The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has seized  10  vehicles from some car sellers it describes as illegal in Abuja.

Malam Wadata Bodinga, the Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, announced this on Wednesday during a surveillance tour of the enforcement team of the administration to rid the city of illegal activities.

He recalled that on Dec. 11, the FCTA issued a 72-hour ultimatum to illegal car sellers in Abuja to vacate or face sanctions.

He also said that the owners of the seized vehicles would be arraigned in mobile courts.

“The exercise began today and it is about the removal of all illegal car marts in the city.

“I can tell you that with our engagement with their leaders, it has yielded results, especially in the Gudu area where we noticed substantial compliance.

“However, there are still some that refused to go, but this exercise is a continuous one, we will continue to monitor those areas.

“Any vehicle impounded will be taken to our Wuye office and their owners will be made to go through the mobile courts,” he said.

He, however, appealed to other illegal car sellers in Abuja to remove their vehicles and move to designated car stands.

“At the moment, we have Kubwa road, though a temporary arrangement, but it has been given to car mart operators by the FCT Administration for their businesses.

“We don’t have to carry out this enforcement when people comply, we carried out this exercise because they refuse to comply,” he said.

Mr Attah Ikharo, the Chairman, FCT Traffic Management Task Team, noted that illegal car sellers pictured the city in a bad light.

“During the exercise, we saw vehicles parked on pedestrian walkways in Area 10, among other places.

“People who are supposed to use the facility will now be forced to walk on the main carriage way, thereby causing gridlock.

“The walkways have been turned into car parks, which is in contravention with planning principles.

“When all these are cleared,  people can easily move very freely,” he said.

The areas visited include, Gudu, Apo, Area 1 and Area 2, among others.

“My husband is a womaniser, he sleeps with church members,’’ a 49-year-old evangelist, Chinwe Ekwe, told an Igando Customary Court on Monday in Lagos.

Chinwe spoke while responding to a divorce suit filed by her husband, Pastor Paul Ekwe, who had accused her of planning to kill him.

Chinwe said that her husband was molesting women both single and married.

“I care for him both physical and spiritual but he still chose to be flirting around with different women.

“He even brought a married woman home as wife and chased me out of our matrimonial home,’’ she said.

Chinwe said that her husband was defaming her character by telling people that she was planning to kill him.

“What do I stand to gain if I killed the father of my seven children; he is lying against me just because he wanted to marry another woman which he had done.

“My husband is uncaring, I shouldered all his responsibilities but he spends money and buys foodstuffs for his concubines,’’ Chinwe told the court.

The mother of seven daughters said that her husband got the police to arrest her, alleging that she destroyed his church and stole his five million naira.

She begged the court not to grant her husband’s wish for the dissolution of their marriage, pointing out that she still loved him in spite of his adulterous acts.

However, Ekwe has approached the court to terminate the 28-year-old marriage, accusing the wife of planning to kill him.

“My wife is planning to kill me so that she can remarry,” he said.

The petitioner described his wife as stubborn and quarrelsome.

“Our marriage is full of fights and quarrels. Chinwe makes my home uncomfortable for me and my life unbearable.

“She refused to obey my orders but does things in her own way,” he said.

He accused her of turning all their children against him, alleging that she gave one out in marriage without his knowledge.

He pleaded with the court to terminate their marriage that the love he once had for his wife had vanished.

The Court President, Mr Adeniyi Koledoye, adjourned the case until Jan. 19 for judgment. 

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara on Monday in Ilorin presented  Staff of Office to seven traditional rulers in the state as third and fourth class chiefs.

The governor, represented at the event by the Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Aliyu Saifuddeen congratulated them for their support to the administration.

“I am glad to be in your midst on the occasion of presentation of 3rd class and 4th class staff of office to the newly appointed chiefs in the state.

“Your royal highnesses, I have long awaited this day, I therefore, wish to congratulate your royal highnesses and the good people of the various communities for witnessing this historic day.

“Traditional rulers have been a stronghold of support for this administration, therefore, I must not fail to express my gratitude and deep appreciation to all royal fathers for their commendable role.

“I am particularly pleased with the individual and collective effort with which you mobilise your subjects to participate in government programmes and activities,’’ he said.

The governor said that the presentation of staff of office uniquely positioned the royal fathers to build bridges of harmony, understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among their people and neighbours.

“There can be no meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancour, discord, distrust and dissatisfaction. I want to implore you to use your position to build on the strength that comes from your diversities and common brotherhood.

“May the Almighty God grant you the relevant wisdom in piloting the affairs of your domains.’’

In his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Abdulrasaq Alabere who represented the commissioner congratulated the royal fathers, describing the presentation of staff of office as a well-deserved honour.

He prayed that their reign would enhance peace, progress and development in their domains and the state at large.

Oba Salihu Adasofegbe, the Olosi of Osi, also the chairman, Ekiti Traditional Council, called on the traditional rulers to use their office for the growth of their communities and the state.

Also speaking, Oba Ezekiel Arigbajoye, the Olokeopin of Oke-Opin, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the governor for bestowing honour on the royal fathers.

Arigbajoye assured the governor that they would pursue programmes that would ensure development in their areas, while making sure peace prevailed in their domain.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oba Arigbajoye from Ekiti Local Government Area was conferred with staff of office as a third class chief.

The fourth class chiefs include Obas Abdulwahab Usman, Onimosudo of Masudo, Simeon Olaonipekun, Oba of Afin Ile-Ire, Moses Adeshina, Asaoro of Alasaro, and Muhammed Odunade, the Onilupeju of Ilupeju, all in Ifelodun LGA.

Obas Abdulwahab Ogunbiyi, Eleku of Odo-Eku in Isin LGA, and Ganiyu Olanrewaju, Oninaja of Inaja Alaro in Oyun LGA were also conferred with Staff of Office as fourth class chiefs. 

The Kwara government says 10 more people tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total  number of confirmed cases in the state to 1,203.

The spokesman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19 in the state, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday.

The statement also said 1,073 patients were discharged while 30 deaths were recorded in the state.

He added that as at 10:20 pm on Thursday, the number of active cases was  97