Sex Scandal: Stephanie Otobo’s mom, sister beg Apostle Suleman on live TV

The mother of Stephanie Otobo, the Nigerian woman who accused a cleric, Johnson Suleiman, of infidelity and abuse, visited the Omega Fire Ministry headquarters in Auchi, Edo State, on Sunday to plead on her daughter’s behalf.

Ms. Otobo’s sister accompanied their mum who is popularly called Mama Tope to the church. Their statements and apologies were beamed live on the church’s website on Sunday morning.

But in a swift video reaction on Instagram on Sunday, Ms. Otobo, who said she has since returned to Canada, claimed that her mother was threatened to apologise to the embattled pastor.

The budding singer also debunked her apology to Mr. Suleman, popularly called Apostle Suleman, saying she was threatened.

She said, “I just landed Toronto and I heard my mother made a video and apologized to Apostle Suleiman. My mother says she has been threatened and arrested twice. This is what Apostle Suleiman is doing – he is using his power. He should just come to court. I want Nigerians to know that my mother’s life is in danger right now, Apostle Suleiman is threatening my mother and family.’’

To back her claims, Ms. Otobo also shared a telephone conversion alleged to between herself and her mum in the same video.

Meanwhile, three days ago, Stephanie’s mum reacted to allegations made by her daughter that Mr. Suleman, promised to marry her.

In the video, which was recorded in Sapele, Delta State, the mother of the controversial ex-stripper claimed that she had not seen her daughter in the last three years.

She also described as untrue claims that she accompanied her daughter to the headquarters of Omega Fire Ministries in Auchi, Edo State, for an introduction ceremony.

She also said she had never been to the Omega Fire Ministries, nor met Mr. Suleman and added that anyone manipulating her daughter against the cleric would be exposed. 


She said, ‘I blame the devil for seeking to destroy my daughter. We have tried to get Stephanie to lead a normal life but it has not been possible. I will like to see Pastor Suleiman to apologise if they allow me see him so he can forgive my daughter and forget about the issue.”

Also, a group, Niger Delta Bishops and Ministers Forum, NDBMF, warned Ms. Otobo to stop “blackmailing” Apostle Suleiman. The President of NDBMF, Julius Ediwe, made the call in Port Harcourt recently.

He said, “We want to let Nigerians and the whole world to know that this is propaganda. It is false. As spiritual fathers in the land, we will not be quiet and watch a young girl, with whomever that is sponsoring her, spoil the name of a man of God. A man of God who has single-handedly stood in defence of Christians in this country, Africa and the whole world.”

Ms. Otobo was recently re-arraigned by the police with blackmail, threat to life, conspiracy, and intent to steal from Mr. Suleman.

She was arraigned alongside her associate, Wisdom Godstime, before Magistrate Kikelomo Bukola-Ayeye of the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. Ms. Otobo and her co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 each. The case was then adjourned to April 27 for commencement of trial.

This development comes a week after Ms. Otobo formally filed a petition asking police to investigate multiple allegations against the preacher.

In a letter to the Lagos State Police Commissioner, she accused Mr. Suleman of illegal procurement of abortion, threat to life, and attempted murder.

Ms. Otobo’s petition came days after she told journalists at a press conference that her relationship with Mr. Suleman ended after the preacher began to insist he wanted a sexual activity that involved a threesome.

Mr. Suleman has since denied having a relationship with her.

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Boko Haram: Nigerian Army demotes officer

The General Court Martial, GCM, of the Nigerian Army on Friday passed a verdict demoting a captain, Mathew Aroye, to 2^ndlieutenant after finding him guilty of gross indiscipline.

The President of the GCM, Olusegun Adeniyi, a brigadier general, gave the verdict during its sitting in Maiduguri.

Mr. Adeniyi said: “Captain Aroye, having found you guilty of the charge against you and having listened to the presentation of your service record and your touching plea in mitigation, this court hereby sentences you to a reduction in rank to 2^ndlieutenant with four-year seniority on the rank.”

“The sentence is, however, subject to confirmation by the confirming authority as provided by Section 141 sub-section 2 and Section 152 sub- section 1A of the Armed Forces Act Cap 20 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr. Aroye, a combatant with the 118 Task Force Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Gubio, was said to have taken sides with some disgruntled soldiers by unruly announcing that he had quit the army in November 2015 after his unit suffered a huge setback in the fight against Boko Haram.

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Man who attacked Sowore in Lagos petitions Ambode, wants Sahara Reporters publisher ejected

Lekan Fatodu, the man who attacked Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in Lagos in January, has petitioned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, asking him to eject Mr. Sowore from his office in the city.

Mr. Fatodu claimed Mr. Sowore has an office in the Ikeja GRA part of the metropolis allegedly being used to commit crimes and disturb the peace of neighbours.

Mr. Sowore has dismissed the allegation as a proxy attack from powerful political interests in Nigeria.

The March 6 petition was written and dispatched by Mr. Fatodu’s legal representatives, J.C. Ifeonu & Co.

The petition said Mr. Sowore had allegedly been using the house at 13A Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, to coordinate illegal activities.

“We reckon Your Excellency is aware that parts of the consequences of breeding criminality within that choice neighbourhood are a relentless social disturbance, agitation, and protests, which we strongly believe would adversely impact the peace and tranquillity that businesses and residents within the area have been enjoying all this while.

“We humbly urge Your Excellency to swiftly apply your good offices to investigate this complaint with a view to determining culpability and to bringing the full force of the law to bear upon the criminal elements involved in this circumstance,” Mr. Fatodu said.

But Mr. Ambode’s office denied receiving such petition.

“We are not aware of any petition from any Lekan Fatodu,” Habib Haruna, a spokesperson for the governor, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night.

This medium however learnt that when Mr. Fatodu tried to submit the petition to Mr. Ambode, he was ignored, and then advised to route his complaints to the police.

The petition came about two months after Mr. Fatodu attacked Mr. Sowore in Lagos and ended up at the police station.

Mr. Sowore told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that he was attacked by Mr. Fatodu and his gang over a report by Sahara Reporters which detailed how Mr. Fatodu was allegedly used as front by former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, to corner public funds through the office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

But Mr. Fatodu tweeted the same day that he “just got Sowore Omoyele of Saharareporters arrested for criminal defamation and blackmail and threat to my life and career.”

The police confirmed receipt of a petition bordering on criminal defamation from Mr. Fatodu, but summarily released all the parties that evening on the condition that they report back the same day.

When Mr. Sowore arrived at the State Criminal Investigation Department that was handling the matter, the police said they were more interested in “mediation”, asking Mr. Sowore to meet Mr. Fatodu to resolve their differences.

Mr. Sowore refused, saying the police was dishonest in the handling of the case.

Mr. Sowore’s attorney, Femi Falana, said on January 12 that the allegations of threat to life, criminal libel and extortion stated in Mr. Fatodu’s petition were false.

In his petition to Mr. Ambode, Mr. Fatodu admitted the police were yet to complete investigations into the defamation case, but said he was writing to support the governor’s efforts against crimes.

But an official in the governor’s office said Mr. Fatodu should direct his petition to the police.

“What is the business of the governor in the petition about disturbance?” the highly-placed official queried. “He should direct his petition to the police.”

Lagos police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night the command was not aware of the latest petition by Mr. Fatodu.

Mr. Sowore said the police had so far failed to file charges against him because it was clear they had no basis to do so.

The publisher dismissed the content of Mr. Fatody’s petition as “a product of wild emotions, feeble attempt at victimhood and willful distortion of facts.”

Mr. Sowore told PREMIUM TIMES the building in question will be used as a civil technology laboratory centre, a project in which SaharaReporters is collaborating with a several civil society organisations.

The publisher said Mr. Fatodu’s petition was part of an orchestrated plot by powerful Nigerian politicians, including Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Dino Melaye, a senator.

Mr. Sowore said alleged “corrupt activities” of Mr. Saraki and others had become “a staple” on Sahara Reporters in recent weeks.

The platform had published several reports around the activities of Mr. Saraki and Mr. Melaye, including claims that the Senate President drew questionable accommodation allowances from tax papers and also sought to circumvent duties on importation of exotic vehicles.

Sahara Reporters was also responsible for Mr. Melaye’s brewing university degree scandal.

Mr. Saraki’s media aide, Yusuf Olaniyonu, denied Mr. Sowore’s allegations that his principal was sponsoring Mr. Fatodu.

“Outright lie. No iota of truth in it,” Mr. Olaniyonu said in a short message to PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night.

Calls and text messages to Mr. Melaye were neither answered not replied to Thursday night.

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Suspected kidnappers of two Germans arrested in Nigeria

Two suspects allegedly involved in the kidnap of two Germans in Kaduna State have been arrested.

The State Security Services, SSS, in a statement said on Wednesday that it arrested Ibrahim Sule and Bello Shehu for their alleged roles in the kidnap.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the kidnap of the two German archaeologists, Peter Breuning and Johannes Brehinger, on February 22 in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Two locals who tried to prevent their abduction were killed.

The Germans were later released by their abductors.

The security agency said the suspects were being questioned to establish other possible members of the network

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BREAKING: Body of doctor who jumped into Lagos Lagoon recovered

The man's car was pulled over by his driver before he jumped into the lagoon

The body of a man who jumped into Lagos Lagoon has been recovered.

Allwell Orji, a medical doctor, jumped into the Lagos Lagoon Sunday evening after ordering his driver who drove him to the bridge to pull over.

Efforts by the various emergency management agencies to recover his body had proved abortive.

Earlier, family members of the late medical doctor had said that a body recovered was not that of Mr. Orji.

But the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Wednesday said the late doctor’s body was recovered around 4:00 p.m. by the Marine Police.

Adesina Tiamiyu, General manager of LASEMA said, the body was identified and confirmed as his by family members of the late doctor.

“The body was identified by some of his family including the driver in the presence of the commissioner of Police Lagos State, Mr. Fatai Owoseni,” the LASEMA boss said.

He commiserated with family of the deceased.

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Yung6ix Surprises Man That Gave Him 10k To Relocate To Lagos In 2009 With $10,000

KKTBM frontline hot rapper, Yung6ix just surprised a friend of his who gave him N10,000 he used to relocate to Lagos 8 years back.

The grateful rapper wrote:

“8 years ago @imblackking gave me 10,000 Naira to come to Lagos to chase my dream as an artiste, without that 10k there would be no Yung6ix today.

Showed him I’m grateful by giving him 10,000 dollars today. Strictly for motivational purposes only. Don’t just be great be grateful and don’t forget those who helped you when you were nothing.”

The happy man took to his Instagram account to pen down his appreciation.

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Aggrieved Arsenal Fans Have Launched A “WEXIT” (Wenger Exit) Campaign

Arsenal fans who are not happy with their trophyless position raised over £3,000 on Saturday to demonstrate against how their club is being ran, and also to persuade the Club’s French Manager, Arsene Wenger, to leave the club.

Some of the placards they carried for the demonstration read;

“Arsene 4th place is not a trophy, Arsenal FC not Arsene FC”, “Wenger out”

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‘Will You Keep Quiet!’ – Read How Twitter Users Reacts To Bisola’s Shedding Of Tears Over Tony’s Eviction

Big Brother Naija Contestant, Bisola had an emotional breakdown as she watched Thin Tall Tony get evicted from the show on Sunday night, She was inconsolable, especially as she watched him walk out of the doors, and indirectly, her life. Although she’s emotionally invested in Tony, she doesn’t know she was a pawn in his game. Twitter users blasted her display of emotion. See more hilarious tweets below:

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Omg! Lautech Final Year Student Hanged Himself In His Hostel (Photo)

A final year student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Adesoji Adediran at the weekend committed suicide by hanging himself in the hostel.

It was gathered that the 500-level student of Urban and Regional Planning Department hanged himself in the school’s hostel on Saturday.

It was learnt that his roommates, who had been away for a night study, returned in the morning to find his corpse dangling from the ceiling.

The school management was said to have been alerted, which informed policemen from the Owode division, who removed the remains. The corpse was said to have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.

A classmate of the victim, who asked not to be identified, said Adediran’s remains were found around 5.30am, PUNCH reports.

He said, “He has two roommates. The roommates went for a night study on Friday. When they returned to the room on Saturday, they discovered that he had hanged himself with a cable. Nobody has an idea why he killed himself.”

A close friend of the victim, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise at Adediran’s death.

He said, “As his friend, what pained me most was that we still played together on Friday night. He never opened up to me. We asked him to go with us for the night study, but he said he preferred to stay behind. Around 5.30am when we returned, we found his corpse.

He was almost done with his final year project and he never complained of anything. We are a clique and we eat together; it was all fun, until we found his corpse.”

He described the deceased as “funny and lively”, saying Adediran couldn’t have suffered from depression.

He said the police from the Owode division removed the corpse from the room.

Our correspondent learnt that the police took statements from the roommates, which were later withdrawn by the deceased’s parents, who insisted on not pursuing any case due to the nature of the death.

According to the PUNCH, the parents also objected to the idea of holding a candle-light procession in his honour, saying they wanted him to “rest in peace.”

This is just as tributes have continued pouring in from friends of the victim on Facebook. A friend, who identified himself as Horlarholu Xarmoohel Cartel, said the late Adediran was a fan of the Chelsea Football Club.

He said:

“Adesoji, can’t believe my eyes when I saw adieu in your name. I don’t know this is what you mean when you said, ‘I am not coming to class again,’ after we sat for a test last week. Haa! SOJ, the best Chelsea fan I ever knew; the best record keeper who doesn’t need Google before he tells you history of football. Already missing you bro, can’t get hold of myself since I heard about your death. I know God knows best.”

Another friend, Adepeju Babatudne, wrote:

“Hmmm, I saw him and Tayo (bestie) beside my hostel cracking jokes with friends when we finished that test. I even accused him of not coming for the test, but he replied, ‘I came nah…’ I don’t even know what to write right now because I know what you passed through when we were in 200 level, but why now? Rest on dear.”

When contacted, an official of the school said the management was not aware of the incident. He, however, promised to get back after contacting a director in the school. He had yet to do so as of press time.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajisebutu Adekunle, said, “The deceased committed suicide by hanging himself on the ceiling fan. He didn’t leave any suicide note. The case is under investigation. Meanwhile, the corpse has been deposited at LAUTECH morgue for autopsy.”

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BREAKING NEWS!! Thin Tall Tony Has Been Evicted From The Big Brother Naija House

Thin Tall Tony on Sunday night ended his quest for the N25 million star prize pegged on the on-going Big Brother Naija reality TV show as he was evicted from the house.

Soma, Miyonse, Coco Ice, Gifty, Uriel had earlier been evicted while Kemen was disqualified for sexual impropriety.

The latest eviction was the first after all the housemates enjoyed automatic immunity from eviction penultimate week.

Last Monday, four housemates in the show were nominated for possible eviction this week.

They were Debie-rise, Efe, TBoss and ThinTallTony.

Initially; Bally, Tboss and Thin Tall Tony were nominated for eviction by fellow housemates. But Bassey as the Head of House saved Bally and replaced him with Efe. While, Marvis used her power card to put Debie-Rise up for nomination.

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Four dead in Maiduguri suicide attack

Borno state police spokesman Victor Isuku said the incident occurred when three bombers — a man and two women — tried to enter Umarari village just outside Maiduguri.<br />STRINGER / AFP

Four people were killed on Saturday evening when suicide bombers blew themselves up in a village on the outskirts of Maiduguri city in Nigeria, police said.

Borno state police spokesman Victor Isuku said the incident occurred when three bombers — a man and two women — tried to enter Umarari village just outside Maiduguri. “They detonated the IEDs (improvised explosive devices) strapped to their bodies while running to different directions,” Isuku said.

Among the dead was a local vigilante and a woman and her two children, he said. Another eight people were wounded. Ibrahim Abdulkadir, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said the vigilante had tried to prevent the bombers from entering the village.

“The vigilante was trying to stop them and that was when he was engulfed by the bomb and the woman was nearby,” Abdulkadir explained. The three bombers also died in the blasts, he said.

The Borno state capital of Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram, a radical Islamist group that has killed over 20,000 people and forced 2.6 million from their homes since taking up arms against the Nigerian government in 2009.

The violence has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region, which has also been hit by the conflict.

Nigerian troops, with the help of regional forces from Cameroon, Chad and Niger, as well as Benin, have since early 2015 managed to claw back most of the territory lost to Boko Haram in 2014.

But despite claims from the Nigerian military that the group is on the verge of defeat, suicide bomb attacks remain a threat to civilians, particularly in Maiduguri. Boko Haram’s elusive leader Abubakar Shekau made his first appearance in months last week, claiming responsibility for a spate of suicide bombings.

Source: Guardianng

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Wenger to reveal future at Arsenal soon after 3-1 loss to West Brom

Arsene Wenger has said he will announce his plans “very soon” after reaching a decision about his future as Arsenal manager.Wenger would not confirm what that decision was but the Frenchman is under increasing pressure with Arsenal’s season on the brink of collapse after six defeats in the last nine matches in all competitions.

The Gunners lost again yesterday, a 3-1 defeat at West Brom leaving them in fifth place in the Premier League and five points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots.

It led to Wenger being asked questions again regarding his future – with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.“I know what I will do so you will know very soon. You will see,” said Wenger.

“Today I do not worry about that.”Wenger had previously said that he had yet to decide what he would do, with the offer of a new two-year contract on the table.

The 67-year-old, who has been in charge of Arsenal since 1996, continues to divide opinion among the club’s supporters. Anti-Wenger fans flew a plane over The Hawthorns trailing a banner asking him to leave while another later proclaimed “In Arsene We Trust #RESPECTAW”.

“I watch the game, I do not watch the stands,” said Wenger.“I believe we have to deal with that and you focus on your job, no matter what people think.”

Asked if he felt making his intentions public might help change the atmosphere among supporters, he replied: “I don’t know. We are in a unique bad patch like we’ve never had in 20 years where we lose game after game at the moment and that is much more important than my future.”

The Arsenal boss, who insisted that he had not informed anyone at the club of his decision, does not necessarily think the uncertainty surrounding his future is impacting on his players.

“I don’t know about that,” said Wenger.“In this job it is like having a problem with your engine, there are problems but you have to find the most important one.“The most important one today was that we had 77 per cent of possession and didn’t create many chances. We have to focus on that.” 

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Why Buhari can’t nominate Magu for EFCC job Again – Melaye

 

The chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has said that following the Senate’s rejection of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) twice, President Muhammadu Buhari cannot validly re-nominate the same candidate again.

Mr. Melaye, while commenting on the debate in the media about whether Mr. Magu can continue to act as EFCC boss in spite of his failure to be confirmed by the Senate or whether the president can re-nominate him, Mr. Melaye said there was a provision of the Senate rules which would not allow members consider Mr. Magu for the same position again.

Citing Order 131 of the Senate Rules, Mr. Melaye advised President Muhammadu Buhari to consider a fresh nominee who is qualified, in terms of experience, integrity, knowledge and temperament to lead the anti-graft agency.

Order 131 of the Senate Rules states that “nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the session or within 21 working days in the case of Ministerial nominees shall be returned by the clerk to the National Assembly to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and shall not again be made to the Senate by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Mr. Melaye, who said that Mr. Magu did not impress anybody including those Senators who would have been sympathetic to his cause during the confirmation hearing in the Senate, urged President Buhari to look for a replacement and avoid actions that may result in violation of the laws of the land.

“Those suggesting to the president that after failing to scale the confirmation process twice, the President should leave Magu to be acting are only recommending violation of the law, disrespect for due process and perpetration of illegality. All these will only undermine democracy and constitutionalism in our country.

“Those drafters of the law who made the provision that the Senate should confirm the nomination of the EFCC chairman did not make any mistake and nobody should observe the law in the breach by getting a person into that office who has not been confirmed. Magu is not greater than the law creating EFCC. Magu is not the last messiah. He can’t be the only competent person for the job out of 170 million Nigerians. Should he voluntarily decline the appointment today, will EFCC fold up?” Mr. Melaye asked.

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Davido Denies Fathering A Secret Child, Threatens To Sue Punch

 

DMW boss, Davido, has reacted to the news making the rounds that he secretly fathered a daughter four years ago.

Ayotomide Labinjo, a 26-year-old lady based in Ibadan, alleged that Davido impregnated her after they slept together twice when the singer was in Ibadan.

The singer, a father of one, who is expecting a child with his Georgia University girlfriend, Mandy, refuted the allegations in a series of Tweets on Friday night.

His tweets read, “This one nah real Yahoo Girl no Laptop. Upon finding out the test results were negative. Out of pity we still give dem money.

“Years later dem no gree say nah my own. Chai money good o. 2 years ago person wey you never see for your life, bring pikin say na your own, you take paternity test, it came out negative.By the WAY@MobilePunch I’m suing you guys! BOUTTA DOUBLE THAT 30 REAL QUICK!!.”(sic)

The source that sent the story to @SubDeliveryMan on Twitter alleged that Davido got the Ibadan-based lady pregnant in 2013 and told her to keep it. The source also alleged the singer even named his alleged love child, Veronica, after his late mother Veronica Adeleke.

This development is coming a few days after the singer confirmed that he is expecting a second child with Amanda Mandy, an American with African parentage. Mandy is a 24-year old student at Georgia University in the United States of America.

Punch Newspaper reports that Ayotomide met Davido at a club in Ibadan and they slept together that same night. Ayotomide reportedly said she slept with Davido again when he was in Ibadan for Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st’s Easter show in 2013.

She said, “We only met twice in Ibadan and we slept together on both occasions. The third time I would see him again was when my mother and I went to his house in Lagos more than a year after the birth of the baby. He preferred to call me Enitan because that is my other name.

“When I told him I was pregnant at the end of March 2013, he said I should keep it but the following morning, he blocked me from his Blackberry Messenger list. I could not reach him throughout the period I was pregnant. On each of the days we met in Ibadan, he had a police and three bodyguards with him. On the day the baby girl was being named, he added me again on his BBM and I sent him her pictures. He asked me what I wanted and I told him that he should take up the responsibility of the child. But he blocked me from his contact list again the next morning. We named the baby Aanuoluwapo but he preferred to call her Vero and anytime I asked for anything, he would embarrass me.”

Miss Ayotomide said after a DNA test was carried out on September 2, 2014 at Clina-Lancet Laboratories, Babatunde Jose Street, Victoria Island, Lagos Davido was “Excluded” from being the biological father of the child.”

Ayotomide said that the test was dud/falsified, adding that she saw the singer handing over a “big” envelope with lots of money to one Dr. Alex Sogbola who conducted the test. Dr. Sogbola also denied falsifying the DNA results.

When contacted, Davido’s manager, Asa Asika, said that the story is false. Asa said via email: “Apologies for the delayed response, I have been flying. This is not a true story, thanks for reaching out to clarify. Thanks.”

Davido welcomed his first child, Imade, with Sophie Momodu in May 2015.

Sophie is a niece of popular journalist, Dele Momodu.

In January 2016, the pop star and his baby-mama were involved in a feud over the custody of their daughter.

Davido’s family took custody of the baby following allegations that Imade had been infected by marijuana through breast-feeding.

Sophie, a budding fashion designer, claimed that Davido’s family abducted the baby and planned taking her abroad but immigration officials helped her stop the trip.

The controversy led to a public spat involving Mr. Momodu, Davido and his billionaire father, Adedeji Adeleke.

Both parents currently have joint custody of their daughter.

In 2014, a 23-year-old model, Shanielle ‘Sunshine’ Haye, claimed to be five months pregnant with twin girls for the singer.

Shanielle, who is of Cuban and Jamaican parentage, said she met Davido during his UK tour in 2013. A few months down she claimed to have lost the pregnancy.

Davido joins the growing list of Nigerian musicians who have two or more babymamas.

The list already included Wizkid, 2face and 9ice

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Why I’m studying Journalism while singing — Korede Bello (Interview)

Korede Bello, the boyishly handsome, guitar-wielding singer and songwriterannounced his arrival on the Nigerian music scene in 2014 with two songs- Cold Outside and African Princess.

The “Godwin” crooner began to command attention after his infamous “Korede Bello wink” in the music video for Dorobucci, a chart-topping song by Mavin Record artistes. After a slew of hits and endorsements, the 21-year-old musician released his anticipated 11-track debut album, Belloved on Sunday. The album, which surprisingly has no features, boasts impressive production credits from Don Jazzy, Baby Fresh Cobhams Asuquo and Altims. In this exclusive chat with PREMIUM TIMES, the soft-spoken artiste speaks about his music career and album

PT: What is the idea behind your album title?

Korede: The title of my album, Belloved, is coined from my name, Bello, and the scripture; “…this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased…” The album spans spans seven years. Also, the track, Favourite Song, that I recorded with Cobhams was written 10 years ago and it took so long to be recorded because I had to be sure about who would produce it.

PT: That is such a long time. Weren’t you under pressure to release an album?

Korede: No, I don’t think it’s a long time because I have been blessed with so much even without dropping an album. For instance, you will be surprised to know that most of my shows are up north and I have gotten used to it. The southerners are more particular about the hit songs, but in other climes they are more particular about everything-the total package.

PT: ..and you also wroteFavourite Song for eight years?

Korede: It had to do with the right timing. Songs are like spirits and if you put them out prematurely it might not work out. And it doesn’t mean that it is not a good song or wont achieve commercial success. Favourite Song is a very dear to my heart and that is why for many years I had to spice it up. Some years ago, I hit Cobhams up and decided to work on it. This doesn’t mean I can’t work on the spot after all I wrote Godwin in two days. The amount of time you spend on a song doesn’t really determine the success of a song.

PT: Which of your songs surpassed your expectations?

Korede: I was aware of the potential of the track, Do Me Like That, but my immediate environment didn’t see it becoming a hit. With regards toGodwin, I knew that it would become a hit. I also knew that Romantic was a sweet song but I didn’t think it would appeal to guys. But, I was wrong. I got the inspiration and the melody for Do Me Like That while we were travelling to Dubai for Tiwa’s wedding. I recorded the melody in my phone and I developed the song during the flight. I forgot all about it when we arrived Dubai.  While going through the voice notes on my phone two years later, I found it, called my producer, Altims at 3a.m. and we both recorded the song.

PT: Not many are aware that you are currently a student at Nigerian Institute of Journalism?

Korede: I am currently in my final year at the NIJ. I was supposed to be writing my project but I have been busy writing my musical project as it were. I am in the business of mass communicating my ideas to the world through social media. I try to apply all that I am taught in journalism school in my music and in engagement with my fans.

PT: Do you hope to fall back on journalism when music no longer pays?

Korede: I will always be involved in music even if I don’t put out any song. I intend to own some media platforms in future but I will always be in the music sphere except God says otherwise. I am a student of journalism but am slave to music. I nursed a dream to become a radio presenter in the past but music is my passion for now.

I plan to star in some Nollywood films as I have been presented some scripts, which I am presently considering. But I have just dropped my debut album and I want people to see me as musician enough before I veer into movies.

PT: How do you juggle your studies and your music career?

Korede: It has not been easy but I’m grateful to God for giving me the passion for music and education. It has sort of kept me on my toes.

PT: You were a budding artiste and now a super star even as a student of NIJ. Are you treated specially in school? 

Korede: I am grateful that I am still in NIJ if I were in a University of Lagos undergraduate it would have been harder to manage fame because of the frenzy. NIJ allows me be myself, everyone knew me as a wannabe musician who became a star. My lecturers have been really supportive of my career. I am not a stubborn student so they don’t have any issues and they help me maintain my sanity.

PT: African Butterfly and Romantic Song are two very romantic tunes in your album. Did you write it with any lady in mind?

Korede: I consider myself a Mr. Romantic so I don’t write the songs with any lady in mind. I simply pictured myself performing it to a bevy of beauties while writing the song. Favourite Song was however dedicated to someone special whose identity I can’t reveal. I am currently very single but ready to mingle when I find the right person.

PT: What are some of the challenges you currently grapple with?

Korede: Alternative genre artistes find it hard to achieve commercial success or have a huge following like pop artistes. The pop market is saturated and everyone currently sound alike and it is such a huge challenge. We really need to develop the fan culture here in Nigeria such that fans can actually support their favourite artiste’s career by purchasing his or her works.

PT: Why did Don jazzy produce four tracks in your album?

Korede: It wasn’t pre- planned and the tracks were included in the album by chance. Don Jazzy believes in giving other producers an opportunity to shine or produce songs because he believes he wont always be available to produce songs.

We have both recorded over 50 songs together and the four that made the album weren’t planned.

PT: In what ways have your sound evolved through the years?

Korede: My style has grown so much and changed over the years. You can also tell from my album that there has been some level of growth and evolution in my style and voice. My voice sounded very tiny when I joined Mavin and I recall that I was mistaken for a girl when I sang African Princess and my verse in Dorobucci.

PT: How long do you hope to do music for?

Korede: True artistes never really retire. Music is not like a 9-5 job however a time will come when I will cease to be commercially relevant. I will always be involved in music in decades to come and remain in people’s faces because my brand is multifaceted. I can do so many things aside from my music.

PT: Which artiste are you dying to work with?

Korede: I’m dying to work with the popular English singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran because he is a talented storyteller.

PT: You achieved fame at a very young age. Is handling it any easy?

Korede: Fame is a very dangerous and intoxicating drug. No one tells you about the side effects of fame when you are getting into it. It is equally a powerful and poisonous drug if you are not careful with it. I am thankful to have people around me who help me to stay sane. Fame can also signify that an artiste’s career is about to end. The moment a budding artiste finally becomes famous, the countdown to his “end” begins. Mind you all, he was a musician all along with no pressure whatsoever. But, the moment you became famous, you have to keep up with the yearnings and expectation of your fans, impress, sacrifice and begin to bother about longevity.

PT: So, does fame scare you?

Korede: Yes, I am afraid of fame. I said a prayer before I started music, which is that God shouldn’t let me lose sight of my purpose. When an artiste has a clear-cut purpose, he won’t will lose sight of it even when he is yet to achieve anything substantial.

Source: Premium Times

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