Mr. Ibu took care of me in prison – Uche Odoputa

"Uche Odoputa was close to becoming an A-list actor. He had a huge fan base and was on the verge of becoming as  prominent as the likes of  Emeka Ike, Ramsey Nouah and Jim Iyke.  Unfortunately, he altered the course of his career. In 2007, he was arrested for trafficking drugs and subsequently, he was imprisoned for two years and three weeks.

The Orlu, Imo State-born actor, said he wasn’t making enough money and some individuals took advantage of his desperation and introduced him to the drug trade.

“I regret my actions. I was a growing brand and  a lot of people were angered by  my action. I was disappointed in myself. I thank God I came out of prison  a changed person,” he said.

Speaking on how the incident affected him, Uche said it cost him a lot and hampered his growth in Nollywood.

He said, “It took away my career and the little fame I had at that time. Gaining recognition in Nollywood and even among my colleagues  has been a struggle since then.” Nevertheless, not all of his colleagues distanced themselves from him while he was in prison, he said.

“The late Amaka Igwe paid part of my legal fees, she was always in contact with me and never abandoned me. She took me under her tutelage after I was freed from prison and taught me directing. While others paid to learn directing , she taught me for free. I was to direct the job she was working on before she died. Up till now, I can’t bring myself to delete her  telephone number. I still hear her voice sometimes. She was a good woman,” he said.

Odoputa also acknowledged the assistance he got  John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu.

He said, “He used to send me recharge cards which I sold. That enabled me to take care of myself when I was imprisoned.”

Odoputa , who now lives in  Port Harcourt, said the relocation was necessary  to enable him plan  his life.  “I need some sanity  and  time to  decongest my brain. Things were moving too fast in Lagos, so I relocated to Port Harcourt.”

Culled from PUNCH.

Abuja woman turns six girls to sex slaves

"A 28-year-old woman, Ifeoma Daniel, has been arrested by the police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for allegedly turning six girls to sex slaves.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Daniel, who hails from Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State, and a suspected accomplice, Collins Madueke, 28, were arrested in the Apo area by the Special Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector-General of Police.

Our correspondent gathered that the six victims, whose ages ranged from 19 to 22, were found locked up in a room before the police rescued and handed them over to officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other related matters.

Our correspondent learnt that the girls were rescued on Friday, June 17, 2016.

The victims – Chidinma Amakwe, Blessing John, Nancy Azubuike, Chiamaka Eze, Amarachi Chinedu and Beauty Ndulue – reportedly told the police that they were lured by the suspects to Abuja to become commercial sex workers.

They said they were promised N200,000 after six months.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Daniel, a mother of two, said she brought two of the girls from their villages.

She said, “I have two children, Akunnaya and Charity. I divorced my husband three years ago because he always beat me. I went into commercial sex work as a means of survival. I started the work in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. I was told commercial sex was more lucrative in Abuja, so I relocated here in 2015.

“I operated in the Apo area. I thought I could make more money by recruiting some girls to work for me. I brought the girls and the agreement was that I would pay them N100, 000 after six months. I also promised to take care of their feeding.

“I brought only two of the girls – Chinedu and John. The other girls were brought by two women known as Mama Cynthia and Azonto.”

Madueke, who hails from Nsukka, Enugu State, denied working with Daniel to recruit the victims for commercial sex work.

He said, “I worked as a hairdresser. In the first week of June, I was in my shop when Chinedu (one of the girls) approached me saying she wanted to learn hairdressing. The following day, she came back with four other girls and they all said they wanted to learn as well. I know them as apprentices.”

One of the victims, Azubuike, 20, said she slept with no fewer than 15 men in a day, adding that Daniel made N20,000 from her daily.

She said, “I hail from Mbaise, Imo State. I dropped out of secondary school. My parents were aware that I wanted to go to Abuja to learn a vocation. My friend told me it would be commercial sex work. What I did not understand was that we would be locked up in a room.

“I slept with no fewer than 15 men in a day because they loved my services and always asked for more. I normally made between N15,000 and N20,000 every day, but the money went to madam (Daniel). I was asked to stay with her because there was no accommodation. The police stormed the place where we were locked up and rescued us.”

Another victim, John, 19, who hails from Aba, Abia State, said, “It was one Aunty Joy who brought me to Abuja and handed me over to Madam Azonto. Madam Azonto promised to give me N200,000 after six months if I agreed to be a commercial sex worker.

“She kept me in a room with the other girls and brought our food to the same room. Every evening, we were taken out to different joints where we slept with several men. I normally collected N1,000 per round from customers.”

Our correspondent learnt that a man, who stayed in the neighbourhood where the girls were locked up, gave the police a tip-off.

A police source said, “The girls were kept in the room and someone usually brought food for them through the window. When we got there, we forced the door open and we discovered that there were six girls.”

Our correspondent gathered that the police were making efforts to arrest the fleeing members of the syndicate.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, had yet to reply to a text message sent to her phone on the arrest."

Culled from PUNCH.       

Okada rider commits suicide over alleged childlessness

"A commercial motorcyclist, identified simply as Joshua, has committed suicide in the Isale Aro area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

There was pandemonium in the area when residents discovered his remains dangling from a rope in his sitting room.

Our correspondent gathered on Saturday that the incident occurred on Thursday evening before Joshua’s wife returned from work.

The woman was said to have raised the alarm when she found the dangling corpse of her husband in their sitting room.

The alarm attracted neighbours, who were said to have rushed to the apartment and were shocked to see how Joshua, also known as Landlord, allegedly ended his life.

A resident of the area, who was among the first set of people to see the dangling body, said Joshua tied a rope to the roof of his sitting room and climbed on two buckets.

The resident explained that Joshua kicked away the buckets after he put the rope round his neck, hanging himself in the process.

Our correspondent found out from residents of the area that the deceased’s marriage had yet to produce a child and this was said to be a probable reason he decided to take his own life.

Joshua, it was further gathered, had lived in the house for many years and some of the neighbours said his childlessness was a source of concern to him.

Some traditional worshippers were reportedly invited to perform some rituals before the body of the deceased was removed and deposited in a mortuary.

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state, Mr. Babawale Afolabi, confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile, a Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, has sentenced an 18-year-old artisan, Segun Falade, to one-year imprisonment.

In a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Friday by the PRO of the Osun State Command of the NSCDC, the convict was arraigned on six counts.

Among the counts were stealing and burglary, which were said to be contrary to Section 383 (1) and Section 411 (1) and (2) of the Criminal Code, CAP 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State.

Some of the items allegedly found on the convict when he was arrested were phones, DVDs, a blood tonic, earrings, a Lenovo tablet, a wristwatch and some money.

Falade pleaded guilty to the counts and was sentenced to one-year imprisonment."

Culled from PUNCH.                  

Ivanka Trump Sued by Aquazzura for Allegedly Ripping Off Their Shoe Design

"Matthew Burris, CFO for Marc Fisher -- Ivanka's licensing company -- says, "This is a baseless lawsuit aimed at generating publicity. The shoe in question is representative of a trending fashion style, is not subject to intellectual property law protection and there are similar styles made by several major brands."

He adds, "The lawsuit is without merit and we will vigorously defend ourselves against the claim." Ivanka Trump's shoe line is a shameless knockoff of a wildly popular Italian stiletto ... so claims the Italian shoemaker.

Aquazzura claims in a new lawsuit, Ivanka's Hettie shoe is almost a carbon copy of its Wild Thing pump ... a shoe that protects the feet of the famous-ish, including Solange and Olivia Palermo.

Aquazzura points to the color, shape and silhouette, as well the fringe covering the toes to the tassel on the heel.

Aquazzura says Ivanka jacked their shoes before ... copying its Belgravia shoe and calling it Necila, and also copying its Forever Marilyn shoe and calling it Teagin Pointy Toe Pump with Tassel."

Culled from TMZ

"Stop disgracing the legacy of Oduduwa" Darren Idongesit Aquaisua

Written by Darren Idongesit Aquaisua

"To my Yoruba brothers, I have to apologise before hand. I am a professional ethnic bigot and I always have an opinion, a malignant opinion that doesn't stay hidden for long.

I've been harbouring this disdain for your spiritual head and I couldn't express it because I've lived amongst you lot and I know how you pay reverence to elders but I Darren Idongesit Aquaisua don't share in that culture and I have zero respect for elders and authority so I have to fire some shots.

Your Ooni is a disgrace right from the coronation and his choice of queen.

The Ooni is automatically a human-god and the little Yoruba history and Ifa tradition I've studied, the Ooni has always been the master of the universe and Lord of all lords until the last one gave up that title in deference to a Jewish mythical figure called Jesus,

The Ooni was described as Lord of the universe even before the story of Jesus Christ so why did the last Ooni drop such a huge title for a carpenter nailed on two piece plywood?

This current Ooni is too young and puerile, wisdom has nothing to do with age so he ought to know better.

The Ooni doesn't visit Nigerian presidents(okay maybe that time Abacha was around.), the presidents visit the Ooni because the stool of the Ooni is bigger than the office of the presidency to the Yoruba ethnic group.

The Ooni doesn't visit people anyhow, he should have sent a prince or representative to the Oba of Benin and Alaafin of Oyo.

Why is he a Christian when Ifa was in established practice before Christianity? Why is he insulting that majestic legacy?

Doing Ifa divination today and hugging a crucifix tomorrow, what kind of madness is that?

The elders of Ile-Ife had better sit up and reinstall that title of "Oluaye" because the Ooni is bigger than any other foreign god and he should stop mixing Yoruba traditional worship with a fake foreign religion. It doesn't mean because Oba Okunade Sijuade dropped this title that Oduduwa himself appointed, this new Ooni must also deny that he is the owner of the universe.

His second wife neè "Otiti" was a wrong choice for queen and also a dangerous pretender, we on the sidelines know her every move. She usurped the position of the first wife with her trickery and Ooni had no wisdom to know better, now she is disgracing us abroad. She was a free and independent woman before the Ooni married her, she is feeling insecure that Africans will not accept her that's why she is playing politics by saying stupid things like "a woman is below a man!" Just to win African votes and a false sense of humility. We can see her face well, she does insult the Ooni when the camara is not around so she should stop the fake piety. If the Ooni loves her she shouldn't pander. The Ifa texts have clearly stated that the woman and man are equal but they are different vessels for complementary purposes so why is she saying women are plastic plates while men are fine chinaware?

What's with wearing a regal  attire to play golf?

What kind of nonsense is that? Why is he disgracing that royal wear?

It's like queen Elizabeth wearing her coronation apparels complete with the majestic cape to join the scrum on a rugby field.

This Ooni needs proper Ifa prayers because soon enough Sango will slap him a combination of Igbati, Igbarun, or Igbaju and Jesus wouldn't do anything about it.

Stop disgracing the legacy of Oduduwa.

Yoruba people should also know that the late Ooni had a favourite and it wasn't Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. He is just disgracing the legacy of Oduduwa with his childish antics."

Shared as posted on his Facebook 

Nasty Side Chic Hustle is Real!

This is the alleged side Chic of Musa  Danjuma, husband of  Nollywood actress Carol Danjuma

At Least 25 Injured in Mass Shooting in German Cinema, Suspect Dead:

At least 25 people were injured in a mass shooting in a German cinema on Thursday, according to multiple reports.

A federal law enforcement official tells PEOPLE that it is believed the gunman is dead. It is not clear whether those injured were hurt by gunfire or another cause.

The official tells PEOPLE the incident took place in the Kinepolis Cinemaplex in Viernheim, Germany. According to preliminary information, an armed, masked gunman opened fire in the theater and was barricaded inside.

Viernheim is approximately 40 miles south of Frankfurt.

• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

The officials says "it's too soon to say with certainty" whether it was a terrorist attack but that it's a likely possibility.

The cinema is part of a major shopping center which has more than 100 businesses and draws more than 20,000 daily visitors, according to CNN.

Peter Beuth, Minister of the Interior and Sports for the German state of Hesse, told the BBC, "The police thought that the gunman was holding hostages and because of that he was shot dead."

Beuth also said, "The police had an emergency call at 2:45pm. The caller said there was a masked man... armed with a long gun. It is unclear whether it was a real gun." Gunman takes hostages in German cinema, is shot dead by police -

A masked gunman took hostages at a cinema in western Germany on Thursday before police stormed the complex and shot him dead, police said.