Couple Seek Separation After Four Children

By Damilola Adekoya

  “We do not delight in separating couples, we try as much as possible to make them know that divorce is not an option, but to settle whatever disputes and challenges they have or face in their marriages,” Alhaja A Olorunimbe, the President of the Oshodi, Igbeyinadun court, told Mr. K .C Okeke and Mrs. Joy Nzube, as the two counselcouple argued with each other.

  Both defense counsel, were present to represent their clients Mr and Mrs Okoro Awam.

  The petitioner, Mr Joseph Okoro Awam of number 17, Samuel Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi Lagos, is a trader. He married the Respondent, Mrs Adaeze Okoro Awam, on August 25, 1996, at Ukwulu town in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.

  After their marriage, the couple cohabited at No 39, Owoje Street, Mafolouku, Oshodi, Lagos, from August 25, 1996 to January 15, 2005, before they later moved to No 34, Larinde Street, Mafolouku Oshodi from January 16, 2005 to December 3, 2008, when the respondent was said to have deserted the petitioner.

  The circumstance of the cessation of cohabitation was due to irreconcilable differences, which came up at a time when the family was supposed to travel to the village for Christmas, and Joseph who was supposed to contribute some money towards the festive period, claimed he didn’t have enough money.

  The marriage, had produced for children, Chidiebere (M), who is 14 years and the eldest, and with his other siblings, Somtochukwu (m), Favour (f) and Nnesooma (F), whom the respondent Adaeze Okoro Awam, later took to her home town in Anambra, when she started having problems with her husband. and came back to Lagos to start living in her shop, at No 26, Sabana street, Mafoluku, Oshodi.

 Joseph came to the Igbeyihadun Customary Court, in Oshodi seeking the dissolution of their marriage, on the grounds that his wife deserted him on December 3^, 2008 and since then, has forcibly taken his four children from his house.

  He also claimed that the respondent consistently displayed morbid hatred for him and treated him with contempt and derision.

  He therefore seeks the following orders from the court.

That himself and his wife, have lived apart since the 3^rd day of December 2008, and a continuous period of about 33 months.

That he be granted custody of his four children.

And any orders the court may deem fit and proper to make, in the circumstances.

  Joseph proposes to ensure the educational pursuit of the children to the level of their ability warrants, be it Undergraduate and Post-graduate Studies and that he will provide adequate maintenance of the children with or without any contribution from the respondent, including payment of school fees and medical expenses.

 He also seeks that the children, who till now are in their mother’s hometown, be returned to his custody for proper care.

  Both parties were present in court. The court had earlier directed Adaeze to come with all the children at the next sitting on the case.

However, she came with only Chidiebere explaining that the other children could not come because one of them was sick, and their mother advised that they stayed back to look after their sibling.

  Adaeze’s counsel also said that since Adaeze had claimed that Joseph never paid her bride-price, as her  tradition demanded, Joseph must pay her bride price, If he wanted his kids back.

  While the president was still advising to Joseph, to do as his wife’s counsel , he had shouted angrily, “No! I cannot pay bride price twice. I am a young man and I do not want to die at my early stage. The Bible says, ‘He who findeth a wife findeth a good thing’, but this woman is a bad thing to me.”

“Please withdraw that statement, you have just insulted your wife’s personality, and this court will not take that,” Olorunimbe Said.

“Am sorry, your honour”, Joseph replied.

“And you Chidiebere,” the judge continued, “did you greet your father, this morning?”

 “No Ma,” He answered.

“Now, go and greet your father,” She directed. Chidiebere moved towards the witness box and stretched out his hands to shake his father’s hands. But Olorunimbe still insisted that he was wrong to greet his father whom he had not seen for four years like that.

  She however gave the court a 10 minutes break for Joseph to reconcile with his son and later adjourned the case to the September 17, 2012.

Gigging for the lord

BY DAMILOLA ADEKOYA

TOYIN Adebola, who not long ago released his sixth album titled Feels Like Heaven, recently brought family members and friends to the prestigious Balmoral Hall, Oregun, Lagos, to worship God.

   Tagged Toyin and Friends, the programme, which began in 2005, featured gospel artistes such as Cobhams Asuquo, Brume Egborge, Cute Sagay, J Treash, Kauna Adebisi, Laide Fash, Okiki Jesu, Simi, Mayowa and Enifome Samuel Peters.

     According to Adebola, “the programme is all about creating platform for people who have been blessed by God, especially in music, to minister to people, so that all can praise God together.”

    Adebola, who is also the CEO of Lakeside Energy Limited, said he has no challenges merging his work and his family together with the programme.

  “My family is a family of music as well, they understand the demands that God places on anybody He chooses to use. My wife is a music minister and has been very supportive. My children also love music, so, it becomes easier for me,” he surmised.

   

Ife Runway Fashion Show sets to hold soon

By Tunrayo Bashirat

The Ife runway fashion show is an annual event organized by blacknbold fashion house; a student body involved in showcasing and promoting student entrepreneurship in areas such as: modelling, designing, make-up, accessories and other creative crafts. It also organizes seminars, workshops all in a bid to encourage students.

   Last year, blacknbold organized the first major fashion show at the Obafemi Awolowo University. It was tagged 'the ife runway fashion show' . It held on the 15th october, 2011 at the architechtural studio, ile-ife.

   The show saw to the exhibition of almost 12 designers whose array of collection ranged from cloth designing, shoes, make-up, hair and accessories. The show was a massive success as over 300 people showed up at the event.

   This year's show is slated for september and it is to hold at Ogunbanjo hall, staff quarters, OAU campus, ile-ife.

   The IRFS will be partnering with legendary

Gold limited; the organizers of Nigeria fashion show and in turn three top designers from the IRFS will be chosen to participate at the grand finale of their show in Lagos at a subsidized rate. Three top models would also be chosen to model at their fashion show.

   This year promises a bigger package as over 15 designers from across Nigerian universities would be participating. OAU alumnus who have carved a niche in the industry would also be invited to showcase their A'list designs. Top Naija acts are also going to be jamming up the event with their ever-rocking tunes. Student fashionistaz would be well to glam up the red carpet with their unique and tasteful sense of style.

   With excite ontv on the red carpet, acada magazine as the official print media, one can only expect a fab event. In addition, London tv will be giving a full coverage of the show. Commercials are also to run from August- September on different local stations like Stv and Ait.

   Promising to give you a fabulous event, the ife runway fashion show is the event you don't want to miss this year.

   For sponsorship, enquiries and participation, call; Tunrayo: 08137636114, pin- 208A03E4 or Biola on 07031607412, pin-21C99C3A.

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‘The Love Of My Life Left Me---With Four Kids’

By Damilola Adekoya

  

Nkechinyere Obi, 30, couldn’t come to terms with the fact that her romantic and smooth relationship, with Chukwudi Obi, which later graduated to marriage, suddenly crumbled in just one day.

  Chinyere seeks the dissolution of the marriage, which she contracted with her husband in 2003, and had produced four children, Chinwedu (F), seven; Chidubenu (M), five; Uluchukwu (F), three and Chiebuka (M), on the grounds that her husband, Chukwudi deserted her to marry another woman.

  Chinyere added that Chukwudi was constantly beating her and that they no longer love each other.

  They formerly lived together at 39, Aremu Olatunbosun Street, Mafoluku-Oshodi. They were committed to visiting the village every year, towards the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

  Chukwudi, together with his wife and children, had gone to the village for the Christmas and New Year holidays in December 2011 and were all supposed to come back to Lagos in January 2012 after all celebrations.

  When it was January 2012, Chukwudi appealed to his wife to allow him go to Lagos first, promising to come back to pick her and their four children.

  Chinyere agreed, without any objection.

Three months passed, Chinyere didn’t hear from her husband. She became worried about both the education of her children, whose mates had resumed school and the welfare of her husband.

  She was broke, Chukwudi didn’t leave enough money to get herself and her children back to Lagos. She went round to appeal for help for any amount that could, transport herself and only two children, out of four.

  Leaving two of her children behind, Chinyere travelled down to Lagos.

 Chinyere headed straight to Chukwudi’s shop, at No 16, Okoya Street, Lagos but was heart-broken, when she started hearing from neighbours, who were calling to inform her, about preparations that were being made by her husband, to marry another woman in the next few weeks.

  Chinyere was shattered. She never believed her husband could bring her such a long way, to suddenly desert her. To safeguard her future and that of her children, she headed to the Igeyhinadun Customary Court, In Oshodi.

In court, both parties were represented by their defence counsel ---  Felix Olatunji for the petitioner, and Chief KCJ Eboh, for the respondent.

  Chinyere appealed to the court to order Chukwudi to rent an apartment for her and her children and that he should set up a business for her since, they had owned a joint business.

She also wants Chukwudi to be responsible for the welfare of her children and that he should allow her pack her belongings out of his house.

  Eboh confirmed to the court that the respondent had already rented a room apartment for Chinyere and her children, but Chinyere who was dissatisfied by the amount of things in that apartment said, “He has only put a mattress, a stove, a 50-litre of keg, a two-seater cushion that with all its cloth torn, and an old television that we used in our former place, which is not connected to an aerial, in that room. We still need so many things.”

  The respondent was however advised by the president of the court, Alhaja A Olorunimbe, to make sure he pays a monthly maintenance allowance of N10, 000 for the upkeep of Chinyere and her Children. And that he should provide Chinyere with everything she needs.

‘I regret Marrying A Policeman’s Sister’

By Damilola Adekoya

THEY left the court premises like enemies. The husband went one way, the wife the other. Abdulwahab Dairo of No 2A, Araromi Street, Oshodi, had approached the court to seek the dissolution of the marriage he contracted with his wife, Augustina, under the native laws and customs in 2005.

  The union, which was not blessed with any issue, began to suffer when, according to the husband, he realised his wife was troublesome, constantly fighting him, even threatening him with her brother who is a policeman. He doesn’t love her anymore, he declared.

  Abdulwahab had earlier petitioned the court:

“As at the last hearing of the matter, 26 March 2012, the court ordered us to maintain peace till the adjourned date: 20, April 2012. In order to avoid conflict, on getting home, I picked two of my clothes and (left home) … to stay in a family friend’s house. I was surprised when I visited home on March 31, 2012 and I discovered that my wife had broken into my wardrobe and had made away with some valuables, such as:

*A file containing vital documents and receipts

*The sum of 150, 000(One hundred and fifty thousand naira)

*Two 10 yards of guinea materials (blue and ash colours)

*Electronics, including an Aiwa stereo CD player and a Sony DVD player.

Responding, Augustina denied each material allegation.

  The respondent, who was represented by her defense counsel, Barrister Felix Olatunji, in a letter, alleged that dowry was not paid on her. She denied all ground of dissolution of marriage, saying that while they were living together as couple, the petitioner stayed out late and that because he was unemployed, he did not perform his responsibilities as a man.

  She further alleged that Abdulwahab borrowed a total sum of N350, 000naira from her and had refused to return it.

  However, the petitioner has asked that the court should order her to pack her things out of his house, never to come back into the vicinity.

  The case was been adjourned till August 20, 2012, by the court president, Alhaja A Olorunimbe.

Upping the scales with LASGIDI

BY DAMILOLA ADEKOYA

JAIYESIMI Adedeji is the brain behind EJA24VII, an outfit that majors in casuals such as T-shirts, Fez caps, trousers and jeans. 

   The Sagamu, Ogun State-native dropped out from the University of Lagos, where he was studying surveying and geo-formatics to pursue his passion — art and fashion.

    “I didn’t finish the course because of my artistic desires,” he says. “I’m a creative artist. I also do logo creations, and a little bit of architecture.  When I was in secondary school, I was the best student in technical drawing and as such, wanted to study architecture, but I wasn’t opportuned to study the course.”

     Adedeji does anything that has to do with arts, but he says he is very much into fashion now. He recalled that he started with shirts and linen tops, but had issues with his tailors, who disappointed him most of the time; and realising he was depending too much on other people to get things done for him, he decided to go into what he had more control over, which is street clothes.

   “I can just source and order plenty shirts and polo and re-decorate them the way I want. It’s more like drawing, but it’s easier for me.”

  Adedeji, who describes his designs as unruly and rebellious, has just added his new brand, Viva Las Gidi, to his other brands of shirts, which include Holy Gear, PLAN B, NWA (Naija Wit Art’titude); he says his unique style is his originality in creating designs.

  “Because of my kind of person, I like to break away from the norm. Even if I see everybody going up because up is right, I’ll try not to go that same way. And if I eventually go the same way, I’ll try to go through another route. Anytime you see my designs, there is always something different about it. I do not like doing things by the set rules; I love to break rules, when I am designing.  You will surely see an unusual combination of colours, spellings or cutting out some parts of the jeans to mix with local fabrics; something must just be different,” he enthuses.

  

APART from designing, Adedeji is also into entertainment. He has worked with Music Africa, MTV Base and Road To Mama, Lagos Polo Club as well as with artistes such as Ruggedman, Olamide, Wizkid, Mode Nine and others.

  “I believe I was able to work with them because of my talent. I hate boredom, I can’t stand the four walls of an office”, Adedeji says.

    Speaking on his major challenge, he states, “I procrastinate at times, because I have a lot of things in my head.  And that is why in terms of putting myself together, I need a professional to manage me. I might be working on a design, and see another design, I will put the one I was handling aside to focus on the new one.” But in spite of this, I meet up with clients’ demands, by trying to do things immediately.”

  Projecting into the future, the CEO of EJA24VII, says, “everything actually depends on God. But on my own part, I want to see my brands on almost everybody because I have a couple of clothing lines, both for Christians and the secular. I am working on a project that would encourage distribution, because one major challenge designers have, is distribution. If people see your designs on televisions and magazines and like them, but can’t get them, then one is indirectly aiding piracy. Before you know it, they call on the printer next door to help them make that same design, which is not good enough.  So, I’m working on top stores that will be aiding in the distributions of top designer’s wears.”