MERCY JOHNSON IS WANTED BY NIGERIAN POLICE

Don’t get it twisted, this isn’t a situation from one of her Nollywood movie, this is for real.
The veteran Nollywood actress is allegedly wanted by the Nigerian Police for over N2 Million Unfinished Movie Debt.

A movie Marketer, Film Mark Productions accused Mercy Johnson of running off with over two million Naira, paid to her for a role in a movie.

According to reports, the actress, Mercy Johnson was paid by the marketer March last year to star in his movie that kicked-off

production in April, but she abandoned the production after few days and featuring in just few scenes.
The filmmaker claim Mercy’s excuse for leaving the movie set was for her to go spend the Easter holidays with her family and will return after a day or two, but never returned again till date.
The filmmaker claims they had to continue paying hotel bills for an extra 33 days, because she kept giving them hopes that she would return to the movie set.

After several weeks of not returning, theytheard she was pregnant with her second child and had jetted off to the US to stay out hertremaining trimester’s before giving birth.

Immediately the Filmmaker heard the rumour of her pregnancy with her second child, he reported the case to the Police and Mercy was declared wanted.

He insisted that he wanted his money to hire another artiste to continue with his job.
Mercy johnson has not returned to Nigeria from America where she welcomed her second child several months ago.

Actress Mbong Amata is still flaunting her Oranges

Since she left her hubby, Jeta Amata, we hardly see Mbong Amata at a public function without her oranges on display. Funny enough, this time around she was spotted with her estranged husband at the premiere of his latest movie - Black November - in the US. See photos of them together below...

...hopefully they would settle their issues!

LAGOS: Akin Ambode is my choice since day one – Fashola

The Lagos state Governor has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has always been his choice candidate all through the build up to the APC governorship primaries held over a month ago in the state.

He stated this during a parley organized by the Lagos APC to formally present their gubernatorial candidate and his running mate, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule, to media executives in Lagos.

The governor noted that the party was actually “spoilt for choice” by having a pool of competent aspirants to elect from, but that he was happy that Ambode emerged as the victorious flag bearer.

Fashola said, “It was a healthy problem; that we had many competent and accomplished aspirants to choose from. It clearly demonstrates the rich human capital we have in Lagos, in Lagos APC”

In his presentation, Governor Fashola said Ambode is “someone who has the ability to rigorously ensure that things tally, his accountability is just unmatched. He has the befitting skill-set needed to build upon the successes we have recorded so far, and that is why I am happy at his candidature”.

He added, “Our party had a democratic and transparent gubernatorial primaries, and I am proud and happy with the results it has produced. This is because Akin has been my choice from the beginning, and I say this unequivocally”

While reflecting on his tenure, Fashola noted that Lagos has consistently undergone enviable and noteworthy transformation, adding that Ambode had the experience to better such transformation.

“I have worked with Akin and I can attest to his vast experience. He knows the government and understands governance, and his application of this capacity-enhancing know-how will surely ensure that there is continuity in the tradition of excellence we are now known for in Lagos”.

In his response, Ambode, who was full of appreciation to the Governor and the Party for making the parley happen, stated that public service was a form of nobility for him.

“All my life, I have practiced selfless service to humanity in varying capacities. This has enabled me to take public service as a noble one.

“The success and productivity that characterized my public service career makes me believe strongly that I was conscripted to excel in service to the people, and this is the reason why I desire to serve Lagos as the Governor of the state”.

 

The state APC party Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, capped off the interactive parley by remarking that the forthcoming election is a “simple choice between experience and experiment, I trust you all to make the wise choice and vote for the APC”.

I don’t want to leave Stoke Said ''Osaze''

Recuperating Nigerian striker Osaze Odemwingie is happy with his gradual return to full fitness and has again openly declared that he would be happy to stay on with Stoke City beyond the summer when his current contract expires.

Odemwingie 33, has been out for nearly five months after damaging an anterior cruciate ligament in a 1-0 win at Manchester City but the striker says he is hoping to be back soon to show that he deserves an extension.

“It has been a big blow but hopefully, I can get back and get my career going again as soon as possible.” Odemwingie told Radio Stoke.

He added: “I have not had discussions about extending my contract yet but there is no rush for that.
“At the moment, we are in the transfer window and there are players who are key players to the team right now who have more pressing situations.
“I saw Peter Crouch saying he would like to stay not just for one year with Stoke but maybe more and I am the same. It’s a really good place to be and a great club.

“You have to be realistic but if I can get back training and show the manager I can still put the ball in the net then everything else will take care of itself.
“You can lose form but you don’t lose your quality.” He concluded.

SUPER EAGLES: THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY

As the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off this weekend in Equatorial Guinea without defending champions Nigeria, soccer aficionado GODWIN DUDU-ORUMEN recalls a prophetic article that he wrote when the Super Eagles won the trophy in 2013…

Super Eagles against all odds lifted the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, disposing of tournament favourities, Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter finals, a gritty Mali at the semi-finals and the dark horse from Burkina Faso in the finals, with whom of course the ‘ganged up’ with tzhe group stages to show out defending champion Zambia.

I am quick to add that I was one person who had reservations about the Super Eagles and their chances pre-tournament. The unsure steps and play in preparation matches and the group matches did nothing to inspire confidence in me.

 But Stephen Keshi and his men somehow found that inner strength, grit, commitment, sense of purpose to turn out a famous result which ended nineteen years of trophy drought. Eagles finally discarded that also-ran toga and become Super again. I congratulate Keshi and the players for giving Nigerians something good, something precious to smile and talk about again. And before the din dies down, let’s begin to ponder on how to manage this success. Let us begin the process of managing the great achievement, the rebirth of a great brand, even if the custodians of our football, NFF chose to play Nero. We must begin to take them to task over the future of the team.

Winning the Africans Cup of Nation 2013 presents Super Eagles and Nigeria endless commercial opportunities which can earn the football governing body at least seven billion naira over the next one year and more over the coming years if the success is properly managed. And it is quite possible and easy. Not rocket science. Going forward we may need to take historical stock of what we have done with similar opportunities in the past which were in fact wasted. A proper evaluation of same may afford us the right stimuli to adequately and proportionally maximize the benefits of what we have, a new brand, Super Eagles, Champions of Africa and winner 2013 AFCON. 

Ronaldo: I Will Play Until I’m 36

–Real superstar eyes six more career years
With his 30th birthday just three weeks away, Cristiano Ronaldo has brushed off any fears that father time is moving ever closer to catching up with him by revealing he plans on playing at the top level until he is 36.

The Real Madrid star won his third Ballon d’Or on Monday, beating off competition from Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer, and remains at the very peak of his powers.

But rather than fear the effects age will eventually have on his ability to perform, Ronaldo remains solely focused on maintaining his incredible standards well into his thirties.
“I’m exclusively devoted to training and making myself better and to maintain a good level until I’m 35 or even 36,” he told AS.

“You have to give up other things to be a success. There are many temptations. It is very difficult. Nothing is achieved without work. The dedication and work is the most important thing to me.
“Life is a puzzle and every day we must there is a new piece to add. To succeed we must have rules and discipline. Talent is useless without dedication and commitment.”
Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 during his six years in England with Manchester United before departing for Madrid the following summer.

Peace Pact Will Only Work If Security Agencies Stay Neutral– APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the peace accord signed by all the presidential candidates on Wednesday January 14, ahead of the February elections would only work if the Presidency ensures the neutrality of the security agencies during the polls.

Lai Mohammed, the spokesperson of the party, disclosed this at a conference organized by the Savannah Centre and CSIS Partnership on polls, in Abuja on Thursday January 16.
The theme of the two-day conference is “Nigeria 2015 Elections and Beyond, Stakeholders Conference on the Roles of State and Non-State Actors in Mitigating Violence in Elections.
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Mohammed, who was a speaker at the forum alongside officials of other political parties, said though the peace pact signed by presidential candidates of the parties, including President Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari of the PDP and  APC, respectively was desirable, it would only be effective if the operatives of the security agencies that would be deployed during the election were neutral.

He said the opposition party was already losing confidence in one of the agencies.
“It will not be successful if there is no sincerity of purpose. I think in this particular respect, the Presidency has more to do if it wants the election to be violent-free It has to ensure the neutrality of all the security agencies involved in the election,” he said.
“As long as there is a level-playing field and the umpires are really neutral then that removes areas of conflict.”

Mr. Mohammed added, “The credibility of the security agencies is at its lowest ebb. I don’t know how many of you watch the television two days ago when the spokesperson of Department of State Security went to demonize a particular party, accusing that party of being in the process hacking into INEC data base. What they sought to achieve by that I don’t know.

“You need to see the kind of humiliation they went through in the hands of DSS. They went through physical torture and mental torture. These young people arrested were called presidential enemies. They were called saboteurs; they were asked how can you working with a party that wants to destabilize Nigeria? If this is the mindset of a particular security agencies there is no way that party will have confidence in that agency.”

The spokesperson of the APC also noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have a big responsibility to ensure the success of the 2015 general elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party also reacted to the recent peace pact that was signed by all the presidential candidates. The party commended its presidential candidate, President Jonathan, and others for signing a pact on non-violence ahead of the general election, noting that the development was in line with the irrevocable commitment of the ruling party to the peace and progress of the country at all times.