Lagos Prostitution Camp Where Underage Girls Are Recruited

BY: SEGUN AJIBOYE, The Nation Newspaper
 
MARTHA is a 15-year-old girl endowed with beauty. But she faces a very bleak future as she is held captive in a brothel in Gbagada, a suburb of Lagos, where she has to sleep with men old enough to be her father and surrender her entire earnings to a woman designated as her aunty. In return, the aunty gives Martha a sum she deems sufficient to cater for her basic needs.

The more than two decades old brothel is located close to Sawmill Bus-stop in Gbagada.In it resides a cartel of mature prostitutes called aunties, to whom younger girls like Martha are responsible. The older prostitutes act as guardians to the younger ones aged between 14 and 19 years. Most of the girls are said to have been lured to Lagos from Edoand Delta states by their aunties. With a promise of the good life, the girls follow the aunties to Lagos only to be lured into prostitution.
The cartel’s mode of operation is similar to those that have been reported about innocent Nigerian girls lured into prostitution in Europe. The girls, who are mostly from poor parental backgrounds and broken homes, serve their aunties for as long as two years before they are deemed matured enough to stand on their own.
A source in the hotel told our correspondent that for a newly recruited girl to become a member of the prostitution ring, her aunty has to pay the sum of N50,0000 to the proprietor of the brothel as registration fee. After that, the aunty makes the young girl to sleep with older men. All the proceeds from her sexual activities go to the aunty who decides how much is returned to the young girl as “pocket money”.
Our correspondent visited the hotel on a sunny day last week and met one of the girls named Martha, an indigene of Delta State. She was decked in a gown that barely covered her backside. Like a famished tigress, she rushed towards the reporter, offering him sex. After a brief discussion, she led the reporter to the brothel’s bar and was quickly joined by three of her colleagues.

Faith in God kept me going in my nine years search for a child- Erelu Mojisola Adams

The story of Erelu Mojisola Adams, wife of the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Otunba Gani Adams, is both interesting and inspiring. Born to Christian parents, Mojisola found herself in love with a leader of a group many believed to be fetish. As if that was not enough, she could not conceive nine years into the marriage. But with determination and ‘faith in God’, she scaled all the hurdles, becoming pregnant and getting a son nine years into the marriage. In this interview with Segun Ajiboye, she told her story, how she met her husband and how she maintains her home among other issues.

What defines your fashion and style?

Many things define my fashion. My mood, the weather and thing function I am attending combine to define my fashion.

How does being the wife of an OPC leader affect your fashion sense?

That does not really affect the way I dress in any way. Of course, you know that fashion is all about you and how you want people to view you. So being the wife anybody does mean you should dress anyhow. My fashion should at all times protect my name and image, and I should cover my body at all times. I won’t say because I am the wife of a celebrity, that I should dress too loud, shabbily or expose my cleavages.

For me, relaxation means more work- Dr. Wale Omole CMD T&S Hospital, Lagos

Looking at the king’s mouth, one would think he never sucked at his mother’s breasts. This popular African proverb by late renowned writer, Chinua Achebe aptly captures the story of dental surgeon, Dr. Wale Omole.

The son of subsistence farming father and a petty trader in a remote village, Wale Omole had little or no hope of getting a formal education. But he had what most kids of his age lacked, he was hardworking and adventurous.

The fourth child in a family of seven, Wale planted maize, which he sold, cut trees for sale and did many other menial jobs to support his indigent parents’ income.

“I was very hard working as a little boy. I would grow maize and sell at the market. At other times, I would cut trees and sell for fire wood. I would even go into the forest to pick snail and sell. I weaved basket for sale too. The truth was that I did so many things to make ends meet as a little child.”

But even that was never going to be enough. And so, after completing his primary education at his native Ipetu-Ile in present day Osun State, he went to Ibadan to stay with his elder brother and first born of the family, Mr. Bosun Omole.

In Ibadan, Wale struck a deal with Bosun, who at the time worked with his school certificate. But both brothers had a serious challenge to overcome. While Bosun had a dream to proceed to university, he also wanted his younger brother to enter college.

As a compromise, they reached an agreement that Wale would work with his primary school certificate to raise fund, while the elder brother proceed to the University of Ibadan.

“My brother came up with a novel idea. He said I should work, while he went to the university. I worked in three different places. At first, I worked as a service boy at Ifelodun Hotel, Mokola, Ibadan. Later, I worked at another hotel run by a widow. The last place I worked was at a meat company at Dugbe, Ibadan.”

Men, marriage and I – Femi Kuti’s ex-wife Funke

Funke Kuti, the beautiful and sassy dancer and ex-wife of Afrobeat star, Femi Kuti, is one woman many find intriguing, not only because of her crashed marriage, but also for her strong resolve to pick together the pieces and move on.

Soft-spoken Funke has successfully moved on from being an ‘Afrikan Shrine’ dancer to building a career in the corporate world, insisting that she has little time for men.

“A serious lady doesn't wait for the company of a man to add value to her life, except of course you want to be a liability; and nobody wants that.”

In this exclusive interview with National LIFE, the business administration graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) talks about her business, relationships and other issues.  Excerpts:

What has Funke Kuti been up to all these while?

 (Laughs) What have I been up to? I have been around, running the company and giving my best to make it work.

That's your business, F.K Management. How easy is it doing your own thing, running your own company?

It’s been challenging, but we are getting there. We have started making headways, working on some projects right now. Our newest sign-on, Engager, is gradually becoming a household name and there is the Oleku Concert we are involved in, and other things. We are getting there.

What are the major challenges on the way to getting there?

At the initial stage, it was the fact that we were new, but thank God for our competitive edge of ingenuity and dedication towards going the extra mile. We can say that to an appreciable extent, that we have proven our point. But the recurring one is economic challenges. Trying to get the capital and funds to attain the kind of standard one aspires is quite tasking.

I wept after Aziza panel sentenced me to death because my marriage was barely two years old-Akin Olowookere

The story of Dr. Akin Olowookere sounds like one from a children story book. He started life following his childhood dream when he joined the Nigerian Army as a recruit in 1980 after leaving secondary school. He was with the navy where he rose to the rank of a naval lieutenant. He also served in the National Guard and the Presidency. But his world came crashing down in 1995 when he was fingered in the phantom coup against the government of the late General Sani Abacha. He was sentenced to death by firing squad, but the sentence was later commuted to 25 years imprisonment. In this exclusive interview with Segun Ajiboye, he spoke about his experience in the military, prison and his new challenge of fighting for the unity of Nigeria, among other issues.

You are planning a project, tagged Nigerian Unity Museum and Trade Tourism Village, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing. Why this particular project?

For me as a Nigerian, I believe that I am here for a purpose and that I should leave Nigeria better than I met it. Don’t forget that it took the blood and pain of some people to make this country the way it is today. So for me, I feel challenged that I should leave it better than it is today for my offspring and those yet unborn. Another thing that I want us to know is that it is not only those in positions of authorities that have the ability to make things work or solve problems. We don’t have to wait until we are elected or appointed into offices to make a change. I believe that with our own little

Fidelis Anosike's 'Hijacking' Of Miss Nigeria Pageant From Contracted Organiser, Elizabeth Aisien 2 Weeks To Event ...the hidden details of two invites, barring of A-listers and breach of contract rights.

Growing Quarrel Over Daily Times Boss, Fidelis Anosike's 'Hijacking' Of Miss Nigeria Pageant From Contracted Organiser, Elizabeth Aisien 2weeks To Event ...the hidden details of two invites, barring of A-listers and breach of contract rights. There is a quiet but snowballing quarrel. And it is all about just concluded pageant, Miss Nigeria. Sources confirm organiser contracted to manage the affair, Elizabeth Aisien of Beth Models is angry with her 'employers'.
Her grouse is that she was 'swindled' by event owners led by controversial man about town, Fidelis Anosike. Insiders alleged after utilising her contacts and pulling her influence into play to get sponsors and commitment from creditable A-listers to attend, the event was literarily 'hijacked' by Mr Anosike and his crew.

Rage of fire: Heartrending story of victims of fire

Segun Ajiboye and Innocent Duru  

People all over the world ushered in the New Year with revelry. For them, it may have been goodbye to a year in which fears were raised that maybe God has decided to obliterate the world with water.

In Nigeria, floods left many communities across the country submerged, killing 363 people, while 2.1 million were displaced.

 But the sigh of relief may have come too soon for many; a few weeks into the New Year, the floods seem to have been replaced by fire. In less than two weeks into the New Year, more than 200 major incidents have been recorded across the country, destroying property running into several millions of naira, while lives were also lost.

The Lago State Command of the Federal Fire Service, said it recorded 188 fire incidents and 18 other emergencies, including collapsed buildings in 2012.

Amazing world of sand dredgers

SEGUN AJIBOYE

 sharp sand in the local parlance, is mostly used for plastering the walls in the construction of houses.

It is no doubt that when the talk is about job hazards, few jobs can boast of more hazards than diving into the bottom of the deep rivers and lagoon to manually dredge sand from the sea bed. The sand, called

Interestingly, the tools of the trade are not often too rare to come by: They include specially-made buckets used to scoop the sand from the sea bed to the surface, two wooden ladders, placed on both sides of the canoe, with which the divers drop into the sea and also find their ways back into the canoe.  Your ability to swim and be able to hold your breath for a couple of minutes, and of course, the canoe, which often times are rickety and ready to give way with the slightest rock by storm.

While these tools seem very essential for a potential sand excavator, but perhaps the most important tool of the trade is courage and boldness.

David-West: Jonathan A Serial Liar -TheNews

Professor Tam David West

   Professor Tam David-West, a former Petroleum Minister, in this interview with GBENRO 
   ADESINA, speaks on the state of the nation.

Do you consider yourself fulfilled?
I thank God that he gives me life and good health. Personally, I am very fulfilled. For the years I have spent so far, God has really blessed me to occupy different good positions in Nigeria. I was a Commissioner for Education, Rivers State; Minister of Petroleum, under General Muhammadu Buhari; and Minister of Mines, Power and Steel under General Ibrahim Babangida. It is only God that is perfect. I am not perfect but I say it boldly that I am not corrupt and that is why I have ‘No Corruption’ written at the back of my two cars.
I declared my assets on two occasions. Nobody can bribe me. My God created me and sent me to serve my country, not to steal in any form. Even Edwin Clark abused me that I have been a minister of this and that and I don’t have a house and I say that is a compliment. A company once sent me a plan of a house and asked me to tell them where I wanted them to build the house free of charge. I said I didn’t need it. Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has been very appreciative. Out of courtesy, he promised me a lot of things.
All the money in the world cannot bribe me. My interest is to be faithful to my God. I am from a religious family. It is God that we know. My name, Tamunoemi means there is God and that is the strength of my family. So, when I want to do something, I pray to God to guide me. I don’t talk to the press without talking to God to guide me. God should guide me to say only things that will glorify His name. As you were coming, I begged God to guide me to say things that will glorify His name to my friend coming from TheNEWS.

What were the things you declared as your assets?
It is very funny. I had one undeveloped property in Port Harcourt at that time; now it is developed. It is a house which is occupied by tenants. I didn’t have millions at that time. When men of the State Security Service, SSS, arrested me and detained me on the orders of General Ibrahim Babangida, they asked me to declare my assets. They gave me a paper. After writing, they asked me if what I wrote were all the things that I had and I said ‘yes’. They asked about a house in London and my Rolls Royce. I asked them to give me a paper where I would write a directive and sign that the government should take over those things that they said that I had. The SSS was surprised that I didn’t have more than what I declared.
As at that time, I didn’t have N500. Money is not the issue. A good name is better than silver and gold.