See what caused divorce

A Nigerian court granted a 57-year-old man a divorce after hearing that his wife often brought his meals to him too late in the evening, local media reported on Thursday.

A court in Lagos heard that Olufade Adekoya was at the end of his tether after Olusola, his spouse of 25 years, refused to serve him when he demanded, the Vanguard national daily said.

"My wife had failed in her matrimonial obligations. She does not prepare my food on time and I have warned her several times, but she would not listen to me," he was quoted as saying.

"There is no point in harbouring a wife that makes me hungry. I am totally fed up," Adekoya told the hearing, for which the paper gave no date.

Semo and egusi soup

His wife denied the alleged dereliction, accusing her husband of plotting to take another wife.

But court president Olu Adebiyi reportedly dissolved the unhappy union, concluding: "The court had tried several times to reconcile their differences, but all efforts proved abortive."

It is thought to be the first time a husband has been granted a legal separation over his domestic meal time arrangements, although Nigeria is no stranger to bizarre divorce cases.
In 2008 a Nigerian pensioner bowed to pressure from local Islamic leaders to divorce 82 of his 86 wives to avoid an eviction order under the sharia legal system.

The Nigerian society website Sugar Daily has compiled a number of equally unusual applications it says were made to Nigerian courts in recent years.

They include a 32-year-old businessman who filed for divorce hours after his expensive wedding when he discovered his bride had been wearing a "butt pad" to augment the size of her rear.

In a case heard in Lagos, a wife was granted a divorce after claiming her husband often defecated in their cooking pots after getting drunk.

Meanwhile a 40-year-old carpenter told another court in Lagos to dissolve his marriage of five years, complaining that his in-laws often intervened when he was beating his wife.

Source: AFP

Jega redeemed Nigeria’s image - NSE

President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Engr. Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi, FNSE has revealed that they decided to honour former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega because he was able to redeem the country’s image in the comity of nations.

He made this claim after the body honoured Jega at its 2015 3^rd Quarterly Dinner and Conferment of Fellowship which took place yesterday, Thursday, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.

Prof. Jega

The president noted that, “We want to specially applaud Prof. Attahiru Jega, OFR, who led the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) creditably well during his tenure. We appreciate his principled and focused leadership style which paid off after the elections.

“It is unforgettable how he redeemed Nigeria's image within the comity of Nations. Prof. Jega introduced technology in our electoral process and resisted the attempts to discredit it. He stood firm on integrity in the face of avalanche of intimidation and remained calm under unbridled last minute provocation. His innovation and courage are worthy of celebration,” he concluded.

The Fellowship of the NSE is the highest honour bestowed by the Society on members within its fold who have been found worthy of such honour in the quantum of practice and contribution to the growth of the noble profession of engineering as well as to the development of their immediate society and the nation in general.

Thursday’s event is the special recognition accorded some individuals and corporate organisations that have distinguished themselves in service to the nation and humanity.

Jega was honoured alongside with 18 engineers with the NSE Special Merit Award having performed their respective mandates to the expectation and satisfaction of the Society.

Why crocodiles attack human being

A new study reveals where and when crocodiles attack people, and advice on how to prevent it.

Stare into the jaws of a crocodile and it might be the last thing you will like to see. Their formidable jaws can snap bones like twigs.

Each time a crocodile attacks a person, the media paints a picture of fearsome aggressive beasts that reign terror on unsuspecting victims.

That they are dangerous is clear but like many things in nature, the story is more complicated.

Crocodiles do not necessarily set out to hunt humans. They are clearly ferocious hunters, but they are opportunistic predators. 

If you go splashing through a muddy river near the crocodile and it is hungry, it will come over and grab you. Any animal that moves is fair game. They will even venture onto land to find prey. If that warm blooded mammal happens to be a human, they will not discriminate. 

In Africa alone there are several hundred crocodile attacks on humans per year. Many take place in small communities and are not widely reported; between a third to half are fatal, depending on the species.

They are far more common than shark attacks and yet do not receive as much media coverage. 

Shark attacks tend to be more frequent in richer countries, says Simon Pooley of Imperial College London, UK, who studies the history and challenges of crocodile conservation efforts.

Pooley grew up with crocodiles. He experienced the devastation they can cause families first hand. Many people depend on rivers for their livelihood and so avoiding the water is not always an option. 

He has now looked at the patterns surrounding 65 years of crocodile attacks in southern Africa to discover when they are most likely to occur and who is most at risk.

Crocodile

His team has also created a booklet, which is now being distributed to areas where such attacks frequently occur. "It seemed strange that we weren't using this kind of historical data to try and save human and crocodile lives in these large areas of the world where attacks take place," he says.

Attacks are often seasonal. They are most prevalent between October and March. They often occur during rainfall, temperature increases and the breeding season.

It's not immediately clear why some of these patterns exist. That crocodiles attack when it's warmer is thought to be because they are ectothermic (cold blooded) creatures. That is, they depend on the sun's heat for energy. This means they will hunt more when it's warmer. When it's colder they are not as active. 

Every attack Pooley studied occurred when the minimum temperature was higher than usual. Divers in crocodile-rich rivers are said to restrict their diving to when it's under 19 degrees Celsius. "If it's colder it's regarded as safe, if it's warmer they don’t get in the water," says Pooley.

From the records, Pooley found that most attacks took place while people were swimming; boys were attacked most often. This makes sense as smaller prey is easier to kill. The mortality rate for children is much higher than for adults.

Men that were attacked were often fishing, while women were crossing rivers or doing domestic chores.

Attacks are usually feeding related, Pooley says. "If you go splashing through a muddy river near the crocodile and it's hungry, it will come over and grab you."

That's why it's important to stay at least three metres from the edge of water. People should not assume that just because they can't see a crocodile that it's not there; crocodiles can stay underwater for over an hour.

Furthermore, if you do need to cross the water in a big group, it is not wise to splash around in the water or create lots of noise.

It may seem obvious to avoid attracting their attention, but people have been told that making lots of noise might scare them away. This is terrible advice, Pooley says.  

Of course, if you do get grabbed by a crocodile there's not much to be done. You can try and put your fingers in its eyes or hit it on the nose, as both are sensitive areas. If you have something to hand to put down its throat, it might cause it to gag and release you.

These are the worst case scenarios. Nile and salt water crocodiles are the most dangerous. Not all species attack humans. Many are wary of people and may only bite if they are disturbed or taken by surprise.

Pooley hopes more attacks can be prevented if people are made aware of the specific risks that face them.

Crocodiles are killed in an attempt to find remains of missing children in their stomachs

At the same time, the crocodiles that attack humans are also in need of protecting. The Nile crocodile, mostly found in Africa, is abundant across the continent but other species such as the Philippine and Orinoco crocodiles are listed as critically endangered.

They are at risk precisely because they are dangerous. This can be a difficult message to get across. It is hard to conserve an animal that people hunt in an attempt to curb future attacks.   

Revenge attacks are also common. Late last year a woman and her unborn child were killed in Uganda, Africa. Her husband sought revenge and killed the crocodile in question one month later. He used a spear crafted by a local blacksmith. 

In January 2014, after a boy went missing from a suspected crocodile attack, authorities in Australia issued a shoot-to-kill order on any crocodile bigger than two metres. Three were killed by local police. The boy's remains were later discovered near to where the attack took place. After the incident there were calls to cull more crocodiles.

They can be hunted for game too. In March 2015, a policeman in Mexico was suspended after he was filmed shooting a helpless crocodile with a machine gun.

These are but some of the issues facing crocodiles. Habitat destruction is also a threat. Telling people about such issues is known to be ineffective. Helping locals to stay safer would better deter potential eradication demands, says Pooley.

Crocodiles and humans may never coexist completely peacefully, but knowing more about how to avoid being a crocodile's dinner is an important first step.

Presented by Melissa Hogenboom

The task before FCT Minister

Plus how Blessing Onuh, Alim destroyed sports

Sports management under the leadership of Bala Mohammed by extension Blessing Onuh and Musa Alim can be described as a sorry state as the above mentioned, had paid little or no attention to what brings joy, wealth and fame to the people. Oghenemaro Onokpegu writes.

We were meant to understand that women are the best managers when it comes to managing the homes and resources and also by extension; they are good at managing activities in the office.

Blessing Onuh and Alim Musa

Not many would forget so soon, late Dora Akunyli who was exceptional in her field. She excelled so well at the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC that she was made a minister, where she also excelled. Her exploits made President Goodluck Jonathan to give opportunities to more women which the ministers also emulated by giving women opportunity to serve under their agencies and departments they held.

Bala Mohammed, on his part gave Blessing Onuh, who incidentally is the daughter of the Senate President, David Mark, the opportunity to head the Social Development Secretariat which also has sports under it with Musa Alim, as director of Sports.

It is on record that ever since former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Lulu left the FCT Sports ministry as director, sports has been a shadow of itself. It became worse when Onuh took over as the Social Development Secretariat and Alim as director of Sports.

The ever vibrant FCT Queen Football Club disappeared into thin air and today it has been a forgotten issue. Under Blessing, the girls who are footballers turned to “prostitutes” asking men out in order to survive. Some years ago, our correspondent, out of his good gesture supplied the girls with foodstuff and money to discourage them for being lured by men.

Investigation carried out then showed that their money was being pocketed by the duo of Onuh and Alim with the involvement of the minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide. It took the efforts of the deputy director of sports, who incidentally is a board member of the NFF, Dilichukwu Onyedinma for the team to survive in the women elite league that year.

Today, FCT Queen FC is nowhere as the girls have all left for other clubs in other states while some of them have been frustrated to abandon footballing and take up other jobs.

It would be recalled that the FCT Queens had a bad outing at the National Sports Festival, NSF in Lagos. The poor performance was blamed on alleged embezzlement of fund by the Social Development Secretary, Blessing Onuh.

Onuh’s refusal to release the money budgeted for the NSF resulted in poor preparation for the girls and low moral amongst the participants.

We also gathered then from a reliable source in the Secretariat that the Secretary, who is the daughter of Senate president, Senator David Mark diverted vehicles and money meant for the FCT Team for her husband’s political campaign, who was vying for chairmanship position in his local government then.

As a result of that, the FCT Team had to travel with public transport to Lagos, thereby putting financial strain on members of the contingent who were poorly mobilised for the sports fiesta. Besides, they had to hire buses to enable them shuttle between their hotels and various venues of the event.

It was also alleged that some of the girls had to resort to soliciting sex for money with a view to surviving the hard times during the NSF in Lagos. We also gathered that the director of sports, Mohammed Alim, who is over-due for retirement, has been under fire from sports’ stakeholders over payment of salaries and allowances for the Queens as well as sports development in the territory.

It would be recalled that Alim has come under the spotlight of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, FCT Chapter over accusations of under-performance as director of sports, as well as the Social Development Secretary. It took serious pressure from the sports writers for the director of sports and the Secretary to inaugurate the executives of the various sporting association. On the inauguration day, Onuh promised the associations N500,000 each to kickstart their activities but up till date, no dime has been given to any association hence nothing is happening.

A staff in the FCT Administration who confided in our correspondent alleged that Onuh, alongside the minister are delaying the payment in order to pocket the money when leaving office.

All efforts to get the reactions of the secretary of the Social Development Secretariat on the allegations proved abortive as she refused to reply the letter sent to her by our sister publication.

Meanwhile, during Onuh’s tenure, nothing could be pointed at as her achievement in sports. The Old Parade Ground has become an abandoned edifice, as it has been converted for private use by aerobic trainers.

While other states are preparing seriously for the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Calabar, Cross River State, nothing is happening in the FCT. We gathered that most of the athletes discovered by the coaches have all ‘decamped’ to other serious states.

The director of sports, who likes doing everything by himself without the assistance of his staff, claimed that there was nothing wrong if athletes leave the FCT for other states. According to him, “Our policy is not to stop any athlete from going for greener pastures. As more are leaving, more are being produced.”

There is no doubt that sports has suffered serious setback under the Bala Mohammed’s administration. We also gathered from a reliable source in the FCTA that the ministry was planning to replace the Old Parade Ground, OPG with a hotel.

It took the intervention of SWAN and the users of the OPG before the minister rescind his decision. In fact, it was when the minister of state, Akinjide was denied exit out of the OPG when she came to inspect the “proposed hotel site” that the users of the OPG blocked her hence she rescinded her decision and also passed the message to the minister.

It was also gathered that the Area 3 playground which has become the hub of football activities which has seen many football clubs fighting over the usage was also been planned to be demolished. Information has it that the FCTA was planning to cut off part of the pitch for construction of road.

Sports has suffered a lot, as no sporting arena was built, the one started have been abandoned while most of the pitches and playgrounds have been converted to gardens. The sides of the bridge are now being converted to pitches and playground where children exercise.

Alim claimed that in each area council, sporting facilities are being built in Kuje, Bwari, Kwali, Orozo and Kwali but have since been abandoned. Contractors are taken to site whenever they discovered that journalists or officials of the FCTA want to visit. The director claimed that they don’t have access to funds hence the delay.

The annoying aspect is that when the long-serving secretary of the FCT Football Association was ill, he was abandoned in the hospital to cater for himself. It took the intervention of friends and well-wishers for him to be catered for and his hospital bills paid.

Alim claimed that the sports ministry was responsible for the payment but the secretary who is now hale and hearty disclosed that he took care of his bills alone.

It would be recalled that the whereabouts of the sum of N13 million meant for gold winning U-13 boys is still unknown as Alim claimed that the money is not meant for the boys nor meant to be spent. He claimed that he has used the money for flight bookings, visas and other travelling arrangements for the next U-13 boys to travel, who eventually did not.

As usual Onuh refused to comment as we gathered that Alim was retained as director of sports, despite the fact that he has passed his retirement age, to do the “dirty jobs” both for the Social Development and the FCTA.

Some analysts are worried that the FCTA, which is supposed to take the lead in sports is lacking behind. They are more concerned about the new people that will be saddled with the responsibility.

Austin Okodua advocates that people like Onuh, Alim and others should not be allowed to handle any office in the country because they have disappointed. “They were more interested in embezzling money rather than develop the sporting facilities in the territory and we want people who will be willing to give us sporting facilities in every district in order to help discover the young and hidden talented athletes in the FCT.”

There is no doubt that the incoming minister and his team has a daunting task before him. He has a lot to do in the territory especially the one that concerns sports. His ability to address the many challenges facing sports in the territory will determine whether he will be loved by the FCT residents or not because the people will want attention to be given to the sector that gives them joy, fitness, fame and wealth.