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Tag: Ibinabo Fiberesima

  • We must prioritise actors’ safety, says Ibinabo Fiberesima

    We must prioritise actors’ safety, says Ibinabo Fiberesima

    Former beauty queen and actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima has called on the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria to prioritise actors’ safety at all times.

    The former AGN president made this call after the death of popular Nigerian actor, Junior Pope and crew members in the call of duty.

    In a short message, Fiberesima urged the leadership of the guild not to make mediocre decisions like suspending shoots in riverine areas rather than putting effective safety measures in place.

    Read Also; Our economy ‘ll roar back to glory in coming months – Tinubu

    “Dear AGN, I would have expected a memo emphasising safety measures during filming instead of suspending shoots in riverine areas. This decision seems mediocre, we must prioritise the safety of our actors over bloated egos,” she wrote.

    Fiberesima was AGN president for two terms and was big on the health and safety of actors during her reign. She prioritised actors’ health insurance and care for veterans during her two terms in office aside from getting the nod of the government.

  • Have Ibinabo, Fred Amata continued their love story?

    Recently, an event brought two Nollywood veterans together. Apart from being fantastic actors during their glory years in the movie industry, they were once lovers. But for some reason, the romance didn’t stand the test of time.

    But at a recent beauty pageant, Miss Earth Nigeria 2019, held at the Mega 1 Events Place, Lekki, Lagos, Ibinabo Fiberesima and Fred Amata looked happy together as if things never went wrong between them. With the chemistry shared at the occasion, it automatically raised eyebrows. It was suggested that they might have resolved their differences secretly and could be more than just friends at the moment.

    Their past romance produced a girl child, Ewomazino. She was also spotted at the event organised by Ibinabo.

    Other celebrities at the event were Gbenga Adeyinka, the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2018 winner, Anita Ukah, Zeb Ejiro and Keppy Ekpenyong.

  • Blood Entertainment set for ‘Like Buhari’ major release

    Blood Entertainment set for ‘Like Buhari’ major release

    Urban music label, Blood Entertainment, has announced that it’s set for the major release of Like Buhari, a pop song by its frontline act, King Oogbodo.

    According to BE, Like Buhari has been on underground promo for some time now in order to receive the proper feedback on it from music lovers and stakeholders and having obtained a pass mark on that score, it’s now time to push it massively.

    The target is for it to become a worldwide hit and to that extent, a major release on all major online platforms, radio and every other form of major promotional avenue is next on the cards.

    In Like Buhari, King Oogbodo sings and raps about what it feels like to be successful and rich in the mold of eminent persons like Dangote, Tinubu, Otedola, Adenuga. He also acknowledges entertainment industry icons King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and Ibinabo Fiberesima who are an inspiration to him.

    Like Buhari was produced by Shocker whose roster of artists includes 9ice, small DOCTOR and Klever Jay.

  • Trouble again in AGN’s house of cards

    WHILE the recent genesis of the crisis rocking the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) can be traced to the leadership divisions with Ibinabo Fiberesima and Emeka Ike leading two different factions of body, recent activities by the AGN Board of Trustees have further divided Guild members.

    At the crux of the matter is an election of officers into a Government of National Unity (GNU) which was conducted by the AGN Board of Trustees at its 2017 Peace and Reconciliation Conference held in Enugu on August 22, 2017 to chart a way forward.

    At the election, Emeka Rollas Ejezie was elected as GNU president, defeating Emeka Ike with 42 votes to 14 at the congress headed by AGN Vice President, BOT, Emma Ogugua. Also at the congress, Samuel Oniyobo emerged national secretary; Michael Oruma, Vice president, North Central (unopposed); Marshall Johnson, Vice President, North East, (unopposed); Arimu Tope Babayemi, Vice president, South West (unopposed); Mens Nick Ikpeme, Vice president, South south (unopposed); IK Ezeanagu emerged Vice president South East. Other officers were Moses Kasa who emerged Financial Secretary, St. Maradona, Treasurer (unopposed); Frank Dallas, PRO (unopposed); Rex Maxwell M Barde, Chief Whip (unopposed) and AB Cowboy who emerged the DGS. They have a two-year tenure.

    “We thank all those who contributed to this peace meeting,” said Ogugua while congratulating the winners who were immediately sworn in. While Emeka Ike was present, Fiberesima was absent at the ‘election.’

    “We thank Emeka Ike for his support for government of national unity and dissolution of both Emeka Ike executives and Ibinabo’s executives. We thank the congress for voting it too and their approval for all actions taken today for the peace. May God bless you all.”

    Though, the officers were sworn in, not every Guild member is comfortable with this recent development.

    A frosty ‘agreement’

    However, in a swift response, Femi Durojaiye, AGN National Secretary dismissed the Enugu ‘election’ as fraud.

    “First I would like to correct the impression that there was a Congress of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) at Enugu,” he said in a statement he claimed was endorsed by both Ike and Fibresima.

    “There was none. The meeting at Enugu was another Peace and Reconciliation meeting, an earlier one was held in Lagos.

    “It is an act of idiocy to posit that a Court judgement gotten by a member of AGN was “handed over” to a dubious and non existent “Congress”. The judgement of a Court of competent jurisdiction is a law enforceable not just by AGN members but any interested party.

    “The only competent and constitutionally empowered persons to call a Congress of AGN are the two factional Presidents of AGN, Messrs Ms Ibinabo Fiberesima and Emeka Ike. They are yet to do so.

    “It is important to note that the reference to the Board of Trustees led by Ifeanyi Dike at the Enugu meeting is a monumental error of judgement. This board has since been sacked by the Court!”

    Durojaiye further argued that the National Exco was not dissolved and it is only the Exco of the two factions that can dissolve it after putting in place an electoral body.

    “The two National Excos never did and Ms Ibinabo Fiberesima didn’t even attend the Enugu Peace and Reconciliation meeting,” he wrote.

    “The purported vacuum created after the “dissolution of National Excos” is a figment of the imagination of the Enugu power hungry fellows who made a futile grab for power.

    “Our members and the general public are enjoined to disregard the Enugu meeting and all illegalities that has emanated from it, including the “election” of a fake President.

    “The coming together of the two National Excos of Ms Ibinabo Fiberesima and Emeka Ike to bring AGN crisis to a close is laudable. They are working hard at it. They remain the legal mouthpiece of Actors Guild of Nigeria.”

    Also wading into the matter, Alex Eyengho heaped the blame on the AGN BoT for scuttling a peace process between the two factions.

    “Yes, there was a peace process in place with Ibinabo and Emeka signing unto it,” Eyengho.

    “But somewhere along the line, the highly political and politicized AGN BoT hawks, hijacked the process. The Enugu meeting the BoT called was their game plan and they got everything properly worked out, unknown to Ibinabo, Emeka Ike and their followers. But, Ibinabo was circumspect by staying away. She actually advised Emeka Ike not to attend the Enugu meeting but the Yaba Polytechnic engineering graduate turned down the advice. He got his fingers burnt at the end of the Enugu kangaroo meeting! In reality, it is Ibinabo and Emeka Ike that have the locus to call any unity meeting of AGN. Also, the matter is in court. If Ibinabo alone tells the court that she was not part of the so called peace meeting in Enugu, be rest assured that the whole meeting and its AGN GNU outcome is dead on arrival! Bottomline, AGN palava rages on!”

    Also, in Enugu, Ike and Fiberesima ended their messy 12-year old leadership tussle and later posed for a picture, which went viral. And earlier in the week in Lagos, the duo talked peace and clarified their positions on the ‘election.’

    “The division was not about I, Ibinabo, but about the BOT of the Guild whose tenure has longed expired and has refused to allow fresh ideas and innovations and I said NO, because Nollywood is a global phenomenon and the idea of life BOT will not just work,” Fiberesima said.

    Ike added: “As you know this agitation has cost me a lot but today because of the youths I have embraced peace so we can build the future generation together. This reconciliation is for the young Actors in Nollywood.”

    The duo also agreed to make peace with Fiberesima saying she would withdraw the pending court case and call for a joint congress of both factions so as to conduct an election.

    “Our members should be allowed to choose their leaders in a peaceful manner and by tricks and ambushing,” Fiberesima said.

  • CHAIRMEN OF ACTORS GUILD REAFFIRMS IBINABO FIBERESIMA AS PRESIDENT

    CHAIRMEN of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, across the country recently met in Calabar, Cross River State, to chart the way forward for the guild’s age long disputes. They also condemned activities of some members and reaffirmed Ibinabo Fiberesima as the legitimate national president of the guild.

    Briefing journalists after a close-door meeting that lasted for hours, the chairman of Cross River chapter of the guild, Monica Udofia, who played host to the meeting told newsmen that the meeting of statesmen from across the country was to address the authenticity of Ibinabo Fiberesima as national president of the guild.

    Udofia also said the meeting sought to condemn activities of Emeka Ike who parades himself as factional president of the guild and the recent purported setting up a caretaker committee led by Steve Eboh.

    A communiqué released to the media after the meeting commended Ibinabo for respecting the judgment of Justice J.S Tshoho of the Federal High Court.

    “We condemn in totality the activities of Emeka Ike and his cohorts n impersonating as AGN President and National Executives and setting up parallel State chapters without regards to existing chapters. It is not only unconstitutional, but illegal,” the communiqué read in part.

    On the formation of the “National Caretaker Committee” by some purported stakeholders of the guild, headed by Steve Eboh, with the endorsement of Agility Onwurah as Chairmen of Chairmen the communiqué said “Please note that Agility Onwurah is not the Chairman of Chairmen,” even as it argued that the committee also housed some non registered members of the guild as members.

    “The Stakeholders meeting in Awka was just a gathering of some ignorant members used by over ambitious few who are bent on fermenting trouble in the Guild to achieve their mischievous aims and objectives. We urge our members to disregard them,” the communiqué said.

    The chairmen of actors also condemned the unethical reporting by some media practitioners especially the electronic media whom the chairmen said usually throw professionalism to the gutter by airing one sided stories without recourse to hear both sides of it.

    “They, not all media houses maliciously help to proclaim Emeka Ike as the President of AGN, as they kept airing his own side of the story without cross checking with the National Secretariat of the Guild or State Chapter Chairmen for proper brief on the true situation of crisis in the Guild.”

    “We appeal to Messrs Emeka Ike and Steve Eboh to embrace peace and eschew all acts capable of tarnishing our image.”

    “Actors are Ambassadors of Peace; we are role models and mirror of the society.

    It is therefore disheartening to see our dear AGN, our pride being ridiculed in public for mere personal ambition of few members.”

    Renown comic actor and chairperson of Lagos State chapter of the guild Victor Osuagwu, worried why Emeka Ike parades himself as the guild’s apex president, when according to them, he did not vie for the position while also maintaining that Ike is not a financial member and was not attending the guild’s meetings as stated in the constitution.

    Meanwhile, while the meeting lasted, according to River State chapter chairman of AGN, Orikoha Ugochukwu the chairman of the “purported caretaker committee set by Emeka Rollers”, Steve Ebo had called in to intimate them that he and his members have dissolved the committee claiming they were being instigated mar the guild.

    On his part, Kwara State chairman, Val Gbenga urged the media to always speak to stakeholders of the guild who had authority to speak on issues of the guild rather than give relevance to non-members of the guild as it drags the guild to disrepute.

    Also speaking, popular actor and chairman of AGN in Enugu, Stan K. Amandi sued for an all stakeholders meeting where disgruntled members would bare their minds with a view to reunite the guild. Nasarawa chairperson, Andrey Adzuayi Allu, also reaffirmed her recognition of Ibinabo Fiberesima as the legitimate president of the guild.

  • Five years’ jail: Ibinabo fails to get bail at Appeal Court

    Five years’ jail: Ibinabo fails to get bail at Appeal Court

    Convicted former beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Thursday failed in her bid to secure bail at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, due to an incompetent application.

    A three man-panel of the Appeal Court presided over by Justice U.I. Ndukwe-Anyanwu observed that the appellant failed to attach copies of the judgment delivered by the court last Friday, which affirmed the five years’ jail sentence imposed on her by a Lagos High Court in Igbosere.

    Other Judges on the panel are Justice Samuel Oseji and Justice Tijani Abubakar respectively.

    The Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) president has also told the Supreme Court that she is recuperating from breast surgery and that staying in prison would endanger her life.

    When the matter came up Thursday at the Appeal Court, Ibinabo’s lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina informed that court of his client’s application dated March 14, which had already been served on the Lagos State Government (respondent).

    However, the application could not be heard as the court observed that the appellant’s failure to attach copies of the judgment as exhibit rendered the whole application incompetent.

    Justice Ndukwe-Anyanwu said the only option left was to strike out the application or adjourn it till another date for hearing.

    Consequently, Amaechina sought for an adjournment to enable him do the needful and the court adjourned the matter till April 7 for hearing of the bail application.

    Meanwhile, the actress has asked the Supreme Court to set aside the judgement of the lower court.

    In her Notice of Appeal, the appellant stated that Court of Appeal erred in law when it affirmed the decision of the High Court of Lagos State by setting aside the option of N100, 000 fine and substituting it with a term of five years’ imprisonment.

    The appellant further stated that the Court of Appeal erred in law when it affirmed the “interference by the High Court with the exercise of discretion by the trial Magistrates’ Court.”

    She added that the “judgment of the Court of Appeal is unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence presented before the court.”

    In a six-paragraph affidavit of urgency deposed to by one Victor Eden, the deponent stated that Ibinabo is currently recovering from surgery and that she recently removed a tumour from her breast and that she needed constant monitoring by her doctors.

    “Her wound has not fully healed and as such she is afraid that her continued stay in the prison may endanger her life as she will not have access to special medical attention”, he stated.

    The deponent stated that it would be in the interest of justice and for her health and safety to admit Ibinabo to bail pending the hearing and determination of her appeal before the Supreme Court.

    The embattled actress was sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi for reckless driving which caused the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj in an auto accident along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos. Dissatisfied, Fiberesima in her amended appellant brief filed by her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina urged the court to set aside the five-year sentence and restore the decision of the Magistrates’ Court.

    But the appellate court in its judgment delivered on February 11, dismissed Ibinabo’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the Lagos High Court.

     

  • Ibinabo weeps as Court confirms five years’ jail term

    Ibinabo weeps as Court confirms five years’ jail term

    • Actress heads to Supreme Court

    The Court of Appeal Lagos Division, Friday dismissed an appeal filed by ex beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima challenging a Lagos High Court judgement which sentenced her to serve five years in prison for the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj.

    The embattled president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) was sentenced by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi for reckless driving which caused the death of Suraj in an auto accident along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.

    He was a staff of a Lagos State hospital.

    Dissatisfied, Fiberesima in her amended appellant brief filed by her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina, urged the court to set aside the sentence and restore the decision of the Magistrate Court which sentenced her to a N100, 000 fine.

    But, delivering judgment Friday, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and affirmed the High Court’s judgment.

    In a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur the court held that the trial Magistrate Court lacked the discretion to grant Ibinabo an option of fine after her conviction.

    It held further that the appeal lacked merit and thereby dismissed it accordingly.

    Other members of the panel are Justice U.I. Ndukwe-Anyanwu (Mrs.) (presiding) and Justice Tijani Abubakar respectively.

    Ibinabo, who was visibly apprehensive throughout the proceeding, burst into tears immediately the judgment was delivered.

    The court had, at its last sitting, ordered her to appear before it on judgement day.

    Speaking on the judgement, her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina, said it would be challenged at the Supreme Court adding that a Notice of Appeal had been filed already.

    The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command had in 2005 charged Fiberesima to an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of dangerous and reckless driving along the Lekki- Epe Expressway, Lagos which resulted in the death of Suraj.

    She was awarded a N100, 000 fine by the Court, but this decision was tested at the High Court by the Lagos State Government.

    At the High Court, Justice Oluwayemi set aside the option of N100, 000 fine imposed and sentenced Fiberesima to five years imprisonment for dangerous and reckless driving.

    She held that the trial Magistrate exercised judicial recklessness when he gave the convict an option of N100, 000 fine and this did not serve the purpose of justice.

    She subsequently ordered that the N100, 000 should be returned to Fiberesima.

    The court added that Section 28 of the Road Traffic Law clearly provides that where a reckless and dangerous driving has caused the death of a person, the accused person shall be guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment of seven years.

    Dissatisfied, Fiberesima in her amended appellant brief filed by her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina before the Court of Appeal urged the court to set aside the five year sentence and restore the decision of the Magistrate Court.

    Amaechina had argued that the Magistrate’s Court exercised its discretion properly and there was no ground to review it by the high court.

    He submitted that by virtue of the Notice of Increased in Jurisdiction of Magistrates, No. 7 of 2006, the trial Magistrate could only impose a maximum of 7 years imprisonment or N100, 000.00 fine.

    He added that N100, 000.00 fine is the maximum limit the trial Magistrate can impose as fine and that was what it imposed on the appellant.

    In her response, counsel to Lagos State, Rotimi Odutola (Mrs.) argued that the law creating the offence of dangerous driving causing death has provided for a term of imprisonment as punishment for anyone convicted under section 28 hence the trial Magistrate ought not to exercise such arbitrary discretion to impose N100.000.00 as fine.

    Odutola further submitted that the children of the deceased have been permanently deprived of the ‘’measureless contributions’’ of their father to their lives as a result of his death caused by the appellant.

  • Court to rule on Fiberesima’s appeal against jail sentence

    Court to rule on Fiberesima’s appeal against jail sentence

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Thursday directed the President of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberesima, to appear in court for judgment in the appeal challenging a five-year prison sentence handed out to her by Lagos High Court in 2009.

    The ex-beauty queen was sentenced to five- year imprisonment without option of fine by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi for reckless driving which resulted in the death of one Dr. Giwa Suraj on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, in 2009.

    The deceased worked with one of government’s hospitals in the state.

    At the hearing of the appeal on Thursday, the court presided over by Justice U.I. Ndukwe-Anyanwu, reserved judgment in the case after counsels adopted their written addresses.

    Justice Ndukwe-Anyanwu directed Fiberesima to appear in court on the date picked for ruling.

    She said the judgment date will be communicated to the parties.

     

  • IBINABO FIBERESIMA, SEGUN ARINZE OTHERS IN RIVERS BETWEEN

    IBINABO FIBERESIMA, SEGUN ARINZE OTHERS IN RIVERS BETWEEN

    Top Nollywood personalities are among those featured in a new blockbuster movie titled Rivers Between, put together by Beehay Media Concepts Nigeria Limited.

    Produced by fast-rising Nollywood actress, Bose Alao Omotoyossi, the wife of the Nigerian-born Beninese soccer star, Rasak Omotoyossi, and directed by Chris Eneaji, Rivers Between is expected to premiere in 2016 before it starts screening in cinemas across the country.

    The movie stars the likes of Ibinabo Fiberesima, Segun Arinze, Akin Lewis, Don Patrik, Tolu Awobiyi, Foluke Daramola, and Belinda Effah, among others.

    Rivers Between is a story of two African countries, The Republic of Belenda and the Republic of Libertoire, fighting over a piece of land in a border town called Baini.

    While the presidents of both countries have employed all forms of manouvres to no avail, despite the help of a patriot, the first lady of the Republic of Belenda is in sizzling romance with the Libertoire’s President. This further heightens the rivalry between the countries.

    Rivers Between, according to the producers, is a story that portrays love, trust, betrayals and blood. It was scripted by Gbenga Adesanya and shot within Lekki  Epe metropolitan area of Lagos State.

    Omotoyossi, producer of the flick, rose through the ranks and became popular after featuring in Wale Adenuga’s Comedy TV Series, Papa Ajasco and Company. The beautiful mother of three has produced four films to her credit; Imoran Ika, Opa Abo, Olasubomi as well as Talo Smart. She has also featured in films like Omo Iya Mi, Ife Foju, Mo Nbowa Olorun, Aye Jobele, Ale Ariwo, among many.

  • I have no issues with Emeka Ike- Ibinabo Fiberesima

    I have no issues with Emeka Ike- Ibinabo Fiberesima

    Ibinabo Fiberesima, President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), issued an official statement clarifying all court rulings and controversies surrounding her seat as AGN President as well as her relationship with Emeka Ike. The statement which was signed by Media Coordinator, Ekine Stronghold disclosed that Mrs Fibresima has no issues with actor, Emeka Ike and she will continue to address the welfare of Nigerian actors and actresses which he was elected into power to do. Read the full statement below:

    The President of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima Egbuka wishes to express her heartfelt appreciation to her members, Nollywood practitioners and teeming fans.

    The love and support you have shown towards her is overwhelming. The moment the news of the court ruling filtered in on the 16th of March 2015, our office have received a barrage of phone calls, emails and text messages from so many people expressing their concern, support and love.

    Some made us laugh, some made us cry. A particular individual sent a picture which is attached and said “I don’t know you but may this love in your heart never leave your industry. Love conquers hate. Love is what your industry needs and you carry it so hate will look for every reason to fight you whether genuine or not”. That, made me cry.

    Sadly, that fellow’s prophecy has also come true as a few people that don’t mean well for the industry have used the opportunity to ferment trouble and open old wounds. This is not right. Hence, It is important to make certain clarifications on the matters on ground.

    1.       The news of the court ruling annulling the November 2012 elections is true and as law abiding citizens, we will not do anything outside our constitutional right.

    2.       We have expressed our right and have appealed the case.

    3.       The Judgment did not make Emeka Ike the president of the Actors’ guild of Nigeria.

    4.       The court judgment points to the direction that the election that brought me in was illegal.

    5.       The case in question is between actor Emeka Ike , the board of trustees and the Segun Arinze lead government of National unity. It is not between I and Emeka Ike as some blogs have wrongly reported. I have no issues with Emeka Ike.

    6.        The Board of trustees has done well to uphold our constitution’s provision that there cannot be a lacuna in government, hence Ibinabo Fiberesima Egbuka remains the President of Actors Guild of Nigeria.

    7.       Ibinabo Fiberesima Egbuka remains committed to the well-being of the acting community of Nigeria. That is what she was elected to do. That, she we will continue to do. AGN….. The show must go on.

    Signed:

    Ekine Stronghold

    Media Coordinator

    IFCO