The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • Nicki Minaj shows off Trump’s ‘Gold Card’, fast-tracks US citizenship

    Nicki Minaj shows off Trump’s ‘Gold Card’, fast-tracks US citizenship

    Trinidad-born rapper Nicki Minaj has received a Trump Gold Card, a high-profile investor visa offering a fast-track path to US residency and citizenship.

    The card, which typically requires a $1 million contribution to the US Treasury and a $15,000 processing fee, was shared by Minaj on social media.

    She wrote on X, “Residency? Residency? The cope is coping. Finalizing that citizenship paperwork as we speak, as per MY wonderful, gracious, charming President. Thanks to the petition. I wouldn’t have done it without you. Oh, CitizenNIKA, you are the moment. Gold Trump card free of charge.”

    Read Also: Why I’m Trump’s number one fan – Nicki Minaj

    Minaj, who has lived in the US since she was five, has been a lawful permanent resident but not a US citizen.

    She recently expressed support for President Donald Trump, calling herself his “number one fan” at an event promoting Trump’s government-backed investment accounts for children.

    The Trump Gold Card program has faced criticism for favouring wealthy immigrants, with some arguing it undermines the traditional immigration process.

  • Biodun Okeowo praises Funke Akindele’s resilience, leadership

    Biodun Okeowo praises Funke Akindele’s resilience, leadership

    Actress and producer Biodun Okeowo, popularly known as Omoborty, has showered praises on her senior colleague Funke Akindele, highlighting her dedication and excellence in the film industry.

    Sharing an old clip of Funke, Biodun described her as a woman who has navigated challenges, demonstrated resilience, and continues to excel.

    She commended Funke for her authentic approach to mentorship, emphasising that success is a result of hard work rather than mere accolades.

    She wrote, “This is the kind of video that deserves to go viral! No noise.

    Read Also: Actress Biodun Okeowo slams colleagues for ‘wicked’ lack of support

    “A clear lecture on dedication, discipline, consistency, and pushing even when the body is tired, and the spirit feels stretched. This is real mentorship. This is experience speaking, not motivation for likes.

    “Big hail to Funke Akindele. @funkejenifaakindele A woman who has walked the road, paid her dues, fallen, risen, and still shows up fully”.

    Biodun lauded Funke as a symbol of substance, leadership, and excellence, expressing gratitude for her transparent teachings.

    “Thank you for teaching without sugarcoating and for reminding people that success is work before it is applause. This is substance, leadership, and excellence”, she added.

  • ‘Jesus redefined my story’ – Tonto Dikeh expresses pride in personal growth

    ‘Jesus redefined my story’ – Tonto Dikeh expresses pride in personal growth

    Actress Tonto Dikeh has publicly expressed pride in her personal growth and transformation, attributing it to her faith.

    In an Instagram post, Dikeh revealed she has found a new sense of purpose and identity, embracing her faith and the path it has led her on.

    She described her transformation as a process of refinement, positioning, and release for God’s glory.

    She wrote, “There is a rare power in a woman who cannot be shamed out of who she is and cannot be shaken from who she is becoming.

    Read Also: Tonto Dikeh attributes reconciliation with ex-husband to son’s prayer

    “I have never been proud of being King Tonto until Jesus took the wheel and began to redefine my story. What I once questioned, God now affirms. What I once hid, He now uses.

    “This is not self-confidence. This is God-confidence. This is not branding. This is becoming.

    “This is God, deliberately handling His vessel. Refining, positioning, and releasing her for His glory.

    “My name is King Tonto, heaven knows me as ‘the woman god anointed, marked, and entrusted with purpose. But you can call me “ADA EL-ROI”.

  • Mary Njoku says female independence often stems from unreliable relationships

    Mary Njoku says female independence often stems from unreliable relationships

    Actress and filmmaker Mary Njoku has questioned the idea that women naturally prefer independence, arguing that it is often a response to unstable or unreliable relationships.

    In a post on Instagram page, the ROK Studios boss said humans are inherently social and that most people do not genuinely want to navigate life alone.

    She explained that independence is frequently developed as a coping mechanism when dependable support systems are absent.

    Njoku urged the public to reconsider the label “independent woman,” encouraging people to reflect on the circumstances that may have shaped such resilience.

    Read Also: Mary Njoku reflects on ‘dark times’ in 2025

    She also stressed the value of being reliable and consistent, noting that dependability can transform personal strength into trust over time.

    She wrote, “There’s really no such thing as an independent woman. Independence is not a preference; it’s usually a response. No human truly wants to live alone.

    “We become independent when we don’t have Dependable people around us. So before labelling a woman as “independent” or “overly self-sufficient,” it’s worth asking why. Are you DEPENDABLE? Because when someone shows up consistently, nobody chooses isolation. Independence is learned in the absence of reliability. She is strong because she has to be. Be dependable. And watch her strength soften into trust”.

  • Comedian Dee One invited by police for routine interview

    Comedian Dee One invited by police for routine interview

    Former Big Brother Naija housemate and comedian, Aderombi Adedayo, popularly known as Dee One, has been invited by the Nigeria Police Force, Force Intelligence Department (FID), for a routine interview.

    Dee One shared the invitation letter on X, stating that it’s part of an ongoing inquiry and described as a fact-finding interview.

    He’s expected to report to the FID Annex Office, Lagos, on Monday.

    Read Also: Ex BBNaija star Dee One hosts singer idahams on ‘Laugh & Grills’

    According to him, the invitation is linked to a video he posted, expressing his views on a recent incident involving the President in Turkey.

    “I saw something strange that happened in Turkey involving our President, our dear President, and I shared my views as an ordinary Nigerian. If this invitation is about the video I posted yesterday, I have received many calls and heard different opinions. Some people said Deeone was cyberbullying, that I should not have mentioned the President’s son or spoken about the President”, he said in part.

  • Osas Ighodaro recounts heartbreak in past relationship

    Osas Ighodaro recounts heartbreak in past relationship

    Actress Osas Ighodaro has shared details of a deeply emotional experience from a past relationship, recounting a dramatic confrontation at her former partner’s residence.

    Speaking on the Lone Wolf podcast, Osas revealed that she was locked out of the house and later escorted away by security after discovering a pregnant woman inside during an unannounced visit.

    She said the incident, coupled with her partner’s reaction and handling of the situation, ultimately led to the end of their relationship, which lasted between three and four years.

    According to the actress, her partner later claimed he contacted the police to prevent her from getting into trouble, a development she said confirmed her fears and marked a turning point in their relationship.

    “After getting a new car, I drove all the way to Baltimore to surprise my then-boyfriend. I stood at his door for about five minutes waiting for him to answer. Five minutes might not seem long, but in that moment, it felt like forever. He finally opened the door, and I said, ‘What took you so long? Surprise! aren’t you happy to see me?” she said.

    “His response was, ‘Why didn’t you say you were coming?’ I thought he’d be happy that I drove all the way to see him, especially since I had just bought this car. I tried to go to his room, but the door was locked. I asked why, and he said he had a friend there. I told him to come out, and he said it was a girl, not a guy.

    Read Also: Burna Boy, Osas Ighodaro shine as ‘3 Cold Dishes’ Premieres in London

    “I asked why he had a girl in his room, and he told me to sit down. I started shouting. At that point, he called the complex security to escort me out, I drove out of the complex and I drove right back in, telling me he didn’t want me to get in trouble for fighting a pregnant woman,” she added.

    “My whole world collapsed. I’ve always been a lover girl, someone who puts my all into relationships. This was devastating for me.

    “It was young love, someone, I thought I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, but clearly, he, or maybe God, had other plans.”

    “I finally see it as a blessing because we were already having conversations and moving to Baltimore to live our lives,” she added.

    “I always knew that wasn’t going to be enough for me. My dreams are global and big, and moving to Baltimore wouldn’t help me achieve them. I needed to be in New York, around creatives, for this to happen.

    “Eventually, I saw it as a blessing. You were about to go into a normal life, but the creative life isn’t normal. I knew that wasn’t what I wanted, so even though it was devastating at the time, it was ultimately a blessing.”

  • Burna Boy reveals posthumous reconciliation with AKA

    Burna Boy reveals posthumous reconciliation with AKA

    Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy has claimed he resolved a feud with South African rapper AKA before his tragic death.

    In a posthumous birthday message on Instagram, Burna Boy expressed regret that the duo never got to collaborate or execute their plans.

    The feud between Burna Boy and AKA began in 2019 after AKA reportedly encouraged xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, prompting Burna Boy to threaten to deal with him if they ever met.

    Read Also: Why Davido can win governorship election over Burna Boy – Seyi Sodimu

    Burna Boy wrote, “Happy birthday Supa Mega. We fell out over bullsh*t even though we squashed it over Twitter DMs nobody knew about, we never got the chance to really link up and do what we were supposed to do. I will regret that until I see you again. Until then, R.I.P Mega.”

    AKA was shot dead outside a restaurant in Durban on February 10, 2023 with trial into his murder ongoing.

  • Why I’m Trump’s number one fan – Nicki Minaj

    Why I’m Trump’s number one fan – Nicki Minaj

    Global rapper Nicki Minaj has declared herself Donald Trump’s “number one fan”, stating that criticism of him only strengthens her support.

    She made this declaration at the Trump Accounts Summit, where she also announced support for the “Trump Accounts” initiative, which provides trust funds for children.

    Minaj, who wore a furry white coat, said: “I will say that I am probably the president’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change. And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all.

    Read Also: Trump warns Iraq not to reinstate al-Maliki as Prime Minister

    “It actually motivates me to support him more. He has a lot of force behind him and God is protecting him. Amen,” she added.

    Trump, who had earlier joked about growing his nails to emulate Minaj’s style, held her hand as she spoke.

    Minaj has pledged to contribute $150,000 to $300,000 to the Trump Accounts program, which aims to provide financial support to children.

    In November she made a surprise appearance at the United Nations to call for an end to faith-based persecution in Nigeria, an allegation by the Trump administration which the Nigerian government denied.

  • UPDATED: Court remands actress Angela Okorie in prison over alleged cyberstalking 

    UPDATED: Court remands actress Angela Okorie in prison over alleged cyberstalking 

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of actress, Angela Okorie in the Suleja prison in Niger State following her arraignment on charges of criminal defamation and cyberstalking.

    Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Wednesday while ruling on an oral bail application made by Okorie’s lawyer, Alex Ejesieme (SAN) shortly after his client pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge brought against her by the police.

    Justice Nwite ordered that the mother of one be kept in the prison until January 30 when her bail application would be heard.

    Okorie of 1 Henry Montero Street, Lekki Palm City, Ajah, Lagos is alleged, in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/278/2025 to have conspired with Ifeoma Mbonu (now at large) to commit  cyberstalking and defamation by calling a fellow actress, Mercy Johnson Okojie a blood sucking demon in their posts on their social media platforms of Instagram and Tiktok.

    The police said the offences, allegedly committed in 2024, violated the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act of 2015.

    After Okorie pleaded to the charge, prosecuting lawyer, Victor Okoye urged the court to remand the defendant in Suleja prison and fix a date for the prosecution to open its case.

    Ejesieme objected to Okoye’s application, claiming that his client was not afforded adequate time and opportunity to prepare for her defence.

    The defence lawyer said even though the prosecution filed the charge since July 2025, it only handed a copy to the defendant about an hour before the commencement of proceedings.

    He claimed that his client was never informed about the  case in court but only arrested her in Lagos the previous day and brought her to Abuja for arraignment. He also claimed that the police denied him access to her for proper briefing.

    Ejesieme prayed the court to allow his client to continue to enjoy the administrative bail earlier granted him by the police.

    In the alternative, Ejesieme urged the court to release the defendant to him to enable her make provision for her child that has been left alone in Lagos and for her to also file a formal bail application.

    The defence lawyer said his client was a single mother of one, who was not afforded time to make adequate arrangement for her child before being brought to Abuja from Lagos. 

    Responding, Okoye faulted Ejesieme’s arguments. He argued that the administrative bail granted the defendant has since expired upon her arraignment.

    Okoye accused Okorie of jumping bail and failing to honour invitations sent to her to report to the police headquarters in Abuja in respect of the case.

    Read Also: Tinubu seeks reforms to expand Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, strengthen health institutions

    The prosecuting lawyer urged the court to order the defendant to file a formal bail application to enable the prosecution exhibit necessary documents in support of its position that the defendant jumped the administrative bail granted her and also failed to honour past invitations sent to her.

    Ruling, Justice Nwite confirmed that the police actually sent an invitation to the defendant on January 16 to report at the headquarters in relation to the case.

    The judge however faulted the police for denying the defendant access to her lawyers before the court’s proceedings.

    He ordered parties to file and exchange all necessary documents in relation to the formal bail application to be filed by the defendant within 24 hours.

    Justice Nwite also ordered that the defendant be remanded in Suleja prison and to be produced on January 30 for the hearing of her bail application.

    Okorie’s case stemmed from a petition by Mercy Johnson Okojie’s lawyer, in which sundry allegations were made against her and Ifeoma.

    Part of the petition, dated Mary 14, 2025 reads: “Most alarmingly, in a recent criminal and defamatory publication, Angela Okorie published the following statement via her Instagram page @ realagelaokorie:

    ‘Blood sucking demon no see blood suck again, E say na slimming tea. Except there’s no God, MJ go and beg people you chop their destinies and destroyed their hornes else no peace for the wicked!!! Gospel songs won’t save you. Your heart Is Dark!!!’

    “This malicious statement, clearly targeted at our client, was published with the intent to cause irreparable reputational injury, incite hatred, provoke unrest among the public and further harass and emotionally traumatize our client. 

    “The tone, content, and framing of the publication aim to portray our client as a destructive person, despite her widely known public image as a humanitarian and devout Christian mother. 

    “The principal suspect, Angela Okorie, has demonstrated a relentless and calculated effort to incite public hatred and threaten public peace by repeatedly using her social media platform for criminal intimidation, false accusations, and criminal defamation. 

    “She has become the most aggressive and persistent in this malicious campaign.”

  • IShowSpeed gets Ghanaian passport after completion of Africa Tour

    IShowSpeed gets Ghanaian passport after completion of Africa Tour

    Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that the country has granted citizenship to US YouTuber IShowSpeed, also known as Darren Jason Watkins Jr., following his month-long tour of Africa.

    The 21-year-old influencer, who has 50 million YouTube subscribers, was recognised for his “irrefutable ties” to Ghana.

    “@wode_maya following our discussions and subsequent confirmation of the irrefutable ties of IShowSpeed to Ghana, I am pleased to inform you and our compatriots that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved the issuance of a Ghanaian Passport to IShowSpeed. Keep making our great nation Ghana, and our beloved African continent proud.

    “Ghana celebrates you both — you remain our worthy ambassadors, and we are ever so delighted to have granted you a diplomatic passport last year. For God, Country & Continent”, the statement reads.

    Read Also: Cubana Chief Priest defends Peller’s hustle amid iShowSpeed snub

    IShowSpeed’s tour, which began December 29, took him to 20 countries, showcased Africa’s diverse culture, tourism, and technology, challenging stereotypes and showcasing a different side of the continent.

    The move is seen as part of Ghana’s “Beyond the Return” initiative, encouraging members of the African diaspora to formalise their ties with the nation.

    The announcement has sparked mixed reactions, with some Ghanaians welcoming the move as a boost to the country’s global image, while others question the value of granting citizenship to foreign celebrities.