INTERVIEW: I Don’t Want a Fairy Tale Wedding - Empress Njamah

Empress Njamah, dark skinned Nollywood actress is living her passion in fashion currently with her Abuja-based boutique, House of Empress, to show for it. Here is an interview she granted Thisday.

What’s new about Empress Njamah?

I have House of Empress Boutique based in Abuja. I have a spa. I have a saloon. And I’ve been working on so many things; especially my brands and I embark on loads and loads of traveling too. My free times I do one or three movies and I’m working on two more. They keep shifting, shifting because my movement no dey pure (laughs). My Boutique is it is standing firm in Abuja with branches here and there. Lagos is clustered for me but it’s not an excuse. I’m still working on Lagos. I still need a lot of people to psyche me on that because is one place is that I want to do this thing but there are loads of competition in Lagos. And then a lot of people don’t want to do their stuff but when they see you doing well with your stuff they want to get into your stuff. So I’m actually taking my time. But I have loads of customers in Lagos that I bring stuffs for more than every other place. But basically I love Abuja right now.

You seem to be falling out of love for acting?

Do people ever fall out of it? You don’t fall out of it. A lot of us are born actress or were made. So if you have it in there, it always going to be there. And then, the industry does not have an expiring date. I could have up tomorrow and say I’m not going to act for ten years and after then I come back and act like a mother because of age and time. But it is still there. So there is

Woman Raped in Police Custody Takes Her Pain to the Court

Three months after she was gang-raped while in police custody at the Abraka Division of the Delta State Police Command, the victim and mother of five, Mrs. Ese Isaiah Ozegbe, has dragged the Nigeria Police to court.

In the suit filed by her counsel, Mr. Efe Ejomasuvwe, at the Federal High Court, Warri, she is claiming N750 million as damages from the police over the incident. Hearing in the case has been fixed for June 13.

Thisday had reported on May 4, this year, how Mrs. Ozegbe was allegedly gang-raped by four men in police cell at the Abraka Division of the Delta State Police Command.

The victim was said to have been detained among men at the Station where she was allegedly raped in turn.

She had alleged in a petition to the AIG, Zone 5, Benin City, Mr. Hashimu Argungu, that she was serially raped by the men while in the custody of the police at Abraka.

In the petition, she accused the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Abraka, and his men of negligence and failure to protect her.

Nelson Mandela 'Seriously ill' In Hospital

Former South African President Nelson Mandela has been readmitted to hospital with the recurrence of a lung infection.

The 94-year-old's health deteriorated at about 1.30am local time and he was taken to a hospital in Pretoria, where he is said to be in a "serious, but stable condition".

Government spokesman Mac Maharaj told South Africa's Enca Television that Mr Mandela's condition was "serious this time".

"The situation is serious this time, but doctors have assured us he is comfortable," he said.

It is the second time in recent months Mr Mandela, a revered figure across the globe, has been in hospital - and the fourth health scare in six months for the anti-apartheid leader.

The last time was in May/April earlier this year when he was kept in hospital for 10 days to receive treatment for pneumonia.

Mr Maharaj told Sky News: "Some members of his family have been there with him all the time.

"It is a condition he has had over a long period of time ... and we hope this time it will also be treated successfully."

Photo of Susan Peters with out Make-up

Sharing photos without make up seems to be the trend among female celebrities; she looks cute though.

Saudi prince sues Forbes for libel after it says he’s only worth $20-billion

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has sued Forbes magazine for libel in a British court, alleging its valuation of his wealth at $20-billion was short of the mark by $9.6-billion, Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported on Friday.

The prince, a grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder and nephew of King Abdullah, had attacked the U.S. magazine’s ranking of world billionaires as flawed and biased against Middle Eastern businesses after he was ranked number 26 in this year’s list.

An official at the High Court in London confirmed that Prince Alwaleed had filed a defamation suit against Forbes, its editor Randall Lane, and two of its journalists on April 30. Details of the claim were not immediately available.

Through his Kingdom Holding Company, Prince Alwaleed owns large stakes in Citigroup, News Corp. and Apple Inc., among other companies. He is also owner or part-owner of luxury hotels including the Plaza in New York, the Savoy in London and the George V in Paris.

This year’s Forbes World Billionaires list was published on March 4, and the following day Kingdom Holding said the valuation process used “incorrect data” and “seemed designed to disadvantage Middle Eastern investors and institutions.”

Tiwa Savage Covers June Issue of Guardian Life Magazine

The first lady of Marvin Records is surely living her dreams.

Check out Bootylicious Law Student setting University of Nairobi on fire (PHOTOS)

She is referred to as the upcoming Kenya socialite; others think she is just a show off, while some see her as the next Huddah Monroe (one of Kenya’s representative to BBA 8).

Meeting Maura for the first time, one can hardly tell she is 20, not to mention the fact that she is a Law student at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Law student! Of course, Maura is not your average Law student; she is a video vixen, a dancer, blogger, model and the reigning UoN Miss Malaika.

In a chat with Kiyoandfilo blog, Maura was asked why she is been compared to Huddah Monroe, and the bootylicious socialite said “I think they likened me to her because of my daring seductive photos since she also takes daring and seductive photos.”

How come a not so slim girl was crowned UoN Miss Malaika?

She stated “I am driven by the passion to prove that you don't have to be skinny to look gorgeous; you can be a big girl and still make millions of heads turn.”

KandF also observed that the video vixen added ‘Hawtbutts’ to her name and asked if it was a reflection of her public persona, but Maura has this to say “It started when I was in high school many people used to tell me I have a hot a$$ all the time, that is when I discovered I was blessed and pimped it up to Hawtbutts”, and she is very proud of her behind, ‘my a$$ is my favourite asset and people love it,’ she added.

Does she have a role model? “My role models are my Parents, Queen Latifah and Donald Trump,” she said.

In few years time, “I see myself as a fashion icon for big girls all over the world and hopefully a millionaire with some businesses,” Maura emphasized.

Interestingly, Maura has one fear - lizards.

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New Music: Timaya ft. D’banj - Mind Over Matter

Egberi Papa 1of Bayelsa, Timaya and the Koko Master, D’banj came together on this one, Mind over Matter.

Almost thought I was listening to Wande Coal’s ‘who born the maga’

RIP: Cape Coast conjoined twins are dead

The last info we brought to you on the Conjoined twins born by a 16 year old in Cape Coast, Ghana was about a Swedish couple who had agreed to adopt the babies.

Sadly, the twins passed away on Wednesday; this was confirmed by Doctors at the hospital to Joy News' Central Region correspondent Richard Kojo Nyarko.

The hospital was yet to conduct post-mortem on them and doctors there would not give further details. But they have assured the media would be briefed at the appropriate time.

The twins died while necessary documentations were being done for their adoption.

How dare they threaten my life and my unborn child! – Kim K to Paparazzi

One of the realities every celebrity must contend with is the daring nature of Paparazzis, and Kim K is not a stranger to that; however, it seems she is no longer enjoying the limelight, hence the twitter outburst.

Checkout her twitter effusion

Five South African police beat Nigerian to death

Five Limpopo police officers beat a Nigerian man to death, the Polokwane Magistrate's Court heard on Thursday.

“I put it to you that you beat him, he fainted and you resuscitated him. He woke up and…you beat him again,” prosecutor Jacky Mabasa told the officers during cross-examination. “You also sprinkled water on him.”

The five, Boitumelo Ramahlala, Mashiba Mathata, Collins Sekoati, Thabo Mabotja and Clement Tsotsane, face murder and assault charges. They were applying for bail.

They are accused of beating Onyechiabi Iwuaka to death on May 21 while he was visiting a friend. His friend escaped the assault. Iwuaka died on the way to the Polokwane police station.

The court was told the officers stopped on the way to the police station to buy water, as Iwuaka was bleeding from his ears.

Mabasa said an ambulance was called for Iwuaka after he died.

I was fed with garri for one month – Kidnapped Octogenarian recount his experience

An octogenarian, Pa Akinyele Akerele, who was kidnapped in Igbobini, Ese-Odo Local Government area of Ondo State by gunmen on May 4, said on Thursday that the hoodlums fed him with garri and flogged him every day throughout the period.

Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force secured the release of the old man on Tuesday and apprehended no fewer than seven suspects in connection with the kidnap.

Akerele said, “I was abducted by unknown gunmen from my home at Igbobini and was taken through the sea to Sapele in Delta State.

“I never knew I could survive the ordeal. I was taken forcefully and blindfolded till we got across the sea.

“As soon as we got to Sapele, they removed the blindfold.They fed me on just garri (cassava flakes) for the whole one month, I was flogged and beaten mercilessly especially when they realised that money was not forthcoming.

“Since my existence, I have never suffered as much as I did in the last one month in the kidnappers den.

Confusion In Benin After Police Killed And Hurriedly Buried Student

Students of the University of Benin on Wednesday disrupted vehicular movements along major roads in Benin City, the Edo state capital while protesting the alleged killing of Ibrahim Momodu a final year student of their institution by men of the Ogida police station.

The students dressed in black marched round the streets of Benin City chanting and calling for the arrest and persecution of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogida station, Carol Afebgai over the alleged murder of Mr Momodu.

The police allegedly murdered Mr Momodu on 27 May and buried him the next day even before the family could determine his where about.

An elder sister of the deceased Rebecca Egbe, while calling for justice gave an account of how the life of his brother was cut short by the bullet allegedly fired by the DPO of Ogida police station and buried without the knowledge of family.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Chika Ike shares photos of herself as a teenager

The last photo on the right is the actress all grown up!

PHOTOS: Elegant singer, Alicia Keys Poses for the Cover of Marie Claire July Issue

Alicia Keys jetted off to the Bahamas for an exclusive cover story for the July issue of Marie Claire.

In the interview, Alicia opened up about her love of travel and her planned trips for the future. She said: 'I'm really looking forward to having a really incredible time on my travels. I think that to be able to tour and travel the world at this time in my life is different than any other time, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing it in a way I never have before. I'm going to places I've never been, you know, it's a lot of growth, so I'm excited.'

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NEW VIDEO: Tank ft Chris Brown – Shots Fired

Tank and Chris Brown meet up to shoot an official visual for their most recent collaboration ‘Shots Fired’. The video was directed by Mike Ho.

I can be the new Oge Okoye - Ghanaian model and dancer, Abigail Dawson

While sexy actress, Oge Okoye is crying over cyber bullying and being hypertensive, an upcoming actress in Ghana is striving to be in her shoes.

Ghanaian model and video vixen, Abigail Dawson recently confirmed she would be veering into the make real busness.

She told News-One yesterday that she has great passion to act and with a dint of hard work, she hoped to take the movie industry by surprise in no time. “I believe in myself but for now I can’t say I will be a threat to any other actress. I have dedication for it and it is an inbuilt thing which comes natural. I have the drive to achieve more and I believe in myself to make it. I can be the new Oge Okoye but Yvonne Nelson is my role model”, she said.

Stressing on her forays into the movie world, she said “I’m currently on set for an upcoming ghetto movie. You guys should just watch out for me.”

Abigail Dawson is a former student of Koforidua Polytechnic and a onetime winner of the third edition of the Exopa New Faces contest.

Chet Anekwe, Van Vicker and Hollywood actor Carl Payne to stare in a new movie ‘When One Door Closes’

The movie, ‘When One Door Closes’ has been described as a “remarkable dramatic production that has brought different cultures together to tell a captivating African story.”

It was entirely shot in Atlanta, USA and draws on the acting talent of people from different cultures such as Nigerians, Ghanaians, Liberians, Jamaicans, African-Americans, Caucasians, and a host of others.

The movie which focuses on the hardships and triumphs people face in pursuit of happiness is due for release this summer and stars Van Vicker, Chet Anekwe, Clarice Kulah, Sarah Spicer and Hollywood’s Carl Payne of ‘The Cosby Show’ fame.

It was produced by Robert Peters, Van Vicker and Dr. Clarice Ford-Kulah under White Stone Pictures and Sky+ Orange Productions in collaboration with Divine Entertainment International.

Photos taken by a Chimpanzee sells for $76,000 at auction

A set of photos taken by a talented Russian chimpanzee, Mikki sold at an auction on Wednesday for 50,000 pounds ($76,680) – though the photos were askew and out of focus.  

Mikki, a performer with the Moscow Circus, was trained to take pictures in the 1990s by Russian conceptual artists Vitaly Komar and Alexander Melamid as part of a project to challenge concepts of artistic value.

Meanwhile, the buyer, Russian art collector Kira Flanzaich, said the photos were a fine example of conceptual art.

"Sometimes you think that animals can maybe photograph or do other things better than a human being," she said. "So we could see it in this particular piece, because Mikki took the photographs that are quite good of Red Square."

The sale also included images of Mikki taken by Vitaly Komar and Alexander Melamid.

Unfortunately Mikki was not around to enjoy the praise. The chimp died in 2007.

AP

Okorocha Will Vie for Presidency in 2015 - Deputy Gov

Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, may not seek a second term in office as he is warming up to run for the presidency in 2015.

Okorocha had vied for the nation’s topmost political post twice before running for the governorship election in 2011 on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Okorocha’s deputy, Mr Eze Madumere, at a press briefing Wednesday in Abuja, confirmed the presidential ambition of his principal who ran for the post in 2003 and 2007.

However, the governor, this time, will be jockeying to get the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a coalition of the nation’s three major parties, which he has identified with.

In 2003, he was one of the presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but pulled out of the party in the run up to the 2007 general election to form the Action Alliance on whose ticket he vied for the presidency.

Okorocha has been at loggerheads with some political stakeholders in the state over whether he would seek a second term in office as they claim that he reached an agreement with the stakeholders not to seek re-election.

Lauryn Hill Finally Agrees to Vacate New Jersey Mansion

The former Fugees singer is leaving her New Jersey mansion following a long-standing argument with her landlords over unpaid rent.

The 37-year-old star was hit with the lawsuit in March, and appears to have complied with the terms, agreeing to pay $7,000 in rent and vacate by May 31, according to TMZ.

Lauren won't have to worry about finding a new house in the immediate future, as she has been ordered by a court in the same state to report to prison for tax evasion by July 8.

Lauryn will also have to spend three months under house arrest as well as nine months of supervised release, after pleading guilty in 2012 to three counts of tax evasion for failing to file returns on $1.8 million she earned from 2005 to 2007.

Daughter accuses Dad, 57, of having sex with her

Emotion ran high, Monday, at the Bar Beach Police Division, following revelation by a Primary 5 pupil of how her 57-year-old father had been having carnal knowledge of her in the last three months.

The primary school pupil during interrogation said her mother brought her to her father after years of separation, adding that since the sacrilegious act began, her father had been giving her N200 as pocket money to school.

Unsure of who to confide in, she said she told her mother during one of her visits only for the father to dismiss the claim, stating that he could not bring himself that low as to having carnal knowledge of his biological daughter.

But the bubble burst after she summoned courage to tell her head teacher, who invited the police.

According to the pupil, “when I was reunited with my father, I was happy because I was living

Soldiers arrest Boko Haram recruitment officer, 54 others

Defence Headquarters said on Wednesday that a key terrorist, who specialises in recruiting young men into the fold of terrorism, has been apprehended by troops in Maiduguri.

The recruitment officer, an ex-soldier, was arrested after a tip off just as some terrorists in the camps dislodged, fled towards Niger Republic.

The arrested terrorist, said to be watching over the insurgents’ armoury met his waterloo during one of the stop-and-search operations by the special forces.

Also, a total of 49 suspected Boko Haram terrorists were apprehended in various locations in Yobe State following a tip off by locals in some communities.

Another group of five insurgents, all Nigerians were equally arrested when troops stormed their hideout at Mallam Fatori as they attempted to escape in two Toyota Cruiser Jeeps.

Among the recent recoveries were rifles, double barrel guns, charms and amulets, machine guns, camouflage uniform, bows and quiver and assorted rifle magazine.

Other Governors Have Forsaken Amaechi - Ononuju

A public Affairs analyst, Katch Ononuju has said that other members of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) have abandoned the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and purported winner of the forum's chairmanship election.

Mr Ononuju, who was a guest on Channels Television's breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, quoted a local newspaper where the All Progressives Congress (APC) was reported to have confessed with Governor Amaechi to use the NGF election to 'disgrace' President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP).

He said when Governor Amaechi called a meeting yesterday (Tuesday), "nobody is with him. All those people you said voted or not voted when Governor Jang called his meeting, they are there."

There has been intense scheming in the NGF, an association composed of the 36 governors in Nigeria, after its election for a new chairman. The Director General of the governors forum, who served as the returning officer at the election had announced that Governor Amaechi polled 19 of the 35 votes casted while his only opponents and Plateau state Governor, Jonah Jang polled 16 votes.

Severance benefits for PHCN workers: FG to commence payment on June 17

The Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo has disclosed the readiness of government to settle electricity workers’ severance package.

The minister said government would most likely pay the N384 billion to workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by June 17.

Nebo, who gave the assurance during his official inspection of Egbin Power Station in Lagos yesterday, said “very soon your severance package or entitlement will hit your various accounts by June 17.

“We hope to start payment of workers benefit by June 17 which is the tentative date we are working at, we need a lot of support from workers in areas of adequate information on the forms given to them,’’ he said.

Nebo said that for several months now, the technical and implementation committees set up to look into the issues of workers’ entitlements have been working seriously in ensuring effective result.

He said that contrite agreement had been reached with the leadership of the union in ensuring that what was agreed as the workers’ severance package was  paid as at when due. He urged them to ensure that all forms given to them were endorsed and filled adequately, adding that nobody would be left out.