Community, have staged a protest over what they described as official marginalization in the list of commissioner-designates forwarded to the state House of Assembly by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The commissioners list released by Governor Sanwo-Olu allegedly has eight Muslims, and 31 Christians.

Muslims in their hundreds converged on the state’s house of assembly complex in the early hours of Wednesday.

The protest had in attendance heads of various Islamic organisations and scholars among other Muslims faithful, displaying placards, which reads the inscription, “MUSLIMS SAY NO OFFICIAL DISCRIMINATION.”

Addressing a large crowd of Muslim protesters at the venue, President, Muslim Community of Lagos State, Prof. Tajudeen .G.O. Gbadamosi, read a petition, which was submitted to the lawmakers.

President, Muslim Community of Lagos State (MCLS), Prof Tajudeen Gbadamosi reading the protesters speech to the Lagos State House of Assembly members, representing Speaker Mudasiru Obasa
Other prominent Muslim leaders at the event included the Convener, Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) Member Lukmon Olumo; Chief Whip/Chairman Commissioners-Nominee Screening Committee Mojeed Fatai Adebola, LAHA Member Jubreel AbdulKareem and MURIC Director Prof Lakin Akintola, among others.

The petition, titled, “Petition on the Discrimination against Muslims in the Nomination of Commissioners,” reads, “We are here today to express our grievance and dissatisfaction against the blatant disregard for justice, equity and fairness in the proposed Lagos State’ Executive cabinet as contained in the list of commissioners nominees submitted by Governor Sanwo-Olu to this honorable House for your screening and confirmation.

“As you are aware, the list is a classic case of discrimination and religious bigotry, as it has 31 nominees who are of the Christian faith and only eight (8) nominees who are Muslims. This is not a new development, especially since Governor Sanwo-Olu assumed leadership of this State, as a matter of fact, it is has been elevated to a level of official state policy to deny Muslims their deserved positions under the Sanwo-Olu adminustration.

“For instance, in 2019, when Mr. Sanwo-Olu became governor, he appointed 14 Special Advisers, and only one (1) among them was a Muslim. Again, his State Executive Council, which had 43 members, only 14 were Muslims, and the remaining 29 were Christians.

“Also, of the 23 commissioners, 10 were Muslims and 13 of them Christians. Only 15 Muslims, with 35 Christians, made up the body of 50 Permanent Secretaries in his first term. These are just a few among numerous ways in which the Sanwo-Olu administration deny Muslims in this state their rightful place and number in leadership.”

The petition further reads, “The Rt. Hon. Speaker and honorable members, we want you to note that this list from Governor Sanwo-Olu violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria particularly Section 14(4) and is further strengthened by section 192(2) both stating as follows.

“The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the peoples of the Federation.”

“192(2) Any appointment to the office of Commissioner of the Government of a State shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the House of Assembly of the State, be made by the Governor of that State and in making any such appointment the Governor shall conform with the provisions of section 14(4) of this Constitution.”

It reads, “With due respect Governor Sanwo-Olu’s list clearly violates these provisions of the Constitution and we accordingly call upon this honorable House not to endorse any action that violates our national grundnorm, especially one which equally violates good conscience and natural justice.

“The argument that Muslims have more elected officials in Lagos State in preposterous. This is even more so at a time when all the Six (6) Governors of the southwest are Christians and we the Muslims do not complain about this, because we recognise that they contested for offices and won.

“Why must Muslims in Lagos State always beg and fight for their constitutional rights especially since Mr Sanwo-olu became Governor? We recall with utmost sadness really, that until the Supreme Court ruled in favour of hijab for our school girls, successive Lagos Governments, never felt it should endeavor to align with the global best practice of accepting hijab in addition to abiding with the rule of law.

“The historic pro-hijab judgement was delivered in March 2022 and globally acknowledged. However, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government in its peculiar idiosyncrasy chose to ignore this until a year later, after ceaseless pressure was mounted by well-meaning individuals.”

“We the Muslims of, and in Lagos State wish to categorically state that the entire leadership of the Muslim Community of Lagos State representing various Muslim organizations, unequivocally and unanimously reject the list of commissioner-designates of Governor Sanwo-Olu and we demand a reversal and review to reflect 60% in favour of Muslims in a fresh list.

“We call on the Lagos State House of Assembly to reject the list as similarly done in the Niger State House of Assembly, where a noticeably minority Christian population demanded a reversal of the list of commissioners to reflect fairness and equity to them.

“We also call on you and the House of Assembly to impress on the government the need to respect the diversity of the state’s population and to appoint a more representative cabinet. We believe that this is essential for the future stability and prosperity of Lagos State.”

Metro

The Woman I Married After 8yrs As widower Fights Me With Harmful Objects, Threatens To Kill Me

Published

3 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has adjourned until February 2, a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Oladayo, against his wife, Leah, whom he married eight years after the death of his first wife.

Oladayo alleged that Leah did not love or care for him.

He added that she was stubborn and always loved to have her way. The plaintiff further said that the defendant was troublesome and in the habit of fighting him with harmful and dangerous objects, and added that she later took to threatening to kill him.

Oladayo explained that he came to court because he did not want the blood in his hands.

Leah was absent in court even though she was served court summonses.

Oladayo, during his testimony in court, said that he met his wife in 2017 through his church leaders.

He said: “I lost my first wife eight years before I met and got married to Leah.

“I waited that long to contract another marriage because my children from my first marriage were still in their tender ages when their mother died.

“The eldest of the three children then was just eight years old.

“I also did not want them to be emotionally and psychologically disturbed.

“I met Leah through my pastors in church.

“They introduced her to me and encouraged me to go into a relationship with her, which I did.

“Leah was well-behaved throughout the period we courted. This gave me the courage to go on with the relationship and I felt it was worth it.

“I was happy to put behind me the grief and sorrow I experienced when I lost my first wife and moved on with my life, but I never knew that the worst awaited me.

“I proposed to Leah, and she accepted to go into marriage with me.

“We held a church wedding and also carried out other relevant marital rites.

“I paid her bride price, but this was returned to me by her parents.

“Leah moved in with me, and then my life was turned upside down.

“The once gentle and easy-going lady suddenly went wild.

“She started to reveal a side of herself I had not known.

“Leah became unfriendly and hostile. She showed me no love and care. She was also in the habit of complaining and nagging. We hardly enjoyed each other’s company.

“Leah is stubborn and never took to correction because she believed she was always right.

“I lost my peace and derived no joy in our union.

“Leah always went irate any time we had a misunderstanding and would fight me with any dangerous object within her reach.

“I always left home any time she was in a rage because I did not want the blood of another person in my hands.

“I decided to return home no more after the last time we fought.

“She resorted to threatening to kill me after I left home.

“My lord, I pray this honourable court to end our marriage.

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

The court president, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, after she had heard the plaintiff, ordered that a fresh hearing notice be issued and served on the defendant.

She then adjourned the case until February 2.
(TRIBUNE)

Metro

My Husband Lives A Wretched Life, Drinks, Gambles, Woman Tells Court

Published

3 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

…She’s is free to go —Husband

A woman, Rukaiat, has prayed for the dissolution of her marriage to her husband, Gafar, in a suit she filed at Grade A Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, on the grounds of irresponsibility, gambling, drunkenness and threat to her life by the latter.

Rukaiat pleaded for the custody of their child, whom, according to her, he had constantly neglected and starved.

She prayed the court to mandate her husband to be responsible for their child’s upkeep.

The plaintiff also sought an order restraining the defendant from threatening her and from interfering with her private life.

Gafar, who was in court the first day the case was mentioned, acceded to divorce.

He also agreed that Rukaiat had custody of their child.

The defendant, however, denied the allegations of irresponsibility, gambling, and drunkenness brought against him.

He, however, failed to show up in court in the subsequent adjourned dates.

Rukaiat in her testimony told the court: “My husband is a drunk and gambler.

“I have had no rest of mind since I moved in with him after he paid my bride price.

“Our marriage is blessed with only a child who my husband found a herculean task taking care of.

“He constantly neglected me and our child and did starve us.

“My husband spent his income mainly on liquor.

“He would drink himself to stupor and stagger home, singing on top of his voice and disturbing our neighbours.

“He also gambles, which is another reason for his wretchedness.

“We fight almost every day because of his inadequacies.

“I moved out of his house after he turned me into a source of ridicule in our compound and neighbourhood.

“He took to threatening me after I left him.

“My husband went as far as hiring thugs who came to my shop to beat me up and destroy my goods.

“My lord, I pray that the court rule that we are no longer husband and wife.

“I also plead for the custody of our only child since my husband has failed in his responsibility towards her.

“I further request an order restricting my husband from threatening me and interfering with my private life.”

The court president, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, gave her judgement on the matter, stating that the couple obviously had a valid customary marriage and that the bride price was paid.

According to her, the plaintiff had declared that she was no longer interested in their marriage, while the defendant also admitted to divorce.

Akintayo therefore ruled that the plaintiff and defendant ceased to be husband and wife.

She granted the plaintiff custody of their only child and ordered the defendant to be responsible for her upkeep, including feeding, education, and health care.

(TRIBUNE)

Metro

Our Marriage Lacks Love, Please End It, Woman Prays Court

Published

3 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

Area Court sitting at Centre-Igboro, Ilorin, Kwara State, has dissolved the marriage between a couple, Hajara Busari and Mumini Anafi, on the petitioner’s request, following claims of lack of care and love.

While delivering ruling on suit, the presiding judge, Mr Toyin Aluko, held that the respondent had written a letter to the court, agreeing to divorce.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the court, consequently, dissolved the marriage between the parties and ordered the woman to observe one-month Iddah (waiting period) before contracting another marriage.

Meanwhile, the court granted custody of the four-year-old child produced by their marriage to the petitioner, being still in her tender age.

The court ordered that the respondent should pay the sum of N20,000 as monthly allowance for the feeding and maintenance of their child.

He added that he should be responsible for her education and health care. Aluko also held that the father be allowed unrestricted access to the child at reasonable time and should be notified before taking any decision on his child.

The judge ordered the petitioner to get a copy of the judgment and make same available to the respondent.

Earlier, the petitioner told the court that she was no longer interested in her marriage to the respondent, following lack of love and care.