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Earlier, the complainant told the court that she was ready to return the N80,000 dowry she received from the defendant.

A businessman, Nura Ashiru, on Monday demanded N1.5 million from his divorce-seeking wife Zainab Bello, in a Shari’a court sitting in Magajin Gari, Kaduna.

Mr Ashiru made his demands after his wife asked the court to dissolve their union through Khul’i, a situation where a wife returns the dowry she received to redeem herself from the marriage.

”My wife caused me great loss. She destroyed my phone and took some of my belongings, a situation which led me into depression,” he said.

He begged the court not to give his wife custody of the baby.

Earlier, the complainant told the court that she was ready to return the N80,000 dowry she received from the defendant and prayed for the custody of their three-year-old child.

Bayelsa APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, Joshua Maciver

The Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Campaign Council has called on the Inspector-General of Police and Director-General of the Department of State Services to immediately invite a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Joshua Maciver, for questioning.

Chairman of the campaign council’s Publicity Directorate, Hon. Ayibaina Duba, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Monday, said MacIver made inciting comments capable of truncating the peace of the state in a video now in circulation

Maciver, who is running mate to his party’s governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, whose candidature was nullified by the court made the incendiary comments during a rally in Twon-Brass on Saturday.

The Court of Appeal last week upheld the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullifying Sylva’s candidacy.

However, in the video that has gone viral on social media, the former militant leader, facing allegation that he broke jail after being sentenced for terrorism by a Federal High Court in Kaduna, urged the people to “throw into the sea anyone that misbehaves on November 11 and ensure the person(s) dies.”

The PDP campaign council strongly condemned what it called Maciver’s thoughtless comment, saying it had “the potential of throwing the state into anarchy before and during the November 11 governorship election.”

The PDP noted that “the APC leader was notorious for instigating political violence” and that his comments only confirmed what Bayelsans generally know about the party’s plot to “cause violence during the election.”

President Bola Tinubu on Monday said he has “absolute confidence” in the integrity of his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. ⁣
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Tinubu said this just before the commencement of this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. ⁣
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His comments come just 48 hours after a report emerged that the CoS may be battling an integrity crisis following allegations that he has been “trading off appointments in the government of President Tinubu to the highest bidder.” ⁣
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The report alleged a growing outcry among Tinubu’s loyalists who are insisting that “Gbajabiamila is eased out of the Presidential Villa.”⁣
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Citing the appointment of 10 Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the report quoted sources who claimed that the name of Ekiti REC was replaced with the name of a former commissioner under the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.⁣
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“Another source noted that President’s Private Principal Secretary Akeem Okunola, was already doing some of his (Gbajabiamila’s) work…the President was already putting up a team that will help the CoS,” the report said.⁣
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But responding to the allegations, President Tinubu affirmed that “I have absolute confidence in my Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. ⁣
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“So, all campaign of calumny, the buck stops here! If I make mistakes, I’ll own up to them.⁣
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“Like everyone in the country, I make mistakes. And when I make mistakes, I iron them out and correct them. Perfection is of God Almighty.”

The Rivers State House of Assembly has begun the process of impeaching the state governor, Siminialayi Fubara.

To this end, the state’s lawmakers served an impeachment notice on Fubara after removing the House Leader, Edison Ehie, who is believed to be on the Governor’s side.

Twenty-four out of 32 members of Rivers Assembly have signed the document for Fubara’s impeachment.

The decisions were taken at an emergency sitting by the lawmakers on Monday morning.

The unusual sitting took place between 7am and 9am on Monday.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to fight for the emancipation of Nigeria, saying that the battle has already begun.

Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, made the declaration on Monday at a world press conference organised for Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate in the last election.

Damagum said that the party was disappointed with the outcome of the election but that it was not deterred.

“We know what happened underground,” he said. “People are not jubilating because of the situation we have found ourselves in the country.”

He called on journalists to report accurately what the former vice president would say at the press conference.

“We want Nigerians to know our position,” he said. “The battle will start from today. We are resolute. All PDP members should not be deterred.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that Nigeria is the bigger loser of the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the election of President Bola Tinubu.

In a press conference on Monday, Atiku said that the court’s decision implies that “crime is good and should be rewarded.”

“If the Supreme Court says that it is okay for the president to forge his certificates, then what does that say about the future of our country?” Atiku asked.

“If the president can get away with this, then what other crimes will he commit?”

Atiku also criticised the Supreme Court for refusing to consider the academic records of President Tinubu, which Atiku had sought to tender as fresh evidence.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to refuse to consider the evidence is a travesty of justice,” Atiku said.

“It shows that the court is more interested in protecting the president than in upholding the law.”

Atiku’s comments come after the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed his appeal challenging the results of the February presidential election.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State on Monday said he has not committed any offence to warrant impeachment by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Let them come out and tell Rivers people the offence I have committed to warrant any impeachment,” the governor said while addressing his supporters at the Assembly Complex.

The governor, who assured the people of the state of getting the dividends of democracy, said he would speak on the matter at the appropriate time.

“Let me assure the people of Rivers that I will continue to ensure that you get the dividends of democracy. At the appropriate time I will address the press,” he said.

Channels Television had reported that a fresh crisis engulfed the Rivers Assembly amidst rumours of an impending impeachment procedure against Fubara as the House on Monday removed its leader, Edison Ehie.

House members subsequently fled for safety as tear gas was fired outside the Complex.

Addressing his supporters, who protested the development outside the Assembly Complex, the governor said he has not done anything to warrant an impeachment proceeding by the Assembly.

The development occurred hours after a fire broke out at the Assembly Complex on Sunday night.

It was unclear if the fire was connected with the political imbroglio but rumours of a rift between Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike who is now Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister have been brewing for some time now.

There was apprehension at the Rivers State House of Assembly complex on Monday as heavy gunshots and teargas rented the air.

According to a recent video seen by lawmakers who had arrived the assembly complex for the day’s legislative duties were seen running for their safety.

This newspaper earlier reported that the Rivers State House of Assembly building was gutted by fire amid alleged plans of the commencement of impeachment proceedings against Governor Sim Fubara.