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Grade A Customary Court, sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has adjourned for defense, a divorce suit brought before it by a woman, Bolatito, against her husband, Olajide, whom she claimed was impotent, and in the habit of assaulting her physically.

The plaintiff also stated that the defendant once attempted to strangle her in the middle of the night.

Bolatito stated that her blissful union with her husband turned sour after he became impotent.

The plaintiff explained that the defendant became hostile and violent.

According to the plaintiff, the defendant was always aggressive and in the habit of turning mild arguments into a fight.

Bolatito added that Olajide always gave her heavy blows during fights and would leave her nursing aches and pains.

The plaintiff further said that the defendant sometimes threw her out of the house late in the night after beating her to a pulp.

Bolatito explained that Olajide started accusing her of infidelity.

She told the court that her husband once covered her face with a pillow and attempted to strangle her late in the night.

Bolatito stated that she ran for her dear life.

According to the plaintiff the defendant has refused that she returned home and also denied her access to their children.

Bolatito stated that she had decided to move on with her life.

She, therefore, prayed the court for the dissolution of their wedlock.

She also sought custody of their children, and pleaded that the court made her husband responsible for their upkeep.

Olajide agreed that they go their different ways.

Bolatito, in her testimony, said, ‘I got married to my husband in 2007, after we met, dated and he impregnated me.

‘We had a church wedding, but no bride price was paid.

‘Our marriage was peaceful and filled with bliss.

‘We enjoyed each other’s company and extended our love to our children when we started having them.

‘Our home was heaven on earth.

‘But all these changed a few years into our marriage after my husband became impotent.

‘My once loving husband suddenly turned aggressive, cruel and violent.

‘He became impatient with me and always turned every argument into a fight.

‘He would punch me and leave me to writhe in pain.

‘There were times he threw me out of the house late in the night after beating to a pulp.

‘I reported him at the police station on an occasion that he beat me and threw me out in the dark.

‘The DPO tried to mediate in our differences but all was to no avail.

‘My husband soiled my reputation before the DPO, when he accused me of infidelity which I denied.

‘I told the DPO he is impotent.

‘He refused that I returned to his house, but later agreed after much plead was made on my behalf.

‘I never knew that he had the plan to take my life.

‘We went to bed on one of the nights and my husband attempted to murder me.

‘He covered my face with a pillow, grabbed my neck and almost strangled me.

‘I struggled with him and was able to escape.

‘I ran out of our apartment that night and he has refused to let me in since then.

‘He has restricted me from taking any of my belongings.

‘He has also denied me access to our children.

‘I have from my husband.

‘I pray this honourable court to end our relationship.

‘I also plead for our children’s custody, so that I can take good care of them.’

The president of the court, Mrs S.M Akintayo adjourned the case for defense.

Ground crayfish is one of the ingredients that quietly adds flavour and nutrition to many Nigerian meals. It is commonly added to soups, stews, sauces and other dishes, often in small quantities because of its strong taste and aroma.

Although it is usually treated as a seasoning, ground crayfish provides more than flavour. It contains protein and several minerals that can contribute to the nutritional value of a meal.

The way crayfish is processed also makes it particularly convenient. Drying removes much of its water, while grinding turns it into a powder that can easily be mixed into different meals.

In this article, Tribune Online highlights the nutritional value of ground crayfish, what happens when crayfish is dried and ground, and how it can be incorporated into everyday meals.

Ground crayfish provides protein

One of the important nutritional qualities of crayfish is its protein content. Protein is needed by the body for several functions, including the growth and repair of tissues. It also contributes to the production of enzymes, hormones and other substances required for normal body functions.

Because crayfish is an animal-based food, it provides protein that can complement other protein sources in the diet. Ground crayfish is not usually consumed in large quantities like meat, eggs or other major protein foods. However, adding it to meals can still contribute to overall protein intake.

This makes its role slightly different from that of a main protein source. It can be viewed as a nutrient-containing ingredient that adds something extra to meals while also improving their flavour.

It contains important minerals

Crayfish contains minerals that the body needs for normal functioning. Among these are minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc, although the exact amount can vary depending on the species, processing method and how much of the shell is retained.

Minerals perform different roles in the body. Calcium and phosphorus are important for bones and teeth, while iron is needed for the production of haemoglobin, the protein that helps red blood cells carry oxygen.

Zinc is involved in immune function, wound healing and several processes related to growth and development. The presence of these minerals means ground crayfish can contribute to the nutrient content of meals beyond its taste and aroma.

Drying can make the nutrients more concentrated

Fresh crayfish contains water. When it is dried , much of that water is removed. This means that nutrients become more concentrated by weight. A small quantity of dried crayfish can therefore contain a considerable amount of the nutrients present in the original food, although the exact nutritional concentration depends on the type of crayfish and processing method.

Drying also makes crayfish easier to store for longer periods when properly processed and stored. For people who use crayfish regularly in cooking, this is one reason dried crayfish is convenient. It does not need to be used immediately after purchase and can be kept for later use under appropriate storage conditions.

Grinding makes it easier to use

The grinding of dried crayfish does not turn it into a completely different food. Rather, it changes its physical form. Instead of having to add whole or roughly broken pieces, the powdered form can be distributed in a meal.

This is particularly useful when preparing soups and sauces. A small amount can be stirred into the food, allowing its flavour to spread evenly.

Ground crayfish can also be mixed with other ingredients during cooking without leaving large pieces in the finished meal.

For households that already use crayfish, grinding therefore offers convenience without removing its basic nutritional qualities.

It can add flavour without being the main ingredient

The strong flavour of crayfish is one of the main reasons it is popular in Nigerian cooking.

A relatively small quantity can change the taste and aroma of a meal. This allows ground crayfish to function both as a flavouring ingredient and as a food that contributes nutrients. Its distinctive taste is especially useful in soups and sauces where several ingredients are combined.

However, the nutritional value of a meal should not be judged by the presence of one ingredient alone. Ground crayfish can contribute useful nutrients, but it works best as part of a varied diet containing different foods.

Ground crayfish can contribute to bone nutrition

The minerals found in crayfish include calcium and phosphorus, both of which are associated with normal bone and tooth development and maintenance. Calcium is stored largely in the bones and teeth and is also involved in muscle contraction, nerve signalling and other body processes.

Phosphorus also has an important structural role in bones and teeth and is involved in energy metabolism. Ground crayfish can therefore contribute to the intake of these minerals when included in meals.

However, eating crayfish alone does not guarantee strong bones or prevent bone disease. Bone health depends on several factors, including overall nutrition, physical activity, vitamin D status, age and other individual factors. The useful point is that ground crayfish can form part of a diet that supplies nutrients needed for normal body functions.

It can contribute to iron intake

Crayfish can also provide iron. Iron is essential for haemoglobin production and plays an important role in transporting oxygen around the body. A diet that does not provide enough iron can contribute to iron deficiency, although the amount of iron obtained from a particular food depends on the portion consumed and the food’s nutritional composition.

Ground crayfish should therefore not be described as a treatment for anaemia. Instead, it can be one of several foods that contribute to dietary iron intake. Its small serving size means that the amount consumed in a typical meal should also be considered when assessing its overall nutritional contribution.

Zinc adds another nutritional advantage

Zinc is another mineral associated with crayfish. The body requires zinc for several processes, including immune function, wound healing, cell division and normal growth and development. As with other nutrients, the amount obtained from ground crayfish depends on how much is consumed and the nutritional composition of the particular product. Nevertheless, its contribution adds another reason why crayfish can be more than just a source of flavour.

It is easy to add to everyday meals

One of the practical strengths of ground crayfish is how easily it can be incorporated into familiar foods. It can be added while preparing soups, stews and sauces. It can also be mixed into dishes where a seafood flavour is desirable.

Because it is already ground, there is little preparation required before adding it to food.

This convenience can encourage regular use among people who enjoy its taste. The important thing is not to assume that more is always better. Ground crayfish has a strong flavour, so a small amount may be enough to achieve the desired taste while contributing to the meal’s nutritional content.

Long, fluttering eyelashes may be fashionable, but experts are warning that the beauty trend could come with risks to eye health.

Eyelash extensions and false eyelashes have become popular among celebrities, artists, and beauty enthusiasts because they create fuller, more dramatic eyes that mascara alone may not achieve. However, researchers and eye specialists say repeated use can be associated with irritation, infections, eyelash loss, and other complications.

A study of young women who regularly wear eyelash extensions found that most of those examined had Demodex folliculorum, microscopic mites that live around hair follicles. The mites can, in some cases, contribute to demodicosis, a condition associated with skin irritation.

The findings, presented at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), also highlighted eye irritation and problems involving the meibomian glands, which produce an oily substance that helps prevent the eyes from drying out.

Dr Tetiana Zhmud, from the Department of Ophthalmology at National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine, and her colleagues surveyed 345 women aged 16 to 28.

Almost one-quarter had used eyelash extensions, while 58 per cent of users had them applied every three to four weeks. Nearly half, 47.6 per cent, reported discomfort, redness, tearing, or itching after the procedure.

Among women who had undergone eyelash extensions at least 10 times, 85 per cent showed signs of meibomian gland dysfunction, meaning the glands were blocked or were not producing enough oil to keep the eyes hydrated.

The researchers examined eyelash samples from 25 regular users under a microscope and found Demodex folliculorum mites in all but one of them. Eighteen also showed signs of irritation, including itching, redness, swelling, eyelashes sticking together, and scaly skin around the lash line.

A separate observational study published in Cureus involving 400 female undergraduate students aged 15 to 30 at the University of Benin, Benin City, reported that 54 per cent had experienced at least one side effect during or after wearing artificial eyelashes.

The most common complaints were itching (38 per cent), lashes being pulled out (36 per cent), heavy eyelids (34 per cent) and red eyes (34 per cent).

Other reported effects included a gritty or foreign-body sensation (32 per cent), tearing (24 per cent), burning (24 per cent), eyelid pain (22 per cent), misdirected lashes (10 per cent), swollen eyelids (6 per cent), eyelid boils (4 per cent), and discharge (2 per cent).

Professor Charles Bekibele, an ophthalmologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, who was not involved in the research, said artificial eyelashes could pose hidden health and safety risks because complete sterility during application and removal could be difficult to guarantee.

‘You can’t guarantee the hygienic nature of the insertion. When removing it too, it can damage the lashes, and that can be a problem. I don’t think it’s 100 per cent safe,’ he said.

Bekibele added that a resident physician at UCH plans to compare hygienically applied eyelash extensions with standard cosmetic methods to determine whether there are differences in health outcomes.

Dr Bade Ogundipe, a cornea surgeon and consultant at UCH, Ibadan, said complications from false eyelashes are a major concern for eye specialists.

He warned that adhesive entering the eye could scratch the cornea, while some chemicals in lash glue can cause severe irritation. In serious cases, corneal scarring could affect vision and potentially require a corneal transplant.

Repeated application and removal of artificial eyelashes can weaken natural lash follicles, potentially resulting in breakage, thinning and lash loss.

Dr Ogundipe also warned that false eyelashes may increase the risk of eyelid and corneal infections, particularly when unwashed hands, contaminated adhesive, reused eyelashes or dirty makeup brushes are involved.

Some adhesive ingredients, including latex or formaldehyde, may also trigger allergic reactions, causing redness, itching, swelling, and irritation around the eyelids.

Heavy, stiff, or poorly fitted lashes can cause discomfort, while excessive rubbing or pulling during removal may damage the delicate skin around the eyes and increase the risk of corneal abrasions.

Dr Tinuade Ajani, a consultant clinical and medical microbiologist at UCH, Ibadan, described eyelash mites as microscopic organisms that thrive in environments containing debris, natural skin oils and sweat.

She declared that artificial eyelashes and extensions may create conditions that encourage mite proliferation, adding that, as such, women with artificial eyelashes and extensions may experience persistent eyelid itching, a sensation of movement along the eyelid margin and excessive watering.

Ajani warned against using over-the-counter anti-lice shampoos or generic chemical treatments around the eyes, as they could damage sensitive eye tissues.

According to her, people experiencing persistent or unexplained eyelid irritation should instead consult a qualified ophthalmologist or clinical specialist. Where an infestation is confirmed, immediate removal of the artificial lashes may be necessary.

Dr Zhmud said the findings do not mean people should completely avoid eyelash extensions, but stressed the importance of proper eyelid hygiene, awareness of symptoms and timely medical assessment.

She recommended a preservative-free, hypoallergenic gel designed for therapeutic eyelid hygiene, used twice daily with an eyelash cleansing brush. For confirmed Demodex infestation, anti-parasitic treatment may be considered.

The researchers, however, acknowledged that their study was small and did not include women who had never used eyelash extensions. They called for larger studies to better understand the relationship between eyelash extensions, mite infestation and eye health.

Professor Sorcha Ni Dhubhghaill, a corneal and cataract specialist at UZ Brussel, Belgium, who was not involved in the study, noted that Demodex mites can sometimes be identified by ‘collarettes’ – waxy rings around the eyelashes made up of dead mites, faeces, eggs, skin, and oil.

She stressed that the presence of Demodex folliculorum does not necessarily mean disease, as the mites may form part of the normal microorganisms around the eyes. The concern arises when they are associated with symptoms, inflammation, or meibomian gland dysfunction.

For those who wear artificial eyelashes, experts say maintaining good hygiene and seeking medical attention when persistent irritation or unusual symptoms occur are important steps in protecting eye health.

The Presidency has accused supporters of the presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, of shielding him from scrutiny and giving him what it described as a licence to lie without consequences.

Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the allegation while reacting to the latest response by the Anambra State Government to statements attributed to Obi.

Onanuga made the comments in a series of posts on X on Saturday where he highlighted four issues from the Anambra government’s response and used them to criticise Obi and his supporters.

According to him, Obi’s supporters have created a double standard around the former Anambra governor by defending him whenever his claims are challenged.

Onanuga cited the Anambra government’s position that Obi had consistently criticised both his predecessors and successors in office while portraying himself as the only major political figure capable of advancing the state.

The statement referenced by Onanuga also accused Obi of using a media team, including Val Obienyem and others, to sustain criticism of successive administrations in Anambra.

Onanuga further alleged that Obi’s supporters tolerate what they consider falsehoods from him because of their loyalty to him, arguing that such behaviour undermines accountability in public life.

He said supporters who genuinely care about Obi should encourage him to avoid making claims that can be disproved by available facts, rather than defending him whenever he faces criticism.

The presidential aide also accused Obi’s supporters of applying different standards to the former governor and other political actors.

He pointed to the criticism directed at Anambra State Governor, Soludo, over his decision to support a political candidate other than Obi, while arguing that Obi himself is allowed to choose whom he supports even when he is not contesting an election.

Onanuga also questioned Obi’s approach to governance, particularly his emphasis on government savings and interest income.

He argued that governance should be measured by its impact on citizens, including security, welfare and living conditions, rather than primarily by the amount of money saved by government.

He wrote, ‘Deconstructing Peter Obi (1)

‘I underscored four quotable quotes from the Anambra government’s latest response to the lies of Peter Obi that should serve as a warning to Nigerians about his candidacy.

‘Quote No. 1 is on the blind loyalty to him by his charmed followers online, who have been brainwashed by his media propagandists:

‘There is this dangerous trend in our public discourse whereby there are two sets of standards: one for everyone else and another for H.E. Peter Obi. This is one former governor of Anambra who is not on record to have ever complimented any of his predecessors or successors. He spent eight years in office demarketing Dr Mbadinuju and Dr Ngige and has spent the last 13 years, with his paid media team, Val Obienyem, and dozens of others, daily demarketing his successors. He is the only next big thing after God. And indeed, to his credit, the media packaging has worked.’

‘Deconstructing Peter Obi (2): He is licensed to lie as he likes. His supporters love his lies

‘No one blames Obi for being a pathological liar. What one hears is, ‘Yes, we know that he is lying, but must you be the one to expose the lies of a brother-even if his lies are hurting you?’ Hypocrisy and multiple standards everywhere. These do not advance the cause of public accountability. And consistency in our quest for strong ethical politics and governance.

‘Those who love H.E. Peter Obi should advise him to stop lying as a habit so as to avoid the constant embarrassment of confronting inconvenient facts and truth. It is also our advice to him as a brother.’

‘Deconstructing Obi (3) Woe betide the person who exposes Obi as a liar or fails to succumb to his hypocritical standard:

‘Only Peter Obi has the right to lie about and against anyone and everyone, and if you dare to expose his lies, you must be the ‘sinner’, the ‘saboteur’.

‘The double standard is everywhere around Peter Obi.

For Obi’s supporters, ‘H.E. Peter Obi has the right to choose who to support and campaign for, even when he is not on the ballot. For our governor(Governor Soludo) to dare to exercise the same right and support anyone else but Peter Obi, he must be crucified.’

‘Deconstructing Obi (4): Obi’s governance philosophy is structured by his trading experience. My verdict: He is unfit to govern Nigeria.

‘Your Excellency Peter Obi, governance and development are different from trading where everything is primarily about profit and loss account without much consideration for human life. Your response to the thousands of workers and pensioners you owed and your reducing development to the size of bank accounts and interest income while millions die in poverty don’t show good signs. Indeed, if government savings and interest income constitute an indicator of governance performance, perhaps it should have been one of the MDGs or SDGs and governments would start competing as to who saves the most rather than who improves the security and welfare of the people the most. The gloating over savings and interest income…is certainly an unfortunate economic argument.’

A former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, says Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment on the Electoral Act did not disqualify him from contesting the 2027 Delta Central Senatorial election.

This is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications, Mr Godwin Anaighe, on Saturday in Asaba.

Omo-Agege, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Delta Central, said the judgment did not make any order against him or pronounce him ineligible to contest the 2027 election.

According to him, the Supreme Court only restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which concern party membership registers and candidate nomination.

He described as misplaced the celebration by supporters of Sen. Ede Dafinone, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, who, according to him, were congratulating their candidate over the judgment.

Omo-Agege said his name was contained in the NDC membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before May 10 and appeared on the commission’s published final list of candidates.

‘The distinction is straightforward: The Court ruled on the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act; it did not issue a candidate-specific ruling against Omo-Agege,’ he said.

Omo-Agege said turning the judgment into an announcement that he was out of the race amounted to political propaganda rather than an accurate representation of the court’s decision.

He said he remained focused on the 2027 contest in Delta Central, urging his political opponents to campaign on their records and programmes.

‘If Dafinone wants the Senate seat, he should come to the field with his record, his programme and his arguments for another term,’ he said.

Omo-Agege said the people of Delta Central would make their choice at the appropriate time, adding that political celebrations could not replace the electoral contest.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), has urged journalists in the state to hold him accountable to his campaign promises if elected governor in the 2027 election.

Adeola made the call on Friday when he interacted with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, at the Union’s secretariat in Abeokuta.

The APC candidate said the progress of Ogun State should be regarded as a collective responsibility, stressing that his manifesto should serve as a benchmark for assessing his administration if elected.

He said: ‘I do not come to you asking you to believe me. I come asking you to hold me to this manifesto, line by line, project by project, from the commuter waiting for a bus in Sango-Ota, to the young coder we train in Abeokuta, to the fisherman on Tongeji Island watching his community finally get its road and its clinic.

‘A manifesto that stays on paper is a betrayal of the people who trusted it. This covenant will be built into a clear implementation plan with measurable targets, every agency held to performance agreements tied to these commitments, and honest, public reporting on what is working and what is not. This is how a manifesto stops being a document and becomes a government.’

Adeola said his administration, if given the mandate, would focus on initiatives capable of improving the lives of residents across different parts of the state.

He urged journalists to play their watchdog role by monitoring government programmes and reporting objectively on their implementation.

‘Itesiwaju Ipinle Ogun Lo Je Wa Logun. The progress of Ogun State is our duty and our calling. Let us build, together, the Ogun of our dreams: a state where governance truly works for everyone,’ he added.

Senator Adeola assured the members of the pen profession that his administration, if elected into office, would fully comply with the Freedom of Information Act, and promised to treat the Ogun NUJ as a partner in governance in moving the state forward.

He further told the journalists that his administration, when elected, would look into their welfare and safety, saying, ‘Government that fears scrutiny has already told you what it intends to hide, and that will not be this administration.’

While commending the present administration for growing internally generated revenue at a compound annual rate of 33 per cent between 2021 and 2024, Adeola said the task before his administration, if elected, was to push the momentum further.

‘We will deploy a Single Window Revenue Collection System integrating PAYE and every other tax stream, fee and levy across government, targeting a 40 per cent uplift in IGR and a three-to-fivefold increase in land revenue by 2031. This is not a new tax on our people. It is collecting, transparently and efficiently, what our state is already owed,’ he added.

On local government autonomy, Senator Adeola maintained that local government allocations would be paid directly into the accounts of the LGs without state-level intervention or diversion.

Adeola further added: ‘Government that cannot be felt where people live is not government at all. Ogun State’s 7.4 million people are spread across 16,432 square kilometres, and for too many, the distance to their local government is a half-day journey, not a short commute.

‘Following the 2024 Supreme Court ruling, allocations will flow directly to our twenty Local Government Areas, without state-level interception or diversion, because roads, health centres and markets are all delivered more effectively when the government closest to the people controls its own resources. Itesiwaju Ipinle Ogun must be felt at the local government level, and it begins on day one.’

Highlights of the interaction with the journalists were the commitment of N50 million to the building of a new secretariat for the NUJ and also the donation of a brand new bus to the union.