The Coles, a prominent family of Victoria Island, Lagos, has denounced the recent purported marriage of their son, Taiwo, to actress and comedian, Wofai Ewa, in a traditional ceremony in Ugep, Cross River State.

In a statement issued by the family patriarch, Kunle Cole, which has since gone viral, the family dissociated themselves from the union, saying they were unaware of the marriage plans and did not grant consent or support.

“This serves to notify all acquaintances, family and friends that the Cole family of Victoria Island, Lagos, are not aware of any marriage ceremony of our son,Taiwo Olakitan Cole; neither did we grant permission nor support in this regard,” the statement read.

It continued, “As such, person(s) parading themselves as new members of the Cole heritage by virtue of this purported event, are not known nor accepted by the family. All publications and documents being circulated about this are to be disregarded.”

The rebuke follows circulated images and videos showing Taiwo participating in what appeared to be a traditional marriage rite with Ewa, who hails from Ugep in Cross River.

Wofai and Taiwo took to their Instagram pages on Saturday to share marriage photos.

One of the posts read, “I found my happily ever after, and I said yes !! Chai !! Love is sweet o. Thank you guys for all the love and messages.”

Wofai, who has over a million followers on Instagram, is a chef, actress and comedian.

The court of appeal in Lagos has voided the regulations 126 and 127 of the Nigeria Police Act which allow the dismissal of unmarried policewomen who become pregnant while in service.

A three-member panel of justices led by Olubunmi Oyewole ordered the respondents in the suit – attorney-general of the federation (AGF), Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) – to carry out a comprehensive review of the entire police regulations to ensure that they align with the demands of a modern society operating under the rule of law.

“It is unthinkable that the Nigerian Police of this day and age operates on the principle that female officers need to be specially moderated and regulated while their male counterparts are free,” Oyewole held.

“This is unacceptable in a decent and democratic society governed by the rule of law.

“I, therefore, hold that the said regulations 126 and 127 are inconsistent with the provisions of section 37 and 42 of the Constitution and are therefore null and void to the extent of their inconsistency pursuant to section 1 (3) of the Constitution.

“The Respondents are advised to carry out a comprehensive review of the entire police regulations to ensure that they accord with the demands of a modern society operating under the rule of law.

“I accordingly resolve the two issues in favour of the Appellant and against the Respondents.

“This appeal is meritorious, and it is hereby allowed. Consequently, the decision of the lower court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/178/2021 delivered on the 21st of February 2022 is hereby set aside.

“Instead, the questions for determination in the said suit are answered in the affirmative while the reliefs sought therein are granted as prayed. Parties shall bear their respective costs.”

BACKGROUND

TheCable reported that Omolola Olajide, an unmarried police corporal attached to Iye-Ekiti station, was sacked in 2021 for being pregnant.

Babatunde Mobayo, the state commissioner of police, justified Olajide’s sack, insisting that the officer contravened section 127 of the police regulations.

Following the sack, Olawale Fapohunda, Ekiti attorney-general and commissioner for justice, instituted a lawsuit before a federal high court in the state, seeking an order to nullify section 127 of the Police Act. 

However, the suit was dismissed because it was an abuse of the court process since a similar case filed by Olajide was pending before the national industrial court.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) approached the Abuja federal high court to challenge the legality of regulation 127 of the police regulations.

The association contended that the said provision contradicts the 1999 constitution and is discriminatory to unmarried female police officers.

However, Inyang Ekwo, the trial judge, dismissed the suit on February 21, 2022.

He said the suit lacked merit, holding that such unmarried female police officers were aware of the regulation before they joined the force.

Oba Saheed Elegushi, the 21st Elegushi of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, has displayed his romantic side by celebrating his second wife, Hadiza Yakasai, on his official social media handles.

The 48-year-old monarch married Olori Hadiza, a Kano indigene, at the Jumaat Mosque in Yankaba, Kano State, in May 2019.

Oba Saheed Elegushi, the 21st Elegushi of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom celebrates his second wife, Hadiza Yakasai,
Oba Saheed Elegushi, the 21st Elegushi of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom celebrates his second wife, Hadiza Yakasai,
She is the daughter of Kano political figure Tanko Yakasai and a business development manager at an oil and gas industry firm.

Five years later, Oba Elegushi, with unwavering commitment, has reflected on their love story while pledging his steadfast commitment to their union.

His anniversary post read: “Reaching a five-year anniversary signifies more than just half a decade together; it’s a testament to strong commitment and enduring love. Our fifth anniversary is a milestone of over 1,800 days of friendship and nonstop love. Thank you for choosing to share this amazing journey with me. Happy five-year anniversary, my Queen.”

Olori Hadiza, who leads a private life, is inactive on social media.

He married his first wife, Olori Sekinat, in 2003. Seven years later, he ascended the throne after his father, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, passed on.

They have three daughters.

Two years after Oba Elegushi took Hadiza as his second wife, his first wife, Olori Sekinat, shared her feelings about the situation. PREMIUM TIMES reported how she described the decision as a ‘bitter pill to swallow’.

She expressed her disbelief and initial resistance to sharing her husband with another woman. However, she eventually accepted it as part of the sacrifices and demands that come with the throne.