Couple jailed 44 years for starving, burying three-year-old son in garden – Newstrends
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Couple jailed 44 years for starving, burying three-year-old son in garden

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3 months ago

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Couple jailed 44 years for starving, burying three-year-old son in garden

A couple convicted of causing the de@th of their three-year-old son after his severely malnourished body was found buried in their back garden have been jailed for 44 years in total.

Tai, 42, and Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah, 43, were on Thursday, Dec. 12, handed lengthy jail terms for what prosecutors described as a case of “breathtaking” neglect.

Their son Abiyah Yasharahyalah d!ed in early 2020 from a respiratory illness. He had been restricted to an extreme vegan diet and suffered from a list of other problems including rickets, anaemia and stunted growth.

Jurors at Coventry Crown Court heard his parents shunned mainstream society and lived “off grid,” creating their own bespoke belief system drawing on various elements from New Age mysticism and West African religion.

London-born Tai, a medical genetics graduate who also used the first name Tai-Zamarai, and former shop worker Naiyahmi tried to treat their son’s final illness with garlic and ginger instead of contacting the NHS.

The pair, whose diet largely consisted of nuts, raisins and soya milk, were both “extremely thin” when they were arrested on December 9, 2022, leading to the discovery of their son’s body five days later.

They denied the charges against them, telling the court they did not act wilfully and believed Abiyah would recover from a flu-like condition.

Jurors unanimously convicted them after hearing how they kept the body of Abiyah in their bed for eight days, before “embalming” and burying the toddler in an 80cm-deep grave at the back of their then-home in Clarence Road, Handsworth.

Tai was jailed for 24 and a half years, while Naiyahmi was given a 19 and a half year sentence.

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The judge Mr Justice Wall told them: “Abiyah d!ed as a result of your wilful neglect of him. He was severely stunted in his growth – at almost four years of age he was buried in the clothes of an 18-month-old.

“I accept that there was no deliberate infliction of physical injury by either of you.”

But the judge added: “It is difficult to imagine a worse case of neglect than that which the court has encountered in this case.”

Although the couple had enjoyed the benefits of the NHS during the first 30 years of their own lives, the judge said, they had “denied this advantage to Abiyah for misplaced ideological reasons”.

“I am sure each of you played a part in starving him and failing to get medical care for him when the need for it was obvious to you.”

Former fitness instructor Tai told police in interview that he had carried out an “eight-day ritual’ hoping that Abiyah would “come back”.

But he added he eventually decided to conduct a burial in accordance with his culture on what he regarded as sacred ground.

The pair said they were living in a “kingdom” set up by Tai, which involved an unsupplemented vegan diet and adherence to a ‘slick law” legal framework he had invented.

Jurors heard they married in 2015 and changed their names from Donald Nnah and Donna Graham after forming what they viewed as their own religion.

A post-mortem examination of Abiyah’s “skeletal” remains and other tests failed to identify how he d!ed, but suggested he was also suffering from severe dental decay and six fractures to his right arm, legs and ribs, possibly caused by a fall about six weeks before his de@th.

The couple were eventually arrested in December 2022 while living in a caravan in Glastonbury, Somerset, having previously spent time living in a shipping container.

Police visited the property three times: in February 2018 when Abiyah was alive; again in September 2021 after his de@th; and then in March 2022 to assist in the couple’s removal for non-payment of rent.

Opening the case for the Crown at the start of the trial, prosecutor Jonas Hankin KC claimed the couple had jointly neglected Abiyah by failing to provide him with enough food or any medical help.

During his closing speech to jurors, Mr Hankin alleged it would have been obvious to both defendants that Abiyah, whose teeth would have been wobbly, was in considerable pain from abscesses and other ailments.

Referring to a comment made by Abiyah’s mother that “nature has a way of doing things,” Mr Hankin told the court: “That is their attitude, ‘we’re right and nature will decide’. It is breathtaking arrogance and cruelty.”

Malnutrition of the severity suffered by Abiyah was simply not seen in the UK, the barrister said, with the defendants having “for reasons best known to themselves” driven themselves and their son into conditions more commonly seen in the developing world.

 

Couple jailed 44 years for starving, burying three-year-old son in garden

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FG okays closure of Independence Bridge in Lagos from Wednesday 

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16 hours ago

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March 17, 2025

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FG okays closure of Independence Bridge in Lagos from Wednesday 

By Dada Jackson

 

The Federal Ministry of Works has informed the motoring public of the closure of the Independence Bridge (Marina bound) in Lagos, commencing on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025.

It said in a statement on Monday that the closure was necessary to facilitate essential maintenance and rehabilitation work on the bridge.

The closure will affect people travelling from the Ahmadu Bello Way & Adeola Odeku Road towards Marina, Eko Bridge and Onikan by Zone 2, according to the statement.

The independence bridge would remain closed until the end of May 2025 for the repairs, it added.

Motorists are therefore advised to plan their journeys accordingly and seek alternative routes, it stated.

“The Federal Ministry of Works apologizes for any inconvenience this closure may cause and appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation as we strive to ensure the safety and stability of our road infrastructure,” the statement signed by the Federal Controller of Works for Lagos, Engr. (Mrs) O I Kesha, said.

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Lagos, MTN Nigeria unveil “My Lagos App”

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21 hours ago

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March 17, 2025

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Lagos, MTN Nigeria unveil “My Lagos App”

The Lagos State government, in collaboration with MTN Nigeria, has launched the ‘My Lagos App’ aimed at making urban living in the state more seamless and efficient. The app was unveiled at MTN Plaza, Ikoyi, Lagos in a bid to make urban life in the city seamless and easy.

The app is designed to provide a range of features that enhance various activities, promoting economic growth, accountability, transparency, and real-time updates.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, highlighted the importance of this digital solution in a rapidly growing city like Lagos. The app serves as a vital link between the government and citizens, promoting accountability, transparency, and real-time updates.

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“The app is a comprehensive digital solution that provides seamless access to essential city services, including real-time traffic updates, personalised navigation, emergency services, utility payment services, business listings, and tourism information; the app will serve as a vital link between the the government and the citizens, it simplifies access to public services, promotes accountability and transparency, provide real time update,”Mr Governor said

Sanwo- Olu emphasised the importance of such collaboration between the government and private sectors, adding that “this partnership exemplifies the power of synergy between the Public and private sectors in driving meaningful progress.”

The governor encouraged Lagos residents to make use of this platform “as we are now in the digital age as technology is no longer luxury but necessity “I urge everyone in Lagos to embrace this app, download it, explore its features and fully utilize the services that it offers,” he said.

Lagos, MTN Nigeria unveil “My Lagos App”

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TUC backs NYSC member for criticising Tinubu administration

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22 hours ago

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March 17, 2025

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Corps member, Ushie Uguamaye

TUC backs NYSC member for criticising Tinubu administration

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has expressed support for Ushie Uguamaye, a Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, who has claimed to have received threats after criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

TUC President, Festus Osifo, speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, backed Uguamaye’s stance, suggesting that her comments were born out of frustration. Osifo urged the government to show tolerance toward critics rather than target them.

He emphasized the importance of allowing room for constructive criticism, which is vital for a healthy democracy.

However, Osifo also advised critics to maintain a level of decorum and ensure their critiques are within acceptable norms, promoting respectful dialogue and fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect.

He said, “They (government) have to develop this resilience to understand that people are frustrated, people are hungry, people are tired. So, if they decide to vent, I strongly believe that the government should not personalise it and come after such individuals.

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“Imagine a young lady carrying out her NYSC function, what does she really have to do to bring down government? So, it is about personal frustration that she has aired.

“So, I think that the government has to persevere much more, they have to be more tolerant, and they have to have this deep level of patience with Nigerians because people are passing through a lot as it stands today.”

Raye, a corps member serving in Lagos, recently made headlines after a video she posted criticising government policies went viral.

She later claimed to have faced threats, reportedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to take down the video.

In the video posted on her TikTok account #talktoraye on Saturday, Raye voiced frustration over Nigeria’s deteriorating economic situation, lamenting that hard work no longer guarantees financial stability.

She criticised Tinubu’s leadership, calling him a “terrible leader,” and questioned the government’s commitment to easing citizens’ hardships.

However, the NYSC has yet to release an official statement regarding the issue.

 

TUC backs NYSC member for criticising Tinubu administration

(Punch)

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