Tuesday 30 October 2012

Oyo’s First Lady Not Arrested - London’s Metropolitan Police

Read more from this link: http://thewillnigeria.com/politics/16878.html

IRST LADY OF OYO STATE, MRS. FLORENCE AJIMOBI

SAN FRANCISCO, October 30, (THEWILL) – The London Metropolitan Police has not arrested the First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi.

Speculations concerning her alleged arrest in London for being in possession of 500, 000 British Pounds have been trending on the social media.

A Metropolitan Police information center personnel this morning told THEWILL during a phone query that there is no information on the alleged arrest of Ajimobi in the Metropolitan Police database.

Thursday 25 October 2012

Creative Industry Awards call for entries

The Creative Industry Awards, an initiative of the Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (CEAN) has inaugurated an annual awards to showcase and celebrate creative entrepreneurs who have set standards in their respective fields.

Founder Wale Ewedemi tells NET that one of the key objectives of the awards is to sensitize the Nigerian Creative Sector to the opportunities that abound in Nigeria, while showcasing and rewarding those that have taken the bull by the horn.

Suitable candidates are hereby invited to nominate themselves or nominate others they are convinced are eligible for the Creative Industry Awards.

We’re told the award is open to all Nigerian Entrepreneurs in the Creative Industry above the age of 21, who have been running a business for at least two years principally. They must demonstrate their potential to be a leader of the creative industry through their character, drive and abilities.

Nomination categories, procedures and forms are now available for download at www.creative-nigeria.org .

All properly filled forms must be submitted by Wednesday November 7, 2012. Nominees in each category will be announced on Monday, November 12, 2012 after a successful screening by the panel of judges .

Nomination Categories

This Award has ‘11’ categories including the overall winner that will be declared the Creative Entrepreneur of the year 2012.

The Categories

1.Visual Arts (Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Antique)

2. Performing Arts (Live Music, Dance, Theatre, DJ)

3. Comedy (Stand Up Comedy, TV Comedy Shows, Comedy Films)

4. Music (Record label, Production Houses, Artiste Management, Marketers

5. Film (Production Houses, Producers, Marketers)

6. Publishing (Books, Newspapers, Magazines, Journals)

7. Audio Visual (Television, Radio)

8. New Media (Software Developers, Bloggers, Website Designers)

9. Creative Service (Architecture, Advertising)

10. Fashion (Clothes Manufacturers, Fashion Houses, Boutiques)

11. Creative Entrepreneur of the year 2012 (To be picked for the 10 winners of the above categories)

Wizkid to work with M.I’s former manager Godwin Tom

Wizkid will soon be working with Godwin Tom

A few weeks ago, we reported that pop star Wizkid and manager Osagie Osarenkhoe parted ways.

We’ve got news for you – the pop star may have hired popular manager Godwin Tom.

Wiz and Osarenkhoe, who runs her own outfit M.e.tal Management, ended their business relationship in June 2012, and we’re told Wizzy has been without a manager since then.

Meanwhile, Wizzy’s label EME also recently announced that they are ‘currently seeking for a General Manager to manage its growing business and build up the EME label.’

Godwin seems like the likely replacement, having handled M.I, in whose career he played a vital role, and rapper duo Show Dem Camp. He also had a stint with singer Airis and is currently part of singer Waje‘s management team.

Inside sources tell us that Godwin hasn’t signed any contracts, as he will be on probation for now.

Meanwhile, Mr Tom said ’I’ve seen the news and there’s a lot of speculation. There has been no announcement of such so let’s just leave it at that for now‘. But going by his words on social network Twitter, Godwin seems to be excited about the new role.

‘Things are coming together… I am doing what I love… What Im good at. I dont regret being who I am! I am the best me! I dont regret one bit of my last 5+ years. They were the best. And best is relative… Things are about to get better!‘ he tweeted.

Aki and Pawpaw float movie production company

Chinedu ‘Aki’ Ikedieze and Osita ‘Paw Paw’ Iheme

Popular Nollywood actors, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme have floated a movie production company called APEN (Aki and Pawpaw Entertainment Nigeria).

The duo who are popularly known by their stage names, Aki and Pawpaw, say the new business is based on their desire to contribute to the production sector of the industry as well as give opportunities to young talents who aspire to make a career in the industry.

The kick off of APEN coincides with the pair’s 10th career anniversary and we’re told they’re already commissioning their debut movie, due to be released later in the year.

Iheme, 30 and Ikedieze, 34, rose to fame in 2003, after featuring in the Amayo Uzo Philips directed movie, Aki na Ukwa, which also had the likes of Amaechi Muonagor, Frances Nsokwu and Oby Kechere as co-actors.

Drop your case and team up with Ibinabo’ Kate Henshaw tells Emeka Ike

Kate Henshaw

Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw has expressed displeasure at the many controversies surrounding the victory of Ibinabo Fiberisima in the just concluded elections of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

She mentioned this in a recent interview with NET, where she advised that Emeka Ike bury his sentiments and accept the result as valid. According to her, this is important for the growth of the association, ‘Emeka should join forces with I.B and stop all this rancour because it doesn’t make us serious at all, which is unnecessary. He should drop whatever suit or case he has, marry his plans and support IB. Enough is enough’

Speaking further on the victory, Henshaw expressed high hopes in the newly elected excos, adding that AGN as the biggest body in movie industry, deserves a focused leader, a position she hopes Fiberisima will live up to, ‘Hopefully, I.B (Ibinabo Fiberisima) will turn things around for AGN. We are like the biggest body ever, so I am praying she can turn things around and make us more unified, because the division is what has caused us to not to be where we ought to be’

Henshaw, 41, made her movie debut in 1993 in the movie When the Sun Sets and has since featured in various movies including Stronger Than Pain which got her AMAA  award as best actress in 2008.

Revealed: Why Femi Kuti shunned The Headies

Those who attended The Headies 2012 awards show on Saturday October 20, were surprised when the show ended without musician Femi Kuti gracing the stage.

It had been highly publicized that the respected Afrobeat singer-saxophonist was to perform at the prestigious awards show -his first ever. He was also to be inducted into the well respected ‘Hall of Fame‘.

But Femi never showed up, rather he stayed behind at the New Afrika Shrine where the recently concluded Felabration 2012 was going onNET placed a call to Yeni Kuti, Femi’s elder sister who didn’t divulge much information other than there was a ‘slight misunderstanding’.

But an inside source close to the Kuti family tells us it was more than a misunderstanding, allegedly having to do with the failure of the awards organizers and Kuti’s managers to reconcile last minute differences.

‘They were meant to pay Shoki shoki (Femi) some balance for logistics but as at Saturday evening we hadn’t received the money, so he stayed back at the Shrine for Felabration‘, a reliable source told us in anonymity. We could not immediately confirm this.

The Headies does not pay musicians for performances, and this is the first time a Hall of Fame inductee will stay away from the glamorous event.

No word yet from the organizers about why Femi was absent.

Monday 15 October 2012

Muna Meets Usher at Ludacris Video Shoot in Atlanta

The ex-beauty queen and rapper was in Atlanta recently on the set of Ludacris' video for the song, Rest of my Life featuring singer, Usher. Muna says she was invited to the video shoot to "watch and learn as part of my music business education and for my career."

Muna was in Atlanta for a over a month and currently in London still recording songs for her long awaited first album The Goddess, The Hustler, taking a little time out for a BBC Radio interview with DJ Edu on the 1Xtra Show. Meanwhile, check the new hair colour. Fierce!

Saturday 13 October 2012

Godwin Okpara Turned Me In to A Sex-Slave

Tina Okpara, the teenage girl who was serially Molested by Super Eagles star, Godwin Okpara, has released a book, detailing how the intimate assault went on for two years.

Tina Okpara

In the book titled, “My Life Has A Price”, the victim narrates how she was adopted at age 13 by the Okparas and taken to France.

Linda, Okpara’s wife, then enslaved her for five years and turned a blind eye to the intimate abuse, she says in the book.

Tina’s decision to write the book seven years after she regained freedom, aims at raising awareness and helping other girls who might be going through the same horrendous experience, she said in an interview with TheNews magazine.

“One day, I told myself that if I refused testifying, other girls will continue to experience modern slavery,” she said.

She explained how her biological father was tricked by the Okparas into believing that she would be sent to school in France where the Super Eagles star was playing for Paris Saint Germain.

However, once in France, she was used as a sex slave. She was also prevented by Linda from attending school.

“The day she spat it on my face that schooling was not for me because I was too silly, I lost all hope,” she said

As the abuse worsened, Tina kept secret notebooks where she could “dump all my sorrow”.

“These notebooks were used to dump all my sorrow, all my hatred for Linda. It was my lifeline and my friend,” she said.

The 188-page book, originally written in French, has just been translated into English.

Godwin is currently serving a 10-year jail term in France, while his wife, Linda, will be in jail for 15 years.

I Can Still Work With Don Jazzy -d'banj

In a major interview post 'Mo Hits, DB/Good Music/Mercury/IDJ artiste, Dapo Oyebanjo popularly called D'banj, sought to lay to rest various allegations and rumours being peddled about him, in an exclusive interview he granted a Lagos State based radio station, Cool FM.

The artiste, who lists Why Me as his break out song, also spoke on chances of reconciling with former partner and friend Don Jazzy. Asked if there were chances that both parties may reconcile, he said “We can always work together and Don Jazzy still produced some songs on my forthcoming album. Yes we can work together in future. Maybe a big company can pay a lot of money for us to perform and yes it has to be a lot of money for me.”

Although the separation remains fresh in the minds of the public since the break-up made public in March this year, the singer appeared to be still be nursing the wounds. He appeared overwhelmed with emotions when the interviewer referred to Don Jazzy as his friend. To this he went metaphorical saying, “What do you guys call friends, I mean I had friends for nine years and you guys saw what happened after the divorce. I lost custody of my children (signees) apart from the one I had out of wedlock.”

D'banj also said he was boss of defunct Mo Hits Record by claiming that it was his record label D'Banj (DB) Records that went into partnership with Kanye West's G.O.O.D and not Mo'Hit.

Ever since the singer was officially signed on to West's G.O.O.D Music label in July, he was rumoured to have joined the dreaded Iluminati Cult, which is alleged to be home to a number of American celebrities, including West. In defence, D'banj said, “I don't know anything about the Illuminati. When I wanted to travel out of Nigeria for the first time I collected my international passport from Bishop David Oyedepo. That shows that I owe my success to God. If my success is too fast for people or they cannot understand it please don't attribute it to illuminati. I feel very offended when that is being said because it simply translates to giving God's glory to another person which He does not share with anyone. God will strike anyone who attributes my success to someone else.”

To the allegations of an existing relationship with Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, he said, “I am very single, and Genevieve is my friend. I have been saying this for over a year since we shot the Fall in Love video. Can't you people just see fine boy and fine girl in a video kissing each other and not think anyhow?”

Although the singer who released his debut album, No Long Thing in 2005, was recently featured on West's Cruel Summer CD inlay and a couple of other singles, he has been criticised for 'leaving his kingship in Nigeria to become a prince in America.'

Amidst laughter, Dbanj replied, “Did I change the crown? I only carried my crown to the US. People are just confused but the truth is I am still a king wherever I am. Being in a different country and culture I had to study the environment which is what I am still doing. I actually thought I would release my album in America but my label thought UK would be better because I have a bigger fan base there. I weighed my options remember everything did not come from me so I had to do what I did to move on.”

The singer, who revealed that his mother allowed him to travel to the UK in 2002 with a condition that he would spend just two months there, describes social media network as platform for idle talk.

“I am too busy for social media, please. If you people want to talk to me go to TV or radio I don't go to social media except I have something to say. I never give out recharge cards on Twitter (laughs) even when I was with Globacom I never did that. If you want to do that why not help a charity instead.”

I Watched Them Kill My Brother' Tekena's Sister (ALUU4)

A sister of one of the four University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students brutally murdered last Friday in Umuokiri village, Aluu, Rivers State, has narrated how her younger brother and his friends were lynched.

Miss Ibisobia Elkanah, elder sister of Tekena Friday Elkanah, revealed yesterday that policemen visited the scene where the students were burnt to death after they were severely injured and that one of the law enforcement agents told the perpetrators of the dastardly act “to burn them alive”

The murdered students, Chiadika Lordson, Ugonna Kelechi Obusor, Mike Lloyd Toku, and Tekena Elkanah, all part two students, were murdered in cold blood over alleged theft of a laptop computer and a blackberry phone. Ibisobia, a part-time final year student of Marketing, at the same university who witnessed the incident, said on that fateful day, at about 7.30 am, she was at the house of her girl friend in the community when she heard people shouting outside. “I dashed out and beckoned on my friend to come since she lived in the area.

The thing attracted much noise and attention. I went there but did not actually see or recognize any of them, due to the crowd. “I heard when people were saying the people they (vigilance group) caught were strangers; that they want to burn them.

They said they were asking them questions, so that they could know their senders.” She said after that, she went back to her friend’s house, but could not stay there. “I went back again. I went through the bush path so that I could see them properly. I started jumping to see if I could see them. I jumped again but saw nothing. I jumped the second time and I saw Tekena. Tekena happened to be my brother. “I told myself that I was not seeing well, this thing is a lie. I jumped the third time, I saw Lloyd (one of the victims). So, I started shouting.

From what I gathered, the first time I came, they said they were not known; that they were strangers. As I identified them, I started shouting. Ibisobia said she continued shouting that Tekena was her brother, saying that he came to her on Thursday in school and she gave him his school fees. “I told them that somebody should allow me to ask him what happened and what he came to do. He would confide in me. He was wailing and in a pool of blood.”

“Tekena has been my younger brother for many years. I saw them as they lay in the water Unclad with leaves covering their nakedness.” His elder sister said she struggled and entered the crowd. Somebody shouted “Who is that? What is she doing inside?” “People were pushing me and I started crying. He is my brother! He is not a thief! Somebody behind me said O’girl run for your life.

About two persons turned and asked, are you sure he is your brother, and said may be I was the person that sent him to go and steal.” Ibisobia replied them that how could she send him, that she did not look as such. ‘They said I should run for my life that I would be the next one, fifth person.” The young lady lamented that before she could get to her friend’s room to call her family members, she learnt that the mob had taken them to the burrow pit. “So, I went there again.

I called my family and they started coming. The police van came, went into the mob and they were talking to them (youths). The people kept quiet as police were making statements. “I heard them laughing. You know, they were happy. They kept quiet again. Police talked and they laughed again. The next was for me to see three policemen coming out of the mob, boarded their van. And, one of the said “burn them alive”. “I must confess, I was gripped with fear.

I had the intention to talk to the man that said they should be burnt alive. As soon as they (police) drove off, I saw the flames. I was thinking they burnt them after they had killed them. Later, I discovered that they were burnt while they were alive.

Friday 12 October 2012

Hot or not: Eva Alordiah's black carpet outfit
















Would you rock that on a red, black, any colour carpet? Meanwhile, looking at Tiwa, you can be all covered up and still look sexy and classy! Loves it!Everyone Love her cos of her style and been unique,talking about our female rapper Eva what do you think about her dressing
.

Photos: Genevieve Nnaji on a boat cruise in Miami














The actress posted these photos on herself having fun in Miami, on her Instagram page. She has since returned from her vacation...


Denrele to host Red Carpet of Hoodrush at the premiere Today

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Article not written by me....
One of the most talked about movies in the past three months, Hoodrush will finally premiere exclusively in grand style at the upscale Silverbird Galleria this Friday, October 12, 2012.
The musical flick from the stable of Flipsyde Studios features an impressive cast of talented Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola, O.C Ukeje, mulatto actress, Chelsea Eze, one of the Afolayan brothers, Gabriel, Bolanle Ninolowo of Diesel Music, a company that recently partnered with music artiste, 9ice, Ijeoma Agu, Lee Lee Byoma and others.


Many celebrities and industry stakeholders are all expected to grace the red carpet this Friday as the exclusive premiere takes place. Popular TV host, Denrele Edun will host the highly publicized movie premiere. The cast and crew of the movie will be there as expectant fans can meet their favourite stars.

The movie was written, directed and produced by Dimeji Ajibola, the Technical Director at Flipsyde Studios; he is a creative entrepreneur with creative and business interests in filmmaking, virtual worlds, 3D animation, cartoons, interactive digital media, and music. His background is a blend of traditional skills and digital art. The filmmaker is adept in creative illustrations, visual layout and staging, project planning and execution. He Studied Advance Character animation at a school in San Francisco, he also studied Filmmaking and Cinematography at the New York Film Academy and also at the Universal Studios in California.

Speaking on what to expect at the premiere, one of the leading cast, Bimbo Akintola said ‘’finally, the wait is now over, the cinema audience can now go and see what we the actors and Flipsyde Studios have been busy ‘cooking’ these past months, they won’t regret seeing the movie as it is a departure from the norm in Nollywood’’.

O.C Ukeje, another leading act said ‘’if you are looking for something different but unique, Hoodrush is the movie to watch, it’s not because I starred in it but because the movie was shot on another level of creativity, the director knew what he wanted from us and demanded that we gave it our best shot and the different locations were spot on too. I will be at the premiere for my fans as I would welcome comments from them and also take pictures with them’’.

Hoodrush hits all cinemas across the nation from Friday, October 12, 2012.

Ex minister's 34 year old son dies in power bike accident

The first son of ex-minister of power and steel, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, died in a power bike accident on Monday Oct 1. 34 year old Mohammed Bashir Dalhatu was said to be returning back to his base from a bikers convention in Uyo when he met his untimely death.

The accident occurred around the Delta axis while Mohammed was on his way back to Abuja. He had told his driver to drive along while he rode on his power bike. Unfortunately he fell from his bike and was crushed by two oncoming cars. He died instantly and has since been buried. May he RIP!

Rihanna's new album cover...you like?




Her new album is titled Unapologetic and is due out next month.

Fatgbems petroleum boss dies of cancer







Billionaire business man and Fatgbems Petroleum boss, Alhaji Fatai Gbemisola, has passed on. He died in the early hours of this morning after battling with cancer for a while. The Ogun state born oil magnate was 69. May his soul rest in peace...amen.To his family we the staff of Icon Footprint Entertainment,Moun with you.

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Nigerian actor Lawrence Lurrenz Onuzulike launches a Nollywood fun book

European based Nigerian actor, author, and musician Lawrence Lurrenz Onuzulike recently launched a fun book into the Nigerian market.

The book of fun games and trivia is packaged as a way of educating lovers of Nigerian movies. We learned that the book contains puzzles, trivia questions, crosswords, and word searches which test readers' knowledge of the Nigerian stars and movies while at the same time learning more about the entire industry.

Speaking on the book, Lawrence who is also the founder of Nollywoodgossip Magazine said that he embarked on the project to inculcate the culture of reading among lovers of Nigerian movies.

“I was thinking of another way to get Nollywood practitioners to earn extra income apart from the usual production of films, and at the same time thinking of how to bring back reading culture among Nigerians. Then it clicked. An entertainment and fun game back. That's how the idea of the book came to mind,” he narrated.

Fally Ipupa’s Lagos Concert Cancelled

The African Unity concert, featuring Fally Ipupa, JMartins, Ara and other acts has been cancelled.

The event which was scheduled to hold on Sunday September 30, at The Harbour Point, in Victoria Island, Lagos, has now been put off, according to the organisers, Effrakata Entertainment.

The event was planned as a pre-independence concert featuring live performances from several Nigerian acts and their friends from nearby countries, led by the beloved Fally Ipupa.

Home » News » Entertainment News » Waje May Sign With Chocolate City Soon Waje May Sign With Chocolate City Soon

t looks like Cholocate City might grab their second female artiste soon and she’s no rookie too.

For months, the rumours of the gifted singer Waje joining powerhouse record label Chocolate City has been circulating and while the label has refused to confirm or dispel the news, Waje has opened up on what is really going on.

Waje was fully introduced to the Chocolate City camp after collaborating with rapper M.I on his 2010 hit ‘One Naira’ off his ‘MI2‘ album.

‘We are trying to see how we can work together. They have been a very strong part of my career since ‘One Naira’ in the sense that they’ve really helped me in many ways. There is a possibility‘, says waje

‘It’s all about getting the right deal, this things do matter at the end of the day. Both Waje and Choc City need to know it’s worth it’, an inside source close to waje told us

Chocolate City have signed two artistes this year – Port Harcourt rapper Pryse and gospel singer Nosa. They now carry a robust roaster of seven artistes – the others being M.I, Jesse Jagz, Brymo, Ice Prince along with an official Disc Jockey – DJ Caise.

Ayo Wins Project Fame Season 5

Ayobami Ayoola Ayolola better known as AYO for short has emerged as the 5th winner of the very popular Project Fame West Africa talent show.

Ayobami Ayoola Ayolola, a 25 year old personal assistant to a renowned saxophonist Mike Aremu edged out other finalists to win the top prize.

The first runner-up position went to Marvellous, second runner-up to Adetoun and third runner-up by Ella.

Ayobami Ayoola Ayolola, last year contested at the first ever Nigerian Idol and made the final 12 but was evicted in the first round of the finals.

He now joins the past winners, the likes of Iyanya, Mike Ayansodo, Chidinma and Monica.

Congrats to the new winner.