A Customary Court sitting in Rumuogba, Rivers State, on Friday stopped a woman, Mrs. Kate Ngbor, from continuing to bear her former husband’s name “with immediate effect” eleven years after the divorce.

The claimant, Chief Sam Ngbor, in Suit No: OCC/9/2021, sought the Court’s order to restrain his ex-wife, Mrs Kate Mgbor, from continuing to bear his name.

The Court, after hearing the submissions from E. O. Erhirhi, counsel of the claimant and R.U. Egwenre, counsel for the defendant granted the orders.

Delivering the judgment, the Chairman of the Customary Court, His H.A. Nnokam and member, L. G. Wokeh ordered that “the defendant has no right, except on the express permission of the claimant, to continue to bear or answer the name ‘Ngbor’ or ‘Sam-Ngbor’ (as the case may be).”

The Customary Court Chairman, said, “The court ordered the defendant to revert to her maiden name or any other name of her choice, excepting ‘Ngbor’ or ‘Sam-Ngbor’ as the case may be.”

“The court restrained the defendant from further bearing the name Mrs. Kate Ngbor or Mrs. Kate Sam-Ngbor (as the case may be) or further parading herself or holding herself out in this names howsoever”, the judgement further read.

With the judgement, the Court consequently stripped the defendant of the name ‘Ngbor’ or ‘Sam-Ngbor’.

Neither the claimant nor the defendant was in Court while the judgment was delivered, but the duo was represented by their legal counsels.

Unknown gunmen invaded a pharmacy shop, shot a young lady and abducted the pharmacy owner and two of his sales boys at Agyaragu in Jenkwe development area, Obi local government.

The operation which took place at about 8:44pm on Thursday, in the heart of Agyaragu town lasted for about an hour without any security interference.

An eyewitness who preferred anonymity told our reporter that the gunmen invaded the popular ‘Emmy Gold Pharmacy Nigeria Limited’, shooting sporadically and gunning down an innocent young lady who was a passerby.

“The gunmen were well armed. Their shutting scared everybody. They forced the owner of the pharmacy and two of his boys into the bush,” the eyewitness explained.

He disclosed further that efforts by some youths in the community to resist the assailants from carrying out their act were resisted with heavy repealing shootings.

The act of violence has sent shockwaves throughout the community, highlighting the urgent need for increased security measures and effective governance.

One resident, Jonah Yakubu, lamented that Agyaragu community is living in fear, as the frequency and brazenness of kidnapping incidents continue to escalate.

The demand for ransom has become a recurring theme, with families and loved ones being forced to pay exorbitant sums to secure the release of their abducted relatives.

Mr. Yakubu called on the governor to increase security presence in Agyaragu community and surrounding areas.

He also appealed to the security agents. Implement effective measures to prevent kidnapping and ensure the safe release of abducted individuals.

All efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Nasarawa State Police Command to confirm the incident failed.

Human rights activist, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, widely known as “Revolutionary Alfa,” has passed away in a motor vehicle accident along the Abeokuta-Sagamu road in Ogun State.

He was 53 years old at the time of his death.

Sulaiman was reportedly travelling to Ibadan on Tuesday, when the vehicle he was in, was involved in a fatal crash.

At the time of his passing, he served as the Executive Chairman of the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) and as the Chairman of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS).

A devoted follower of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), Sulaiman was known for his unwavering advocacy for justice and human rights.

Throughout his activism, he was affiliated with several organisations, including the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), the National Conscience Party (NCP), the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), and the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), among others.

In a statement released on Thursday, Pastor Michael Agassi, the Assistant General Secretary of CHRSJ, described Sulaiman as a fearless and determined fighter who made a significant impact in the struggle for justice and democracy in Nigeria.

Agassi expressed that Sulaiman’s untimely death is a profound loss for the human rights community in Nigeria, particularly in Southwestern Nigeria, and that it is hard to bear.

He added, “His death is not only a painful loss for civil servants and pensioners in Osun State but also a great loss to the downtrodden masses in the country. Our society has lost a rare individual with extraordinary humility and courage, as he dedicated himself to the welfare of the common people.”

Agassi also noted that the late CHRSJ Chairman would be buried according to Islamic rites at the Abioye Ruling House/Compound in Awo, located in the Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State, on Thursday after Salat Ashr.

Sulaiman is survived by two wives and children.

Agassi concluded by praying for God to grant his soul eternal rest and to provide strength to his immediate family, friends, associates, and the broader human rights community to cope with this great loss.