Former governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has said though it is widely held that the place of the woman is in the kitchen, “men also belong there.”

Recall President Muhammadu Buhari had in Germany, while speaking to reporters said that women belonged to the kitchen and the inner room in reply to his wife’s protest that some unknown politicians had hijacked her husband's administration. Babangida Aliyu spoke in Minna, Niger State capital, at the annual lecture series organised by Newgate College of Technology.

According to Babangida Aliyu,“Looking at the issue critically, and in Islamic terms, it is actually the man that should be in the kitchen as provided for in the Holy Quran.

The woman should only be in the ‘inner room,’ while the men should provide all the needs of the woman, including making purchases from the market for the use of the family. Islam does not permit women to go out indiscriminately, as they are supposed to be in the house taking care of the children.”

Since the story of the sex video involving former Miss Anambra, Chidinma Okeke, broke a few weeks ago, several groups and individuals have come forward with different versions of what transpired between the embattled 20-year-old beauty queen and the organisers of the pageant.

The former beauty queen was seen in a shocking x-rated video with a lesbian partner. Surprisingly, the video was released on October 11, 2016, a few days before the expiration of her tenure originally billed for October 28, 2016.

Every day across the state since the video hit the streets, different versions of what led to the scandal are churned out by the actors, leaving the people confused and unsure of what to believe.

Since the scandal broke, Miss Chidinma Okeke, who won the Miss Anambra beauty pageant, organised by the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), has remained incommunicado, choosing to go into hiding over alleged threats to her life. She has also remained silent, leaving her lawyer to do most of the talking.

While the father, Sir Jeremiah Okeke, had claimed in recent reports that his daughter had been handed over to a relation for safety, some others claimed that the ex-beauty queen had relocated abroad.

But after weeks of keeping quiet, Miss Okeke has finally broken her silence. In an exclusive interview with The Nation, she debunked claims that she threatened to commit suicide, adding that there was never a time such thought came to her mind.

She also said her life might no longer be in danger, adding that her traducers were no longer threatening her life, and maintaining that those who were after her life had stopped contacting her.

She also said the faces behind her agonizing period in Anambra would be revealed soon, adding that with God, all things are possible.

Narrating her own side of the story, she said:

[b]“Early last year, the ABS advertised for the Miss Anambra beauty pageant. I heard of it and went to make enquiry.

“My roommate was also interested, but one of the organisers told me to apply. I told them I was not interested but the man insisted that I might win the competition. He also promised to give me the form for free if I indicated interest, and he did when I agreed to contest.

“But one Jane told me that before a winner would be declared, there were certain things to be done, including the (sex) video. I consented after some persuasion from the organisers. I later went for the contest at the Marble Arch Hotels in Awka, and I was declared winner with a Kia Rio vehicle as star prize.

“When I went for my car after the contest, the organisers brought out a contract form for me to sign, but I told them I wanted to contact my lawyer to see it. I was not given the opportunity to do so.

“What they kept telling me was that if I insisted on not signing the contract or wanted to contact my lawyer, they would release the video.

“At that point, I became uncomfortable and signed the contract to avoid such embarrassment, and the car was released to me from where it was packed within the premises of ABS.

“From that moment, I became a slave to them. On October 11, 2016, they called me to come and make presentations inside the office of one the organisers. After that, the man excused some people in that room and showed me the video again.

“They told me to drop my car and removed my crown from me. I told them I would take the car as stipulated in the contract. They insisted I should pack it in the premises of (ABS).

“I told my uncle in Abuja about the situation. My uncle called them and asked them to release my car to me. Instead, they forwarded the video to him as part of the blackmail. That was what happened,” Chidinma said, crying.
[/b]

She also said the scandal had weighed her down. Amidst sobs, she denied being a lesbian, saying she had never been involved in the act.


For her parents, Sir Jeremiah and his wife, Lady Nora Okeke, the incident remains a shock.

According to Sir Okeke, the management and organisers of the pageant capitalised on his daughter’s “age and naivety to deny her whatever monetary gains she made while serving as Miss Anambra.”

He added: “How can a beauty queen borrow money to pay her driver, even when she is supposed to be receiving a monthly salary?

“I cannot say all that I heard or saw. Why was she not paid her winning prize of one million naira fully? Rather, they paid her on installmental basis. And up until today, the money has not been completely paid.


“They have rubbished her and rubbed the family’s name in the mud. But we have united as a family, praying seriously for my daughter and for the people behind this wicked act to be exposed.

“My family at first agreed not to tell me about the whole thing, because I am hypertensive. But they decided otherwise when things got out of hand. I told them this issue will not kill me because I have had worse experiences while in business years back.

“My God, as always, will answer me and expose the truth in no distant time. I won’t say much because the damage has already been done.

“Chidinma is a small girl who does not know anything, hence, she fell into a trap that was too heavy for her to shoulder. But I thank God she is recovering.”

All through the interview, Chidinma’s mother, who was advised by the husband to remain silent, continued to hiss, and motioning her hands towards the heavens in supplication to God.

Two of the chiefs in Ogboji community in Orumba South Local Government Area, where Chidinma hails from, Chief Obi Okoli (Idejimba) and Chief Julius Nwankwo (Nwabulu-Omee), told The Nation that the incident had left them in shock.

Okoli, who described Chidinma as a nice and well-trained girl from a Christian home, saw the entire thing as a set up, but argued that such issues would only happen if somebody presents oneself.

According to him, “she is a well brought up girl from a good family background and Christian home. There could be more to this than meets the eyes.”

Asked if the community was not going to say anything on the sex scandal involving their daughter, Okoli laughed and said: “There are ways of handling such issues, and I don’t think the community will be involved.”

Also speaking, Chief Julius Nwankwo, described the situation as a pity, adding that today’s children behave as they like.

However, he said that the people of Ogboji community were seeing it as blackmail, adding that none of them was happy with what happened to their daughter.

He said: “As an Ogboji man, I am pained that such a thing happened to one of our own, and that is why we want the authorities concerned to look into the saga appropriately, with a view to arresting those involved.

“When our daughter won the award, we were happy. For anybody or group of persons to rubbish her and our community is what we will not condone.”

Nwankwo said they heard some people had been apprehended over the sex scandal, adding that the authorities should look well in making sure that wrong people were not punished.

The Managing Director of ABS, the organisers, Uche Nworah did not comment on the queen’s allegations when we contacted him. He instead referred us to the organisation’s earlier statement.

In the earlier statement, the organisers had dissociated themselves from the scandal. Part of the statement read: “The attention of the management of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, organisers of the Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant, has been drawn to a video with lurid contents purportedly showing former Miss Anambra, Miss Chidinma Okeke (Miss Anambra 2015).

“The said Miss Chidinma Okeke, who is allegedly linked to the lurid content in circulation, has served out her term as Miss Anambra 2015 and handed over the crown in line with the terms and conditions of The Miss Anambra pageant.

“We condemn in clear terms any amoral behaviour/conduct as suggested by the alleged lurid content in circulation and do not condone such.

“It is on record that The Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant has been a platform to empower Anambra women and celebrate our rich culture and heritage. Winners of the pageant are bound to contracts to be of good conduct and moral behaviour and to uphold/maintain the honour in their position as queen.

“Winners of the pageant also contract to refrain from any personal relationship that could appear to hinder their ability to perform the duties of their office as queen and role model, and we do not expect any less.

“We, therefore, wish to dissociate The Miss Anambra pageant from any discussions on the said allegations.

“We feel sufficiently perturbed by the mere reference already made to the pageant and hereby state that we are in no way connected to the controversy.

“We apologise to the government and good people of Anambra State, our sponsors, supporters, friends and all those associated with the Miss Anambra project for the embarrassment the mere reference to the pageant in the controversy may have caused whilst reassuring of the good intentions of the Miss Anambra pageant franchise.”

Ms. Yakolo Indimi is the estranged wife of the son of former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Mohammed Badamasi Babangida. She is the daughter of Borno billionaire Alhaji Mohammed Indimi. Following the marital crisis rocking her marriage to the Babangida scion, she has petitioned President Mohammadu Buhari over an attempted forceful abduction of two of her children from their school in Abuja. Yakolo Indimi and Mohammed Babangida divorced in 2015.


The petition dated 9th November 2016 and signed by the former Attorney General , Nasarawa State, Mr. Innocent Lagi was sent to the President , the National Assembly, Inspector General of Police ( IGP), Director DSS, the Sultan of Sokoto, Supreme Council of Sharia in Nigeria, National Human Rights Commission and the President, Nigerian Bar Association. According to the petitioner, "On the 9th of November 2016 at about 3 pm our client believes that Mohammed Badamasi Babangida attempted as he had done previously to forcefully abduct our client’s children using the offers of the Nigerian Police force from their school at Katampe Abuja.


"The policemen involved are Sunday Ubua who provided his phone no. as 08033129778 and Musa Maji with Police identification No. 158593. When our correspondent visited the School yesterday, an eye witness who does not want his name in print confirmed the incident".The petitioner further said after 'His divorce to our client in December of 2015, he lured her to visit his father in Minna with the kids. After the visit he unlawfully detained our client in his house and would not let her go. And when he eventually let her go he would not let her go with her infant children; Maryam Mohammed Babangida ten (10) years old, Fatima Mohammed Babangida nine (9) years old, Ibrahim Mohammed Babangida seven (7) years old and Mohammed Mohammed Babangida five (5) years old.


"Our client had reached out severally through relatives and emails to Mr Babangida to reconsider his actions and let her have the children back to no avail. Mr Babangida eventually returned the four kids to our client in June 2016. After this incident our client filed a suit which is still pending at an Abuja Area Court for the custody of the four children as provided under Islamic law. Mr Babangida also filed a suit at an Upper Sharia Court in Minna seeking the custody of the kids. Because of the actions and threat of Mr Babangida; our client’s family had to seek the protection of the Police and has been provided a round the clock police protection."

An Abuja Federal High Court on Monday sacked two members of the House of Representatives from Enugu State for alleged wrongful emergence as flagbearers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 general elections.

The affected lawmakers are Stella Ngwu from Igbo-Etiti and Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency, and Dennis Agbo from Igbo-Eze North and Udenu Federal Constituency.

Two other members of the party, Gabriel Okafor and Chijioke Ugwu, had approached the court after PDP conducted its primaries in December 2014, ahead of the 2015 general elections.

They argued in separate suits later merged by the court that Stella Ngwu and Denis Agbo’s emergence as flagbearers of the party was wrong, since they were not elected delegates to represent the party at the November 1 congress held in 2014.

The PDP and its National Working Committee were the 1st and 2nd defendants in the suits, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was the 3rd defendant. Ms. Ngwu and Mr. Agbo were the 4th defendants in the two separate suits.

They prayed the court to declare the election of the fourth defendants null and void.

The trial judge, Okon Abang, held that the emergence of Ms. Ngwu and Mr. Agbo was unlawful.

He ordered them to vacate their offices and return to the treasury of the National Assembly all monies they had collected by way of salaries and allowances since they resumed office in the House.

Mr. Abang said the PDP and its National Working Committee had no right nor authority to use any delegate list for the election of its candidate for Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani and Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituencies, respectively, other than the list of delegates that emerged at congresses held on November 1, 2014.

“It is hereby declared that the 4th defendant did not emerge as winner from the primary election conducted for the purpose of electing the House of Representatives’ candidate of the 1st defendant for Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency for 2015 general election since the primary election that purportedly produced her as winner was not conducted based on the list of delegates that emerged from ward congresses of the 1st defendant held on 1st November, 2014.

“It is hereby declared that the plaintiff, Dr. Gabriel .A. Okafor won PDP’s party primary election on 6th December,2014 for Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency election into the House of Representatives.”

“It is hereby declared that the 4th defendant did not emerge as a winner from the primary election conducted for the purpose of electing the House of Representatives’ candidate of the 1st defendant for Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency for 2015 general election since the primary election that purportedly produced her as winner was not conducted based on the list of delegates that emerged from ward congresses of the 1st defendant held on 1st November, 2014.”

The judge ruled that Mr. Okafor was the rightful winner of the Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency seat election, and Mr. Chijioke Ugwu won the Egbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Enugu State in 2015.

He ordered INEC to immediately issue certificates of return to Messrs. Okafor and Ugwu respectively. He also awarded the sum of N100, 000 as cost against the defendants in favour of the plaintiff.

The sacked lawmakers are expected to appeal the ruling and the House of Representatives may not enforce the judgement until appeals are exhausted.

CONTROVERSIAL ANTI-PDP RULINGS

Tuesday’s rulings occur one week after Mr. Abang declared controversial businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim as the rightful governorship candidate of the PDP for the forthcoming Ondo gubernatorial election. He ordered INEC to replace the name of Eyitayo Jegede with that of Mr. Ibrahim.

Last week’s ruling was based on an earlier ruling he gave in June where he barred the PDP from holding its national convention in Port Harcourt after he recognised a faction of the party led by Ali Modu Sheriff. The controversial rulings on the PDP leadership tussle were later investigated by the National Judicial Council, NJC. The judge later told his close friends that he had been cleared of any wrongdoing by the NJC.

Mr. Abang was also berated by the Court of Appeal for sacking the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and replacing him with Samson Ogar after he ruled that Mr. Ikpeazu had tax clearance problems in a pre-election matter. The Court of Appeal reversed that ruling.

HRM Gbebokedi D. Ajiroba has been crowned the king of Tubutoru Kingdom in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. HRM Ajiroba, who was licensed with number C01/B06/B4/08131, was documented under the Tompolo camp in Delta State in 2009. He successful passed through the demobilization phase at the transformation training camp in Obubra, Cross River State with the sixth batch of delegates.

He was trained as a crane operator and chose to be empowered under the supermarket/commodity shop. He was later nominated as one of the candidates for the kingship by the Tubutoru Clan Council. On 13th October 2016, he was officially crowned King of Tubutoru Kingdom of Odigbo LGA in Ondo State.

According to the planning committee of his coronation, HRM Ajiroba's emergence is one of the great strides of the Presidential Amnesty Programme that serves as a source of encouragement to other beneficiaries that indeed amnesty works".