General Secretary of PMAN Slumps, Dies

The General Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) Idowu Blessing Akinnehin is dead.

•The late Idowu Blessing

P.M.NEWS learnt that Akinnehin slumped at the premises Igbosere Magistrate’s Court yesterday and was confirmed dead at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Blessing was one of the defendants in a case brought to Court 3, Igbosere Magistrate’s Court by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU). Former PMAN president Admiral Dele Abiodun and Champion Kunle Opio are also co-defendants.
They were all in court yesterday when Blessing slumped. He was said to have been nursing an undisclosed ailment in the last two days but he decided to attend the trial yesterday as a law abiding citizen.
P.M.NEWS learnt that when his condition was getting worse inside the court room, his counsel Barrister Rotimi Vaughan called the attention of the magistrate to it.
And the case was adjourned while the magistrate ordered that Idowu be taken to hospital where he later died.
Until his death, Blessing was the General Secretary of PMAN.
His last assignment was the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held recently where delegates from PMAN’s State Chapters took a decision to sack the acting chairman of the union Murphy Van Anthony.
He was working on the communique before he died in his late 40s. He was married and had children

D’Banj To Be Honoured At Channel O Music Video Awards 2011

 African pop star Dapo Oyebanjo, better known as D’banj is to be honoured at the forthcoming 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards, organizers have announced. The Entertainer will be given a Special Recognition award on Friday, November 11, 2011, during the awards ceremony.
With the recent news, D’banj follows in the footsteps of past winners K’Naan, Brenda Fassie and George Lee in 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively.
D’banj, who co-hosted the awards show alongside DJ Sbu back in 2007, has shown impressive qualities as an African artiste in his six-year musical journey. He has released three solo albums ‘No long thing’ (2005), ‘Rundown Funk U Up’ (2006), ‘The Entertainer’ (2008) and the anticipation for his fourth –  ‘Mr Endowed’ increases by the day.
His hard work led to the recent international record deal signing with US rapper Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music earlier this year.
It’s really an honour for us to be celebrating an artist such as D’Banj for this year’s Special Recognition Award. Besides the obvious success that D’Banj has had, one of the stand-out factors is that his career, his success and his path run parallel with the growth that we have seen in the African music industry since the inception of the Channel O Music Video Awards. To us he represents a breed of African urban artists who are the African dream’, says Leslie ‘Lee’ Kasumba, Channel O Africa Manager.
As announced earlier, the awards show will be hosted by Nigerian R&B singer Banky W and South African O-Access presenter Dineo Moeketsi and broadcast live on Channel O from the Sandton Convention Centre.

‘Worldwide Act’ Nominees For MTV Europe Music Awards 2011 Revealed

Abdelfattah Grini

 

After almost two months of voting, MTV have announced the five nominees that will compete in the newly created ‘Worldwide Act’ category at the 18th annual MTV Europe Music Awards.
In the African category, Egyptian singer Abdelfattah Grini beat other contenders including Nigerian pop singer Wizkid, Congo DR’s Fally Ipupa, Angolan Cabo Snoop, South African Black Coffee and Scribe who were also nominated. 26-year-old Grini will go on to represent the Africa/India/Middle East region.
The four other global finalists are Lena (Europe); Big Bang (Asia Pacific); Britney Spears (North America); and Restart (Latin America).
Pop star Lady Gaga leads the pack of EMA nominees with six nominations, with Katy Perry and Bruno Mars following closely behind with four nods.  Adele, Justin Bieber and Thirty Seconds To Mars are each up for three awards.
The awards show will be hosted by singer and actress Selena Gomez at the Belfast’s Odyssey Arena on Sunday 6 November.
Star such as Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jessie J, LMFAO and Snow Patrol are billed to perform on the night.
The awards show will be hosted by singer and actress Selena Gomez at the Belfast’s Odyssey Arena on Sunday 6 November.

Fuel subsidy: The true story

Chioma earns N18, 000:00k in a month at the factory where she works.


They pay only N17,100:00k into her account after tax.
She spends N11, 000:00k every month buying Gari, Rice, Beans and other food stuff.
She buys a lot of Gari because she takes some to work to soak in the afternoons.
Getting to work and coming back home every day, in addition to going to church on Sunday (N1,800:00k tithe) costs her about N1, 440:00k i.e. N60:00k to and fro.
This leaves her N 2,860:00k which she uses to pay back some of the money she borrowed from her sister to make the down payment of her 2-year rent. She also contributes N1000:00k to the staff cooperative.
On the last Saturday in January 2012 she spends N12, 600:00k on food and by the end of February she has had to spend N2,880:00k on transport. She is left with N1, 620:00k.
She opts out of the cooperative. She does not pay her tithe. She does not pick her sister's phone calls...
Crude Oil and Petrol are two different products. Prof. Aluko seems to conveniently overlook this fact.
Nigeria exports Crude Oil and imports Petrol.
Of course, some Crude Oil is refined in Nigeria to produce Petrol.
Therefore, we can say that the Petrol used by Nigerians comes from two sources:

1. Locally refined
2. Imports

An important question to ask is how much Petrol do Nigerians consume daily?
On the average 294,000 barrels.
The four local refineries are operating at, again on the average, 21% of their capacities.
This means they provide, at most, only 93,450 barrels every day.
If they run at only 66% of full capacity, they would meet the need of all Nigerians and the pump price of fuel would be about N30:00 only.
What has the Government done to ensure that the four refineries run at full capacity?
What about the private operators who were given licenses to run refineries?
Anyway, since the locally refined Petrol does not meet the need of Nigerians, at least 200,550 barrels need to be imported.

Father, son arrested for robbery

Police IG, Hafiz Ringim

The police in Ondo State said on Wednesday that nine persons, including a 65-year-old man, had been arrested for armed robbery.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sani Magaji, also said nine exotic cars were recovered from a gang of kidnappers who allegedly confessed they had terrorised the people of Ondo, Delta and Rivers states.

Magaji added that N3.3m was recovered from the gang which he alleged robbed a bank in Ore last month.

According to Magaji, the 65-year-old man, Isaac Suleiman, his son, Seun, and two others were arrested in connection with various robberies in Akungba-Akoko.

Suleiman, who claimed to be a night guard, denied being an armed robber.

However, he admitted that his son gave his gun to a friend, Mr. Kayode Ariyo, believed to be a notorious armed robber.

Ariyo confessed to our correspondent that he became an armed robber because he had nobody to take care of him

Magaji claimed the suspects had on them, locally made pistols, AK 49 rifles, one mask and one HP laptop.

The commissioner said a 419 syndicate in the state was also smashed.

He added that no fewer than 11 exotic cars, ammunition and charms were recovered from the suspects at their hide-out in Port Harcourt.

Magaji said one Ogenekwweh Igagah, the leader of the syndicate, was arrested, adding that the gang had been collecting ransom from their victims.

He said they also robbed their victims at gunpoint and later sold the cars at cheaper rates to a car dealer based in Port Harcourt.

The vehicles recovered from the suspects included one Toyota Avensis belonging to the Ekiti State Government, one black Infinity Jeep, one Toyota Sienna Honda Accord, Toyota Camry – 2003 model, two Toyota Camry – 2000 model, one Toyota Corolla and one Honda Pilot Jeep.

He also said one Mercedes Benz 190, one Honda car with number plate Rivers ET 726 PHC, five AK 49 riffles with 11 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the robbers.

Magaji added that the command on October 21 arrested one Funso Ajewole, who was alleged to have duped his victim of N78,000. He said the arrest led to Ajewole’s arrest of Messrs Ayeni Kehinde, Segun Akinola and Gabriel Adeniyi.

The Big Fights In This Year’s BON Awards

Majid and Genevieve

 

It is another edition of Best Of Nollywood (BON) Awards 2011, this is an award that is the AMAA of Nigeria. Nollywood Filmmakers and actors are rewarded for a good job done during the year under review.

Another dimension to this year’s award category is the splitting of the award into Yoruba and English categories, and the inclusion of Scandal Free Actress category, which would be voted for.

The awards ceremony is gradually heating up as the D Day (11.11.11) is getting nearer each seconds and what makes this year’s edition special is the calibre of people in each categories vying for the awards. With stiff competition in most of the categories, it is surely going to be a tough task getting winners in each of the categories.

The category that might sound very funny in this year’s edition is the Best Kiss in a Nigerian Movie where Uche Jombo & Kalu Ikeagwu (Damage), Odunlade Adekola & Toks Latona (Booku), Tonto Dikeh & Muna Obikwe (Dirty Secrets) and Genevieve Nnaji and Majid Michel (Bursting Loose) got nominated in.

In the Best Actress (English) in a lead role, the likes of Nse Etim (Mr & Mrs), Omotola Jolade Ekeinde (Private Storm), Genevieve Nnaji (Mirror Boy), Omoni Oboli (Anchor Baby) and Uche Jombo (Damage) need to slog it out in winning in that category.

Best Actress (Yoruba) in a Lead role has Faithia Balogun (Ajaa Meji), Eniola Badmus (Eefa), Laide Bakare (Demilade), Toyin Aimakhu (Ikudoro) and Sola Kosoko (Sindara).

It will be a tough battle in the Best Actor (Yoruba) in a lead role, where titans like Saidi Balogun (Eti Keta), Eniola Olaniyan (Kuta Nle), Muyiwa Ademola (Iyo Aiye), Odunlade Adekola (21 Years) and Femi Adebayo (Jelili) will punish the grass when they battle for the coveted price.

The Movie of the year is another category most people will be waiting to know, which movie will make it through unhurt. Films like Eafa, Mirror Boy, 2 Brides and a Baby, Mr & Mrs and Private Storm all made it through to the category.

Heavy weights in the directing side of the industry will lock horns in the Director of the year category where Teco Benson (2 Brides and a Baby), Bayo Tijani (Eefa), Obi Emelonye (Mirror Boy), Jeta Amata (Inale) and Lancelot Imasuen / Ikechukwu Onyeka (Private Storm) are in.

Best Movie with message for the society is another category to watch out for. Movies like Damage, Iyo Aiye, Save our Soul, Omo Ghetto 2 and Ere Ori Igi are vying for the golden price.

Nollywood Actress On Trial For Murder Attempt

Popular Yoruba movie star, Bimbo Akinsanya, has been arrested and arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court over alleged conspiracy to murder Rev. Pat Ogechi Dennah.

Bimbo Akinsanya

 

Bimbo and others now at large, were alleged to have on 28 October 2011 at 20, Samuel Street, Akowonjo, Egbeda, a suburb of Lagos, southwest Nigeria, conspired to commit felony by wounding Rev. Dennah.
The police prosecutor, Barth Nwokedi in the two-count charge brought against the defendant, alleged that Bimbo pointed Rev. Dennah to a yet to be identified boy to kill her.
He added that the boy, who is now at large, shot at Rev. Dennah but only wounded her on her left shoulder.
The alleged offence allegedly committed by the actress is punishable under section 338 and 516 of the criminal code, cap C17, vol 11, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
One of the charges reads: “ That you, Bimbo Akinsanya and others now at large on 28 October, 2011 at about 2030hrs at No. 20, Samuel Street, Akowonjo, Egbeda, Lagos, in the Lagos magisterial district, did point Rev. Pat Ogechi Dennah to a boy yet to be identified, to kill her and the said boy shot her with a gun and wounded her on her left shoulder and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 338 of the criminal code cap C17 Vol. 11 laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.”
When the charges were read out to Bimbo, she pleaded not guilty to all the allegations.
She was subsequently granted bail by the presiding magistrate, Mr A.O. Isaac in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties who must be resident in Lagos.
The matter has been adjourned till 30 November, 2011 for trial.

Fashion Face-Off | Tiwa vs Sasha vs Goldie vs Dencia at the FAB Awards Nominees Party

This edition of fashion face off is between 4 females in Naija music, Sasha P, Tiwa Savage, Goldie & Dencia who brought their different styles to the Fab Awards Nominees party red carpet recently in Lagos.

I kinda feel someway about including Dencia in this category of musicians cos she comes across more as a fame whore than music artiste but she does have a single out so I guess she qualifies. Worse things have happened.

4 different women…4 totally different styles. Who rocked it and who flopped it?