Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan on Friday dissolved a 21-year-old marriage at the instance of an Ibadan-based caterer, Omotayo Kumunyi, on grounds of poisoning and domestic violence.

Kumunyi, a resident of Osungbade area of Ibadan, disclosed that her husband Olatunde doesn’t cater for her and their four children.

She added that when the problem became too much for her to bear, she moved away with three of her children while the second child remained behind.

“My lord, about five years ago, our third child confided in me that she usually saw her father pouring some black substance into my own food whenever I was not there.

“I was shocked by this piece of information and confronted him with the revelation.

“Subsequently, I invited him to eat part of the food and he declined tasting from it.

”As if that was not enough, Olatunde regularly turned our first child and I to a punching bag anywhere he came across us.

“I also beg the court to grant me custody of the children because Olatunde will not adequately take care of them,” Kumunyi said.

However, Olatunde didn’t react to most of the allegations leveled against him.

He, however, acknowledged payment of dowry to his wife’s parents.

Olatunde, a resident of Number 2 Olatunde Street, Police Post at Challenge in Ibadan, and who earned his living as a carpenter, gave a condition on the children’s upkeep.

He told the court that he would only be willing to pay N5,000 as the children’s monthly upkeep if the court refused to award him custody of the children.

“I want to take custody of the children because Kumunyi has the habit of maltreating the last two children.

“The second child with me had been going to school regularly,” Olatunde argued.

Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, pronounced the marriage dissolved, insisting that it was duly contracted judging from the evidence adduced by the duo.

She granted custody of the the last three children to Kumunyi and instructed Olatunde to pay a monthly feeding allowance of N20,000 for their upkeep.

NAN reports that this was in addition to being responsible for their education and other welfare.

“The first child is 18 years of age and because he is an adult by law, he has the right to choose whoever to live with between his two parents.

“However, the petitioner must allow the respondent a reasonable access to the children,” the President said.

Akintayo, however, also granted an order restraining Olatunde from threatening, harassing, disturbing and interfering with the private life of Kumunyi going forward.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Osun State Command has destroyed an illegal mining site at Sambisa area, Kajola, Atakumosa West LGA of Osun State.

The operation according to a statement by Adeleke Kehinde, the Osun NSCDC spokesperson, was carried out on Friday, January 31, 2025, by operatives of the Command led by the state commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo.

Speaking during the operation, Sotiyo said the destruction of the mine site is aimed at curbing the menace of illegal mining in Osun State.

He said, “The illegal mining site at Sambisa Area, Kajola, Atakumosa west local government, Osun State, was discovered through intelligence gathering and surveillance.

“The suspects confessed to not having the necessary license or authorization to conduct operations in line with the law of the land.”

While warning that NSCDC would continue to crack down on illegal mining activities in the state, Sotiyo maintained that it is the statutory responsibility of NSCDC to protect the country’s solid mineral resources and urged those involved to desist from the act.

The Osun NSCDC boss also made it known that some of the mining tools found on the river were burnt during the operation.

“The items destroyed were dragline, pumping machines and other equipment used for their illegal mining activities.

“The suspect arrested during the operation will be charged to court, though, some of them fled the scene abandoning their equipment but I assure members of the public that we will soon arrest them to face the consequences of their actions,” Sotiyo added.

The commandant also urged members of the public to provide information about any illegal mining activities in their environment to make the state safe for all and to put an end to environmental degradation and economic sabotage.

A 36-year-old United States-based Nigerian cardiologist, Ikenna Erinne, has reportedly committed suicide after losing a child support case to his yet-to-be-identified ex-wife.

The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday, January 26.

It was gathered that the Anambra-state-born late doctor had a prolonged divorce battle with his estranged wife, including the custody of their children.

He, however, lost the case after a US court ruled in favour of his ex-wife and ordered him to pay a monthly child support of $15,000.

Confirming the incident in a post shared on X.com, a Nigerian-American, Clayton Udo, said the court’s verdict took a severe financial toll on him, leading to his tragic death.

He wrote, “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 $15,000 monthly, following a prolonged and contentious divorce case. This tragic incident highlights the systemic issues within the legal system that disproportionately affect African men.”

Udo, who claimed to be an expert in psychological and mental abuse, revealed that the deceased had spent thousands of dollars in legal fees before the court’s verdict turned out in favour of his ex-wife.

He further explained that the late doctor lost his license as a cardiologist to the case, adding that he died after shooting himself.

“He shot himself to death. He spent thousands of dollars in legal fees – wasted money. I am talking about a process that impoverishes you. You go to court and they take all your money.

“He lost his license as a cardiologist in this case plus they slammed on him 15,000 dollars a month plus restricted access to his children,” he added.

Another member of the Nigerian community in the United States, Obim Onujiogu, also confirmed Erinne’s death in a post on Facebook.

Onujiogu described him as a compassionate healer and devoted family man.

He, however, disclosed that his funeral would be held Monday in Maryland, the United States.

Onujiogu wrote, “In Loving Memory of Dr. Ikenna C. Erinne. It is with heavy hearts that the ASA DC family announces the sudden and untimely passing of Dr. Ikenna Erinne Dr. Ikenna C. Erinne, was a beloved father, son, brother, and esteemed cardiologist, who departed on January 26, 2025.

“Born on March 4, 1988, Dr. Erinne was a compassionate healer and devoted family man. He is survived by his children Ugonna and Munachi, parents Engr. Chris and Mrs. Chinwe Erinne, and siblings Chuks, Onyi, Kenny, and Gechi.

“A celebration of Life will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home in Elkridge, MD, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM , followed by interment at Meadowridge Memorial Park.”