Naija News

Could it be that the world is truly coming to an end? The nude picture staring you in the face, is that of a 300-level student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Ogba, Lagos, Ms Enitan Adeshola Okesanya.
She allegedly went  nude to break into the silver screen as a way of living out her dreams of becoming a successful actress in future. The nude pictures and stories were circulated online as at Thursday morning.
The aspiring actress was said to have vowed to break into the industry with a bang. “As long as my strength can carry me,” she was quoted as saying.
But the new twist to the whole story is the fact that the 21-year-old Eniola, is claiming the nude pictures were not hers. In her explanation, since the nude pictures were uploaded online, she has  received not less than 500 phone calls, asking questions about the stories.


Enitan claimed that she granted an interview to an evening newspaper, which was published yesterday
(Wednesday). But unfortunately, someone mischievously changed the pictures and posted them on facebook.
Narrating how her nude pictures were uploaded online, Enitan said: “It was from there that all the websites copied the story thinking the pictures were mine. I am ready to bide my time, I come from a responsible home and won’t do anything that will bring the name of my family to disrepute, too much is at stake for me than for me to mess around.”
Meanwhile, according to reports, the nude pictures belong to another up-and-coming actress known as Tope Sholaja who alleged that she was blackmailed by someone who had unauthorised access to her blackberry and who asked her to pay N100,000 to have the pictures deleted.
Mixed reactions have continued to trail the release of the pictures on the internet since Thursday  morning.
Fathia Balogun and many other actresses have condemned the act, declaring angrily on twitter that any girl that goes nude in order to become a star is a fool and won’t make it in the industry.

Popular Nollywood actor, James Ikechukwu Esomugha, a.k.a Jim Iyke, who is facing trial over his alleged involvement in a N15 million share scam, has begged a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja to allow him to settle the case out of court.
The controversial actor, who often plays bad boy role in movies, is answering to a one count criminal charge preferred against him by the Nigerian Police Force.


He was specifically charged with criminal breach of trust, criminal force, assault, cheating and criminal misappropriation contrary to sections 312, 265, 322, 397 and 309 of the Penal Code.
Police alleged that he used fraudulent tactics and acquired 15 per cent equity shares of a music company, Untamed Records Ltd.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr Chijoke Okezie, told the court that investigation into the case revealed that the accused, a resident of Sunnyville Estate, Abuja, hoodwinked one Habiba Abubakar into granting him access to share documents of the recording company.
He said police was invited into the case after Abubakar who is the manager of the company, discovered that 15 per cent of its equity shares was transferred to Jim Iyke.
Trial Magistrate Azubike Okeagu had on November 11, 2011, granted him bail in the sum of N500, 000, after he pleaded not guilty to the charge and brought two sureties before the court.
Meanwhile, following his absence in court on Tuesday, Police applied that a bench warrant be issued against him, a move that has prompted the actor to seek an amicable resolution of the matter out of court.
In an oral application he tendered through his counsel, Mrs Esther Uzoma, Jim Iyke, who told the court that he was mobbed in Cameroun when he went for a video shoot, said his inability to appear for trial was owing to the fact that he was receiving treatment at Cidar Press Hospital in Abuja.
“Your  worship, I wish to bring to your notice that my client, James  Ikechukwu Esomugha, known as Jim Iyke, is presently in hospital, as it stands presently, he is not fit to stand his trial as the constitution requires, if this court is doubting me, I can quickly rush to the hospital to get a medical report or better still, the court can investigate the matter by itself.
“He was mobbed in Cameroun when he went for a video shoot last week, moreover, both parties are making efforts to reconcile the case out of court”, she added.
Not satisfied with the explanation, Police lawyer, Inspector Danjuma Ebune, described it as a deliberate ploy to frustrate the trial.
The prosecution said he had produced three witnesses to testify against the accused person, insisting that police was not ready to settle the case out of court.
Consequently, Magistrate Okeagu ordered the accused to ensure that he is in court on April 17 when the case was subsequently adjourned to, or risk arrest.
Meantime, Saturday Vanguard can exclusively report that in his bid to settle the case out of court, the embattled actor has tendered a written apology to the manager of the company who he was said to have beaten up.
A copy of the letter which was made available to Vanguard by his lawyer, Mrs Esther, reads: “I Jim Iyke Esomugha sincerely apologize to Hajia Habiba Abubakar, her family and my family; the Esomugha family for the pain and embarrassment the court case and ensuing publications in the press may have caused her, her family and my family.
“Hajia Habiba Abubakar is a good friend of my family and a business associate and our families have agreed to settle all lingering issues out of court.”

The elegant stallion, Onyeka Onwenu, during the week turned 60. But the red carpet was not rolled out. In this interview with Showtime Celebrity, the Imo State born daughter of the late politician D.K. Onwenu opens up on  why people think she is controversial and more. Enjoy. 
Congratulations on your 60th birthday!
Thank you.
I thought stallion is used to describe a male horse. How come you subscribe to being called a stallion?
First of all, I didn’t give myself the name, hence it would have been something else if I objected to it.
It’s not my name. But for some reasons, it was the press that gave me the name.
But you seem to be at home with it.
What am I going to do? And who am I going to fight (laughs). It doesn’t bother me and I take it as a compliment because a stallion is strong and walks majestically which describes the way I walk with my head up, walking into a room and you can’t ignore me. It’s a God given gift and you don’t apologise for things like that.
At 60, do you feel fulfilled?
I’m on my way to being fulfilled. The day you think you’ve gotten there, then, it’s time for you to go home. Life is an on-going experience, a University. So, I look forward to each year for what I can learn and do better than what I’ve done in the past.
There’s still so much to be done and I’m involved in so much. My children need my motherly care. So also my community and my Church. I get up in the morning and feel like I can still contribute so much to my society.
Do you have any regrets in life?
Definitely, I have plenty of them and I think we all do if we must be honest to ourselves. Of course, you have regrets because there are mistakes you’ve made in the past that you wouldn’t want to repeat again. If they were good, you would go back and repeat them.
Because they are regrets, I’ll never repeat them. But they were lessons to be learnt. One of my favourite verses in the Bible is, “all things work out for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose”. I’m a lover of my God and I’m called, according to His purpose. But anything that I do in good faith which may turn out to be mistakes, He uses it to bless me because it worked out in the end. But knowing what I know now, would I go back and repeat them? No.
Are there things still undone, like your political dream?
Oh yes. The fact that I offered myself for a political office may have been the destination. The interest that I brought into the local government-the fact that I made it an issue that more people are interested in and are talking about which may lead to changes in the way the people are being governed.
That could have been the destination. So in regards to that, I have no regret because I think God used me to raise that awareness. Particularly, where I come from, I think the awareness is greater and God used it to position me as somebody who’s not interested in a political office because of fame and money.
And that served as an example for people to realise that politics isn’t a game for thieves. So, people should go into politics with a mindset of service to the masses. Politics must not be left in the hands of   notorious people or the mediocre. We must bring our best into it and no one has a right to complain if one refuses to get into politics, and some other people ventured into it and make laws that will affect your generation yet unborn.  I can beat my chest anywhere to say that I contested even though I didn’t win the election. I debated and contributed to the debate.
You are sounding like someone who is giving up hope.
Not  really. If it’s not the local government, it’s something else and that will be made clearer as we move on. I don’t like to do something on my own. I like to listen to the Holy Spirit’s direction. And I was directed and I think I understood at the end of  the day to contest at the local government. It took people time before they understood because they kept asking why the local government. And I responded that the local government is the most important tier of government because it’s closer to the people, where if things are done well at that level, we would have solved the problems in this country.
So you’re still interested in the race?
I don’t know that there is a race to be run there. I’m still into politics and it’s not a full time job because I  don’t earn anything from it. I even spend my own money and I have to be doing other things in order to fund my political career. When I ran for political offices on two occasions, I didn’t get much help. I financed it so that I could remain independent and not be held responsible to anyone. And that’s the way I want to do it because I don’t want to be forced to steal public funds to pay back debt.
 Was it music you planned to do from the beginning?
Yes, it was music that I wanted to do. Going to school runs in the blood of my family and I was born by well known educationist, Honourable D. K. Onwenu. So, I dare not refuse to go to school because my mother would kill me. So that was the prerequisite. So I went to school, had my masters degree and had work experience before getting into music, before it was acceptable.
You got into music through Sunny Okosuns?
Yes,  I did. Sunny was related to me by marriage. His first wife Nkechi was a sister to Mrs. Danchima who is my first cousins and we’re very close. So I was visiting my cousin, Danchima in Chicago when Sunny Okosuns called about a family issue. He asked me to send him a demo and when I came back from America, I told him I was ready for the studio and he produced five songs for me.
But some of the songs were his?
Most of the songs were his, in fact, all of the songs were his. It was just the way he fashioned it but it was okay for our first outing. But right after that, from the second album, I began writing my songs.
Where do you get inspirations for your songs?
I get it from God. I didn’t write “One Love”. It was written by Sean Paul Monique who is a renowned songwriter and producer. They were producing my album at that time and having listened to the songs I wrote, he now wrote something patterned  exclusively for me and I added mine to it. We all wrote it together. Even “Dancing In The Sun”, I made a contribution to it. But I wrote 90% of the songs in the Legendalbum.
Songs like Iyogogo, Hallelujah- some of them were taken from folk songs, but they were my songs. I also recorded my mother’s songs Ochie Dike and Sodom And Gomorrah with my contributions. She wrote Ochiedike for her mother. Although she didn’t record it, she went to the  Churches, singing and teaching the song during the yearly mother’s Day. And then one day, I said to her that I would record the song and that she should name her price. So we sat and negotiated.
Oh, she asked for money?
You better believe it. And I preferred to pay her because I didn’t want to cheat on her. She was my mother. So I paid her royalty and her name was on it as the writer of the song. I even paid her for coming into the studio to sing. She even did some rap even when rap wasn’t known as rap. This was how we related, like professionals and not like mother and daughter.
Whose idea was that?
It was my idea. She didn’t want to but I insisted that I pay her. I wanted her to know her value as a song writer. No Mother’s Day is complete without that song. The fact that I came in with a refrain which we sang together, made it great.
How much has music changed you as a person?
Music has always been an integral part of me,so I can’t divorce the two. I grew up with it and my mother taught me some songs and most often encouraged me to sing for charity. We sang in Churches. She wrote songs and we’d sing together. In those days, I was so small, they used to put me up on a table and she would stand beside me, and we would sing. We did beautiful jobs together and it was part of me. Anyone who knew me growing up wouldn’t be surprised that I am who I am and doing what I am doing. It was taken for granted that this is what I’d end up doing.
What has fame done to you?
I’ve never really taken fame seriously. I’ve never allowed fame to sink into me that I wouldn’t be able to function in any other role. In fact, once I come down from the stage, I put fame aside. Whenever you see me on stage, I am a complete diva. But outside the stage, I am an ordinary, normal and reserved person. I don’t like crowds. I don’t like public things. I’m quiet and I go home whenever I finish my work.
Whenever you find me at a party, it must be that of a good friend. But you’ll find me in Church and you’ll see me in the market. I cook and garden a lot. Those are the things that make me happy because that’s my life. I don’t need all the paraphernalia of fame. I don’t need an entourage following me around. I get security whenever I need them. But if I don’t need them, I go to places alone.
When you walk the streets alone, how do people react to you and how do you react to them?
If I go into the market, it doesn’t move them because they’re used to seeing me there. I love to go buy things myself because I like to taste the ogiri (locust beans) myself and they don’t dare cheat me. They know me and know I’m going to haggle the price. So they start by giving me good prices and the best.
On the streets…?
People shout because I carry myself in such a way that I don’t want to be recognized but they do know me. So when they see me, they shout out my songs. I wave and go my way. Sometimes, they want to take pictures, I take pictures with them and go my way.
But why do people think you’re very controversial?
I don’t know but I think I’ll have to ask someone like you. One of the things that people have a hard time with is that I’m principled and I stand on what I believe, a virtue I gained from my parents. They taught me to stand on what I believe in and in the truth no matter what. I never want to let myself down.
I want to, at the end of the day, be able to say that I did what was right. And that’s why it’s easy for me to sleep at night. It’s easy for me to have low blood pressure. I don’t worry about a thing because at any situation, once I can assure myself that I’m doing the right thing, I don’t worry myself.
Once I ask the Holy Spirit and he tells me that I’m doing the right thing then, you can go wherever and do whatever you like, I’ll still be standing. So people have a hard time dealing with that part of me because they think that as a woman and musician, they don’t want to take you seriously.
They also think there are things they’re supposed to get you to do but when you don’t do them, they’ll tag you a snob. I am a unique individual and I am specially made for a purpose. I have always felt I was special and I thank God for my father who treated me like I was very special.
My father loved me to death and I also grew up appreciating that every other individual is special and as such, you must respect everybody-whether it’s a child, driver or a cleaner. My father had a driver called Simeon. When my father died, he came and lived with the family because he didn’t want to leave. If my father went out and he wanted to be served food, he wouldn’t accept it unless they fed his driver first.
That was what I learnt. My father had respect for everybody and his friends were the ordinary people on the streets.So to have all these quality inside one person,  you can imagine how difficult it is for people to appreciate it. I have a sense of self worth and as much as I won’t be rude to you or insult you, you can’t do the same to me.
I like to let people know that I don’t give people nonsense and I don’t take nonsense. Life is too short for me to fool around with the truth and there’s so much I need to get done that I don’t want to fool around.  I just want to spend my time doing things that are edifying. I may make mistakes along the way because I’m human, because I don’t know everything. But I’m usually one of the first persons to recognize my mistakes and apologise and I don’t care how young that person is. My children know this because I apologise to them whenever I wrong them.
I wonder why you don’t talk about the man in your life…
Because it was our decision from day one not to talk about it. Some people are publicity shy and you can’t go talking about them if they don’t want to be talked about. The preservation of my privacy is essential and it’s one thing I have in this business- not talking about marriage. Occasionally I talk about my children but I don’t go into details about them because it is up to them to make their own name. And they know this because they don’t ride on my name. Deal with them as individuals. But deal with them for who they are. They are very proud young men who like to make their own name, and they are doing so and very well too.
Because people  wonder how possible is it for the great Onyeka to bow to a man and even get married.
I’m not even going to address that issue because you’re twisting the question.  I’m a typical Nigerian woman and nothing stops me from getting married and nothing makes it compulsory that I get married anyway because I don’t want to be defined by marriage. It’s not being married that should make me successful. It’s who God has created me to be and how I’m using those talents and opportunities to the glory of His name. I don’t want to be bogged down with marriage issue. Ask me about my achievements and those things I want to do.
Now that you’re 60, what are they planning to do?
Well, they’re both planning to give me a joint gift- a gift of a song they’ve never given to me before. This birthday was special and they gave me a special gift…
That was the first time and were they good?
For where? But it was a special although they aren’t real singers. They’re both studying things that have to do with communication and entertainment. My first son is rounding up his masters in Graphic Design and it’s tremendous. He’s designing my website and he’ll soon be done with it because I get excited about his work.
He designed the cover of The Legend CD and he wants to manage all my music, he’s putting them all together. His younger brother, Ibraham is a business man. He has ideas and he’s busy impressing his teachers. I get testimonies that he’s on different committees in school. The guy is incredible because he can put a brilliant business together and you’ll marvel. He gives me ideas. He’ll be starting his MBA this year.

So how did you celebrate your 60th birthday?
I didn’t celebrate it because I just buried my mother in January and it was awesome. I really thank God for his grace because we gave her a grand farewell. She made me promise to give her a grand send-off because she’d always wanted it.
So, I was exhausted in every way and to start another preparation for my birthday  wasn’t a good idea. If you haven’t buried someone, you wouldn’t understand what I’m saying and being what I am in the society, the burial attracted a lot of attention and it meant spending more than necessary and I just had to take a break and organize myself for the year.

For listeners of good music and fans of 9ice, its D-Day on March 11 as Cecil Hammond's Flytime Entertainment hosts 9ice in a show dubbed  Bashorun Gaa and Versus (BGV) concert.

It is the first time the multiple awards winning and former  MTV Base African artiste of the year, will be headlining his own major concert.

"It promises to be a clash of the titans, a night dedicated to the celebration of 9ice and all that he stands for in the music industry. It is a night his fans will have a first hand taste of the undiluted music of 9ice. It's a night dedicated to all his fans and colleagues who have over the years supported his career" 9ices's manager, Oladehinde Fajana told newsmen during the week.

"The night is also special because, 9ice will be squaring up against all the musicians he collaborated with in his Bashorun Gaa Versus album" Oladehinde also added.

And surely it's going to be a night of  the heavyweight and A-list musicians in the country.

Leading the pack is the African Queen crooner, 2Face Idibia, P-square, Tiwa Savage  Banky W, Duncan Mighty, Terry G and  Whizkid.

The list also has prominent names like Lord of Ajasa, Dammy Crane, Davido, Modenine, Yemi Sax, Seriki, YQ, DJ Zeez and the Ajayi brothers.

The surprise element is the appearance of names of some members of  the Coded Tones, (9ice's former group) namely 2Phat and  ID Cabasa his former producer and friend of so many years. Perhaps the move is to convince doubting Thomases that all is well in the family.

Three things brought Ruth Kadiri to the limelight; her flair for writing as well as her acting prowess. The third being her well-cherished relationship with one of the notable Nollywood producers, Stanley Ebonine.
Their relationship crashed last year when the former got married to his beau, Dorathy Chinasa Agu, in a manner that left tongues wagging that he dumped the actress for the love of his life. But in this enagging interview, Ruth debunks  every insinuation that she was dumped by her ex-lover.
Instead, she has vowed to continue to appreciate the immense contribution made to her life by the stylish producer. Hear her…
You were in Umuahia, Abia State capital few weeks ago.  What were you doing there? 
I travelled to Umuahia to do a production. The working title of the movie, which is being  produced by Chidi Chijioke is the Ultimate Search”, and it’s starring the likes of Jim Iyke, Tonto Dike, one Ghanaian actress, Micky and a host of other stars. In fact, it’s the first time a production would travel to that part of the world.
Despite the fact that you are still young in the industry, you are already mingling with the big names. Aren’t you lucky ?
Yes, I think I’m blessed. I don’t really have anything short of being ‘blessed’. I count myself lucky in the industry. God has been on my side because I haven’t put in so much energy into the industry, yet I have recorded a lot of results. I think that’s what favour is all about.
Could it be because you are also a script writer, which makes it easier for you to enjoy the favour of most producers?  
I don’t think I’m the only script writer who is also  into acting. It has do with interpreting your roles very  well because if you don’t, the scripts might be forthcoming. I  don’t go through a lot of stress not just because I’m a script writer, but importantly, I’m also a good actress.
Did you start out as a script writer or as an actress?
I started out as an actress before I later veered into writing. My first movie was “Boys Cut” and I have a couple of movies thereafter. I guess I had  a lot of creative minds around me who helped to hone my skill in writing.
Though writing comes to me naturally. People like Victor Eze who had a script writing school then, and who happened to be my friend helped me a lot in developing my writing skill. So also Yinka Ogun who worked with the Content Development film  then, and Paschal Labafu.
These three men really encouraged me a lot to go into script writing. Thereafter, people like Stanley Ebonine  and Ifeanyi Ogbonna came into the picture. They equally helped in bringing  forth whatever I had to offer into the market. These men saw something in me, which many others didn’t see at that time.
From where do you draw your writing inspiration? 
Everything inspires me. But Nigeria  is a very dramatic country to draw inspiration from. Most times, I’m contracted to write script for the producers. So far, I have written well over twenty scripts  in less than three years.
How are you combining the flair you have  for writing with acting?
They are two different talents. While writing takes away my social life, acting is the job.
Were you getting roles easily at the time you started acting? 
Anybody who have watched “Boy’s Cut” would agree with me that the role I played  in that movie was a very vital one. I haven’t really gone through so much stress to getting role in movies.
But that does not mean I haven’t  been attending auditions. I attended auditions after auditions but I never gave up any hope.  It wasn’t so stressful for me even though I got my first role, while attending audition. Ever since then, I haven’t looked back.
Why do you think you never fell into trap in the industry?
I never had any nasty experience so far. I think my writing skill paved way for me. It makes things easier for me to scale through in the industry.
So, I really don’t have any reason  to use the back door to rise to fame. I’m not a desperate person, may be, because I’m a writer I know when a character does not worth  the trouble.
Are you saying there are ‘desperadoes’ in the industry?
There are desperadoes everywhere, not just  in Nollywood. People are desperate to survive, they are desperate for everything, so, it’s not about Nollywood alone.
Where can you be found when you  are not filming?
In the comfort of my home of course. I don’t write for 24 hours but most times, I’m prepared to write for 24 hours. That’s why I’m always at home. The higher you go in this profession, the more responsibilities  come to you.
This year alone,  I have done two movies and written one script. There are  still many more scripts lined up for me to write.
Do you have a relationship with God?
Yes, I do. And as a Christian prayer becomes a way of life for me. It’s not that I have a particular style of praying. I pray fervently.
Can being a good girl take you to the top of your career?
It can’t, one needs to remain focused to hit the top. To some extent, I’m I’m focused.
What can you not do in the name of acting? 
I can’t go nude because our culture forbids it. That’s it
What of overcoming the temptations that are associated with the kind of job you do?
Temptation in this regard could mean  different things. You could have issues with a colleague in the industry. Common sense requires that you learn to handle such issues with wisdom.
Do you keep a low profile?
Not at all. I don’t keep a low profile. But I’m not somebody you can see at nightclubs or meet at social gatherings. I know where I want to be at a particular time. So, when I read negative stories about myself, I pause to ask, where is this scandal coming from?
What kind of negative stories?
I don’t want to go into that now.
What happened to your social life?
It’s okay but some people say I don’t have a social life.
Would say you have enjoyed a smooth career since hitting stardom? 
If I look back from where I started and where I am today, there has been a lot of improvement on my part, if you like success, achievement and gratitude. I’m very grateful to my maker, not just because I’m the best, or the wisest rising actress, but because of his grace upon my life.
How did you observe your Valentine Day celebration?
There are some people who do not believe in Valentine Day. I spent the day with two senior colleagues of  mine. We were on a script conference  for an upcoming cinema movie to be produced by Uche Jombo. We will start shooting the movie very soon. I’m indifference about Valentine Day.
What relationship exist between you and the popular producer, Stanley Ebonine?
Stanley has been a helper to me, a manager, a back-bone and a friend. It takes a bad girl to end a relationship with Stanley. He’s a very good person, someone who could go over board for you.  He will give you a chance when every other people wouldn’t.
I don’t care about what people are saying against him. If I don’t show appreciation  to him or stop talking to him or getting closer to him because of what people are saying, then I’m a stupid person.
In life, never ever forget what someone has done for you because ingratitude is a sin.
Did you feel bad that he left you to marry another woman?
Why should I feel bad?
Because it was obvious that your well celebrated relationship with him then, was going to end up in marriage?
Does it mean that when you are close to someone, you are definitely going to get married to that person.
But you were at his white wedding ceremony to give him your support?
I didn’t attend his white wedding. I was on location on that day. In fact, the entire cast and crew wanted to attend the wedding. But we couldn’t make it.
What is the future like, without Stanley? 
Why do you want me to say somethings I wouldn’t want to talk about here.
Do you still believe in love?
Yes, I do.
Are you seeing someone else at the moment?
That’s private to me. I want to separate my private life from my work.
What kind of clothes do you like to put on most often?
Any  clothes that makes me feel good and, is stable for me. Probably such clothes that every young girl would like to wear; simple and stylish. I’m a simple girl by nature, so, everything about my dressing tend towards simplicity. The same thing goes for my hair do. I like flowing hair do,even though I’m on low-cut at the moment.
How would you describe your journey into Nollywood?
I think I’m blessed, I have moved from one level to another level. My work is being appreciated by a lot of people and I’m happy. I’m peaceful, and I don’t like so many dramas.
…And you are still in school. What level are you?  
I’m in 300 level. It has not been easy combining studies with my acting career. But it is no longer an issue for me because I have gotten  used it.
What has the reception been like on campus?
I’m hardly noticed everywhere I go to, because of my simple nature. But while on campus, my lecturers try to monitor my movement. They want to know when I’m in the class and when I’m not. Sometimes, my fellow students  would want to be mischievous. They would go ahead of me to check on my performance at our examinations ever before I set my eyes on my result.

2 Face's fiance and long time heartthrob, Annie Macaulay, has reacted to the wicked rumour that her man  was involved in a Jet Ski crash while on a vacation early Monday morning in the Turks and Calcos Island. Annie, inundated with calls and apparently worried, wrote on her BB' status: "My fiance is WELL , STRONG n HAPPY…pls stop d rumours."

She hinted that he has since traveled to the United States to begin recording of  his new album and is due to come back soon.

Anne was not the only person who reacted to the death rumour. 2Face's publicist Bayo Omisere also confirmed to  WG over the phone that not only was the story untrue, it was baseless.

"We dealt with the issue in September, 2011 and it is the same website that has gone on to do a repeat performance. Nigerians should ignore the mischief makers as 2 Face is not only alive, but busy working on his new album project in Los Angeles, California, United States of America ", the publicists affirmed.

Last week, Vanguard exclusively published the story of how the Idoma, Benue State born 2Face had travelled to America to begin work on a new album project.

His journey came on the hill of his controversial marriage proposal Annie Macaulay, mother to one of his children at a surprise Valentine party he threw at CLUB 10, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The disturbing story was traced to a website, Global Associate News which referred Tuface Idibia as the only passenger in the watercraft that claimed his life. The rumour became rife following reports that the multiple award winning African music icon was in the United States.

The rumour is making the rounds that Chinedu Okoli, whose stage name is Flavour N'Abania and Mr. Highlife as he is popularly referred to is close to tying the nuptial knot.   Flavour is alleged to have secretly engaged an upcoming US singer called "Beverly Hills". Beverly Hills real name is yet unknown, but Matinee found out that she is a Nigerian and lives in a Nigerian community in the US.
The rumour went further to say that Flavour in a telephone conversation asked 'Beverly Hills' hand in marriage on Valentine's Day and that she gladly accepted. The rumour went further to disclose that the woman in question is also pregnant for our star and would be having his baby soon.

It's time for  busy bodies  on this issue to mind their own business, as our star  knows how and when to propose to the woman in his life . When and how he proposes to her  is his business.

The software giant, Microsoft has began search for software talents around the world  even as it urges young Nigerians in the tertiary institutions around the country to enter the world's premier student technology competition called Microsoft Imagine Cup software competition.
With the deadline for the annual Imagine Cup student technology competition approaching, Microsoft Nigeria has called on  Nigerian students to participate and come up with imaginative solutions to use technology to help solve some of the world's toughest problems.
Running in its tenth year, the competition has grown to become the world's premier student technology competition with more than 358,000 students representing 183 countries participating in last year's event.
For one thing, the annual software competition has gone a long way in preparing software incubators for the global job market.
According to the software giant, students have until 13 March 2012, 23:59:59 GMT to register for the competition in one of eight categories including  Software Design; Game Design (Xbox/Phone); Game Design (Phone); IT Challenge; Kinect Fun Labs Challenge; Windows Metro Style App Challenge; Windows Azure Challenge; and Windows Phone Challenge.
In addition to the vast opportunities presented from competing on the world stage at the premier student technology competition, participants in Imagine Cup stand to win cash prizes and grants; and each Worldwide Finalist and one Mentor per team will be awarded a trip to Sydney, Australia to compete in the Worldwide Finals in July 2012.
The trip includes round trip coach airfare from the major airport closest to the competitor's home, standard hotel accommodations, and select meals during the Worldwide Finals.
It would be recalled that last year , the success of Nigeria's Team Nerds Inc. – who made it into the top five for the People's Choice Award and qualified to enter for the Grants Award – represented a milestone for the country in the competition.
The team, made up of four students from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), represented the country with their entry, Medicare: an application designed to bridge the gap between doctors and patients when they are miles apart.
Meanwhile, Shina Oyetosho, Developer and Platform Evangelism Lead, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, said in a statement said  that,   "Team Nerds did the country, and continent, proud last year, and we are hoping to see this year's entries follow in their footsteps.
There are so many different challenges faced by our country's people, and we believe that the solution to many of these problems lies in the power of technology combined with the potential and imagination of our youth. That's why we hope to see a record number of entries for this year's competition."
To mark the official launch of this year's competition in the country, a kick-off event will be held on the 6th of March in partnership with Rivers State Government and other stakeholders.
Speaking on the partnership, Goodliffe Nmekini, Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor said that the decision by Rivers State Government to support the Imagine Cup competition steps from its current effort to make Port Harcourt the Technology Hub of the country.
This year, for the first time, two rounds of regional finals will be held in Nigeria instead of just one ahead of the national finals in Port Harcourt on the 25th of April 2012, to accommodate the anticipated number of entries. The Worldwide Finals, previously hosted in Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Korea, France, Egypt, Poland, and the USA; will be hosted in Sydney, Australia in July this year.

I have grown in so many ways. Emotionally and spiritually, I have become more matured. I have also  made a name for myself in the industry as a star. Anywhere I’m going today, it opens the doors of favour for me. I thank God for everything He has done for me. It has been a memorable journey to stardom.

Since my debut in the industry in 2006, I have not recorded any misgiving , disappointment or ugly incident. But there was one that I had recently which affected me. It was the fight I had with a marketer called AMACO Investment.

It was one incident, I really regretted. I never knew I could get  such an assault from Nollywood. I don’t care because I’m more stronger today. I can always overcome any challenge that comes my way at this moment.

I can’t answer that question. If you are asking me what happened between myself and the marketer, I will tell you my own side of the story. But I don’t want to  talk about the incident now because I’m putting it on hold at the moment.

I want to institute a legal action against the marketer. But  his association somehow intervened and appealed to me to put it on hold  for some time. I have a lot of respects for  their judgment, and the  manner in which they handled the matter so far.

Yes, I have been  misunderstood in several ways. But I don’t see it as a challenge because I don’t have anybody to complain  to, except my God, who created me.

One think I know I cannot do today is to hurt a fly. I’m a different person, but people judge me based on the roles that I played  in movies. I want the world to know that my job is a professional one. If I’m not able to interprete my role very well, I wouldn’t be as  successful as I am in the industry today. I’m a successful actress  because I’m able to interprete my roles in movies very well.

And that’s why producers are inviting me to star in their movies.  I try to put in my best in interpreting my scripts no matter how bad or good the role I’m playing is. I see it as a challenge. But one thing about me is that I like to surprise my fans. Acting comes from the inside of me.

It makes me feel bad, but it doesn’t make me want to shield tears. Why? Because I know who I am, and I also know the kind of people that I meet in my day to day activities. I know the people who  are closer to me very well, and they know me too.

I don’t care what anybody would write about me. There are so many ‘rubbishes’  that had been written about me in the past. But I know who I am, and that’s why I remain unshakable.  They are only destroying themselves, as people actually see them as unserious people.  However, bad press sometimes turns out to be good press. May be, they were writing all those rubbishes to promote my works and my personality.

I re-brand myself almost every year because I need to look good. I’m a kind of projecting a new identity for myself; trying to make myself a brand that people will appreciate. A brand that can sell any product. As a star, I need to re-brand every year. I think it is a good idea that I re-brand myself.

Everything about me makes sexy; my diction, the aura  that I carry about, and the way I dress also makes me sexy. I wear what I feel comfortable in. Actually, before I leave my house every day, I sample so many of my clothes to see which one of them will fit my style. I’m crazy about fashion and accessories. They are the basic things a woman needs.

I like to keep a low profile, that’s why I’m not seen all over the places like my colleagues.

Love has been kind to me. I’m in a relationship at the moment. But I’m not married, I still searching. I’m still waiting upon the Lord. If He says, that the man I dating presently will be my husband, so be it.

I don’t break hearts, rather I mend  hearts. I have never been heart broken in my life. And I have never broken anybody’s heart.

I was never a bad girl on campus, and I have never been a bad girl. That’s the truth, I’m a very homely girl. I’m very religious and prayerful.

Honest and good-looking men with an enviable dress sense trips me.  Men who have good sense of tyle and the fear of God.

I only hear of its existence, but I’m not one of them. I have never had any encounter with them. I’m not a lesbian.

 I didn’t, it was something that came by accident. My father brought me into Nollywood. I never knew anything about the industry until father encouraged me to go into acting. I have been doing drama since I was a kid.  At the time, I had just finished my secondary education, he came home one day and told me he had something I might be interested in. He told me he had a link to Nollywood. He told me he met someone who could introduce me into the industry.

That was it. The next day, my father got me registered with Actors Guild of Nigeria. My father believes in me, and also in my talent. He wanted everything about me to be expanded, he knows me too well and he knows also that nothing can influence me. So, I appreciate my father for the role he played sin my life.

I try to put everything in me into any role I’m asked to interprete. So, any role I played in a particular movie have been as challenging as the role I played in another movie. I put all my energies into the role. But at the moment, I haven’t done that movie that will challenge me more than every other role I have played in the recent times. I’m yet to shoot that movie.

In the next five years, I intend to get married and be in my husband’s house.

Every part of my body is a selling point, particularly my eyes and my mouth.