The Nation Newspaper

Category: Celebrity

  • For Gbenga James, it’s once bitten, twice shy

    Life is not any different from weather. Not only is it unpredictable, it shows a new side of an individual every day. The unpredictable nature of life has shocked many just the way it has played out in the life of Gbenga James. At a time many expected the once close associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose to team up with his friend in order to realise his governorship ambition, he simply disappeared from the social radar, causing many to wonder what he is up to.

    Some years ago, James, the owner of Biological Concept and former business partner of Fayose, got entangled in the web of a corruption allegation levied against him and his friend. So peeved was the political elite of Ekiti State that they had to mount a serious pressure on the duo until former President Olusegun Obasanjo ensured the ouster of Fayose as Ekiti governor.

    There were insinuations later to the effect that James betrayed Fayose and gave him out to the EFCC after the latter had helped him as a friend with a poultry project contract. Since he was left off the hook, he has now recoiled into his shell, leaving politics to those who have the heart for it.

  • Stephanie Henshaw steps out of shell

    Stephanie Henshaw, former wife of the presiding pastor of the Household of God, Pastor Chris Okotie, has finally dumped her shell of anonymity to embrace the limelight once again. She seems to have woken up one morning to realise that a bend is not the end of a road once you are willing to take the turn.

    Since her separation with Pastor Chris, Stephanie had shied away from the public and chosen to lie low. But you can always count on her to recover from a setback as soon as she catches her breath. Since the dust raised by her crashed marriage has settled, Stephanie has decided to court fame and publicity after returning to Lagos from Abuja where she had gone to pick up the pieces of her life.

    The Calabar, Cross River State-born mother of three has once again become a recurring face on the social scene, even though she is carefully selecting the type of events she attends. She now prefers to attend events either in the company of her daughter or actor Richard Mofe Damijo and his wife, Jumobi.

  • Mike Inegbese plans big for son’s wedding

    You can clearly distinguish a commoner from a socialite by the parties they host. It may be tagged extravagant or ostentatious, but an elite’s party leaves memories that last a life time.

    Recently, Imo State hosted one of such parties when popular Lagos auto merchant, Chief Mike Inegbese, led his family members to Arondizuogu as Michael Inegbese Junior wedded. Michael got married to Carrisa Mbadiwe, the pretty granddaughter of First Republic politician, Chief Kinsley Mbadiwe. Carrissa Mbadiwe is the daughter of Chief Victor Mbadiwe, the scion of the famous Mbadiwe family of Arondizuogu, Imo State. He is the Chairman of J. Green Mbadiwe and Sons Limited, the sole distributor of WAHL clippers in the West Africa sub-region. Her daughter was based in America before she took up a job as a director in her father’s company.

    It was gathered that the two prominent families are warming up for the white wedding that will be taking place in Lagos in the next few months. Chief Inegbese, we learnt, has decided to give the young dude an unforgettable wedding party. As you read this, almost every member of his household is already in the mood for the big day.

  • Mike Adenuga set for low-key birthday celebration

    Some are blessed with musical abilities, others with good looks, but Mike Adenuga is blessed with a double dose of modesty. Late Maya Angelou once said that modesty is a learned affection that drops as soon as life slams the modest person against the wall. This, however, is not the case with Dr. Mike Adenuga, the Chairman of Globacom, a telecommunication firm with multinational status.

    His humble past probably serves as a constant reminder that life is a fickle mistress that must be courted with humility and caution. To him, not only is modesty an ornament, it is also a guard to virtue, hence his decision to have a low key birthday celebration when he grows a year older on April 29. The boss of the telecommunication giant will clock 63 amidst plenteousness, sound health, influence and clout.

    The Ijebu high chief and friend of many world leaders is reputed as one of Africa’s richest, but he would not be throwing any lavish party. Rather, he has chosen to step up his philanthropic gestures across the continent. Certainly, there are timeless lessons to be learnt from the life of this business guru.

  • Where is Kola Karim?

    Popular oil magnate, Kola Karim, would seem to have a magic wand that transforms simple ideas into multimillion naira businesses. With a wave of his magic wand, he accomplishes feats that men his age only would only dream about. That seems the most probable way to explain the impressive accomplishments of the Group Managing Director of Shore Energy International.

    Realists, however, insist that Karim’s intimate relationship with fortune and stand-out position in the oil industry is due simply to pure perseverance. His rare accomplishments in business have caused many to wonder why he has chosen to ignore the limelight to take cover in a shell of anonymity.

    Besides being the Group Managing Director of Shore Energy International, Kareem is the general manager of several other multi-million dollar businesses. Among his choice possessions are a private jet, a yacht and several luxury cars in which he is chauffeured around the world.

    The avid polo player has maintained a low profile lifestyle for reasons known to him only.

  • Royal birthday for Olori Ogunwusi

    The controversy that trailed the union between Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, was such that would make for a good movie. The new wife of the Ooni was subjected to various rumours concerning her past but she stood firm to ensure her place as the new first lady of Ife Kingdom.

    The delectable Olori was a year older a few days ago and she took time off to unwind in a private birthday soiree held in the Ooni’s palace. It was the Olori’s first birthday since she got married to the Oba many weeks ago.

    As was expected of the young love-struck king, he was said to have showered his new wife with expensive gifts.

  • Ogbemudia’s wife hits golden age

    Don’t be deceived by her tough looks; Chief Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, former governor of the defunct Mid-West and Bendel states, is romantic. He dotes on his wife and honours her whenever he gets the chance to do so. As his delectable wife, Yetunde, clocked 50, he seized the opportunity to shower her with love and attention and to thank God for His innumerable blessings on his family. However, rather than host an elaborate party to mark the event, Ogbemudia opted for a low key celebration for his wife.

    Yetunde, a bona fide member of the Lagos social circle, had a thanksgiving service at her husband’s home in Benin City, followed by a modest reception for the few family members and guests who came to share in the joyous occasion.

    Blessed with a charming and humble mien, Yetunde is loved by many for being a good motivator and pillar of support for her husband and other people. Aside helping her husband to become the man he is today, she is reputed to have catered for the wardrobe needs of many prominent society women through her fashion designing outfit, Nodoni Fashion. Under her care, Nodoni has metamorphosed into a full scale textile outfit.

    Yetunde, a graduate of the University of Ilorin, also runs other business ventures. At 50, she is far from slowing down as she is determined to build a business empire as fast as she can.

  • Reality bites for Iyiola Omisore

    Sometime ago, the mention of Iyiola Omisore conjured the image of a man-made deity held in awe by friends and foes. Like all man-made deities, however, the extraordinary image he paraded has faded out. Like the dew at the blast of sunlight, Omisore has slipped off his pedestal, losing his demi-god identity.

    Gone are the days when his word was law and he caused many in the corridors of power to tremble before him. The former strong man of Osun politics must have realised by now that acclamations are as transient as the fortune of a prodigal son. Unlike the former President Goodluck Jonathan era when his image loomed large, Omisore’s life is now devoid of the frills and accoutrements of power.

    Even his Osun State country home which once served as a convergence point for grassroots politicians is now desolate.

  • All is well between Timothy Adetayo and Kehinde Durosimi-Etti

    The grapevine has lately been boozing with the rumour that the immediate past MD of Skye Bank, Kehinde Durosimi-Etti, and the current MD, Timothy Adetayo, are at daggers drawn.

    It was rumoured that since Timothy took over, he has been busy replacing some of Etti’s men in key positions as well as changing many of Etti’s policies. Etti, it was said, was not happy about this development.

    However, those in the know have defused the resultant tension, insisting that there is no conflict whatsoever between the two banking gurus.

  • Gbenga Ogunniya chickens out

    For Senator Gbenga Ogunniya, there is little to desire about fame and there is true satisfaction in wielding power. To him, fame is like a heavy downpour; it reigns supreme until the sun dries up every trace of its existence.

    Oguniya has worn the garment of fame and walked in the shoes of power. Once upon a time, he was a formidable force in the power equation of Ondo State. He had as much influence in the government of the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu as he had the influential backing of the bloc of youths in the state. His name had been thrown up as one of the likely occupants of the governorship seat. Such was his awesome prospects until recently when he left the scene without a trace.

    Having spent two successful terms in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Ogunniya’s third term hit the rocks when an electoral tribunal sacked him in 2008. His return bid in 2011 also failed as Governor Olusegun Mimiko had whittled down his influence in the Ondo Central Senatorial District, where they both come from. The Ondo-born politician, who contested elections on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had his ambition cut short by the candidate of Labour Party, Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

    Ogunniya has since withdrawn into his anonymous cocoon. Reports say the PDP chieftain may have dumped politics and retired to a private life in his Ondo palatial home.