Ifeanyi Ubah, senator representing Anambra south, has blamed Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra, over Flavour’s decision to bury his father in Enugu instead of his Anambra hometown.

 

On Saturday, Flavour held the burial ceremony of Benjamin Onyemaechi Okoli who passed on last month.

The singer was born in Enugu but his family is originally from Umunze in Orumba South LGA, Anambra.

Cubana Chief Priest, the nightlife promoter, who attended the event disclosed that the burial ceremony was supposed to be held in Umunze, Anambra state.

 

He also claimed Flavour moved ceremony to Enugu due to security concerns in Anambra state.

In a statement through Kamen Ogbonna, his media advisor on Monday, Ubah apologised to Flavour for the “poor security” and apportioned blame on Soludo for “failing to improve the situation in Umunze”.

He also alleged that Soludo’s interference has hindered efforts to address insecurity in the region.

 

“I apologise to Chinedu Okoli (Mr. Flavour) for missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the life and time of his father in his hometown,” he said.

“I would have secured Orumba and the entire Anambra South senatorial district if the state government hadn’t stopped my security initiative, despite its success in the Nnewi Pilot program.

“The state government’s actions have left my constituents vulnerable to security threats, particularly in areas currently under siege by non-state actors, which would have been liberated by now. I will continue to advocate for the security and well-being of my people, despite the obstacles.

“In 2023, I launched the security initiative aimed to provide comprehensive security coverage for the Anambra South senatorial district.

 

“Following its success in Nnewi, plans were underway to expand the programme to Orumba North and South, Aguata, Ihiala, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo. However, the state government’s interference halted the initiative’s progress, introducing politics into security matters and prioritizing the governor’s second-term bid over the welfare of the people.

“We used a combination of artificial intelligence, local intelligence, walkie-talkies, and 4G High Definition CCTV security networking systems to achieve this.

“The state government’s actions have left my constituents vulnerable to security threats, particularly in areas currently under siege by non-state actors, which would have been liberated by now. I will continue to advocate for the security and well-being of my people, despite the obstacles.”

Tems, the Grammy Award winner, has become the Nigerian female artiste with the highest streaming day on Spotify.

 

After much anticipation, the songstress released her debut album ‘Born In The Wild’ on Friday.

Tems raked in 5.33 million global streams on the project’s opening day. However, in addition to her other projects on the streamer, the singer accumulated 8.028 million streams which is a record for a Nigerian female artiste. 

The 18-track project — released via RCA Records/Since 93′ — contained collaborations with Nigerian singer Asake in ‘Get It Right’ and US rapper J. Cole in ‘Free Fall’.

 

The body of work also had previously released singles ‘Me & U’ and ‘Love Me Jeje’.

Other titles in the project include ‘Born In The Wild’, ‘Special Baby’, ‘Burning’, ‘Wickedest’, ‘Unfortunate’, ‘Ready’, ‘Gangsta,’ ‘Boy o Boy’, ‘Forever’, ‘Voices In My Head’, ‘Turn Me Up’, ‘T-Unit’, ‘You In My Face’, and ‘Hold On’.

‘Born In The Wild’ arrived three years after her last EP ‘If Orange Was a Place’.

Tems, born Temilade Openiyi, rose to fame in 2020, courtesy of her collaboration with Wizkid on the song ‘Essence’. She released her debut EP ‘For Broken Ears’ the same year.

 

In February 2023, the songstress won her first-ever Grammy award. She bagged the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category for her role in ‘Wait for U’, the 2022 hit song by Future featuring Drake.

In March, the singer was honoured with a ‘Breakthrough Award’ at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards.

SPOTIFY RECENT DATA ON TEMS

Tems has been added to over 21.4 million playlists in the last 12 months. Her audience leans towards males (50% listeners) and 47% female listeners in the past 28 days.

 

People between the age of 23-27 are a core part of her audience at 32% while those aged between 28-34 follow in closely at 23%.

Top countries streaming in the last 28 days:

  1. United States

  2. United Kingdom

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  3. Canada

  4. Nigeria

  5. Australia

  6. Germany

  7. South Africa

  8. France

  9. Brazil

  10. Netherlands

Top songs streamed in the last 28 days:

  1. Love me Jeje
  2. Me & U
  3. Higher
  4. Free Mind
  5. Fountain
  6. Found feat. Brent Faiyaz
  7. Damages

Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegede has shared her vision of an ideal man

According to her, it’s all about finding a man with a heart of gold.

In a recent episode of ‘The Honest Bunch‘ podcast, Yvonne Jegede opened up about her desire for a partner who is empathetic and willing to go the extra mile to meet her needs. 

Yvonne stated that her perfect match is someone who understands the value of empathy and is willing to show it in tangible ways.

 

Person wey get good mind na im I dey find. Because if you get good mind, you get empathy, if I say ‘Baby please, give me N1 million’, you fit give me N20 million,” she said.

Yvonne Jegede emphasized that a partner with empathy wouldn’t question her requests or assume she’s asking for her father’s money. Instead, they would understand her needs and show willingness to support her.

But if you no get empathy, you go ask me first of all, say, ‘It is your father’s money?’” 

Recall that in 2019 Yvonne Jegede confirmed the end of her marriage to actor Olakunle ‘Abounce’ Fawole, barely a year after they tied the knot.

Yvonne revealed that her marriage with her ex Olakunle crashed because she was the breadwinner.

She explored a multitude of reasons that led to her split from Olakunle Fawole, offering a raw and unfiltered glimpse into their tumultuous relationship.

Yvonne shared that her ex-husband was eight years older, and from the very beginning of their marriage, he often felt disrespected by her blunt remarks.

A pivotal reason, Yvonne Jegede divulged, was the financial imbalance in their relationship. She admitted that she was the primary earner, carrying the majority of the financial burden.

This disparity strained their marriage, as she felt the pressure of providing for their family almost entirely on her own.

Pat Attah, once a luminary in Nollywood, has unveiled the real reasons behind his dramatic departure from the Nigerian film industry and his relocation to Germany.

In a candid conversation with Teju Babyface, Attah revealed that his foray into the entertainment world was driven purely by a deep-seated passion for the arts, rather than a desire for fame.

The 48-year-old actor confessed that as his star rose, he found himself increasingly stifled by the relentless demands and expectations of the public eye. 

Attah recounted how the mounting pressure of living up to his celebrity status became overwhelming, ultimately prompting him to make a bold and life-altering decision.

“When I got into the entertainment industry, I was not necessarily doing it for fame, I was doing it for the passion, the passion I have for the arts,” he said

“Fame was not my goal when I got into entertainment, so when it got really too much, I felt like I was not living the normal life I would like to live. I was basically living my life for people. Because when you are famous, you automatically become a role model to a lot of people, there are certain things you want to do freely that you are restricted from doing to a large extent.

You do not want people to think, ‘Why would Pat Attah get into a taxi? Why would he get on a bus? Why would he be riding a bicycle on the street?’ I was not living as freely as I would love to be. That is why I decided to take a break and go to a place where I know people also know me, but not as much as back home.”

 

Attah was popular in Nollywood in the late 90s and early 2000s. He featured in films like ‘Spirit of Love’, ‘Extreme Measures’, ‘Colour of Money’, and ‘Never Believe Me’.

He, however, stopped acting and relocated to Germany in 2005.

 

WATCH HIM SPEAK BELOW 

 

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Last modified on Tuesday, 11 June 2024 02:27

The Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, has appealed to both staff members and students to adopt more responsible electricity consumption habits.

This, the VC stated, became imperative following the increase of the institution’s monthly electricity bill from N70m to N230m.

 

Egbewole urged the staff and students to support the administration’s efforts to implement cost-saving measures.

This was contained in an e-mail message sent to staff members and students of the university.

 

He said that the recent hike in electricity tariffs by Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) had seriously affected the institution’s budget, adding that the new monthly electricity bill was not sustainable.

The VC, however, stated that the management has intensified efforts in negotiations for alternative power supply to the university.

 

He explained that all the buildings under construction in the Faculties of Agriculture, Arts, Environmental Science, Law and Social Sciences would include provisions for alternative power sources as part of their designs.

Egbewole stated that the institution is working to ensure that all faculties and units were equipped with reliable alternative power options.

As the countdown to the Sallah (Ileya) festivities begin, ram sellers in various parts of Kwara State such as Offa, Ajase Ipo, and Ilorin among others have attributed the current high costs of rams to the increased prices of petrol and diesel following subsidy removal.

 

The significant price hike has therefore sparked discussions about the impact of fuel subsidy removal on transportation costs and, consequently, on the prices of goods, including livestock.

 

The ram sellers confirmed this development in separate interviews with Vanguard correspondent.

 

Hassan Ojuolape, who sells Rams of different sizes at Kara market in Ajase Ipo, told Vanguard correspondent that the hike in the price of rams compare to that of last year is as a result of removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

“Last year prices were expensive as far as we are concerned, but that of this year is just too much and we know the prices wouldn’t have been this high if not for the removal of fuel subsidy.

“Transportation costs of the rams from fat North have seriously added to the increase in prices of the rams this time around and this is where the federal government comes in. Rams that we sold at 70,000,80,000 last year are now being sold at 150,000.upward.”

Similarly, Usman Adio who sells rams at central market in Offa told Vanguard correspondent that sales this year have been poor and attributed it to hike in prices and transportation costs from far north to Offa.

“Returning the unsold rams would be a bigger loss, that’s why we are urging federal government to look into our transportation system and make it easier for the masses,” Adio said.

But speaking in an interview with Vanguard correspondent Musa Kennike, who is the Vice Chairman of the Kwara State Association of Ram, Goat, and Sheep Sellers at Mandate Market, Ilorin also explained that the importation of rams into the North from other countries is limited due to numerous challenges. 

He explained that despite the high costs, ram sellers at the Mandate Market have tried to lower prices to encourage customers.

“We have brought down the prices as low as fifty, sixty, and seventy thousand naira, with some rams even going for a hundred, two hundred, and up to four hundred thousand naira to make them more affordable for our customers,” said Kennike.

 

However, buyers are feeling the pinch. as Mr. Ismail Saka, a customer at the market, expressed his concerns about the increased costs.

“A medium-size ram that was sold for about seventy thousand naira last year is now between N110,000 and N120,000,” he lamented.

Nigeria’s chance of playing at the 2026 World Cup is in jeopardy, following a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic.

The Super Eagles, looking to bounce back from their 1-1 draw with South Africa last Friday, started on a good note, thanks to Raphael Onyedika’s excellent finish in the first half.

However, Finidi George’s men went into the break behind, as the Beninese scored twice before the interval thanks to Jodel Dossou and Steve Mounie.

 

The result leaves Benin Republic at the top of Group C with seven points, while Nigeria remains fifth with three points.

Controversial catholic priest, Father Ejike Mbaka, has called on the government to create mass employment through entrepreneurship.

Mbaka said creating a platform for entrepreneurship will help take millions of youths, women and families out of poverty, hunger and economic hardship in Nigeria.

He made the call in Enugu while expressing concern over the prevailing economic situation in Nigeria.

 

The fiery preacher decried the high rate of unemployment among youths, stressing the need for an urgent measure to tackle the menace.

The Catholic priest stated that insecurity would fester if key social problems in the country were not addressed, adding that the current situation has made it important to encourage and support women to embrace entrepreneurship.

According to Mbaka: “This is the time to create mass employment through entrepreneurship and take millions of youths, women and families out of poverty, hunger and economic hardship.

“FeeFund is coming at a time Nigerians need it the most. It is important to address the country’s ongoing problem of economic hardship. This is why I have endorsed FeeFund. This is the way to go if we must create jobs for our youths and women.”

A report by Human Right Organisation, Amnesty International has revealed the ordeal of girl survivors of Boko Haram captivity, among whom were underaged forced into marriage with their captors and others raped.

The investigative report, titled, ‘Help us build our lives’: Girl survivors of Boko Haram and military abuses in north-east Nigeria’ released on Monday by the group captured the travails of the girls having survived trafficking and crimes against humanity by Boko Haram.

The report, based on 126 interviews, including 82 with survivors, conducted in-person in North East Nigeria and remotely between 2019 and 2024 unravelled how the litany of war crimes stole the childhood of the girls, many of them now young women.

The organisation, quoting the survivors and identifying them by their initials revealed: “At least eight girls witnessed Boko Haram kill their relatives. CA*, who was abducted aged around 13 in 2014, said: “One day, Boko Haram… came into our house.

“They told our father we’re non-believers. They shot my father in the back of his head and the bullet came through his eyes. We started crying. They said if we don’t keep quiet, they will kill my mother too.”

“Once abducted, most girls were then forcibly married. Child and forced marriage are common practices by Boko Haram, who generally consider girls to be “of age” to marry from early adolescence, or even before.

 

“Girls were used in a multitude of ways as “wives”, including being made to serve their “husbands” in sexual slavery and domestic servitude. At least 33 survivors of forced marriage told Amnesty International that their “husbands” raped them.

“HA* was a teenager when she “agreed” to be married to save her father from being killed. She told Amnesty International she was beaten when she refused her “husband”, and that he frequently raped her.

The organisation noted that all those abducted were threatened into living under strict rules with severely limited freedom of movement as any real or perceived breaches of these rules were met with physical punishment and, at times, prolonged periods of imprisonment.

 

“Boko Haram meted out punishments publicly to instil fear and exert control. At least 31 girls interviewed were forced to watch forms of punishment that included lashings, amputations and beheadings.”

“GH, now in her early 20s, spent around a decade in captivity. She was often forced to watch violent punishments and said: “Sometimes I dream about the corpses that I saw or the stoning of the women that I saw. Once I open my eyes, I can’t go back to sleep again.”

 

Amnesty International revealed further that a total of 28 interviewees said they bore children of sexual violence, and at least 20 were children themselves when they gave birth.

“Girls were used in a multitude of ways as ‘wives’, including being made to serve their ‘husbands’ in sexual slavery and domestic servitude. At least 33 survivors of forced marriage told Amnesty International that their ‘husbands’ raped them.

“HA* was a teenager when she ‘agreed’ to be married to save her father from being killed. She told Amnesty International she was beaten when she refused her ‘husband’, and that he frequently raped her.

For the violations in unlawful detention, the report said some of the girls were “rescued” by the Nigerian military or members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a state-sponsored militia, who later unlawfully detained many of them.

“Throughout the conflict, the Nigerian military has arbitrarily detained thousands of children for prolonged periods, and according to the report, “those not unlawfully detained were left to fend for themselves in displacement camps amid millions of other people needing humanitarian assistance.

“From there, some were ‘reunited’ with their surrendered Boko Haram ‘husband’ in a government-run transit camp, exposing them to the risk of continued abuse.”

 

According to Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, “An enormous number of girls suffered horrific abuse in Boko Haram captivity, with many survivors then detained or neglected by their government.

“Now, they are sending a clear message to the Nigerian government and its international partners. They urgently need increased specialist support to rebuild their lives.”

Read full reports here

Popular social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popular known as VeryDarkMan, has been released from police custody after a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail on Monday.

VeryDarkMan was arrested in May on five counts of cyberstalking.overlay-clever

The charges stemmed from comments he made about celebrities and accusations against senior police officers.

The controversial influencer faced charges related to comments he made about actress Iyabo Ojo and cross-dresser Bobrisky. The charges included accusations of spreading false information and causing annoyance.

He also criticized the police for not arresting Bobrisky, alleging some officers had inappropriate relationships with the cross-dresser. The police denied these claims, stating there were no legal grounds for Bobrisky’s arrest.

 

The prosecuting counsel initially opposed VeryDarkMan’s bail request, seeking to remand him in prison. However, his lawyers successfully argued against his continued detention in police custody.

 

Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court granted the bail request and he was taken to the National Cybercrime Centre.

The charges against him read, “That you Martins Vincent Otse (A.K.A. VERYDARKBLACKMAN) ‘M’, 29 YRS of Supreme Court Estate Karu, Abuja on or about 29th October, 2023, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and intentionally posted videos, by means of computer system on your Instagram handles ‘verydarkblackman’, which video contained information that is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character wherein you stated that one Iyabo Ojo is having indecent sexual relationship with her daughter knowing or having reasons to believe that the information in the video you posted on your Instagram handle is false and you thereby committed the offence of Cyberstalking contrary to and punishable under section 24 (1)(a) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ACT, 2015.

“That you Martins Vincent Otse (A.K.A. VERYDARKBLACKMAN) ‘M’, 29 years of Supreme Court Estate Karu, Abuja on or about 19th March, 2024, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and intentionally posted videos, by means of computer system on your Instagram handles ‘verydarkblackman’ containing information you know or had reasons to believe to be false, wherein you stated that Bobrisky is pimping young boys for Senators and Senior Police Officers to sleep with, which statement you made for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, injury.”

His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju confirmed that he will be released on bail on Tuesday.