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Tag: Ibinabo

  • MENEA: Ibinabo Fiberesima promotes healthy environment

    To commemorate this year’s World Environmental Day, which has as its theme: ‘Beat Plastic Solution’, showbiz personality, Ibinabo Fiberesima has, through her Serendipity Media Limited, launched the Miss Earth Nigeria Environment Award (MENEA).

    The initiative is geared towards celebrating those who have made significant environmental footprints in Nigeria.

    Billed to take place this October, the award ceremony is expected to honour State Governments, Corporations and individuals who have maintained a healthy, cleaner and sustainable environmental lifestyle.

    The award will consider efforts in areas such as recycling/up-cycling industries, collaboration for environmental sustainability, renewable energy sector, state governments with sustainable urban renewal projects, state governments with ecological solutions, and other environmental activists.

    According to Fiberesima who is President/National Franchise Director of Miss Earth Nigeria, MENEA will honour those who are environment-friendly and have gone green, just as it will inspire others to go green.

    “Environment is number one, going green is talk of the town,” she said.

    According Fiberesima, “A lot of state governments have Ministry of Environment but nothing seems to matter to them until something drastic happens, then they would start to run around. But we as individuals need to care about ourselves. So, we decided to honour those that have starting doing it, so that others can also get involved. There are a lot of recycling firms all around Nigeria today begging people to bring plastic to them and get paid. That way these supposedly waste products can be reprocessed to recover their value.”

    She noted that her team will evaluate nominated candidates thoroughly to ensure they give the awards to those who really deserve them.

    “We have to weigh it properly and ensure that we can defend any of our awardees,” she said, adding that the team will be travelling to different states in Nigeria to carry out inspections.

    She maintained that to improve the living standards of its citizens, MENEA will not relent on campaigns on environmental issues.  For example, “We encourage every home or office to separate waste bins for bottles, nylons, papers etc.”

  • Ibinabo recounts pains of surgery, failed marriage

    Ibinabo recounts pains of surgery, failed marriage

    •Unveils eight beneficiaries of her scholarship at birthday gig

    It was a different kind of celebration for embattled actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima who clocked 44 years last Friday.
    The mother of three, at her birthday gig in Lekki Phase one, hosted her celebrity colleagues, the media and officials of Heritage Bank, sponsors of her annual scholarship scheme tagged ‘Go To School’, meant for kids under the age of 10.
    High point of the celebration was the unveiling of five beneficiaries in the maiden edition of the scholarship scheme, a charity she has since embarked upon despite a manslaughter case that is pending.
    Recall that Ibinabo is on bail of a court proceeding over an accident that led to the death of one Dr Suraj Giwa in 2006.
    The actress thanked the recipients for allowing her to be a part of their lives saying, “It is good to have children who you can give the best education, but when you look out there, you see thousands of children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school. I know assisting eight people will at least change their lives in some ways,” she said.
    This is not the first time the actress will be engaging in philanthropic gestures. She had long been interested in children and had even adopted some as her children.
    The beneficiaries include; Paul Prince Stephens from Akwa Ibom, Arinze Maxi Chukwu from Anambra, Odunaike Olamilekan from Lagos, and Treasure Okwuke from Edo State. Others include, Oluwafemi Usman, and three other children from one family in Kogi State.
    Some of her colleagues at the event are Charles Granville, Aneke Twins, AY, Ricardo Agbor and Monalisa Chinda.
    Shortly before her birthday party, Ibinabo had revealed via the social media, the collapse of her two-year-old marriage to Uche Egbuka in a birthday message to her fans. She also narrated, while thanking God, the surgical pains she had to go through in her fight against breast cancer.
    She wrote on Instagram: “The last year in particular has severally presented survival as a questionable option. Giving me struggles that seemed impossible to deal with, fading my strength to keep going by the minute feeding my fears and insecurities with worries that come to steal joy.
    “From the shock of a 3 time presence of lumps in the breast to surgeries; fighting for my life and the pain of dissolution of a bond I hoped to keep with a life time partner and the re-emergence of singleness.”

  • Ibinabo makes debut with scholarship scheme

    Ibinabo makes debut with scholarship scheme

    Embattled Nollywood actress and President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberesima who is currently battling a manslaughter case has continued her charity works with a scholarship scheme for the less privileged kids.
    Tagged ‘Go To School’, the initiative is being run under her Ibinabo Care Foundation with partner, Heritage Bank.
    According to a statement released by the actress, “The aim is to assist young children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school or have dropped out of school due to financial challenges.”
    Fiberesima who shed more light on the project said, “ An Educational Fund will be set up for then with our Partner Bank, Heritage Bank and their parents will be able to access the funds whenever they need to pay for their educational needs.”
    She disclosed that this year, the scheme will be assisting five children. According to ‘Go To School’, a potential beneficiary must be a child below age 10, is not attending a high end school at the moment and must have proof that parent cannot afford to send them to school or have dropped out.
    Fiberesima who added that prior good grades will be a plus said the child should be schooling and residing in Nigeria.
    “After screening and investigation by a board, Five children will be selected and awarded the scholarships.
    “We will also need the help of everyone.
    “If you know anyone who fits the profile listed above, please send in an application to the below listed email addresses. A form will be sent to you to be completed by the parent or guardian of the child.
    “If you also want to be a part of the scheme or want to assist any child, you can write us via the emails:actionafrica@ yahoo.com or biso225@yahoo .com.”
    Presentation day is scheduled for January 13, 2016, coinciding with the birthday of the proprietor of the Foundation, Ibinabo Fiberesima, at a star-studded event.

  • Colleagues plan appeal sessions for Ibinabo

    Colleagues plan appeal sessions for Ibinabo

    In solidarity with her cause, friends, colleagues and well wishers of embattled AGN president, Ibinabo Fiberesima across Nigeria will come together on Thursday, May 19 for prayers and supplications to the Justice System for the pardon of the actress.

    According to a statement sent out by one of her lawyers, Barrister Norbert Ajaegbu, who is also a stakeholder in the Nigerian film industry, the gathering is not in any way intended to truncate the judicial process but to appeal for mercy and leniency from the authorities for Ibinabo, who’s presently undergoing breast cancer treatment amid being a mother and bread winner for her family.

    “We commiserate with the Giwa family and feel their pains over the loss of the Good Doctor and have made ongoing efforts to comfort and be with them all through this process. It is an unfortunate cycle which has brought upon this but we sincerely believe that in the end, healing and reconciliation will prevail,” the statement reads.

    Ibinabo was sentenced to a five – year jail term for the death of a Lagos State Doctor, Suraj Giwa. She was later granted bail in the sum of N2million and two sureties who are residents in Lagos in like sum.

    Ibinabo’s lawyers had filed a bail application on the grounds of a serious medical attention. The popular Nollywood actress’ appeal of the 2006 judgement by a Lagos High Court was thrown out by the Lagos appellate court on January 28, 2016, reserving the five-year jail term without an option of fine.

    There are indications the case may receive further hearing at the Supreme Court.

  • Colleagues plan appeal sessions for Ibinabo

    Colleagues plan appeal sessions for Ibinabo

    In solidarity with her cause, friends, colleagues and well wishers of embattled AGN president, Ibinabo Fiberesima across Nigeria will come together on Thursday, May 19 for prayers and supplications to the Justice System for the pardon of the actress.

    According to a statement sent out by one of her lawyers, Barrister Norbert Ajaegbu, who is also a stakeholder in the Nigerian film industry, the gathering is not in any way intended to truncate the judicial process but to appeal for mercy and leniency from the authorities for Ibinabo, who’s presently undergoing breast cancer treatment amid being a mother and bread winner for her family.

    “We commiserate with the Giwa family and feel their pains over the loss of the Good Doctor and have made ongoing efforts to comfort and be with them all through this process. It is an unfortunate cycle which has brought upon this but we sincerely believe that in the end, healing and reconciliation will prevail,” the statement reads.

    Ibinabo was sentenced to a five – year jail term for the death of a Lagos State Doctor, Suraj Giwa. She was later granted bail in the sum of N2million and two sureties who are residents in Lagos in like sum.

    Ibinabo’s lawyers had filed a bail application on the grounds of a serious medical attention. The popular Nollywood actress’ appeal of the 2006 judgement by a Lagos High Court was thrown out by the Lagos appellate court on January 28, 2016, reserving the five-year jail term without an option of fine.

    There are indications the case may receive further hearing at the Supreme Court.

  • Ibinabo seeks bail on health grounds

    Ibinabo seeks bail on health grounds

    Nollywood actress and President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, who is currently in detention on charges of manslaughter, has sought bail citing health reasons. This is coming after the embattled actress’ March 11 failed attempt to secure bail.

    The three-man panel, presided over by Justice Ndukwe-Anyanwu, said that the appellant failed to attach copies of the judgment that was delivered by the court which affirmed the five years jail sentence imposed on her.

    In a six paragraph affidavit of urgency deposed to by one Victor Eden, the deponent averred that a tumour was expelled from Ibinabo’s breast.

    The trial magistrate had earlier given the appellant an option of N100, 000 fine for the offence. This judgment was, however, overturned by the high court, which replaced the option of fine with a five-year jail term.

    The court of appeal has fixed April 7 to hear a bail application causing the actress and ex beauty queen to file an appeal through her lawyer, urging the court to set aside the five- year sentence.

  • Convicted actress Ibinabo refused bail at Appeal Court

    Convicted actress Ibinabo refused bail at Appeal Court

    Convicted ex-beauty queen Ibinabo Fiberesima, yesterday, failed to secure bail at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.

    A three-man, presided over by Justice U. Ndukwe-Anyanwu, said the appellant failed to attach copies of last Friday’s judgment, which affirmed the five years’ jail sentence imposed on her by a Lagos High Court.

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

    The Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) president told the court she was recuperating from breast surgery and that staying in prison would endanger her life.

    When the matter came up yesterday at the Appeal Court, Ibinabo’s lawyer Nnaemeka Amaechina informed the court of his client’s March 14 application, which was served on the Lagos State government.

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

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

    Consequently, Amaechina sought an adjournment.

    The  court adjourned till April 7 for hearing of the bail application.

    But the actress has asked the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.

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

    The appellant added that the Court of Appeal erred when it affirmed the “interference by the High Court with the exercise of discretion by the Magistrate’s Court”.

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

    In a six-paragraph affidavit of urgency deposed to by Victor Eden, the deponent said Ibinabo was recovering from surgery and that a tumour was removed from her breast.

     He said 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,” Eden said.

    The deponent added that it would be in the interest of justice and her health and safety to admit Ibinabo to bail pending the 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 Dr. Giwa Suraj, in an auto accident on  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 Magistrate’s Court.

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

  • Appeal Court affirms Ibinabo’s five-year jail term for manslaughter

    Appeal Court affirms Ibinabo’s five-year jail term for manslaughter

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, yesterday dismissed an appeal filed by ex-beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberesima, challenging a Lagos High Court judgment 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 an employee 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’s Court which sentenced her to a N100,000 fine.

    But delivering judgment yesterday, 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’s 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.

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

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

    Speaking on the judgment, 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 Magistrate’s 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 fine.

    He added that N100, 000 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, Mrs Rotimi Odutola,  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 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 slams N10m fine on Ibinabo

    Court slams N10m fine on Ibinabo

    Few weeks after being ordered by the Lagos State Court of Appeal to appear for judgment in the appeal challenging the five-year prison sentence handed out to her in 2009, Nollywood actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima, is in the web of the law again.

    In a separate case filed by a former Miss Earth Nigeria, Miss Munachi Chinenye Uzoma, challenging Fiberesima and AMC Productions Ltd for a breach of contract signed on October 28, 2011, a Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt, on Friday slammed the defendants with a fine of N10 million having upheld claims by the plaintiff.

    The case against the actress and AMC Productions Ltd was filed on August 29, 2012, by the L.O Ndatigh chambers, and has its defendant as O.C Higher King Esq.

    “At last justice has been done,” Uzoma who said she was cheated by the defendants said, after the rulling.

    Recall that on Thursday, January 28, 2016, the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos had reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Nollywood actress Ibinabo Fiberesima challenging the judgment of a Lagos High Court which sentenced her to five years imprisonment for the death of one Dr Giwa Suraj.

    The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command had in 2005 charged the ex-beauty queen to the magistrate court on a two-count charge of dangerous and reckless driving along Epe Expressway, Lagos which resulted to the death of Dr  Suraj.

  • I’m not in jail, Ibinabo assures

    I’m not in jail, Ibinabo assures

    FOLLOWING a Court of Appeal’s directive in Lagos, last week, that actress Ibinabo Fiberesima should appear in court for judgment in the appeal challenging a five-year prison sentence handed out to her in 2009, many have gone to town with purported news of the actress’ incarceration.

    Refuting the rumour, the ex-beauty queen chided the reporters, telling them not to predict the outcome of the court, which is yet to fix a date for judgment.

    She said in a social media post: “Our attention has been drawn to reports in some section of the media that I have been sentenced earlier today.

    “Let it be on record that the court of appeal has not even set a date for judgment talk less of giving judgment…”

    According to Fiberesima who expressed gratitude to those who have reached out to her after reading the reports, “we believe in the fairness of our judiciary and we hope for the best.”

    Recall that the actress 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.

    At the hearing of the appeal penultimate 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.