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Bhella5's Posts

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European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) / Re: Crystal Palace Vs Chelsea (2 - 1) On 14th October 2017 by Bhella5(m): 3:14pm On Oct 14, 2017
See Chesi o...! tongue
Celebrities / Re: Weflo Mistakenly Exposes A Lady's Pant While Reacting To Bricklayer Rumour by Bhella5(m): 11:30pm On Oct 10, 2017
marunga:
where is the panty picture?
the speaker
Politics / Re: May God Give Nigerians Patience To Tolerate My Government – Buhari by Bhella5(m): 9:47am On Oct 07, 2017
clevvermind:
ALL OF US.
all of the 5%? e lo po si wa
Sports / Re: Bet9ja Has Stolen From Me, Please Help Me!!!! by Bhella5(m): 8:03am On Oct 07, 2017
Oga goan lick ur wound. You staked 1200 and then u singled it in 4 places. so u only get a return on games won which is why u got 2k+ u should be happy self. Abeg make we rest otherwise go station. Na only u dey get problem ni? I saw ur other post where u are also whining like a biaaatch.

2 Likes

Politics / Re: Nairaland Progressives Agree With IPOB: Jubrin Occupies Aso Rock. by Bhella5(m): 7:12am On Oct 07, 2017
omenka vs ipob, o le ku...
Politics / Re: Can INEC Tell Us How To Recall BUHARI !!! by Bhella5(m): 6:51am On Oct 07, 2017
Sagamaje:
Report on former SGF grass cutter! Ignored
Report on IGP corruption! Ignored
Report on cabal ! Ignored
Report on Magu ! Ignored
Report on NNPC corruption ! Kachukwu kept mum after meeting Mr integrity (ignored)
When the head is sick, it affects every part of the body. Buhari has nothing to offer than failure and complains. How do we racall him please?
by 5%?
Politics / Re: May God Give Nigerians Patience To Tolerate My Government – Buhari by Bhella5(m): 6:49am On Oct 07, 2017
clevvermind:
EVIL MAN. 2019 SHOULD COME QUICKLY SO THAT YOU WILL BE KICKED OUT LIKE FOOTBALL. NONSENSE!
by who?
Family / T.O.S. Benson And Folake Sokanke Proposed Marriage Case In London by Bhella5(m): 4:24pm On Oct 06, 2017
COPIED:
Have your Ever Heard of the Song EWA by Bobby Benson.. Let me refresh your memory " Mi o Le gba Ewa Nitori Obirin.. Oni jamba Obirin po laiye Ke Ru Re.. I cant go to jail because of a woman.
Now you know where Bobby Got his inspiration.. It was the love story between His Brother TOS Benson and Folake Solanke..Read On..
A PEEP INTO HISTORY OF THE BENSON vs SOLANKE CASE: When a man 'lusts' after a girl!

Solanke Vs Benson: A Lifetime Story Of Tradition, Love, And Hatred.

It was probably the first celebrated case where a daughter will defy her father in the choice of marriage. It was in the days when a woman, educated or not, really had no say on the choice of who she marries. But this 18 year old daughter of a very affluent Yoruba chief defied her father’s choice of husband. The father had chosen a prominent politician of those days, Chief TOS Benson, a dashing and flamboyant politician, to marry his stunningly beautiful daughter, Folake Odulate. But she would have none of that. Rather, she would go on to marry her heartthrob, Toriola Solanke, a medical doctor whom she fondly called a “gentleman”.
But suitor Benson would not give up, a decision which led to a case of arrest and a charge of robbery against the prominent politician at the Old Bailey, in London. It was a trial on which eminent Nigerian jurist and Justice of the Supreme Court, the late Justice Kayode Eso , wrote: “The legal drama, as it was, at the awe inspiring Old Bailey, is so vividly presented that it should not be missed by any lawyer, law student or, indeed, any reader at all.”
Thus began one of the greatest stories of marriage scandal in the pre, and post independent Nigeria. It was the story of a love affair, a story of clash of culture between modernity and tradition in terms of marriage rites. It poses the question, do women have the right to choose whom to marry, or should they abide with whoever the parents choose? It is the story of a young woman who stood stoically and chose who to love, and equally stood by that love to the very end. It is the story of Chief Mrs. Folake Solanke, the first woman to defy tradition, and the first woman Senior Advocate of Nigeria. It is also the story of passion, of lifetime hatred only love can bring.
Perhaps, if the chance meeting had not occurred at the lowest ebb of her life, the story may have been different. Her family had just lost a brother, the first born of the family who had sojourned in England for several years. Dr. Albert Olukoya Odulate had died within two weeks of his coming back to Nigeria after qualifying as a Medical Doctor in England. She was in the vehicle that claimed his life and so, she was still very distraught. The accident that would change the course of her family happened on January 30, 1948.

Amongst the sympathizers who came to console her father was TOS Benson, who cited this very beautiful and fair lady, and decided to add her to his harem. Thus began the discussion with Pa Jacob Odulate(Blessed Jacob of the Alabunkun fame) on how Chief Benson can marry the young Folake Odulate.
The young lady years after will later write: “In our collective state of trauma and vulnerability, Benson, became known to the family as a sympathizer, willing to comfort my distraught father in his anguish. The great Roman poet, Virgil had warned, “Timeo Graecos dona ferentes”.
And so by 1950, talks were rife between the Bensons and the Odulates about the arranged marriage. By 1951, the two families met, and did engagement but the young woman refused to see the meeting which was supposed to give her hand in marriage as what it was- her marriage ceremony. That same year as fate would have it, she travelled to England, which provided a means of escape for her.
Immediately she got to London, she wrote to Benson to the effect that he should count her out of the arranged marriage. She said: “I thought very deeply about my future. I came to a firm decision that the talk between Papa and Benson about an arranged marriage could never be for me. Benson was much older and already married with children. My preference was for a monogamous marriage”. About a year after, Folake met the love of her life, Toriola Feisitan Solanke, and by October 6, 1956, they were married.

But Benson would have none of that. Unfortunately for him however, the pretty bird had flown far away to where his hand and influence cannot reach. Six years after however, an opportunity presented itself for Benson, who at that time had become the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Parliament and was a member of delegation to London to discuss the Independence of Nigeria,

In the midst of this serous assignment, Benson arranged with a cousin of Folake (now Mrs Solanke) to lure her to his (cousin’s) house where he hoped to talk sense into her. So on May 25, 1957, Folake paid a visit to her cousin in a house on Flander’s Road, Chiswich, London, where to the shock of her life, Benson; her old suitor came in just after she arrived. Benson tried to convince her that she should marry him but she told him “no”.
She said: “I told him quite categorically, in the presence of Afolabi (cousin), what I had been telling him, my father, and others for six years, that I could never marry him. As he still refuse to take no for an answer, I told him that I was already married. Benson said he did not care about my marital status and that he would do everything to destroy my husband and I in Nigeria”.

The Parliamentarian did not stop at that. He took his luck farther. She further narrated on the incident: “As soon as Afolabi left the room, I got up from my chair to leave the room, but suddenly, Benson grabbed my left hand and started trying to remove my engagement ring by force. I struggled as hard as I could, but he overpowered me and violently forced my engagement ring off my finger. In the course of the assault, my open-ended gold bracelet wristwatch also came off my wrist;
My gold engagement ring had two had two diamonds set on either side of a blue sapphire. I pleaded with him to return my ring and wristwatch to me, but he flatly refused. He then put the two items in one of the pockets in his flowing Agbada. Benson locked the door and kept the key in one of his numerous pockets”.
Desperate to escape the assault, Folake did the unthinkable. “There was no way I was going to remain in that apartment, which for me had suddenly become a place of violence and unlawful detention. After all my pleas had failed to recover my precious possessions from him, and with the door locked against me, I reached for the telephone to dial 999. Benson promptly disabled the telephone. Instinctively, I made for the window to jump out”.
It was at this point Benson knew the lady meant business. He called her cousin who promptly came into the room and both persuaded her to come back. This was the opportunity she had to escape from the apartment and further assault. But Benson held on to her ring and wristwatch.
Mrs Solanke, after this experience reported the case to the police. On June 1, 1957, the London Metropolitan police arrested Benson and arraigned him before Acton Magistrate Court, London, for stealing a ring and a watch valued at Forty one pounds from a woman. In the warrant of arrest, he was alleged to have forcibly robbed Mrs. Solanke of her watch and ring on May 25. He was however granted bail with two sureties. However, the court ordered a remand for two weeks, which meant he could not leave London in that period.

On Saturday June 15, 1957, the case went on trial at the Magistrate Court to determine whether Benson had a case to answer. The Prosecutor was Victor Duran QC and he called two witnesses, the police investigating officer, and Mrs. Solanke. At the end of the pre-trial, the court decided that the defendant had a case to answer and thereafter transferred the case to the London Central Criminal Court, popularly known as “Old Bailey”.
The two day trial commenced on June 27, 1957, before Sir Gerald Dodson, who also doubled as the Recorder of London. There was a jury of 12 persons to determine the case. When his charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty. The Prosecution lawyer, Mr. Durand thereafter presented the investigating police officer, Mr. Philips, to the witness box. Philips tendered the written statement of the plaintiff to the court, together with plaintiff’s engagement ring as exhibits.
Next in line to enter the witness box was the plaintiff herself. She was led in evidence by Mr Durand. She narrated how the assault took place and how the defendant forcefully removed her engagement ring and wristwatch. She also told the court how she got married secretly to her husband, Toriola, on October 6, 1956. She further told the court that she had told the defendant and her father the she could not marry the defendant as far back as in 1951 and that she was never interested in the proposed arranged marriage. The plaintiff’s husband, Dr Solanke also gave evidence, corroborating his wife’s evidence.
The defendant then gave his own evidence. He denied that he forcefully removed the plaintiff’s engagement ring and wristwatch. He told the court that it was the plaintiff who gave him the ring to return to her father. He also told the court how he gave the plaintiff a cheque containing money for her education.

The defendant through his lawyer, Mr. Foot called 12 witnesses that represented the crème de la crème of Nigerian politics. They include; the late Chief H.O Davies, the late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, and the then Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain, Chief M.T Mbu. The greatest shock however, was bringing the plaintiff’s father, Chief Jacob Odulate to the court. The father testified against his daughter!
The courtroom was packed full with Nigerians as the story also hit the headlines of newspapers both in London and Lagos. The plaintiff gave the account thus: “There were also others who came simply to hurl abuses and curses and threats at me. The unprintable taunting and vituperation did not elicit one single response from me. I held my head high and the police gave me every protection”.
After the trial, the judge adjourned the case to July 1, 1957, the date the court eventually discharged and acquitted the defendant.
But the battle did not end there. Chief Benson never forgave Folake Solanke for not marrying him. He taunted her at every opportunity. He made every move to stifle her career in the legal profession, all to no avail. Even when she lost her husband, he hired a band to taunt her, saying that he, an old man had outlived her husband. Until his own death, Chief Benson never forgot, and never forgave the bride he lost to someone else.
Culled from the book: “Reaching for the stars" the autobiography of Folake Solanke, SAN

1 Like

Politics / Re: Breaking News: The So Called Lawyers Of Africa Are Fake. - Nnamdi Kanu by Bhella5(m): 7:33am On Oct 06, 2017
The coward speaks from his hiding

1 Like

Politics / Re: Understanding The Financial War Chest Of IPOB & Why They Can Fight Till Eternity by Bhella5(m): 7:22am On Oct 06, 2017
Trash as usual

5 Likes

Politics / Re: More Trouble For Nnamdi Kanu As President Buhari Moves To Enforce Forfeiture Of by Bhella5(m): 7:16am On Oct 06, 2017
LizyCute:
Nigerians never chop this Dullard dey appoint minister to fight IPOB, i blame Nigeria for electing this old man.
is it your Nigeria?
Crime / Re: Hair Dresser In Lagos To Die By Hanging For Armed Robbery by Bhella5(m): 7:11am On Oct 06, 2017
:oThis is too much na. The problem of Nigeria are the so called élites.

6 Likes

Politics / Re: Why Igbos Should Forget Biafra And Focus On Restructuring - Ohanaeze by Bhella5(m): 7:06am On Oct 06, 2017
Let the bashing begins. grin

1 Like 1 Share

Music/Radio / Re: Who Is The Best Nigerian Rapper? by Bhella5(m): 7:32pm On Oct 04, 2017
Apart from Mode9 the boombap crooner, next in line is MI
Sports / Re: Help!!! Bet9ja Might Be A Fraud by Bhella5(m): 6:21pm On Oct 04, 2017
bros bet9ja is the best there is in Nigeria believe me. just be patient, them go pay u.
Crime / Re: Withdrawing Money From An ATM In Jo'burg And Pretoria - Pictures by Bhella5(m): 9:28am On Oct 04, 2017
Good company.
Family / Life Of A Man by Bhella5(m): 6:29pm On Oct 03, 2017
On the first day God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years." The dog said, "That's too long to be barking. Give me ten years and I'll give you back the other ten." So God agreed. On the second day God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks and make them laugh. I'll give you a twenty-year life span." The monkey said, "Monkey tricks for twenty years? I don't think so. Dog gave you back ten, so that's what I'll do too, okay?" And God agreed. On the third day God created the cow. "You must go to the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves, and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of sixty years." The cow said, "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty and I'll give back the other forty." And God agreed again. On the fourth day God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. I'll give you twenty years." Man said, "What? Only twenty years? Tell you what, I'll take my twenty, and the forty the cow gave back, and the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back, that makes eighty, okay?" Okay," said God, "You've got a deal." So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, and enjoy ourselves; the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family; the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren; and the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone. Life has now been explained to you. Lol

2 Likes

Business / Re: UBA Wins “the Best In Digital Banking” At Interswitch Awards by Bhella5(m): 8:04am On Oct 03, 2017
UBA, is that one a bank?

9 Likes

Sports / Re: Alvaro Morata: Chelsea Striker Injured For Up To Two Months With Hamstring Tear by Bhella5(m): 11:33pm On Oct 02, 2017
After International break Hazard and Cfc's season will head to the rocks.
Politics / Re: Oby Ezekwesili: "Buhari's Independence Day Speech Is Divisive & Uninspiring" by Bhella5(m): 11:24pm On Oct 02, 2017
trustyshoess:
People actually wasted time listening to that same old regurgitated BS? undecided
if that is u on ur dp then am disappointed.
Politics / Re: Oby Ezekwesili: "Buhari's Independence Day Speech Is Divisive & Uninspiring" by Bhella5(m): 9:48pm On Oct 02, 2017
By tommorw I bet another prominent person of SE extraction will come out to repeat the same mantra. Yesterday it was Ozhekhomi abi ki ni ti n je... There is a pattern and we know them here in Nigeria we just say 'Wailers' Lobatan.

2 Likes 1 Share

Politics / Re: "APC Wants To Destroy Igbos Same Way They Destroyed Nigeria's Economy"---obigwe by Bhella5(m): 7:16am On Oct 02, 2017
And the political folies continues...
Sports / Re: Arsenal FC Celebrates Nigeria On Her Independence by Bhella5(m): 6:38pm On Oct 01, 2017
grin
Throwback:


Biafra and bitterness!
...are like ube and corn angry
Throwback:


Biafra and bitterness!
...are like ube and corn

2 Likes

Politics / Re: Independence Speech By Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – October 1, 1960 by Bhella5(m): 6:35pm On Oct 01, 2017
vedaxcool:
[s][/s]

Cownu illiteracy has destroyed many yoots
Why do u think I am from the East?
Nairaland / General / Re: Funny memes depicting life on Nairaland. by Bhella5(m): 5:19pm On Oct 01, 2017
When they finally cornered the real identity behind your moniker.

7 Likes 2 Shares

Politics / Re: Independence Speech By Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – October 1, 1960 by Bhella5(m): 5:08pm On Oct 01, 2017
vedaxcool:
[s][/s]

A simple google search would have saved you from sounding ignorant and embarassing yourself. He is Gere by tribe.
Your likes are the reason why we have tribalism in Nigeria. They are all called Hausa/ Fulani. Save us the bullcrap about his roots.
Education / Re: Redeemers University Graduate Sponsored By A Stranger Speaks by Bhella5(m): 5:02pm On Oct 01, 2017
Yeah I believe yhu. I the had same grace in my final year. But in my own case...
Politics / Re: Independence Speech By Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – October 1, 1960 by Bhella5(m): 11:42am On Oct 01, 2017
vedaxcool:
grin One wish you are educated enough to know not everyone from the north is automatically Hausa, Balewa is from a minority tribe in Bauchi. With this sort of ignorance is it any wonder ccownu could easily fool and mislead so many?
What then do u call a Bauchi person? As far as anyone knows he is an Hausa man but u can choose to to label him a Fulani man who cares.

1 Like

Politics / Re: Independence Speech By Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – October 1, 1960 by Bhella5(m): 7:42am On Oct 01, 2017
clevvermind:
NOT THE DULLARD WE HAVE NOW.
In years to come you will see PMB in a good light. Have an open mind. Happy Independent bro.

21 Likes 3 Shares

Politics / Re: What Will Be The Faith Of BIAFRANS!!Will They Join Us In The Celebration... by Bhella5(m): 7:39am On Oct 01, 2017
They would rather join us in celebration or they join in the python dance.

2 Likes 1 Share

Politics / Re: Independence Speech By Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – October 1, 1960 by Bhella5(m): 7:34am On Oct 01, 2017
One of the best Hausa man. Very educated sombori.

22 Likes 1 Share

European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) / Re: Chelsea Vs Manchester City (0 - 1) On 30th Septembr 2017 by Bhella5(m): 6:59pm On Sep 30, 2017
bizza45:
what a shocker
It was expected na

1 Like

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