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Reverend, female lover appear before Juju man over marriage promise

Published

2 years ago

November 5, 2022

•Deity sends colony of millipedes to their homes to summon them for second hearing

AN ordained reverend and senior member of a church in Calabar, Cross-River State, who reported his ex-lover who is a single mother to a deity in Akwa–Ibom State for allegedly rebuffing his marriage proposal, causing the deity to summon the woman with a colony of millipedes, is on the run after receiving a dose of his own medicine.

After separately appearing before the deity with the ex-lover on the first hearing, the reverend, who denied lodging a complaint against the single mother, turned down appearances at the second and third hearings of his case by the deity.

The deity sent a colony of millipedes to his Calabar home on Tuesday night with a thunder strike and letter, in the same manner, he caused the idol to send to his ex-lover and student of the University of Calabar.

Findings by Saturday Vanguard showed the reverend ran away from the deity but is still in Calabar.

A source said: “He is sober, hanging out at a joint where they sell concoctions and hot drinks inside an open field next to his building on Edim Otop Street. I think friends, who have now abandoned him to his fate, misled him.”

Rev, ex-lover had misunderstanding –youth leader

A youth leader, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Margaret, and the man had a rift after the reverend allegedly saw her with another man, which made him furious. Instead of apologizing and retracing her steps, she resorted to insulting her ‘benefactor’ anytime she sees him.

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“She is a single mother whom the man took care of, including her child, but we believe the man needed companionship since his wife had allegedly left him, but the way we learned she abused the man publicly was quite unfair, she could have sorted out things amicably.

“We deduced from the letter that came with the colony of millipedes that the lady had issues with her lover, a community leader popularly known as reverend, who stays around Edim Otop Street, off Atimbo Road.

“ We also heard he has been in a relationship with the lady who we know as Margaret and who we believe he has been taking care of for over a decade in terms of welfare, education, and otherwise.

“He took her as a help before now and started doing other things for her, we learned he allegedly bought land for her and also made sure they catered for her mum when she had arthritis and needed a massage. The reverend provided a machine.

“He further facilitated a sewing machine and other things for her, but what we saw in the letter was that they summoned her on October 18. However, the message got here on October 19 and she is supposed to appear before the deity in Umuko, Okobo, Oron in Akwa Ibom state to answer for herself by October 21, 2022.

“From the letter, they requested her to return a set of foreign pots that the reverend said was missing from his apartment, massaging machine, and other things.

“It was not the first time we have experienced this kind of summons with millipedes from Okobo in Oron Akwa Ibom state.

I did not consult a witch doctor–Reverend

Contacted, Reverend Timothy (not real name), who is a reverend at a church along Atimbo Road denied being responsible for the woman’s ordeal.

He confirmed to Saturday Vanguard that he knows the girl and had some issues with her over some set of pots and a sewing machine, but was never behind her travails, adding that as an ordained minister, he can never consult a native/witch doctor.

The preacher also said he knew nothing about the colony of millipedes sent to the girl’s apartment.

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He, however, admitted that the woman insulted him when they had issues and he told some people in the church about what had happened, saying he left everything in the hands of God and the news of the invasion of the woman’s pavement by millipedes dismayed him.

“She insulted me because I complained that a lot of things were missing from my place which I asked her about and she said she knew nothing about, sets of pots from abroad, a sewing machine amongst others.

“But I must tell you categorically that I have nothing, absolutely nothing to do with her ordeal, I consulted no witch doctor to send millipede to her place,” he stated.

The single mother went to Okobo in Akwa Ibom, on the penultimate Friday, to answer the summons by the deity.

How I met him–Margaret

The 300- level student of the University of Calabar, UNICAL, simply identified as Margaret, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, revealed that she met her benefactor, who later turned lover and now her ex-lover in 2010 when she was pregnant with her daughter, on her way to see her mother in Akpabuyo local government area.

“I was pregnant at the time and I was only 19 years, I did not even know I was pregnant, so I took some herbs because I was feeling somehow, even at that I still did not get better. That was the reason I opted to visit my mum, it was how I met the reverend.

“I was trying to get a vehicle to Akpabuyo, along Atimbo Road, and jam-packed vehicles would not just stop to pick up a passenger, but when he was passing, he saw me and asked where I was going. He obliged me and took me to my destination, that is how he got my number and the rest is history.

“He has married three women and had three children from them, but none of them could stay, they all left, I came into the picture as a help. I cook, clean, and take care of the house.

“It metamorphosed into an intimate relationship because we started an affair, but we had an understanding that he would take care of me. We agreed that anytime he got money, he would settle me with money or land.

“I am still young and in the University, how do I take care of my bills and all that, I told myself I had to leave the relationship because of all the understanding we had, he never kept to any.

“I learned he got paid about N4 million as gratuity. When I told him to fulfill his side of the bargain, he got mad at me, I allowed him to be.

“The highest I was getting was N10, 000 or N5, 000, he has never at any point paid my school fees, and I am the one training myself in school. I want to get married, but not to him, I will marry someone that will make me happy. I got nothing from him as he has been lying to people,” she said.

Our encounter at the shrine

“At the Okobo shrine, I paid N21, 500 as a consultation fee. Since I started going there, I have spent N282, 000 so far. There, I found out that he lied to the chief priest and allegedly paid N300, 000 for something mysterious to happen to me.

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“He also lied to the chief priest of the deity in Okobo, Oron, Akwa Ibom state, that I stole his set of the pot and massaging machine and I should return them.

“I was told by the chief priest that he paid money for me to be eliminated spiritually, he paid 100, 000 three times.

“But the chief priest refused to do his bidding. It was after he started mounting so much pressure that the priest had collected so much from him and refused to do anything that they sent millipedes to summon me to the shrine of that deity.

“In the letter, they asked me to appear before the deity on October 21, and if I liked I should report to Army, Police, or any authority, that it has no meaning. I had no choice, I went there, and paid N21, 500 as a consultation fee.

“That was when they started asking me questions about the man; they asked if I knew the reverend, and my answer was affirmative. The man who is denying that he was not behind my ordeal was also at the shrine.

Chief priest queried why he tied me for 12 yrs

“The chief priest asked him why he held me down for 12 years, but he never responded. I remember that when we first met, he bought beverages he gave to me; I suppose that whatever he did was through those items because it was as if they took a veil off my face.

“I have been going to sleep there and coming back in the morning for about seven years because I do not live with him. I, not he, paid for the house where they sent the millipedes. He rented no house for me, the only thing he did was assist me when I was searching for an apartment.

“They asked me to pay N300, 000 and that after the matter, they would compel him to return the money to me if I am found innocent.

“Now, that we have gone to the deity, I have been able to pay N200, 000, including other expenses, amounting to N282, 000.

“I borrowed the N200, 000, and as I speak, I could not pay my school fees, I have been to the place (deity) twice and saw him there too.

Preacher shuns second hearing

“They asked him to come the last time I was there, but he never showed up, I left the place at about 8-00 pm, last Friday, back to Calabar.

“I sold my sewing machine for N40, 000 just to support the bills paid at the shrine, the car people are saying he bought for me is my mother’s car, my mum is a businesswoman, she owns a shop at Watt Market, and he did not buy any car for me. The Toyota Camry belongs to my mum, I withdrew money from her account as she instructed and paid for the car, it is not mine either.

“They have asked him to come back to the shrine, and I heard that he and the chief priest are currently having a rift over his non-appearance.

“I believe God wants to use my situation to expose the man who claims to be man of God

. As we speak, the things he claimed I took from him like chair, I took them to the shrine and I owe him absolutely nothing.

“When those millipedes appeared at my apartment, he was the first person I called, and I told him about it, his response was ‘that is the response to the message you sent to me.’

“I did not understand it until I read the letter, although it contained no name, I could relate when I read massaging machine, I immediately knew it was from him.

“I am trying to put all that behind me because I am writing my examination, I hope to get my money back because I did him no wrong, Instead, it is the other way round, he wanted to destroy me spiritually, but my God said no,” Margaret said.

Theater on Edim Otop Street

On Wednesday morning, there was mild drama at Edim Otop Street residence of the pastor in the Calabar Municipality local government area, following the mysterious appearance of a colony of millipedes.

The unpleasant incident, Saturday Vanguard gathered, was another command from the deity in Okobo, Oron, Akwa Ibom state, to the reverend behind the first summons on his ex-lover for reneging on her purported marriage promise.

According to eyewitnesses, the colony of millipedes mysteriously appeared with thunder stroke during the light showers, yesterday (Tuesday) evening.

The single mother had responded to the summon by the deity at Okobo in Akwa Ibom to clear herself, but the petitioner refused to appear on the second hearing at the shrine.

A resident, who identified herself as Mrs. Felicia, simply said the deity summoned him to come and narrate his side of the story.

“We saw him yesterday (Tuesday), but nobody has seen him this morning (Wednesday), so we do not know his whereabouts.

“The millipedes appeared with a letter when thunder struck, while it rained that evening.

“I heard they asked him to come and clarify something at the shrine, it is like he was being adamant, so they had to summon him traditionally,” Felicia said.

Saturday Vanguard learned that the deity commanded the reverend to appear before it on October 2 and the single mother also traveled, the same day, to honor her own invitation. Both are likely to meet again at the shrine, like in the first hearing, to shed more light on their dealings.

Shop owners near the residence of the reverend shut down their shops on Wednesday for fear of the millipedes invading their shops, while passersby thronged his home to know the development.

Finish what you started

Margaret, who responded to a fresh inquiry by Saturday Vanguard after her third visit to the shrine, Wednesday, at Okobo, Akwa Ibom, appealed to the preacher to man up, and appear before the deity in order for her to recover the money she has so far spent.

“I have been to the shrine three times and would go back there again on Friday (yesterday), making it my fourth visit.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to him to please come and clear himself so that they can return my money because I was told that if they find me innocent, they would return the money I paid there.

“He has failed to appear there twice, he only came on the first day I went, which was on October 21. Since then, he has not come back to the place again, and I believe that was the reason the chief priest also summoned him to appear.

“When I got to the shrine, they asked me to pay another N6, 000, and they gave me some items to sprinkle at my apartment so that other millipedes at my apartment will leave, many of them have crept into hidden places.

“They gave me something to sweep the dead millipedes into a bag and discard, and they told me I am not completely free until the man comes to clear his side. I learned he is to pay about N1 million, from this amount, they will cleanse him and my money returned if I am not found guilty.

“My worry now is that I borrowed N200, 000 to make up the payment, he should please return the money, so I can repay my debt. My mother is worried and sick because she is not feeling so fine, and I need to concentrate on my studies,” she lamented.

According to the UNICAL student, all the allegations leveled against her were false and she had returned the chair and massaging machine the reverend complained about to the shrine, but he has to visit the deity to collect them.

Vanguard

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Osun man on death row for fowl theft shares how police subjected 17-year-old self to torture

Published

5 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Osun man on death row for fowl theft shares how police subjected 17-year-old self to torture

Segun Olowookere, a man who was sentenced to death for stealing fowls in Osun State when he was 17, has recounted how the police tortured and gave him a cutlass used as an exhibit against him as a minor in court.

FIJ had earlier reported that Governor Ademola Adeleke planned to pardon Olowookere after news of how Justice Sakariya Oyejide Falola sentenced Olowookere and Morakinyo Sunday to death in 2014 broke out.

Olowookere was charged in court with conspiracy, armed robbery and stealing. It was on these grounds that Falola delivered his judgment.

Olowookere and Sunday spent some days at a police station in Okuku before their arraignment and conviction. Olowookere said that the police gave them one cutlass each while at the station for weeding the premises.

However, the two of them were later transferred to Osogbo, the state capital, with the cutlasses. These cutlasses were later presented before the judge as exhibits of an armed robbery offence, Olowookere told The Punch in an interview on Sunday.

HOW HE WAS ARRESTED

Now in a custodial centre working with a medical team, Olowookere said he gave himself up for the arrest in November 2010.

“I was at my father’s shop in Oyan after returning from school. My dad and I were discussing my university admission and suddenly, we heard gunshots, and everybody ran away except my dad and a few others,” he narrated.

“My father was taken to a police van where there were some children. I was peeping out and could hear and see what was going on. The police asked my dad where I was and he asked them what my offence was. When they couldn’t give him a satisfactory response, my father shouted at the top of his voice that I should run away because the police wanted to arrest me.

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“But I was wondering what my offence was. So, I came out and went to meet them. I was detained at the police post in Oyan and was taken to Okuku Divisional Police Headquarters the following day. I met the children who were in the police van when they came for me sitting on the ground and eating rice.”

THEY WERE GIVEN CUTLASSES

Olowookere recalled that the divisional police officer (DPO) heading the station at the time accused him of being a leader of an armed robbery gang consisting of teenage children.

Some days after his arrest, his parents were still making efforts to secure his bail. While this was ongoing, the police engaged them in labour, giving them a cutlass each to cut the grasses at the station.

“The DPO told me that one of the children confessed to stealing two broilers and some crates of eggs. I met the broilers and the eggs at the station,” he said.

“The children were eight in number. He told me the children said I was their gang leader, which I denied. The children he was talking about were around 12 and 13 years old, while I was 17 then. I told him I knew the children but I didn’t have anything to do with them other than greeting them in the community.

“I met Sunday Morakinyo at the station, and he told the police that he didn’t know me nor had anything to do with me. I don’t even know where he was arrested. All the children were released but Morakinyo and I were not.

“We were seriously tortured from the first day I got to the Okuku Police Station under the supervision of the DPO. The children who allegedly committed the crime were not beaten. He repeatedly asked me to admit and confess to a crime I didn’t commit.

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“After some days, we were given cutlasses to cut the grass at the police station premises despite having injuries on every part of our body as a result of the torture.”

BAIL SUM BEYOND HIS PARENTS

Olowookere’s father was asked to produce N30,000 for his bail, but his father could only raise N20,000, and the police would not cut down this financial bail demand.

His father then left the station, perhaps to gather the shortfall of N10,000. Before his father could return, the police had ferried them to Osogbo.

“My father could only raise N20,000 out of the N30,000 they demanded. The police rejected it and insisted on the N30,000,” Olowookere said.

“My dad left the station to look for the money. But before he returned the following day, we had been moved to the SARS office in Osogbo. The cutlasses that were given to me and Morakinyo to cut the grass were presented to SARS as exhibits and they were told we were armed robbers.

“After 17 days in the SARS cell, we were taken to a magistrate court and charged with robbery, and from there to the High Court, where we were sentenced to death.”

The poultry farm from which they were alleged to have stolen fowls belonged to one of his uncles.

Despite initially promising not to pursue the case against him, the uncle went on to testify in court against him.

“We are from the same Ajerotutu Compound in Oyan. He was summoned to a family meeting where he said I was not among those who stole the fowls, but my name was mentioned by the children who were arrested,” Olowookere explained.

“He told the family that he would discontinue the case. But he later came to court to testify against me.

“I never wrote any statement to the police. My parents never had a flat, not to mention a six-bedroom flat. I lived with my parents until I was arrested.”

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Asked why his lawyer didn’t object to the statement during the trial, Olowookere said, “I didn’t know anything, but I am sure I didn’t write any statement.”

SUNDAY SUFFERS MENTAL ILLNESS

As a result of the torture they received at the police station before arraignment, Sunday began to bleed from several parts of his body.

Eventually, this bleeding led to his becoming mentally ill, according to Olowookere.

“He is now a mad person. He is at Ibara Prison. He developed mental issues when we were tortured at the police station in Okuku and by the officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad. I am just lucky, and I believe God’s grace is over me,” he said.

“Morakinyo was bleeding from the anus, ears, nose and on the head. The police did not treat him despite that. I cleaned the cell every day because his blood stained the floor. He was bleeding for the entire six days we spent inside the Okuku police cell before we were transferred to the SARS cell in Osogbo.

“We spent 17 days with SARS and Morakinyo bled every day. Some of the SARS officers noticed that he was not mentally normal again but others thought he was pretending, and from there, he developed full mental issues.

“When we were remanded at Ilesa Custodial Centre, the warders tried to manage his mental health but they didn’t have the capacity. His condition then worsened. As I am talking to you, he doesn’t recognise anybody again. His mother has stopped checking up on him.”

Olowookere said he was hopeful that he would regain his freedom someday to pursue his academic studies and become useful to the world.

“I first enrolled in Yewa College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State, after my sentence. It is my dream to study medicine, but it is not available at a college of education. I was later transferred to a maximum prison in 2016. But due to financial constraints, I couldn’t study my dream course,” he explained.

“However, I was encouraged to train under the medical practitioners in the prison. So, I applied and I was accepted into the medical line in 2017. Since then, I have been working with the nurses, pharmacists and doctors inside the prison.

“I believe I will be free one day, and when I regain my freedom, I will definitely go for medicine. I pray to God to set me free because I am innocent.

“I don’t know anything about the crime I am convicted for. I pray to God to give me the opportunity to prove my innocence to the world and be useful to society. I am not a criminal; I have never stolen anything in my life, not to talk of robbing somebody.”

Osun man on death row for fowl theft shares how police subjected 17-year-old self to torture

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Oil cabal sponsoring blackmails against Tompolo, Otuaro, Kyari, say Ijaw youths

Published

5 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo)

Oil cabal sponsoring blackmails against Tompolo, Otuaro, Kyari, say Ijaw youths

Stakeholders under the Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) have alleged a well-coordinated international blackmail campaign against High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Chairman of Tantita Security Services; Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL); and Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

In a statement issued on Sunday by its President, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the IYN accused a cabal of oil thieves of sponsoring the campaign to undermine the successes of Tantita Security Services and other security outfits in combating oil theft.

The group specifically condemned a staged protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, describing it as a smear campaign filled with false criminal allegations against Tompolo, Kyari, and Otuaro.

The IYN called on the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and others entrusted with the nation’s security to ensure a thorough investigation of persons behind the blackmail and bring them to justice in the interest of national security.

The stakeholders also urged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to be resolute in sustaining the reversal of the evils of oil theft against Nigeria and her citizens.

The IYN stressed that oil thieves and their operatives armed with billions of ill-gotten resources were funding the recurrent attacks on Tompolo, Kyari and Otuaro.

The youths insisted that a virulent cabal of oil thieves with a vast network across international boundaries was on the rampage to orchestrate the campaign targeting the economy of the country and its leadership.

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The IYN said that the oil thieves were pooling resources together with their international collaborators to undermine the President, national security and the nation’s economy.

The group said that it was not unexpected that the deadly cabal that almost ruined the economy of the country by stealing billions of petro dollars would not give up their lucrative crime without a fight.

The IYN said that the achievement of the Tinubu Administration which had been able to attain 1.8m barrels of crude oil per day, after serious efforts into the battle against oil thieves should be protected from such influential, deadly gang.

The IYN added some of those fighting Tompolo, Kyari and Otuaro were persons, who pressed to be appointed Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme without success.

The Ijaw youths groups said that the antecedents of Otuaro and his capacity to deepen consultations and sustenance of peace in the Niger Delta might be hurting those behind the campaign of calumny in the region.

The group called on all sister organizations in the Niger Delta to support the campaign against oil theft, Tantita Security Service Limited, the NNPCL and the PAP leadership.

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The group said: “We are shocked at the extent to which this deadly cabal of oil thieves can go to orchestrate a campaign of calumny against hardworking people carrying out their lawful responsibilities in the Niger Delta.

“Of course, nobody expects a group of extremely wealthy, connected and influential people who has been involved in oil theft, stealing billions for years to go away without resistance.

“The show of shame in front of the UN headquarters is a most reprehensible attack on the country image, the President, national security and our economy.

“The unpatriotic characters are conniving with enemies of Nigeria in their criminal bid to bring back the dark days of oil theft and its impact on the nation’s economy.

“We call on the President, to be firm in sustaining what is good for Nigeria. Tompolo, and Tantita have shown that it is not impossible to stop the menace of oil theft as shown by the daily production of oil to 1.8 million barrels per day,

“We also urge the Mr Kyari and Dr Otuaro to be firm in carrying out their official responsibilities to this great country. That oil thieves are focusing attacks on the, shows in clear terms that their actions are suffocating their evil activities in the region.”

Oil cabal sponsoring blackmails against Tompolo, Otuaro, Kyari, say Ijaw youths

metro

NURTW scribe felicitates Nigerians on Xmas, urges caution

Published

11 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

NURTW scribe felicitates Nigerians on Xmas, urges caution

The General Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Kayode Agbeyangi, has enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of peace, love and compassion as taught through the birth of Jesus Christ.

He stated this in his Christmas and end of the year goodwill message to felicitate members of the union and Nigerians in general.

Agbeyangi urged Nigerians to use the festive season to reflect on the values of love, compassion, and sacrifice that Jesus Christ embodied.

“This period is not for merry making alone; we should also spare time to reflect on the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

“His birth teaches humility, love compassion and sacrifice. As Nigerians, we must show love to our fellow county men. We must love our country. As Nigerians, we must be ready to make sacrifices for the nation.”

The NURTW scribe also used the opportunity to appeal to members of the union and other road users to always exercise caution and adhere to all safety protocols while travelling during the festive season.

“As we celebrate, let us not forget the importance of road safety. The roads can be treacherous, especially during the festive season.

“I urge our members and all road users to drive safely, avoid overspending, overtaking at dangerous bends and overloading, and be courteous to other road users,” he stated.

He also advised drivers that all their vehicle papers should be up to date to avoid embarrassment from law enforcement officers on the highways.

Comrade Agbeyangi prayed for a peaceful and joyous celebration, and wished members of the union and Nigerians, a happy prosperous New Year.