Kano State Conducts Mass Wedding for 1,111 Widows & Divorcees, 35 women fail wedding test over HIV, Pregnancy

Thirty-five women were, yesterday, disqualified by the Kano State Hisbah Board from participating in the mass wedding organised and sponsored by the state government.

Those disqualified included 19 divorcees said to have tested positive to HIV and 16 others said to be pregnant.

Altogether, at least 1, 111 divorcees and widows from the 44 local government areas in the state were joined in matrimony at the City Central Mosque during a brief but colourful ceremony.

It is another round of mass wedding conducted by the Chief Imam of Kano Central Mosque, Professor Muhammad Zaharadeen.

The event was attended by the state Deputy Governor, Dr Umar Ganduje, along with top Islamic clerics across the state.

Pastor arraigned for stealing and raping 9-months pregnant woman

A Magistrate’s Court in Ejigbo, Lagos has today arraigned a 28-year-old pastor, Chibuike Isreal, for alleged stealing and unlawful carnal knowledge.

The prosecutor, Femi Adeleye, informed the court that the accused committed the crimes at No. 4 Ojorubutu Street, in Kudeyibu area of Ijegun, sometime in August.

Adeleye said that the accused unlawfully had sex with his victim (name withheld), when she was nine months pregnant for another man.

He added that the accused also unlawfully obtained ₦250 from her under false pretences.

Mr Adeleye, a police corporal, further told the court that Israel stole the said amount from his victim.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravene Sections 250, 263 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

76 Injured in London's Apollo Theatre Ceiling Collapse [PHOTOS]

Almost 80 people were injured last night when part of Central London’s historic Apollo Theatre's ceiling collapsed onto the audience during a West End show.

76 people were hurt during the performance of the “The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night” at the Apollo theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Police were called just after 8.15pm last night after a section of the theatre's ceiling fell onto the audience around 45 minutes into the play.

Masonry and ornate plaster from the Grade II listed theatre plummeted on to the stalls below, dragging a section of the balcony with it, striking members of the packed audience and filling the theatre with clouds of thick dust.

There were an estimated 720 people watching the show at the time.

Emma Nyra Talks About Her Alleged Exit From MMMG & Beef with Ubi Franklin [VIDEO]

Amidst countless rumours that Emma Nyra has pulled out of Made Men Music Group (MMMG), the singer, in an exclusive interview with Liz Yemoja says she’s back with the label and that they are family again.

She confirmed that she only had some disagreement with her manager, Ubi Franklin and that the issues have been resolved.

See video below for more.

Nollywood Actress Mercy Aigbe weds hubby, Lanre Gentry at Ikoyi Registry [PICZ]

Don’t get it twisted! Mercy Aigbe and husband, Lanre Gentry actually had their traditional wedding few years ago but now the couple decided to make it legal by having a court wedding. The court wedding held at the Ikoyi Registry in Lagos. Mercy and Lanre have a 3-year-old son together.

See more photos on the flip.

Watch Hip-Hop star Ice Prince’s Performance at the 2013 Afrobeat Festival in Ghana [VIDEO]

Check out Ice Prince’s energetic performance at the Independence Square, Accra, Ghana during the 2013 Afrobeats music festival.

So Romantic! Justin Timberlake halts concert to let fan propose to girlfriend [VIDEO]

During Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience World Tour in Louisville, US, the singer paused his concert to make way for a fan who wanted to propose to his girlfriend. The fan, Josh Clemons had pre-informed JT of his intentions; and after JT rendered the song “That Girl” he called Josh and his girlfriend, Kim Martin to the podium. While there, Josh knelt down and popped the question to an overwhelming Kim – what follows next was shouts and screams from the audience.

Check out the video below;

Comedian Bovi & Wyclef Jean Perform ‘Ready or Not’ + Olamide & PSquare's Performances @ Rhythm Unplugged [VIDEO]

The Rhythm Unplugged 2013 concert went down at the Eko convention center over the weekend, and the show’s headliner, Wyclef Jean teamed up with Comedian Bovi to do ‘Ready or Not’.

Also see performances by Olamide, PSquare & D'Banj.

Khloe Kardashian To Pocket $7 million After DIVORCING Lamar Odom

Few years back, we watched in awe as Kim Kardashian pocketed millions from her wedding to Kris Humphries and now we'll have the pleasure of watching her younger sister, Khloe, pocket millions from divorcing Lamar Odom.

According to the December 30 issue of US Weekly, Khloe stands to make 7 million dollar by divorcing Lamar. 

How will she do it?  The magazine reports that the couple's ironclad pre-nup states that Khloe will make $500K for every year the couple were married (four years = $2m).  Next, Khloe gets to keep all "gifts" and her $1m Vartan 12.5 carat radiant-cut diamond wedding ring.  Khloe also keeps the former couple's $4m Tarzana mansion.

New Music Video: VIP Feat. Terry G –– Kokoko

Check out a brand new music video from Ghana’s music group, VIP (Vision In Progress) – “Kokoko” was produced by Mix Gazy Master and directed by Terry G.

See video below;

Yemi Alade Talks About Her Crush For Flavour, Her Debut Album & More [VIDEO]

Yemi Alade is no new name in the industry since 2010 when she popped on the scene with her single, “Fimisile” featuring eLDee. She was said to be working on her debut album a while back but had a lot lined up for her fans before then. Now Yemi opens up to Avante TV on their new show ‘The Scene’ on her crush for Flavour. She also talked about her new hit single ‘Johnny’ and her highly anticipated debut album.

Check the video out.

You are bloody idiots – Obasanjo blasts Vanguard Newspaper

Apparently angered by the content of a purported letter written to him by his daughter, Iyabo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday rained thunder and brimstone on Vanguard Newspaper over the missive.

The media was awash yesterday, with a purported letter written by Iyabo Obasanjo to her father, accusing him of being responsible for the nation’s many troubles.

Iyabo in the letter obtained by Vanguard, also accused the Otta farmer of abandoning his family.

Justin Bieber Announces That He’s Retiring From Music [VIDEO]

Yes, you heard that right: in an interview with Los Angeles radio station Power 106, which aired on the radio yesterday, Justin Bieber announces his retirement. When asked about his new album, the singer says “I’m actually, uh, I’m retiring, man… I’m just gonna take some time. I think I’m probably gonna quit music.”

Whether Bieber was joking in the interview remains unknown, but a video clip posted by the station shows him speaking with a straight face.

Gunmen Kill Lecturer in Olabisi Onabanjo University

Tragedy struck on Wednesday at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, when unknown assailants killed a lecturer, just as ASUU called off its five-month old strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the victim, Dr Segun Onabanjo, was a senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology.

According to eyewitnesses, the assailants broke into his residence in Odomolasa area of Ilese-Ijebu at about 1a.m. on Wednesday, shot the lecturer and carted away some personal and household items.

NAN learnt that the corpse has since been deposited in an undisclosed mortuary.

When contacted on telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer of Ogun Police Command, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the killing of the lecturer.

Adejobi said the command was on the trail of the killers who escaped through a nearby bush.

New Music: Chris Brown – Loyal (Feat. Lil Wayne & French Montana)

“Loyal” is the latest offering from Chris brown’s upcoming sixth studio album “X”, which after several delays should see the light of day in the first quarter of 2014.

Chris team up with Lil Wayne and French Montana on this new joint.

Check it out.

Tweet of The Day: Tiwa Savage’s Hubby, TeeBillz Apologises to those he offended

Jim Iyke Gets into a Fight in Accra over $10,000, Attempts To Pull a Gun

This morning, Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke is in front page of different newspapers in Ghana – well, not for the right reasons though.

The actor was alleged to have been involved in a fight at a café over monetary dealings – he was arrested and later released by Ghana police.

Here’s The Ghanaian Times Newspaper report;

Nigerian movie star, Jim Iyke, was involved in a brawl yesterday at the Crave Cafe at Adjiringanor, East Legon in Accra.

According to an eyewitness account, some people were eating at the cafe at about 5pm when a stout gentleman in a black Range Rover with a Nigerian number plate parked by the cafe.

Mercy Johnson Tops ‘10 Most Searched Nollywood Actors’ for the Third Time

In Google’s 2013 lists of most searched persons on different sites in Nigeria, late singer, Goldie Harvey emerged atop of Pope Francis and Paul Walker to clinch the number one spot. In a related development, Wizkid topped the most searched musicians in Nigeria, while Mercy Johnson retained her 2011 and 2012 feat as the most searched Nollywood actor

See full lists below.

TOP SEARCHED PEOPLE

Goldie Harvey

Pope Francis

Gonzalo Higuain

Paul Walker

Damoche

Oscar Pistorius

Luis Suarez

Sunday Mba

David Moyes

Beverly Osu

New Music Video: K9 –– Kokoma

Check out K9’s new video for ‘kokoma’

Iyabo Obasanjo writes Father, Accuses Him of Having Egotistic Personality

It appears Nigeria is gradually moving into a new era where all political deeds are no longer hidden but exposed via open letters. Barely one week that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo took a swipe on Jonathan’s government in an open letter, Obasanjo’s daughter, Iyabo, has equally written an open letter to her father, disclosing that she would never be in talking terms with him (her father) again. Iyabo had described her father as a man with different faces, who is bent at manipulating situations at all times. She said her father was mischievously witch-hunting President Goodluck Jonathan due to his (Obasanjo) insatiable and inordinate quest for power and relevance.

Queen Latifah Covers Good Housekeeping Mag, Talks About Her Weight, Drinking & More [PICZ]

In the January issue of Good Housekeeping, Dana Elaine Owens, popularly known as Queen Latifah, recalls using alcohol in the past to ease her pain after tragedy. She now says she focuses on "accentuating the positive" in her life.

Though the 43-year-old actress appears joyful on the cover; wearing a bright red dress and a big smile, Latifah opens up to the magazine about some of her darkest moments. In 1995, the talk show host was the victim of a violent carjacking in which her passenger friend was shot and nearly died. Latifah said she didn't cope with the shock of the incident well. "Drinking a bunch of alcohol, numbing myself," she recalled. "Every day I would be faded, like a painting that's just not vibrant, whose edges are dull. I wasn't living my full life."

Finally, Singer Waje Flaunts Her 14-year-old Daughter [PHOTOS]

31-year-old singer, Waje Iruobe is apparently tired of keeping her daughter’s identity under wraps. The ‘I wish’ singer recently shared picz of her 14-year-old daughter with the caption; “She makes all the stress, disrespect ND disregard worth it - Aww!” Like the popular saying goes, “there is nothing hidden that would not be made known.”

Emerald was born when Waje was only 17, and words have it that she currently attends a Senior Secondary School in Lagos.

See more photos on the flip.

12-year-old Boy in Court over alleged defilement of 3-year-old child

A 12-year-old boy was on Monday arraigned before an Abule-Egba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, for allegedly defiling a three-year-old minor.

The accused, who lives at No. 4, Ajakaiye St., Agege, Lagos, is facing a one-count charge of rape.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Racheal Williams, told the court that the offence was committed at the accused’s residence on Dec. 2.

“The accused is neither a student nor learning any trade. He is living with his parents, while the victim is the daughter of his neighbour,” Williams said.

He said the accused carried the child into the bathroom and raped her.

“It was the cry of the child that attracted the child’s mother and the Police was alerted,” Williams said.

Beyoncé’s Album Breaks iTunes Sales Record, Sold 828,773 Copies in 3 Days

Late Thursday night, singer Beyoncé released a new album exclusively on iTunes, with significant promotion both on the iTunes Store and across social media.

In a press release yesterday, Apple said the album is the fastest selling ever on the iTunes Store, moving 828,773 units worldwide in its first three days of availability. The album sold 617,213 copies in the U.S., and went to number one on the iTunes chart in 104 countries.

Beyoncé’s self-titled album, which is the singer’s fifth solo studio album, breaks the previous one-week iTunes record, set by Taylor Swift's "Red" when it sold 465,000 in the week ending Oct. 28, 2012.

NSCDC officials arrest 4 suspected traffickers with 2-year-old baby in Ebonyi [PICZ]

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ebonyi have arrested 4 persons on suspicion of human trafficking.

The officers also rescued a 2-year-old girl suspected to be one of their victims. The girl, identified as Gift Adaobi was said to have been sold to the gang by her grandmother.

Here is the story by Vangard:

The rescue followed the arrest of four persons suspected to be involved in human trafficking at Ebonyi.

The arrest has since fueled fears that such crimes may be happening surreptitiously in other Council areas without the knowledge of security agencies in the State.