She Said I Used Juju to Steal Her Fortune During Sex’ – Husband Seeks Divorce in Court

A 14-year marriage has collapsed before the Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, after a man, Jacob, accused his wife of starvation, false accusations of diabolical practices, and threats to his life. The shocking allegations have drawn attention to the dark side of marital breakdown, where financial hardship gave way to domestic hostility and claims of spiritual manipulation.

Jacob told the court that he married his wife, Mercy, in 2012 and paid N2,500 as her bride price. He described their early years as peaceful and happy, with a wonderful relationship that promised a bright future together. But everything changed, he said, when he suffered a financial setback. According to Jacob, the woman he once described as loving and caring became a source of distress. Instead of supporting him during his difficult times, Mercy allegedly became harsh and cruel. In his testimony before the court, he painted a painful picture of neglect, stating that on many occasions he went to bed hungry even though his wife had more than enough money to provide for their needs, yet she refused to offer him any form of assistance or support.

The most shocking revelation in Jacob’s testimony was his wife’s accusation against him. Mercy allegedly accused him of being diabolical, claiming that he used charms whenever they had sexual relations and that he was draining her fortune through these spiritual means. The accusation, which Jacob described as humiliating, struck at the very foundation of their relationship. In many parts of Nigeria, allegations of using juju or black magic to manipulate a spouse are taken seriously, often leading to social ostracism and irreparable marital breakdown. Jacob told the court that this accusation was part of a broader pattern of behaviour that made their home unbearable for him. The belief in sexual charms or “Oke Ite” is not uncommon in some Nigerian communities, where it is feared that a partner could use spiritual means to gain financial advantage, control, or cause harm. Cases of spouses making such accusations have been documented in various courts across the country, with some leading to the dissolution of marriage.

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Jacob further alleged that Mercy constantly harassed and threatened him, leaving him miserable and denying him peace of mind. He told the court that he eventually left the matrimonial home because he could no longer find joy in living with his wife, as their relationship had clearly deteriorated. But the ordeal did not end when he left. According to Jacob, Mercy has since denied him access to their home and their children. She also refused to answer his calls. He recounted a troubling incident where, during his last visit to see their children, she attacked him and damaged his mobile phone.

Jacob told the court that he is exhausted by his wife’s hostility and pleaded with the court to dissolve their marriage. He is praying for the dissolution of the marriage, custody of their children, and an order restraining his wife from threatening or harassing him. In her response to the allegations, Mercy consented to the divorce, indicating that she agrees to the dissolution of their 14-year union. Her consent suggests that she is ready to move on from the marriage, although she did not provide any counter-allegations or defence in the proceedings.

Following Jacob’s testimony, the court president, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, adjourned the case for further hearing. The court is expected to continue hearing arguments and evidence from both parties before making a final determination on the custody of the children and other pending matters.

This case is not the first of its kind in Nigeria. In 2024, the same Mapo Customary Court heard the case of one Moshood, who accused his wife, Fatimoh, of using juju to prevent him from getting a job and to control his movements. The court eventually dissolved their three-year marriage. In another notable case, a businesswoman, Bukola Ejalonibu, successfully petitioned a customary court in Ibadan for the dissolution of her 23-year marriage, alleging that her husband used charms on her during sex, causing her to faint and be hospitalised. These cases highlight a growing trend of spiritual allegations in marital disputes, often arising from financial difficulties, loss of trust, or unresolved conflicts. Legal experts have noted that such accusations can be deeply damaging, as they attack the core of a person’s character and integrity.

As the case continues, the court will consider the evidence presented, including Jacob’s allegations of neglect, starvation, and false accusations. The issue of custody of the children will also be a central matter, as both parents have indicated their desire to move on from the marriage. For Jacob, the journey from a happy marriage in 2012 to a bitter divorce in 2026 is a painful one. The court’s decision will determine not only the fate of their union but also the future of their children and the terms of their separation.

She Said I Used Juju to Steal Her Fortune During Sex’ – Husband Seeks Divorce in Court

How 49-Year-Old Farmer Waited 27 Years to Avenge Parents’ Death in Cross River

For decades, the quiet riverine community of Abanyama in Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, was known as a peaceful settlement where neighbours coexisted like one big family. But that tranquillity was shattered in late May 2026 when two prominent elders were brutally murdered in their homes, triggering panic and forcing residents to flee. The nightmare that gripped the community has now been traced to a 49-year-old farmer, Akaniyene Ignatius, who allegedly confessed to the killings—not as a random act of violence, but as a carefully planned revenge mission nearly three decades in the making.

The first killing occurred on May 24, 2026, when 75-year-old Oko Okon, one of the community’s respected elders, was found dead in his home. The elderly man had not only been murdered but also beheaded, with his assailant making away with his head. Residents were still in shock when tragedy struck again the very next day. On May 25, 2026, 73-year-old Okon Akpan was also killed in a similarly gruesome manner. This time, the attacker reportedly took the entire body, leaving behind only pools of blood in the victim’s compound.

The back-to-back killings sent waves of fear through the creek settlement. A resident who identified himself as Ekpeyong recounted the palpable terror, explaining that when the first elder was killed, the community initially thought it was an isolated incident. But when another elder was murdered the following day in almost the same manner, everybody became afraid, with every stranger becoming a suspect and every noise at night sending fear into their hearts. Many people abandoned their farms and relocated temporarily to neighbouring communities, unsure of who would be the next target. For days, the community lived in suspense. Rumours spread like wildfire across creek settlements about a serial killer on the loose, with some unverified claims suggesting that more than 30 people had fallen victim. But when operatives of the Cross River State Police Command finally arrested a suspect, the mystery gave way to an even more disturbing revelation.

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The breakthrough came after community members linked Akaniyene Ignatius to a mattress allegedly taken from one of the victims’ homes. According to Ekpeyong, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) apprehended the suspect while he was reportedly trying to sell the stolen item. Under interrogation, Ignatius allegedly confessed to the killings and led police officers to his late father’s farm settlement in Abanyama, where he had concealed the remains. What investigators discovered was chilling: in the case of Oko Okon, the suspect strangled and beheaded the elderly man, dumping the headless body behind the victim’s house while burying the severed head in a shallow grave on his late father’s farm. For Okon Akpan, Ignatius moved the entire body to the same farm settlement, dismembered it, and buried various body parts in separate shallow graves scattered around the area. Police later exhumed the remains and evacuated them to the General Hospital in Creek Town. Residents were stunned. Ekpeyong expressed the community’s disbelief, noting that many found it difficult to reconcile the soft-spoken farmer they greeted daily with the weight of the allegations against him, as they had always known him as a calm person.

When detectives pressed him for a motive, Ignatius reportedly dropped a bombshell: he had been nursing a grudge for 27 years. The suspect, who claims to be originally from Akwa Ibom State but born and raised in Abanyama, narrated a tragic family history that he said drove him to vengeance. According to his confession, his two brothers—Kokoite and Ekperite—had a long-standing feud with their father. The situation escalated when a dispute arose over who should be served food first during a meal, with one brother insisting on being served before their father—a breach of family custom. Their father reported the matter to community elders, who had previously intervened in the family’s disputes. The brothers were eventually arrested, taken to court, and sent to prison. After their release, Ignatius claimed the community turned against them again. His brother Ekperite was allegedly attacked, shot, and hacked with machetes in what the suspect described as a vigilante mob action. His other brother, Kokoite, fled to Lagos in fear for his life. The trauma proved too much for his parents. Ignatius said his mother fell sick and died shortly after, followed soon by his father, who could not bear losing both his wife and son. He told investigators that he was left alone in the village, and the deaths left a wound that never healed, prompting him to vow to avenge the deaths of his parents and brother, which he eventually did. He added, with what appeared to be remorse, that he regretted what he did and that it was anger that pushed him.

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Ignatius reportedly told investigators that the two elders he killed—Oko Okon and Okon Akpan—were among those he held responsible for the deaths of his family members. He claimed they played key roles in the community’s actions against his brothers decades ago. For nearly three decades, he allegedly harboured his vengeance plan, waiting for the right moment to strike. When he finally acted, he did so with chilling precision, targeting two of the community’s most prominent figures on consecutive days.

Reacting to the arrest and confession, the spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, confirmed that the suspect remains in custody as detectives continue their investigation. He, however, moved quickly to dismiss unverified social media claims that the suspect was responsible for the deaths of more than 30 people. The police spokesman explained that although the unfortunate incident quickly generated widespread attention with several unverified claims being circulated, their immediate concern was to ensure a thorough, professional and impartial investigation into the incidents. ASP Sunday stressed that although Ignatius had made far-reaching confessional statements, every claim would be subjected to careful scrutiny and verification before any final conclusions are drawn.

As of Thursday, June 18, 2026, the atmosphere of fear that once enveloped Abanyama is gradually giving way to cautious relief. Families who fled their homes are beginning to return. Farmers are making their way back to their farmlands, and the once-deserted footpaths are slowly coming alive again. However, the psychological scars may take much longer to heal. Residents now wonder how a man they considered calm and harmless could have harboured such deep bitterness for nearly three decades—and how a community dispute from 27 years ago could culminate in such gruesome bloodshed.

This tragic incident raises difficult questions about vigilante justice, the role of community elders in conflict resolution, and the lasting damage of unresolved grievances. For 27 years, Ignatius reportedly carried the weight of his family’s destruction. When he finally acted, two men—in his eyes, not innocent—paid with their lives. The case serves as a sobering reminder that justice delayed can become vengeance—and vengeance, as the residents of Abanyama have painfully learned, comes at a devastating cost.

How 49-Year-Old Farmer Waited 27 Years to Avenge Parents’ Death in Cross River

Acquitted Diezani Accuses UK Authorities of Destroying Her Reputation

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has accused British authorities of destroying her reputation and integrity after she was acquitted of all bribery charges brought against her following a 13-year investigation and a lengthy court battle in the United Kingdom.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC after a jury at Southwark Crown Court cleared her of multiple corruption-related charges, the former oil minister described the ordeal as traumatic and said the investigation had a devastating impact on her personal and professional life.

“I’ve not been allowed to travel. I’ve not been allowed to work. They destroyed my reputation and my integrity,” Alison-Madueke said.

The verdict marked the end of one of the most high-profile corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official in the UK. The 65-year-old was found not guilty of five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery after a trial that examined allegations dating back more than a decade.

The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) had alleged that Alison-Madueke received luxury benefits from oil executives seeking lucrative government contracts during her tenure as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015.

According to prosecutors, the former minister benefited from expensive gifts and services, including luxury shopping, chauffeur-driven vehicles, private travel arrangements, and the use of high-end properties in London and Buckinghamshire.

However, Alison-Madueke consistently denied the allegations and maintained throughout the proceedings that she had done nothing wrong.

Reflecting on the impact of the case, she said the years-long investigation left deep emotional scars.

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“When your freedom is taken away from you, it has a very deep impact upon you psychologically,” she said.

“I knew that I had never done anything nefarious and I had never done any of the heinous things I was being accused of doing.”

Alison-Madueke was first arrested in 2015 but was not formally charged until 2023. The trial, which attracted significant attention in both Nigeria and the UK, finally concluded with her acquittal, bringing an end to a legal process that spanned more than a decade.

During the proceedings, her defence team argued that critical documents that could have helped establish her innocence had disappeared in Nigeria.

According to Alison-Madueke, the missing records included receipts and financial documents showing that payments allegedly made on her behalf by oil businessmen had been reimbursed.

She claimed the documents were taken from her Abuja residence during investigations conducted in 2015 and have not been recovered.

“Those items were taken away by our intelligence forces from my home in Abuja,” she said, adding that she had no knowledge of what later happened to them.

The former minister also received support from former President Goodluck Jonathan, who reportedly wrote to the court explaining that it was not unusual for third parties to cover accommodation and transportation costs for ministers during official overseas engagements.

Asked who should be held responsible for her ordeal, Alison-Madueke said accountability extended beyond a single institution.

“There’s a bit of blame everywhere,” she said.

She also urged Nigerian authorities to review the processes used in handling corruption investigations and prosecutions.

The former minister further suggested that she may have been unfairly targeted because of her position and reform efforts within Nigeria’s oil sector.

Alison-Madueke, who became the first female Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria and the first female President of OPEC, claimed the NCA treated her as “low-hanging fruit” while ignoring the challenges she faced in confronting entrenched interests in the petroleum industry.

“The long arm of the law when you go into other countries, particularly in politically motivated cases, needs to have a lot more sensitivity,” she said.

Responding to the verdict, the NCA defended its actions, stating that the investigation was conducted professionally and impartially.

The agency said the case involved a “long-running, in-depth and complex investigation” that was regularly reviewed by prosecutors and investigators, adding that it respected the jury’s decision.

The acquittal also extended to Alison-Madueke’s elder brother, Archbishop Doye Agama, who was cleared of conspiracy to commit bribery, as well as oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who was found not guilty of bribery-related offences.

Despite her legal victory in the UK, Alison-Madueke remains linked to separate asset recovery proceedings in Nigeria and the United States.

In 2023, the US Department of Justice recovered approximately $53 million in assets connected to two oil businessmen named in the wider corruption investigation. American authorities alleged that Alison-Madueke used her influence to facilitate the award of oil contracts to companies associated with the businessmen.

The former minister has denied any wrongdoing and noted that she was never charged in connection with that matter.

Similarly, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced in 2022 that it had recovered about $153 million and more than 80 properties allegedly linked to Alison-Madueke.

Reacting to those claims, she insisted that the forfeited assets were not directly traced to her and indicated that she would seek clarification on the matter following her acquittal.

Describing the conclusion of the UK trial as the end of a painful chapter, Alison-Madueke said the prolonged legal battle had taken a significant toll on her family and those close to her.

“For 11 long years, this case has hung over my head and tormented me and my family,” she said.

Her acquittal is expected to reignite debate over corruption investigations involving former public officials, the handling of international prosecutions, and ongoing efforts to recover allegedly stolen assets linked to Nigeria’s oil sector.

Acquitted Diezani Accuses UK Authorities of Destroying Her Reputation