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A United States-based Nigerian IT expert, Clayton Udo has raised concerns over the struggles African men face in marriages abroad, particularly in the U.S.
According to Udo, many African men have been financially drained and left in dire conditions by their wives, leading some to flee or even lose their lives due to emotional and financial distress.
Addressing the issue, Udo stated, “A lot of people don’t understand what is going on in the story, or what is going on in this country when it comes to African men. I can tell you that a lot of men have either had to run to Mexico or Canada to escape back to the country. Men have stayed in this country and have been rendered useless; 200k, 300k, money put on their heads by African women. The African women come out on TikTok, Facebook with pictures of them and only the children smiling, with the house they took from the man and everything.”
He further lamented that many African men have suffered similar fates, stating that hundreds have died over the past decade due to these circumstances.
Sharing his own experience, he explained, “When I had my own divorce, you know when you are in IT, you have what is called a recruiter. My ex-wife went to each recruiter reporting me to each and every one of these recruiters, then turned around and went on to these recruiters saying she has finished her own course in IT. By the time I picked up the phone to call the recruiter, they refused to work with me, or they tell me they have now signed her up. And since there is a divorce, there is a clash of interest.”
Udo also accused some women of fabricating abuse claims to gain an advantage in legal disputes, emphasising that many African men have lost everything, including their homes and children, due to such tactics.
“What they do is lie, and that there have been verbal and physical abuse. A lot of them want to become you or be greater than you. Be careful who you are walking around with. They like you for now, that you are driving a car, and you have money, but once you bring them into the house, they want to take everything you have; they want to take and become you.”
He warned African men to be cautious in their marital choices, alleging that many women marry men only as a means to escape poverty and later strip them of their possessions.
“In her mind, she wants to climb up to get out of the poverty she has where she is coming from, she is going to take everything away from you, from your house to your children. The number of men in the U.S. African community that the women have turned their children against, secretly or openly, they are going to take your house from you, they are going to take everything from you. Most men have been reduced to nothing, even though they won’t come out to say it. They are submissive.”
Media
ABUSE OF AFRICAN MEN IN THE USA: A CALL FOR CHANGE
— Daily Justice (Nuclear ☢️ Powered) (@DailyJusticeAct) January 31, 2025
The abuse of African men in the USA must come to an end.
In a deeply troubling case, Dr. Ikenna Erinne, an American-trained cardiologist, allegedly took his own life after an American court ordered him to pay his ex-wife… pic.twitter.com/b4AyXdp9hN
Sunday Dare, special adviser to the president Bola Tinubu on media and public communication, has described the president’s political opponents as “wannabes.”
Dare said the president is not deterred by the constant barrage of criticism from the opposition.
This is coming days after former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, openly criticised Tinubu’s administration.
Recently, El-Rufai accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of founding principles, saying he doesn’t recognise the party the again.
“You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today,” he said.
In another tweet, the ex-governor, who is still a member of the party said he would criticise the APC even if he was in Tinubu’s government.
On his part, while speaking on how to take power from a sitting president, Amaechi said Tinubu and the political class would not cede power to the younger generation without a fight.
Reacting to their comments on Saturday, Dare said advised president’s “detractors” to wait for the 2027 polls to test their popularity.
“While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria was away in far away Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, his political opponents, detractors, opposition elements, pseudo friends unfolded their Machiavellian inclinations,” he said in a post on X.
“Indeed, while the President was seeking solutions to Nigerias’ energy problems in Dar es Salaam, some “wannabes “were heating up the polity.
“Expectedly, it was a gathering convened to further spread ill will. Nothing new came out of the gathering different from the opposition script we are used to. A few of the participants went overboard in their vitriol, fanning the embers for adopting undemocratic actions.
“These political gladiators have antecedents that are well known. We urge Nigerians to begin their scrutiny early. And choose between political hecklers and real progressives. The clouds are beginning to clear. The stage sets soon. The combat begins.
“Until then, President Tinubu, an avowed democrat remains undistracted and unperturbed. The fight is ahead. Not now. The only conversation he wants to have now is how to improve the lives of Nigerian citizens and constructive discourse on building a resilient economy.”
Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, should have retired.
Naija News reports that Farotimi said the decision of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to confirm his stay as the Inspector-General was against the constitutional provision.
In an interview with News Central, he stated that the accusation of the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowere, was correct.
“Nigeria as a legal entity is full of lies and contradictions, and laws rarely matter in the country that we have built. If laws matter, the reality is that Yele is completely correct. The Inspector General of Police is illegal. He has exceeded his time in office.
“But what the presidency is telling you is that the law does not matter. The President has decreed and it has been as decreed. Because if it is not decreed, then it would be in accordance with the law. And what the law says is that Kayode Egbetokun should retire and should have retired.
“So that the President has decreed is another buggy mentality. That the decree of the President supersedes the constitution or the law in Nigeria is just another one of the many sickening realities of our existence. But that is just what it is,” he said.
Speaking further on his use of the word illegal, Farotimi explained that the President decided to take an action that was against the law. He added that the Police Service Commission (PSC) also confirmed that Egbetokun ought to have retired.
“If the President’s word is superior to the clear wordings of the law, the existential reality is that he has decreed something outside of the law and it is because he is the imperator. It does not change the fact that what he has said supersedes the law.
“So when the pronouncement of the President supersedes the law, the only thing you can say is that the president has issued a decree. That is the effective nature of his pronouncement. Because the Police Service Commission has not denied the fact that the man should have retired,” he added.
Thirty passengers have been burnt to death in an auto crash that occurred in the Odigbo Local Council Area of Ondo State.
The incident occurred on Saturday, when two commercial buses had a head-on collision and burst into flames at the Onipetesi axis along the Ore/Lagos Expressway.
With 32 passengers involved in the accident, 28 were burnt beyond recognition while two survivors rescued with serious injuries died before getting to the hospital.
Two other passengers are still receiving treatment.
According to sources, the accident was caused by excessive speeding on the part of the drivers.
While confirming the incident, the Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Samuel Ibitoye, said a preliminary investigation showed one of the vehicles drove against traffic.
Ibitoye, who urged drivers to exercise caution, ensure proper vehicle maintenance and avoid reckless driving, encouraged passengers to speak out against unsafe driving practices, emphasising that road safety is a shared responsibility
An elder statesman, Usman Bugaje, has opined that the deteriorating condition of Northern Nigeria is facing serious challenges that require collective efforts to prevent total collapse.
He observed that the region is plagued by poverty, insecurity, and corruption, saying that nearly 60 per cent of students in tertiary institutions cannot return to school because their parents cannot afford tuition or transportation fees.
According to Bugaje, “For over 25 years of Nigeria’s democracy, poverty has more than doubled in the region, with over 33 million Nigerians facing starvation.”
The elder statesman explained that the country’s currency has lost significant value, as the minimum wage is no longer sufficient to purchase a bag of rice, highlighting the collapsing economy.
Speaking as the convener of the Arewa Movement for Good Governance Conference, themed, “The North and the Dangers Looming on the Horizon: The Need for a New Conversation and a New Narrative,” held on Saturday in Kaduna, Bugaje lamented that the North is facing serious challenges that are not being addressed.
He lamented, “It’s worrying and disturbing. We need to sit down and address these issues.”
He also lamented that insecurity has spread and escalated to previously inconceivable levels, frustrating trade, commerce, and agriculture—the mainstay of the region’s economy—adding that public institutions are decaying and failing in service delivery.
According to Bugaje, the state of infrastructure, particularly electricity, is epileptic, with neighboring Niger Republic appearing to be doing better.
He believed, “The social sector is the worst hit, as human capital is dwindling, and there are no jobs for the largely unemployable youth. In short, Nigeria is simply not working.”
Bugaje opined that the shameless politicians bask in false glory, reading empty speeches, embellished by a growing industry of praise singers, hangers-on, and an army of thugs, many of whom are drug users.
He noted that Nigerians are on a dangerous trajectory with no future to look forward to, with 20 million out-of-school children, most of whom are in the North, adding that Nigerians are sitting on a time bomb as nearly 60% of students in tertiary institutions in the North cannot return to school.
Bugaje also criticized the weakening of traditional institutions by political office holders, whom he described as epitomes of decadence, saying that many religious leaders have been enticed with money and drawn into a political culture dominated by violence, money politics, and the inordinate ambitions of people determined to rule by any means possible.
He emphasized that the primary problem of Nigeria is leadership and called for a consensus among northern elites to tackle the region’s challenges, saying that history will not forgive Nigerian elites for their failure to address the problems facing the entire country.
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee and former Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Tom Maiyashi, in his remarks, observed that the North is on the verge of collapse.
He urged northerners to come together and save the region for the sake of future generations, saying, “Northern elites must come back to their senses and address the challenges of the region.”
- Apex bank demands two years audited accounts of LGs
Local Governments across the country are facing a fresh hurdle in their bid to receive their monthly allocations directly from the Federation Accounts.
Each of the 774 local governments is now required to furnish the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with a comprehensive audit of its finances for two years as a prerequisite for direct remittance of their allocations, it was learnt yesterday.
The direct revenue disbursement was originally scheduled to commence last month but had to be deferred at the last minute because many of the councils failed to submit the necessary details required to facilitate the direct payments.
Their share of N361.754 billion from the distributable revenue of N1.424 trillion for the month was subsequently channeled to them through the states.
The apex bank is already in the process of opening accounts for the LGs to enable them receive their allocations directly from Abuja under the financial autonomy sought for them from the Supreme Court by the federal government.
The next allocation is due in a few weeks and there were doubts yesterday about the ability of the LGs to submit the two-year audit reports demanded by the CBN before the February meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Abuja where the allocations are made.
Sources at the CBN told The Nation that the bank could not open accounts for the LGAs without a thorough understanding of their current financial status.
“We cannot just open fresh accounts for the LGAs when many of them have not operated as an independent government entity,” one of the sources said.
The official said the audit report was important.
An Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is developing a framework to enforce the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy.
A member of the Committee revealed that a template is being developed to authorise the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) to directly deduct funds designated for specific areas like primary education, healthcare, and other constitutional responsibilities of LGAs from their FAAC allocations and transfer them to the relevant agencies.
[TheNation]
• A’ Court judgment can’t take effect – Minister’s aide
•Don’t complicate crisis further, say NEC members
Some loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have hit back at state governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party for affirming a former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as the National Secretary of the party.
They stressed that a factional party leader, Samuel Anyanwu, remained the only recognised executive for the position pending the national convention.
Members of the PDP National Executive Committee, including the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, and a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, warned the governors not to escalate the party’s crisis, stressing that opposing Wike’s camp might worsen the situation.
However, a senior member of the PDP National Working Committee, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, stated that the governors acted in the best interest of the party.
Party crisis
The PDP has been grappling with internal turmoil before and after the 2023 general elections, leading to persistent instability within the party.
The issues have continued to plague the party and cause rifts among chieftains.
The acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, in particular, has faced increasing criticism from party members who hold him responsible for the ongoing struggles within the PDP.
Damagum took over from Iyorchia Ayu, the former National Chairman, who was removed by the court due to his failure to implement crucial reforms within the party.
The leadership transition only added to the party’s existing troubles.
The crisis recently worsened due to disagreements on the position of the National Secretary.
National secretary struggle
In 2023, the party’s South-East zone nominated a former National Youth Leader Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who was selected as the party’s candidate for the Imo State governorship election.
The South-East faction argued that Anyanwu should step down from his role as the National Secretary given his new political responsibilities, which fuelled further controversy and division within the party.
On December 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Enugu ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye, confirming him as the new National Secretary, with the official communication sent to the party leadership on December 24.
However, on January 27, 2025, the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order, instructing Anyanwu to remain in the position until the Supreme Court made a final ruling.
The situation escalated on Wednesday when party supporters loyal to Anyanwu physically removed Ude-Okoye from a meeting of the Board of Trustees.
On January 31, PDP governors distanced themselves from Anyanwu and confirmed Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State.
Reacting, Anyanwu insisted that with the stay of execution, he remained the National Secretary of the PDP.
Anyanwu fights back
In a letter dated February 1 and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the President of the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and the Department of State Services, Anyanwu vowed to resist any attempt to remove him from his position.
In a letter titled, ‘Security Alert: The Advice of PDP Governors’ Forum to the National Working Committee of the PDP – An Invitation to Chaos and an Affront to the Rule of Law,” Wike’s ally, Anyanwu, called on security agencies to take appropriate actions to prevent the crisis allegedly being stirred by the governors and Ude-Okoye.
The letter read in part, “There is an urgent need for the police to take note of paragraph 3 of the communique issued by the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum after their meeting, which took place in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday, January 31, 2025.
“In the quoted paragraph 3 of the communique, the forum advised the NWC to set up a mechanism for the implementation of the Enugu Court of Appeal judgment, which favoured the nomination of SKD Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party.
“The police should be aware that an appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court against the quoted judgment. Furthermore, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja granted an order on January 13, 2025, clearly directing both parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the substantive application. The order was duly served on all parties concerned, including the National Working Committee of PDP and INEC.
“It is a settled matter in law that when a judgment is appealed against to a superior court, all parties should maintain the status quo ante bellum until the matter is finally determined. The governors cannot claim ignorance of this legal position before issuing their statement, which runs in conflict with the court’s decision.”
Anyanwu accused Ude-Okoye of hiring ‘bandits’ to create disorder during the PDP Board of Trustees meeting.
The letter further expressed disappointment that the PDP governors had “allowed themselves to be deceived by the sponsors of Ude-Okoye,” whom it claimed were under criminal investigation for allegedly forging PDP guidelines to mislead the courts.
It warned that the NWC should avoid implementing the PDP Governors Forum’s recommendation, particularly the directive stated in paragraph 3 of their communique, as doing so would be “an invitation to chaos and an affront to the judiciary and the rule of law.”
Raising concerns about the legal implications of the situation, the letter urged security agencies to intervene and prevent actions that could escalate tensions.
Anyanwu insisted, “It is my right as a lawful citizen to seek justice against a judgment that was fraudulently secured against me.”
He also insisted on the need for all parties to respect the judiciary and maintain the status quo pending the court’s decision.
Wike’s allies back Anyanwu
An aide to Wike, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the group was not worried about the governors’ decision.
The PDP chieftain said, “The central issue in the crisis is the matter of the secretary, and unfortunately, the PDP governors, in their decision to adopt Sunday Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary, are not being sincere.
“Anyanwu contested the Imo State governorship election as the National Secretary of the PDP; he didn’t resign because the constitution of the party doesn’t say he should resign. That is an aspect that these people are hiding from the public.
“The PDP constitution doesn’t mandate whoever is holding a party position to resign before contesting government offices. If you don’t resign from a position, it means it isn’t vacant. Can you fill a position that is not vacant? Anyanwu didn’t resign from his position. So, you can’t replace him. The first thing for those people to do is to remove him in accordance with the law of the party and thereafter replace him.
“The PDP governors claimed they accepted the court judgment on the National Secretary; if that is the case, they are not supposed to have adopted Ude-Okoye because there is a stay of execution on the judgment.”
He added, “The position of the law is that if a stay of execution has been filed, the judgment cannot come into effect until the stay of execution is decided. That is because if you had executed the judgment before the stay of execution was decided, then it would become a fait accompli if the verdict was decided in favour of the applicant.
“The judgment of the Appeal Court that these people are talking about cannot take effect because a stay of execution process has been filed.”
Anyanwu still secretary – Youth leader
When contacted, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader warned that the governors’ directive to implement the Appeal Court’s decision could worsen the situation for the party.
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Osadolor accused the governors of attempting to undermine the party.
He stated, “Well, Senator Samuel Anyanwu still remains the substantive secretary of the PDP. He was not nominated or appointed by the governors’ forum.
“He is a product of the National Convention. The only way to remove an NWC member from the equation is either by death or resignation. Since neither of these has happened, he remains the National Secretary.”
Odeyemi, on his part, cautioned that opposing key figures could lead to disaster for the main opposition party.
The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary recommended that the governors should consider a political solution, which should involve inviting Wike.
He stated, “I think the whole situation boils down to the legal interpretation of the Appeal Court ruling and the status of execution. The layman’s understanding of appeal is that the status quo remains. If the governors now decide, in their wisdom, to recognise Okoye despite Anyanwu’s appeal, I believe that rather than solving the problem, we are creating more issues for the country.
“I would have expected both Anyanwu and Okoye to be invited by the governors. Of course, they have the power to do that. This is more about politics, persuasion, and appeal than about recognising one against the other because Anyanwu is like a masquerade dancing in public or in the marketplace. Even though the drummer may not be visible, there are definitely people supporting him.
“I think it is the governors’ wisdom to consider the situation carefully. They should think about the drummer, the dancer, and the person they want to take over, which is Okoye. They should bring all of them into a meeting and see if they can achieve peace, rather than recognising just one.”
Also, a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr Chinyere Igwe, blamed the governors for the crisis rocking the party.
Igwe, who represented Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2 in the House of Representatives, said PDP governors were acting as if they were above the law.
While insisting that the court had ordered a stay of execution on the issue between Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu, he said, “What is the position of the court? We cannot go against what the court says because we are not a lawless people.
“The court granted a stay of execution. So, the governors are not the court because the court has a position. We are all waiting for the position of the court. Ude-Okoye too depends on the court. So, if the court has said something, why would the governors want to go against it to say it is Ude-Okoye they want?
“So, the governors are the cause of the crisis in the PDP because they don’t respect the law. They feel they are above the law, but they are not.”
On the alleged plot to prevent Wike from making key decisions in the PDP, Igwe, another loyalist of the FCT minister, maintained that Wike remained a force to reckon with in the party.
“Forget about whether there is a grand plot against Wike or not, can they succeed? So, the position of the court is what is standing. The governors should respect the law.
“All of them are products of law because if the Supreme Court did not affirm their elections, they wouldn’t be there. So,why are they playing demi-god?”
But a reliable source within the NWC stated that the governors acted in the party’s best interest.
The source insisted that the governors did not violate any laws, noting that the party did not appeal the matter.
He stated, “The governors did not violate any laws in their actions. As a key organ of the party, their decisions and directives are made with the best interests of the PDP in mind.”
[Punch]
A disturbing trend has emerged, threatening the fabric of society.
Fake marriage certificates, obtained for various reasons, have become a growing concern. Behind the facade of matrimony, individuals seek to exploit the system for immigration benefits, financial gains, social status, and legal convenience.
But little do they know, this deceitful path leads to severe consequences.
Option
For Tayo, hiring the service of a marriage agent firm to obtain a certificate was the only option to live and work freely in America and the United Kingdom (UK) among others.
Four years after Tayo finished his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, he hoped to leave Nigeria for greener pasture.
Traveling out of the country was the best option.
A few years after he got to the UK, he was advised to solidify his stay in the country by obtaining a green card.
The only option for him was to marry.
Tayo believed that obtaining the marriage certificate would help him secure his green card.
After the marriage certificate arrangement, Tayo was able to work and live comfortably.
He was in the UK for years and was progressing.
Eight years later, his fake marriage certificate saga was exposed.
Tayo was not the only one in this mess.
Lots of people for the sake of greener pasture are also wearing the same shoes.
Sentenced
Recently, there was a report about four Nigerians, Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, who were convicted and sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court, in the UK.
It was reported that they were sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison after being convicted of involvement in over 2, 000 fake marriage certificates to support the applications of Nigerian citizens seeking to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Issuing fake marriage certificates has become a trend, especially for those looking for greener pasture.
Sharing her views with Sunday Vanguard, Mrs Shukurat Badmus, a marriage counselor based in Lagos, explained that procuring or using fake marriage certificate is immoral and illegal, adding that it involves deception and fraud.
On his part, Joe Bollore, another marriage counselor, cases of fake wedding certificates are seen as a necessary evil such as in situations where real wedding is not possible due to circumstances like distance.
To Miss Oyenike Bello, a student, the trend negates the beliefs about marriage which is supposed to be a sacred institution, adding that procuring fake wedding certificates disrespects the marriage institution.
Also speaking on the issue, Mr Jide Oluboye, a Lagos resident who has been married for 15 years, said, “Fake wedding certificates are a convenient solution for those who want to avoid the hassle and expense of a real wedding but need documents for immigration”.
‘You can’t marry your green card’
In a video that has gone viral, a content creator, Dr. Shola, who spoke on, ‘You can’t marry your green card’, disclosed that it is pertinent for anyone who wants to work and live in America and England to have something to work with.
“You must have something that would make you legal, you must have a green card; if you do not have you cannot stay there, you cannot be sustained there, so many people enter into America and they have no papers and they have been living there for the past 15 years and they still do not have a green card all because they made up their mind”, he said.
“Many people who come to America or the UK have the mindset to stay legal there and the only way is for them to marry an American citizen.
“Then, you can remain legal and have your green card and, after three years, you can make up your mind to divorce the American, go back to Nigeria, marry your Nigerian wife and then bring her with you to the United States of America or wherever you are staying.
“So many people left Nigeria without the understanding of what it takes to stay and work comfortably abroad. They believe it is only to secure a visa.
“There is a need to make an organization in Nigeria and America that will make people understand that it is not only a visa, a visa is not the ultimate.
“Coming to America is not just by visa alone, when you come to America and stay there as your primary home, then you need to make sure you have a green card and become a citizen.
”A visitor in America cannot get a green card unless he marries an American citizen.
“We will need to pay money or pretend like you love the person.
“For a person who fears God, the first thing you would think about is how you would use someone for paper?
“Many women are depressed because of the action”.
Work permit
Another content creator, Tosin Akingbade, also known as citizen Tosin, also speaking on the issue of fake marriage certificate, said, “Nigerians in UAE are still facing work permit challenges. And this has lasted for more than three years.
“Any man who wants to be in the UAE will only have to be under his wife’s visa permit. Men do not have work permits.
“The common saying among Nigerian men is ‘wetin men do men? Why we no fit get visa? Wetin Adam do Adam?’ The Nigerian government is economical with the truth by saying the visa ban has been lifted.
“It is criminal to put false information in a public place even when reality is staring you in the face.
“If you cannot get a work permit and your government official is not telling the truth… “Even visit visas are not open.
“As we speak, Nigerians in the UAE are still facing work permit issues.
“Nigerians can come to the UAE with visiting visa and if they get to the UAE, they will not get work permit and they will be stranded.
“Fake marriages can lead to a range of negative consequences, including immigration fraud, identity theft, financial exploitation, emotional trauma, and undermining the integrity of marriage and immigration laws, ultimately harming individuals, communities, and society as a whole”.
Risk
Dr. Efe Anaughe, a human rights activist, also shared his perspective. His words: “Nigeria’s complex marriage laws, comprising the Marriage Act of 1990, Islamic Law, and Customary Law, govern civil, religious, and traditional marriages. Yet, amidst this diversity, fake marriage certificates flourish.
“The consequences of obtaining fake marriage certificates are dire. Imagine facing imprisonment for up to five years or paying fines of up to N500, 000.
“For foreigners, deportation is a risk. Moreover, the marriage is invalid, leading to loss of reputation, social stigma, and complications in divorce, inheritance, or child custody.
“To combat this menace, the government has taken decisive steps. Marriage records are being digitized, verification processes strengthened, and public awareness campaigns launched. Inter-agency collaboration and strict enforcement of laws and regulations are also underway.
“However, more needs to be done. “Strengthening legislation and enforcement, improving registration and verification processes, and enhancing public education and awareness are crucial.
“Increasing funding for relevant agencies and promoting inter-agency collaboration will also help.
“By joining forces, we all can eradicate fake marriage certificates and create a safer, more secure society for all Nigerians.
Call to Action
“We can unite against this hidden threat. Protect the sanctity of marriage and uphold the rule of law”.
[Vanguard]
Since emerging as the leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, Kemi Badenoch has repeatedly cast a shadow over her Nigerian heritage. She has portrayed her upbringing as a grim tale of poverty, crumbling infrastructure, moral decadence, corruption, police brutality, and failed leadership. Her remarks have ignited firestorms on social media, with several videos going viral. Sunday PUNCH fact checked some of her recent controversial claims.
Claim 1
“I grew up in a poor country, and I watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation. I came back to the UK at age 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life…”
Findings
According to multiple sources, including the UK Independent and The Times, Kemi Badenoch (nee Adegoke) was born to Nigerian parents, Femi and Feyi Adegoke, in Wimbledon, London, on January 2, 1980.
She is the eldest of three children, with a brother named Fola and a sister named Lola. Her father, Femi, was a general practitioner in Lagos. He owned and operated Iwosan Clinics, located on Itire Road in Surulere, Lagos. Before passing away in 2021 from a brain tumour, he was a Yoruba nationalist activist.
Kemi’s mother attended Queen’s School, Ibadan. She was a professor of physiology at the University of Lagos, where she retired in 2020 after serving for 43 years. She was a professor for 15 years and served as the president of the Nigerian Society for Endocrinology for four years. Sunday PUNCH confirmed that she supervised the Ph.D. theses of many illustrious alumni of the school, including the current head of the department.
Multiple sources revealed that Kemi spent her early years in Lagos, Nigeria, where she attended the International School Lagos, a private institution, and graduated in 1996 before returning permanently to the United Kingdom at 16.
In a tweet dated January 22, 2025, a Lagos-based tax consultant, Kayode Okunola, accused Badenoch of distorting her family’s history to fit a narrative of hardship.
“Dear @KemiBadenoch, stop lying about your background. You were never from a poor family! Your grandmother, ‘Iya Ondo,’ was a prominent lace and damask merchant on Kosoko Street in Balogun Market. Your mum was a professor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Your dad owned his clinic, your uncle was a dentist, and your aunt was among the Nigerian students recruited from the USA to the Central Bank of Nigeria,” Okunola wrote.
“If you were poor, what happened to the rest of us who prayed to come from families like yours? Your claims mock the memories of those who genuinely struggled without the opportunities your privileged upbringing afforded you. Please stop!” he added.
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Okunola further shed light on the privileged status of Kemi’s family.
He said, “I knew her family well. My family and the Adegokes attended the same church—St. John’s Anglican Church, Aroloya, Lagos Island. Her grandmother, ‘Iya Ondo,’ was a renowned figure in Balogun Market, selling premium fabrics, which weren’t for poor people. Her father owned Iwosan Hospital in Surulere, and her mother was a prominent figure in the Physiology Department at the University of Lagos.
“In those days, only a select few could afford private schools like the International School Lagos, where Kemi studied. It was a school for the children of professors and the elite. Most of us attended government schools. Kemi’s claims of poverty are simply untrue. Her narrative misrepresents her background and mocks the struggles of genuinely underprivileged Nigerians.”
Corroborating Okunola’s assertion, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bolaji Akinyemi, said Kemi lied about her family turning poor.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Akinyemi said, “How can the daughter of a professor at UNILAG (University of Lagos)—her father was a medical doctor—a girl who went to the International School at UNILAG make it sound like she was selling groundnuts and water in Lagos in order to advance her political career?”
Claim 2
“Everyone defines me as a Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with my specific ethnic group.”
Findings:
While Kemi now downplays her Nigerian identity, evidence shows that she actively embraced her heritage in the past.
In 2010, while campaigning to represent the diverse Dulwich and West Norwood constituency in the UK Parliament, she actively sought support from the Nigerian community under the tag, “Nigerians for Kemi Badenoch.” A campaign document that surfaced on social media shows that Kemi reached out to Nigerians in the constituency, emphasising her Nigerian roots.
In the document, she wrote, “Hi everyone, as you know, I’m running for Parliament in the 2010 UK general elections for Dulwich & West Norwood. The race is very tight, and I need your help.
“There are just about 20 days to go before polling day, and Nigerians have been fantastic. My immediate circle of friends, ex-schoolmates, their friends, and our families have really rallied around and been supportive.
“In a recent BBC interview, a caller insulted me because I’m Yoruba. I was very disappointed that a Nigerian woman who claims to have lived in London for 45 years had more issues with me being Yoruba than with my political views—and shamefully made her comments on national radio.
“We really need to move past this mindset of fighting one another and instead try to support each other. Regardless of party allegiance, having a Nigerian in parliament—winning purely on merit and not through family connections or by buying the election would be amazing.
“So, I am asking for your help now to support a Nigerian who is trying to improve our national image and do something great here.”
Claim 3:
“Being Yoruba is my true identity, and I refuse to be lumped with northern people of Nigeria, who were our ethnic enemies, all in the name of being called a Nigerian. I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, where Boko Haram and Islamism is.”
Findings
Kemi’s claim that the Yoruba and Northern Nigerians are ethnic enemies lacks historical evidence. While there have been conflicts in the country’s history, such as political and ethnic tensions during the Nigerian Civil War, the relationship between the Yoruba and Northern Nigerians has largely been characterised by cooperation.
For instance, Yoruba and Northern traders have engaged in long-standing trade relations, particularly in markets and cities like Lagos and Kano. Also, politically, alliances between Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani leaders, such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello, show mutual cooperation rather than enmity.
On religion, there are 19 states in Northern Nigeria; while Islam is the dominant religion in the region, many Christians also reside there. Just as there are Muslims in the South-West. Contrary to Kemi’s portrayal of the North as solely Islamic, the region is home to a significant christian population. States like Plateau, Benue and Adamawa have large Christian communities, while others like Borno and Yobe have Muslim majorities, but are not exclusively Islamic.
In a post on 13th December 2024, former presidential aide Reno Omokri stated that Kemi demonstrated a surprising level of ignorance when she said Boko Haram and Islamism resided chiefly in the North.
“First and foremost, that statement is inaccurate. There is much more to Northern Nigeria than Boko Haram. In fact, there are nineteen states in Northern Nigeria, and even in its heyday, Boko Haram was limited to just three of those states: Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa,” Omokri wrote.
Claim 4:
“Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive. The police in Nigeria will rob us. When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
Findings
There are truly some bad eggs in the Nigeria Police Force. Increasing police brutality and extortion led to movements such as the #EndSARS protest. However, even the United Kingdom is not completely free of bad cops.
For instance, in 2015, a 31-year-old black man, Sheku Bayoh, died after being restrained by police officers in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. The officers reportedly used CS gas and a combination of physical restraint techniques, including kneeling on Bayoh’s back.
Similarly, in 2011, a 29-year-old black man, Mark Duggan, was shot and killed by police officers in Tottenham, London, following an attempted arrest. The police claimed he was armed, but evidence later showed that he was unarmed when he was shot.
Also in 2016, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported that three Metropolitan Police officers were sentenced after stealing cash and other items from crime scenes. These indicate that elements of police brutality and extortion or theft are not limited to Nigeria police.
Ex-envoy cautions Kemi
Former Minister of Foreign affairs, Akinyemi, during his TV interview, cautioned Kemi not to build her political career on quicksand.
“She would soon learn that you don’t throw your people and your culture under the bus in order to advance your career. She is making a mistake but she will soon learn.
“After all, right now, there is even a right wing political party in the United Kingdom that is even to the right of the Conservative Party.
“So, what she should be focusing on is how to regain that right wing profile of the Conservative Party and leave Nigeria alone,” he added.
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The ruling All Progressives Congress has described the opposition Peoples Democratic Party as a political platform that is gradually going into extinction amid its perennial leadership crisis.
APC urged Nigerians to ensure that the PDP did not return to power following the alleged rot it left behind after ruling the country for 16 years
The appeal was made by the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH.
He said, “Nigeria was still suffering from the rot of the 16-year misrule of the PDP. That party is gone. Are these the clowns people are taking seriously to rule this country again? Believe me, this is just the beginning. We at the APC are enjoying the entertainment.
“The party is not good at managing anything, including itself. What is happening has shown that God came to the rescue of Nigerians by pushing them out of power
“There are more to come if you go into the nitty-gritty of the problems in that party. They should come and learn how to play politics in our APC Progressive Institute set up by the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. They will be taught how to play politics without bitterness.”
When reminded that many critics of President Bola Tinubu had alleged APC’s involvement in the PDP and other opposition parties’ crisis, Ibrahim said, “How is the APC responsible for the crisis that is happening at Wadata Plaza (PDP headquarters in Abuja)? We are not even staying close. So, how can they blame us for their woes? What does APC have to do with having two different secretaries and two chairmen or whatever they seem to have?
“They simply don’t know how to administer anything and they cannot. Who among the protestants is a card-carrying member of the APC? Who among the people causing the crisis is claiming allegiance to APC? None. It is within them.”
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was notably absent as key leaders of the North East zonal caucus of the PDP met in Bauchi to discuss reconciliation efforts and strategies for the party’s future, particularly the 2027 elections.
The meeting, held on Thursday, was attended by the three PDP governors from the region.
They are Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, his counterpart in Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas, and Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.
Also, in attendance were members of the PDP Reconciliation Committee, led by former National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola, senators, House of Representatives members, and state assembly members from the zone.
Barely a week after a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Afe Babalola, withdrew his cases against lawyer and rights activist, Mr Dele Farotimi, there is unease among Nigerians over the status of other pending lawsuits against the activist.
Their concerns are borne out of the fact that the police, having arrested and charged Farotimi with 12-count of cybercrime offences and 16-count of criminal defamation based on Babalola’s petition, there are other lawyers who instituted legal actions against the activist, claiming over N1 billion in damages.
On December 6, 2024, a SAN, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, sued Farotimi for alleged defamatory statements in his book: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’
The Managing Partner at Afe Babalola & Co asked for N500 million in damages, while further appealing to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court in Abuja to halt the book’s publication and sale in physical and online bookstores.
Ogunwumiju, who pleaded with the court for an order for the seizure of the copies of the book wherever they might be found, stressed that Farotimi must apologise to him in two national newspapers.
Less than five days after Ogunwumiju’s suit, specifically on December 11, 2024, another lawyer from Babalola’s law firm, Mr Ola Faro, petitioned the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, alleging that the rights activist also defamed him in the aforesaid book.
Validating his claim, Faro identified specific statements in the book which allege that he, Babalola and his law firm, Afe Babalola & Co, compromised the integrity of the Supreme Court. According to Faro, the statements are not factual and are deliberately written to tarnish his reputation.
While Faro also sought N500 million in damages against Farotimi for unlawful defamation, he requested N100 million in damages for distributing the book.
Meanwhile, following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and some other traditional rulers in the feud between Babalola and Farotimi, the police prosecutor, Samson Osobu, last Wednesday, applied for the withdrawal of the cybercrime charges at the resumed hearing of the case at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
For the other criminal charge filed by the police against Farotimi before a chief magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti, Sunday Vanguard gathered that the case scheduled for February 13 has not been withdrawn as of the time of filing this report.
On December 3, 2024, reports emerged that Farotimi had been arrested in Lagos by the police.
Confirming his arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ekiti State Police Command, DSP Abutu Sunday, said: “The command wishes to inform members of the public that one Mr Dele Farotimi is currently undergoing investigation following a petition written against him to the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, for an allegation of defamation of character and cyberbullying. He was arrested today in Lagos with a warrant after all means deployed by the command to bring him for interrogation proved abortive.”
…recognize Ude-Okoye as National Secretary, reject Wike’s ally
Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are trying to assert their dominance as the party’s main power brokers.
This followed their first most daring move to whittle down the influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in PDP affairs.
The Governor Bala Mohammed-led 12-member PDP Governors Forum (PDP-GF) rose from their monthly meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Friday; with a clear message to the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum-led pro-Wike faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Mohammed, who read the communique after the meeting, said, “The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee, NWC, on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.”
The Forum also “advised” the NWC to reschedule the much awaited National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting earlier slated for February to March 13th.
According to the governors, the shift is to give the NWC time to put in place the machinery to enable Ude-Okoye append his signature to the necessary documents notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the new date.
Message
With this declaration, the governors have sent an unambiguous message that they’ll henceforth deal with Hon. Ude-Okoye as National Secretary. Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a known Wike ally, insists he’s still the National Secretary irrespective of the PDP-GF’s position.
He told Sunday Vanguard, “I’m not perturbed about the communique issued by the governors. The PDP-GF is one of several pressure groups in our party, members are not bigger than the Nigerian Constitution and the pronouncements of our courts. I remain the PDP National Secretary.”
This happened barely 46 hours after Ude-Okoye was hounded out of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting by Anyanwu’s loyalists who felt irritated by his presence.
Recall, party stakeholders from the South-East had nominated Ude-Okoye as replacement for Anyanwu when the latter emerged as the PDP candidate for the 2023 Imo State governorship election.
Anyanwu argued that his position wasn’t vacant. According to him, the party’s Constitution didn’t require his resignation from office before contesting the governorship election.
Court
Following the party’s refusal to recognize him, Ude-Okoye approached a High Court to enforce his rights.
He won.
Anyanwu appealed but lost. He filed a motion for a stay of execution of the Appeal Court judgement while also asking the Supreme Court to upturn Udo-Okoye’s Appeal Court victory.
He reiterated his resolve to remain in office until the Supreme Court decides.
Wike, himself a former governor, fell out with the Bala Mohammed-led PDP-GF over their support for Governor Siminalaye Fubara in the fight for the control of the PDP structure in Rivers State.
The FCT minister rejected a suggestion by the governors for him to leave the party structure for the governor in line with established tradition. Speaking at a reception organized in his honour by the Ijaw People’s Congress in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State, in September last year, Wike said, “Let nobody threaten anybody. All those threats are empty. I said nobody would take the structure of the party.
“I said nobody would take over the structure of the party. You can have all the money; if it didn’t dey, it didn’t dey.”
War of words
Since then, a war of words, plots and counter-plots to control the party structure at the state and national levels has been the order of the day.
Wike had threatened to “set fire” in PDP states governors don’t stop meddling in the political affairs of Rivers State. The Rivers State political imbroglio has split the 17 member PDP NWC into two with one faction supporting Wike and the other supporting Fubara.
On Wike’s side are Damagum, Anyanwu and National Organising Secretary, Capt. Umar Bature.
Those on Fubara’s side are the PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba and National Treasurer, Alhaji Yayari Ahmed among others.
Former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, hailed the party’s governors for standing up for truth and justice.
He said, “Without doubt, our governors are on track. The matter of the National Secretary has since been decided. Ude-Okoye who was duly nominated by the South East caucus and so recognized by the courts occupies that office.
“What we in the North-Central expect now is for our governors and other stakeholders to take equal steps to redress the injustice done to us.
“As a first step, Damagum to revert to his position as Deputy National Chairman (North), and allow our zone complete what is left of the tenure of Senator Iyiorchia Ayu.
“If this is done, then we can confidently say our party is on the path to redemption”.
Trump’s crackdown: FG to receive Nigerian deportees as non-Americans are deported in handcuffs
AFOLABI
As reactions continue to trail the planned deportation of about 5, 144 Nigerians illegally living in the United States (US), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, has said that the Federal Government is ready to welcome them home.
According to reports, no fewer than 5,144 Nigerians may be affected in the initial stage of the ongoing deportation exercises from the US as President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants continues.
The figure includes non-US citizens of Nigerian origin in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, and Enforcement and Removal Operations, ERO, non-detained docket with final orders of removal from the US and those already in ICE detention.
According to the data, 772 of the 1,454 Nigerians in ICE custody were arrested and detained for criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, while the rest were arrested for other immigration violations, such as visa overstays.
It further showed that 417 were arrested and removed as of November 2024, while 884 were removed between 2019 and 2024.
The disclosure by ICE comes at a time when the newly inaugurated administration of President Trump is implementing an immigration policy aimed at ridding the United States of illegal immigrants.
There have been issues surrounding the deportations with at least three countries, Mexico, Columbia and Brazil, alleging that their nationals were returned home in a degrading manner and there are fears the treatment could be extended to Nigerian deportees.
Columbia specifically said the deportees to the country were airlifted in military planes, handcuffed and treated like criminals.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the military deportation flights and said he would never carry out a raid to return handcuffed Americans to the U.S.
“We are the opposite of the Nazis,” he wrote in a post on social media platform X.
He also said however that Colombia would welcome home deported migrants on civilian planes, and offered his presidential plane to facilitate their “dignified return”.
Trump had threatened tariffs and sanctions on Colombia to punish it for earlier refusing to accept military flights carrying the deportees as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown.
But in a statement, the White House said Colombia had agreed to accept the migrants after all and Washington would not impose its threatened penalties.
The use of U.S. military aircraft to carry out deportation flights is unusual.
U.S. military aircraft carried out two flights, each with about 80 migrants, to Guatemala penultimate Friday.
Mexico also refused a request to let a U.S. military aircraft land with migrants.
Trump has said he is thinking about imposing 25% duties on imports from Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1 to force further action against illegal immigrants and fentanyl flowing into the US.
Brazil’s foreign ministry, on its part, condemned “degrading treatment” of Brazilians after migrants were handcuffed on a commercial deportation flight.
Upon arrival, some passengers also reported mistreatment during the flight, according to reports.
The plane, which was carrying 88 Brazilian passengers, 16 U.S. security agents, and eight crew members, had been originally scheduled to arrive in Belo Horizonte in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.
However, at an unscheduled stop due to technical problems in Manaus, capital of Amazonas, Brazilian officials ordered removal of the handcuffs, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva designated a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) flight to complete their journey, the government said in a statement.
The commercial charter flight was the second this year from the U.S. carrying undocumented migrants deported back to Brazil and the first since Trump’s inauguration, according to Brazil’s federal police.
Speaking to Sunday Vanguard, Chairman/CEO NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri, restated to Sunday Vanguard the position of the Director of Media and Corporate Affairs of the commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, who spoke earlier to Vanguard on Wednesday.
She said, “Except you want to interview the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his own perspective. NiDCOM Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, already told Vanguard that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in charge of such development and that the Federal Government had already set up an inter-agency committee to handle the matter should Nigerians be deported from the US.
“The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency committee, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, should there be mass deportation of Nigerians from the US”, she said.
Also reacting to the development, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Ambassador Joe Keshi, insisted that if the President Tinubu-led government decides to improve the economy, the Japa syndrome would reduce drastically and people would decide to stay back in their country.
He said, “There’s no way it can affect our economy. If the Federal Government improves the economy, people will stay; it’s just the family they have been sending money to that would suffer because they won’t have money as they used to have before. Unless they find another means of survival.”