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

Bishop Drags Wife To Court For Stabbing Him, Pulling His Manhood

Published

23 minutes ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

A Bishop of a known church in Lusaka’s John Laing, Zambia, has taken his wife to court after she allegedly stabbed him in the hands and head with a knife, and also pulled his manhood.

Bishop Maxwell Mwanza, 39, claimed that his wife, Cynthia Bwalya, 32, who is charged with unlawful wounding, assaulted him on November 17, 2025.

According to Zambia Observer, when the case came up before Lusaka magistrate, Kawama Mwamfuli, the accused, who appeared calm, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The matter was adjourned until January 22, 2026.

At the time the case was being reported to the police, Maxwell told investigators that on that material day, he had a difference with his spouse.

The victim said when he went to bed the same night, his wife joined him and that later around 02:00 hours, she started talking on phone with a man.

Maxwell heard her asking the man to escort her to a place called Nalusanga, where she planned to get some cattle.

He said in rage, he grabbed the mobile phone from his partner, whom he questioned for phoning another man, especially in his presence and in his house.

In response, Cynthia is alleged to have told her husband that he was “very foolish, let me show you”.

She was alleged to have picked a broomstick and tried to hit her spouse but he blocked her, before she removed the keys to the locked bedroom and opened it.

Cynthia returned to where her husband was with a knife and locked the room, before stabbing him in the hands and head.

Maxwell told the police that when he tried to escape, his wife struck him in the back, before he could flee, after picking the keys to the locked door, which had dropped from her hands.

The victim then locked his wife inside the bedroom and reported the matter to the police.

Cynthia was also accused of pulling Maxwell’s genitals.

The gender-based violence case comes barely a fortnight after a woman from Lusaka was jailed for six months for pouring hot water on her husband after an altercation.

Metro

Man Divorces Wife Because She Is Too Beautiful

Published

25 minutes ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

A Zimbabwean man, Arnold Masuka, forty-year-old, has told the court he was no longer interested in his wife, Hilda Mleya(30) because she is too beautiful.

Arnold made this claim before the judge, Henry Chizvidzo.

According to Zimbabwean Live, Arnold was divorcing his wife because of her beauty which was giving him sleepless nights.

The situation got so bad that he was afraid of going to work or leaving her alone as he feared she would be snatched by other men.

The judge said it was his first time of handling such a case.

Arnold reportedly decided to use the court to separate with his wife after realising that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in Gokwe, Zimbabwe.

Speaking in Shona, he told the court his wife smiled all the time and he feared this might draw attention from other men.

Ruling on the matter, Henry Chizvidzo, requested the two families which the couple belong to, to settle the issue with the couple.

Metro

Wife Divorces Husband Due To Lack Of Money

Published

27 minutes ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

An Area Court at Centre-Igboro in Ilorin, Kwara State, has dissolved the marriage between a man, Toyin Ajibola, and his wife, Bashirat Mohammed, on the grounds of lack of money.

The presiding judge, Hammad Ajumonbi, while delivering ruling, said that even though Toyin did not want to release his wife, she still needed to move so as not to be stranded.

He, therefore, dissolved their union and granted custody of the three children produced by their marriage to the wife.

The court also ordered the woman to observe the three-month iddah (waiting) period before contracting another marriage.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ajumonbi ordered Toyin to be responsible for the feeding of their children.

“He should have unrestricted access to the children and the mother should always make the children available any time their father requested,” the judge said.

Earlier, Bashirat had applied for divorce saying she was tired of their marriage due to lack of money and her husband’s irresponsibility.

“I want the court to grant me divorce so that I can have rest of mind,” she said.

The husband, however, told the court that he was still interested in his wife even though he was financially handicapped.

“I have been trying hard to get money to feed my family, but couldn’t.

“It is so painful that I can’t get money to visit her and the children when they left home,” he said.