The Glitz at the BON Awards

)

After two postponements, the anticipated Best of Nollywood Awards took place in Asaba on the fifth of this month. With all the wait, much was expected from the awards and at the end of the day, the organisers came out with a successful outing. The event held at the Dome event centre. The first thing that will catch your eye is the very long red carpet that led to the venue. Organisers had promised that they will attempt to break the world record for having the longest red carpet at any event.

Greeting guests to the event is a traditional troupe which continuously sang traditional tunes till the event proper started about 9:30pm. The Master of ceremony was Gbenga Adeyinka The First who also doubled as a comedian as he cracked joke after joke, loosening tension of nominees who are yet to know if they will win or not.

Opening the event officially is the Commissioner for culture and tourism in the State, Richard Mofe-Damijo. In his speech, he regarded Delta State as the home of Nollywood. He said this while sighting the recent influx of movie makers to the state and the large number of movies churned out from the state week after week. Representing the Governor was the deputy governor, Professor Amos Agbe Utuama (SAN). In his own speech, he thanked best of Nollywood for bringing the awards to Delta State saying that Nollywood is steadily becoming a major revenue earner for the country and has the potential to overtake oil. 

There were other performances by comedians and musicians as well. Capital F.E.M.I was on stage with his hit blues songs also were Comedians include; I go Dye, Don, Igos, and I go save. There was a special appearance by the Afro juju creator, Sir Shina Peters.

(more after the cut)

The awards went forth. The Best Actor in a Leading Role (English) went to, OC Ukeje for his role in Alan Poza. Best Actress in a Leading Role (English)was won by Omoni Oboli for taking part in Brother’s Keeper.The Best Actor in a Leading Role (Yoruba) category surprisingly went to an Ibo actor, Mike Ezuruonye for his role in the movie ‘Unforgivable’. Best Actress in a Leading Role (Yoruba)is Joke Muyiwa while The Best Actor in a Supporting Role (English)was taken by Alex Ekubo.

Other awards were; Best Actress in a Supporting Role (English) which Rita Dominic won for ‘Finding Mercy’. Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) was carted home by Odunlade Adekola for his work in ‘Aja’. Best Actress in aSupporting Role (Yoruba)was won by Fathia Balogun. The Most Promising Act of the Year (Male)went to Kola Ajeyemi for his role in ‘Were Meta’. Most Promising Act of the Year (Male) was won last year by Alex Okubo but this year went to Sylvya Oluchy

The awards for the children came next. Best Child Actor (Male) was given to Asimiyu Uthman Omokunmi who acted in ‘Ifa Iwa’. Best Child Actor (Female) was taken by Oyinda Lanpejo for her role in ‘Finding Mercy’. Koffi’s movie, ‘Nanny’ won the Best Comedy category while The Movie with Best Social Message was given to ‘Journey to Self’. Best Kiss in a Movie was that of Ibironke Ashaolu and Wale Akanbi in the movie ‘Unforgivable’. Onga Best Use of Nigerian Food in a Movie was given to ‘In Her Shoes’. The Best Short Movie is ‘Epitaph’.

Then came the technical categories. Movie with the Best Special Effect is ‘Judgment Night’. The Best Screenplay was that of ‘Confusion Na Wa’. ‘Confusion Na Wa’ also carted home the award for the Movie with Best Production Design. Movie with Best Sound went to Cobweb. Director of the Year is Kenneth Gyang for his movie, ‘Confusion Na Wa’. Confusion Na Wa also was crowned the movie of the year. Best Use of Costume went to ‘Twin Sword’

Revelation of the Year (Female) is Laitan Ogungbele while Revelation of the Year (Male) is Charles Billion Pius. Saturday Independent’s Hazeez Balogun was named Movie Journalist ofthe Year. Divine Touch, was the Marketer of the year.

There were also some funny moments at the event. The first artiste on stage was a young artiste named G-Spliff who made a total fool of himself on stage. His performances failed to impress and to add insult to injury, he lost one of his shoes on stage. Instead of him to continue performing as a professional, he tried to put the shoe back on. Then was the attire of actress Adaora Ukoh. Her outfit could be better described as leopard jumpsuit. It was a leopard skin made into a jumpsuit. Everyone giggled as she walked around the hall. Another attention grabber was Sir Shina Peters. He refused to sit down on his sit through-out the event. He went from table to table taking pictures. This created a lot of distraction as people guests were looking at him instead of what was going on on stage.

On the whole, this fifth edition of the Best of Nollywood Award is the biggest and the most attended of all. It shows that the organisers have put more thought into logistics and details. In a chat with Fidelis Duker who was also at the event, “manycomplain that there are too many awards for Nollywood, but BON has been an award that recognises those that may never be recognised by huge awards like African Movie Academy Awards(AMAA) and Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards(AMVCA). It is the real awards for Nollywood either you are making Yoruba, Hausa or Ibo movies.”

Shocking !!! Mother Of Four, Her Pastor Lover Allegedly Murdered Husband

A team of detectives attached to Edo State Police Command currently investigating the murder of one Victor Nsongbunyo, a Deputy Manager attached to Nigeria Petroleum Development Company NPDC, Benin City.
The deceased who hails from Cross River State who was allegedly murdered by his wife and her pastor boy friend, penultimate Friday was recently promoted to Deputy Manager in the company and was due to retire from service next year before he met his death.
Meanwhile It was gathered that the deceased and his wife had been having issues with the paternity of their children after the deceased suspected the wife was having an extra-marital affair with the pastor.
The deceased who was not comfortable even went ahead to travel home to complain to both his family and that of his wife, after suspecting that the current pregnancy the wife is carrying was not from him.
Consequently, the families resolved that a DNA test be conducted after giving birth to the child.
This did not go down well with the wife as this arrangement even infuriated her the more thereby leading her into allegedly plotting the murder her husband with her lover pastor.
On Friday October 22, 2013, the deceased came home after work when the suspected killers came. After allegedly committing the dastardly act, they took the mutilated body into one of his old cars and drove to Sapele Road.
The car, with the body of the NPDC Manager in it, was set ablaze.
On Monday October 25, the wife was said to have gone to the deceased's office to report that her husband was missing.
But apparently after visiting the husband's office, she headed straight to the bank and withdrew N4 million from his account.
The woman also went to the police to report the incident.
However, staff of NDDC were informed that people observed a burnt car somewhere along Sapele Road. They rushed to the scene and found it was the late Nsongbunyo's car. Immediately they went back to the deceased's wife to inform her of the situation only to see her sitting comfortably at home watching television.
That was when the police started suspecting her.
However, detectives intensified search for the deceased car which was given to him by the company, following his promotion.
The car was tracked to a compound at Ekenwan road, Benin City.
It was learnt that a lady was accosted by detectives in the compound and she confessed that the car was packed by a pastor that lived in the compound.
When the pastor came out, detectives observed burns in his left hand and face. The pastor disclosed that one of his daughters in the church sowed a seed with the car. The duo were arrested immediately and are currently being investigated by detectives at the Police Command in Edo State.

SHOCKING PHOTO: Gang Leader & Key Witness In Murder Case Gruesomely Stabbed To Death, Intestines Ripped Out

There was tension in the Yaba and Bariga areas of Lagos State on Tuesday after the murder of a 36-year-old man, Segun Ogbere, who was killed by members of a gang known as Downtown Boys.

It was learnt that Ogbere, who went by the pseudonym, Shaggy, was also alleged to be the leader of a gang known as Shaggy Boys.
According to Police sources, the victim is the key witness in a murder case against a former leader of the Ilajes in the state.
It was said that Ogbere was trailed from the Ebute Meta Magistrate's court by Downtown Boys led by one Balogun, aka Small Jaypron, and hacked to death.
A police source said, "The former leader is facing a murder charge at the Ebute Meta Magistrate's court for the death of one James Areomiye, who was slain last year. Ogbere was our only witness in the case.
"We were told that as Ogbere was about leaving the court, he saw some Downtown Boys around the court so he sneaked out of the premises, entered a commercial tricycle and fled. The hoodlums saw him and chased him.
"Ogbere saw his friend driving a tipper so he alighted from the tricycle, entered the passenger seat of the tipper, thinking the thugs were no longer on his trail. However, the assailants soon caught up with him."
PUNCH Metro learnt that around 3pm, Small Jaypron, in company with three others in a vehicle, crossed the tipper around Adeshina Street, off University Road, Abule Oja, and dragged Ogbere out of the vehicle.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that the hoodlums, who were wielding guns and knives, stabbed the deceased many times before fleeing.
"About four guys alighted from a red Volkswagen Gulf car and dragged the guy (Ogbere) out of the passenger seat and started stabbing the guy repeatedly and ripped out his intestines.
"Probably because this is a residential area and it's always quiet, the guys did not fire a shot so as not to attract the attention of men of the Rapid Response Squad who are stationed on University Road."
Our correspondent learnt that the incident caused a traffic snarl from University of Lagos gate down to Onike as loyalists of Shaggy were said to have protested his murder.
A landlady in the area, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the case, said policemen attached to Sabo Police Division did not respond to the distress call until an hour after the incident.
She said, "After the killing, about five of Shaggy's boys, who were wielding guns, stormed the scene. As RRS men attempted to recover the corpse, the boys protested and beat up one Sergeant Innocent and vandalised the patrol vehicle.
"When we saw that the police were being overwhelmed, we alerted the Divisional Police Officer, Sabo, SP Anthony Aruna, but his men did not arrive until an hour later. It was members of the Odua Peoples Congress that were able to subdue them and arrest one of them."
Meanwhile, our correspondent, learnt that Shaggy's boys have threatened to carry out reprisals for their leader's murder
Our correspondent, who visited Ilaje, Bariga area, on Wednesday, observed six police patrol vehicles in the area.
A senior police officer attached to Bariga Police Division, said, "We are here to ensure that the area remains peaceful. Ilaje is Shaggy's stronghold and we want to forestall any reprisal."
Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, told our correspondent that the police had commenced investigations into the murder.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Balogun was arrested and charged with the murder of five people and was remanded in Ikoyi Prison but was released under controversial circumstances.
It had also been reported that many others had been killed in Bariga, Akoka, Yaba and Abule Ijesa areas due to the rivalry between the two gangs.
Braide said, "I am aware of the killing and the matter is now being investigated at the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba. We are also on the trail of the suspects."

Rev. Omolade's Response To Okotie's Catholic Statement

Rev. Omolade's Response To Okotie's Catholic Statement

have read with anguish your recent outburst against Catholics. I understand where you are coming from. Life is complex and when we meet with what we don’t understand, it is a lot easier to demonize it, castigate it and even reject it. I am sorry to tell you that none of these will make the Church go away.

Darkness can only be dispelled by light, hatred by love, falsehood by truth. Since it is obvious that your are still in the dark about Catholic doctrines and way of life, I am inviting you to our religious class and I hope in humility you will submit yourself to this process of education so that you will not continue to grope in the darkness of your ignorance.

In the past, the argument was that Catholics don’t read Bible, but that argument has fizzled away when Catholics themselves have risen to the occasion to show that having been instrumental in the collection of the books into the unit we now call Bible, having been blessed with veritable tradition of great men and women who have studied the bible down through the ages, Catholics are indeed well versed in the Bible and probably better grounded than many other people.


READ MORE AFTER THE CUT......................

The Catholic Church is rooted in the bible so are her doctrines… Mary, that extraordinary creature of God is at the same time the mother of my God and hopefully yours as well. As one Saint puts it, “If Mary is not your mother, then the Devil must be your father”. Do you really count yourself among the generation of people that will call her blessed? (Luke 2 ) Can you be numbered among those who will be privileged to behold Mary as their mother? “Woman, behold your son, Son, behold your mother”

The accusations of Chris Okotie are spurious… “Catholics bow to idols! How many people in his own life has he bowed to? How many people bow to him? Is he worshiping them or do they worship him?

The most outrageous claim is his denial of Jesus in the Eucharist. Thank God he knows that Catholics believe and profess strongly their belief in Jesus in the Eucharist. That belief is not man-made; it is based on Christ’s teaching. For the avoidance of doubt, readers should read John 6 in its entirety. I will give a bit of summary here. “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Jn 6:51. Later Jesus went on to say that “In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” Jn 6:53 If Pastor Chris does not practice this veritable injunction of Christ, how can he say he is a true Christian? This doctrine and practice that is central to Catholicism has always been a hard teaching, even when Jesus said it, many could not accept it and left him. It seems Pastor Chris is one of those who could not accept the teaching of Jesus. Let him simply go out on his own without leading other astray.

It is therefore imperative for me to invite those who are currently denied the opportunity in their Churches to come to the Catholic Church and see how faithful the Church is to this great teaching of Christ. Christ meant it; the Catholics have celebrated it for more than 2000 years. There is no alternative to it. You are either for Christ or against it. Otherwise, if you deny the practice, then you make Christ a liar.

My dear Pastor Chris, Catholics are destined for heaven for it is their main goal in life…. To know God, to love God, to serve God in this life so as to be happy with him forever in heaven. However based on God’s words, we know some people need purification and trusting in God’s love and mercy, we know these people will not be rejected for all eternity. This is a truth based on God’s word. Please read 1 Cor 3:10-15

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

The passage obviously talks about purification that Catholics refer to in the doctrine of purgatory. Even after death, the All-powerful God is still able to save some people. His ways are not our ways. So leave God to be God and do his work. Then in 1 John 5:15-17 we read that some sins do not lead to death and people with these will be saved… of course after purification by God himself.

To the general readers, especially those who attend Pastor Chris’s church read what scripture says “We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 1 John 5:9-10 do not just believe because Pastor Chris tells u so… search the Scripture and the truth will set you free. God bless you as you make your way back home…to mother Church,

Naija Girl Gone Wild – Blame It On ASUU – PHOTO

Photos from Johnnie Walker Step Up to VIP Lifestyle event

Number one luxury brand, Johnnie Walker, treated it's deserving consumers to an exclusive Drive of a Lifetime experience with legendary Formula 1 champion  Mika Hakkinen  on Nov. 30^th. Johnnie Walker and Mika Hakkinen brought the Step up to VIP Lifestyle experience. There was a VIP After party later on that day, where guests partied with superstar Wale, the award winning rapper  who headlined the event alongside Nigeria’s best; D’Banj, Banky W and a host of other A-list artistes. Pictured above are Toke Makinwa, Karen Igho and Sasha P. See more photos from the event after the cut..

  

Hirst is accused of ‘plagiarism’ over Rihanna-Medusa image

Cover of British GQ's 25th anniversary issue

British artist, If Damien Hirst is never short of controversy: he is either inviting it or always besieged with one. He is again about to be engulfed in another as fellow artist Jim Starr has accused him of plagiarism.

 

Starr, according to Evening Standard.alleges that the cover shoot of Rihanna for British GQ's 25th anniversary issue  is similar to a work that appeared in an auction catalog alongside Hirst's work three years ago: 

The head shot of the cover feature's Rihanna's hair adorned by a Greek mythology character, Medusa like collaged with snakes.

Starr states: "I am aware that artists are all sort of drawing from the same well but I think I know when my work has inspired someone else's”.

REAL REASON BURNABOY DUMPED ARISTOKRAT RECORDS, sets to float own label

It has been confirmed that burnaboy dancehall star (real name Damini Ogulu) will leave his record label Aristokrat Records at the end of 2013.He officially signed with the record label in 2011 and has perfected all arrangements to float his own at the start of 2014.
Burna has made this clear with Aristokrat even though the news of his departure has not reached the public.
A few weeks ago, the dark-skinned Port Harcourt bred act hinted at leaving the label. He said, "Change is about to happen. I know #BBG will stick with me no matter what. Watch out for future announcement. #BBG’. #BBG refers to his newly formed crew ‘Burna Boy Goons’. The tweet was deleted moments later.

Little known Burna signed with Aristokrat in July 2011, released two mixtapes ‘Burn Notice’ and ‘Burn Identity’ in April and November 2011 respectively. He then went on to drop the mid-tempo hit record ‘Like to Party’ in mid-2012. With two other successful singles ‘Tonight’ and ‘Run my race’, Burna rose to fame, making a name for himself.

We are told that problem ensued when his debut album ‘L.I.F.E’ dropped in August 2013. Burna Boy wasn’t pleased with the way the label handled the marketing and release of the album.

Contrary to reports earlier published, Burna did NOT get a N10m upfront payment for the album. The artiste feels the label should have done better – probably with a high budget album launch, major campaign etc.

‘He can’t be told anything to do, he’s a big boy right now. He won’t just listen anymore, the label are frustrated with his actions’.

As you're reading this, Burna has moved out of the house provided for him by the label in Lekki Phase 1 and relocated to house in Chevron Estate also in Lekki, Lagos. He has extricated himself from them and now handles his career with a former label employee who now only answers to him (Burna).

Unfortunately, insiders say there are issues with his new management structure. We’re told his minders fumbled a recent deal with Guinness, asking for a 200 per cent increase in a proposed endorsement deal fee. They never got it and Burna was taken off.

We are also told that Globacom, the telecoms company that handed him a mouth-watering deal earlier in the year are not willing to extend his contract after his one-year deal lapses.

Burna is currently managed by his mother, Bose Ogulu who is the daughter of Benson Idonije, a veteran broadcaster and highlife critic who once managed Afrobeat creator Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Uniben Pulls Out Of ASUU Strike, Exam Starts Jan. 6th 2014

University of Benin Edo State has pulled out of the on-going ASUU strike which started since June 2013.

Examination will start Jan. 2014.

See 2nd Semester Calender above