The Nation Newspaper

Category: Celebrity

  • Ernest Azudialu marries off daughter in style

    Many Nigerians may be groaning under the weight of economic recession, for wealthy men like NESTOIL boss Ernest Azudialu, recession is just a word. Not the threats of economic recession could stop the charming head honcho of NESTOIL from putting on a spectacular show of opulence at the wedding of his daughter in Okija, Anambra State.

    At the occasion, the bride shone like a million stars, dazzling the assemblage of eminent personalities who thronged the legendary town to witness the couple’s union. But it was the lavish display of wealth that caught most people off guard as they had expected a modest celebration due to the well documented struggles of the bride’s father.

    But that does not obscure the fact that the fun-loving dude, fondly called Obijackson by admirers, has been engaged in some struggles of late. This is best exemplified by the fact that construction has stalled on his private mega mansion in Ikoyi, Lagos.

  • Rahama risks contempt charges in face-off with IBB’s son

    Rahama risks contempt charges in face-off with IBB’s son

    The child-custody face-off between Rahama Indimi and her estranged husband, Muhammed Babangida, has taken another turn as the daughter of billionaire business tycoon, Muhammed Indimi, has refused to release their children and now risks being arrested by the police for contempt.

    Rahama has not only defied the court, the police and her father, she is waging a desperate and bitter war on the social media against the son of former military president Ibrahim Babangida. But like the bird that flew too close to the sun, Rahama’s bid to whip up sentiments in the matter appears to have backfired as she now seems to be losing the sympathy of the few people that had stood by her in the matter.

    Though a competent court has granted Mohammed Babangida’s prayer to take custody of the children, Maryam (10), Fatima (9), Ibrahim (7) and Mohammed (5), efforts to enforce the judgment have met a brick wall as their mother has employed different tactics to ensure the kids remain with her.

    Having allegedly ignored her father’s counsel that she should hand over the children to their father, Rahama has so far succeeded in holding on to them. But reliable sources say the police may be left with no choice but to arrest her for disobeying court judgment and obstructing them in the performance of their duties.

  • Ituah Ighodalo, wife in decade of sizzling romance

    Ituah Ighodalo, wife in decade of sizzling romance

    To say that the success of the ministry of flamboyant pastor, Ituah Ighodalo, is attributable to the support of his wife, Ibidun, is like stating the obvious. Ibidun is Ituah’s pillar of support, the rock of Gibraltar that has shielded him from the winds of hard times.

    Even when the flashy pastor was unceremoniously eased out as pastor of the Christ Church, Gbagada Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for marrying another wife, Ibidun stood by him and helped him get to his feet. Now, the two are reaping the fruits of endurance.

    The founder and senior pastor of Trinity House Church, located on Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, and his wife are a high profile society couple. Close to a decade after their nuptial vows, they still act like two people caught in the web of freshly-spun love. Whether it is holding hands or kissing, they are not afraid to engage in public display of affection to the envy of onlookers.

  • Sambo Dasuki’s agony

    Sambo Dasuki’s agony

    A few years ago, it would be difficult for former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to contemplate the condition in which he is at the moment. He was at the top of his career, and wining and dining in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa as one of the most powerful men in the country. But fortune has since made a mockery of his once high status. Today, he is a broken man stripped of power and influence.

    As if to compound his woes, he lost his father early in the week. The 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, passed away at a private medical facility in Abuja on Monday night. It was gathered that the late Sultan, who was deposed by the Sani Abacha junta in 1996, died of natural causes. He was 93.

    He has since been buried according to Islamic rites at the Hubbaren Shehu Usman Dan Fodio Site in Sokoto State.

    No doubt, the demise of the former Sultan is an additional source of sorrow for Sambo Dasuki who has been in custody since December last year for allegedly masterminding the diversion of more than $2 million meant for acquisition of arms in the fight against the deadly Boko Haram sect.

  • Jury out on Oritsefemi’s Club Quilox incident

    It is no longer news that a few days ago, popular music act, Majemite Ekele, popularly known as Oritsefemi, was at the centre of a fracas at upscale Lagos night club, Club Quilox, which left the singer and a bouncer needing treatments for minor injuries.

    The gist now is that some leading names in the entertainment industry have waded into the verbal war between the fair-complexioned crooner and Club Quilox management over the altercation which happened last Friday at the VIP section of the club.

    A few days after the incident, Oritsefemi’s management team released a version of the story exonerating the singer and heaping all the blame on the bouncer as well as Quilox owner and CEO Shina Peller. A few hours later, the management of the popular night club fired back with their own statement in which they rubbished Oritsefemi’s version and laid the blame for the fist fight firmly at his doorsteps.

    They said that trouble began when Oritsefemi not only sat himself at a VIP table already booked by another customer but also tried to bring his friends to the same spot, leading the customer to call the bouncers to throw him out. The statement also claimed that the bouncer, who was bust open above the eyes, is insistent on pressing charges against the Double Wahala crooner.

    Although some of the celebrities who have chipped in their words on the incident blamed Quilox’s management for not handling things in a professional manner befitting such a hip establishment, most of them lambasted the artiste for his alleged unruly behaviour, even if it was in the face of provocation.

  • Kayode Ajulo launches online legal representation

    What the proponents of the popular saying that action speaks louder than words often fail to add is that it also speaks truer most of the time. Words are wind easily dispersed, while action is the concrete substance that establishes the truthfulness of a man’s intentions.

    Ace lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, has shown through his various activities and initiatives that he is desirous of bettering the lot of the common man, especially in the area of legal representation.

    Endowed with a keen acumen and the triple blessings of youth, dynamism and intelligence, the young lawyer has been making waves in recent times. Not content with the accolades heaped upon him as the youngest national secretary of a leading political party in Nigeria, the cerebral lawyer, unionist, lecturer,  writer, and civil rights activist recently caused ripples in the legal industry with his new pet project.

    The Online Legal Resource Hub is Kayode Ajulo’s latest initiative which is sure to redefine the legal profession at home and globally. Plans are in place to co-opt 50,000 online legal partners and over 500,000 law student interns into the scheme. The project is designed in such a way that the common man will be able to access legal advice and even hire a lawyer from the comfort of his home.

    With this bold and trendsetting initiative, the cap-loving Ondo State-born lawyer has brought to fruition the numerous lessons in service to humanity he learnt at the feet of legendary legal luminaries like Afe Babalola, Tunji Abayomi and GOK Ajayi.

  • Siju Iluyomade romances fame

    Siju Iluyomade romances fame

    Any genuine list of the most fashionable and influential female pastors in Nigeria must necessarily feature Pastor Siju Iluyomade, the glamorous wife of Pastor David Iluyomade of the City of David Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Pastor Siju is blessed with an overabundance of beauty and a luxury wardrobe, two essential requirements for a fashion icon.

    Pastor Siju is one of the most sophisticated ladies around. Even though the City of David Parish is regarded as one of the richest RCCG parishes in Nigeria and its congregation boasts some of the most fashionable Christian women around, the elegant pastor dwarfs them all in terms of the breadth of her accoutrements and expensive assemblage of designer accessories and exquisite wear far beyond the means of all except the extremely rich women.

    The designer labels she patronises include Zagliani, Hermes, Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Christian

    Louboutithe élite of the élite. And money is no issue for the powerful woman as she buys, uses and discards expensive rides, wear, gems and jewelleries with a frequency that would befuddle even the rich.

    The dynamic mother of three has moved beyond the house of God into the larger society with her pet project, Arise Women. The platform, now in its seventh year, is designed to educate and assist women in need in the society. Lately, she has gone into alliance with other powerful women in the country as was evident in the recent Arise Womens Conference which had the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; wife of the Vice-President, Dolapo Osinbajo; the First Lady of Kwara State, Omolewa Ahmed and other prominent female leaders in attendance.

  • BUA boss Rabiu bags another award in South Africa

    Most men who have overseen the rise of a business empire are wont to rest on their oars while savouring the bountiful fruits of their toil. Not so BUA boss Abdulsamad Rabiu. The energetic boss of the business conglomerate, whose interests span manufacturing, port concessioning, real estate development, oil and gas and shipping, continues to innovate and launch big ideas.

    A dynamic game changer with a knack for radical engineering, Rabiu has over time earned the respect and approval of his billionaire peers as he successfully expanded BUA Group into a force to reckon with in the business world. For example, BUA is one of the few viable competitors to heavyweight Dangote Group in the cement and sugar sectors.

    Recently, the billionaire magnate who is worth $1.1 billion, according to Forbes, was recognised for his exploits at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards at a grand finale held in Johannesburg, South Africa. He beat several leading lights in business from east, west, nortth and south of the continent to the coveted award, demonstrating how high his reputation has soared in the competitive business world.

    With his earlier award as the West African Industrialist of the Year by AABLA, Abdulsamad Rabiu is no doubt perched permanently on the treetop as one of the most influential business figures in Africa.

  • Good times for Bisi Onasanya

    If the love of money for its own sake is the root of all evil, the pursuit of it as a means to an end can be the foundation of good things in a man’s life. For the immediate past Managing Director of First Bank, Bisi Onasanya, the usefulness of money lies in its status as a means of dispensing favours and the ‘green card’ that helps one to meet up with basic necessities.

    Armed with the fruits of his labour, the debonair dude has been living the opulent life. Only recently, he left his magnificent estate home in Ikoyi for a bigger mansion on the sprawling Banana Island. For the former First Bank boss, retirement could not have come at a better time.

  • Amechi Ejindu lies low

    Often times to be the spouse of a well-known socialite is to be overshadowed. But the relative popularity of Fifi Ejindu on the social scene does not make Amechi Ejindu any less influential. Unlike Fifi, who is very visible in celebrity circles, Amechi prefers to lie low profile, steering his affairs quietly away from the radar of the gossips.

    Leaving his wife Fifi to continue in her role as the face of the family, Amechi has concentrated on managing the couple’s multi-million business empire. The unassuming ways of the stylish man probably helped in the quick resolution of the brief marital scuffle he had with his wife. The two were able to quickly mend fences and go back to their lovebird ways a few years ago.

    Perhaps in acknowledgement of their rebuilt relationship, Fifi a few years ago organised an event in honour of her husband as he clocked 50. The graceful event was one of the rare opportunities for social event watchers to catch a glimpse of the classy dude who is becoming increasingly scarce on the social scene.