[PHOTO] : Iyanya & Arsenal Defender Bacary Sagna

Singer Iyanya and Arsenal's French full-back Bacary Sagna met at O2 concert in London, and they stroke a pose.

(MUST READ)Jim Iyke and Nadia Buari wedding on the cards?

When the news and the video of Nollywood superstar, Jim Iyke's purported deliverance from demons went viral, some saw it as a gag by the actor to blow his image out of  proportion, while others felt there was more to it than meet the eye. Yet, there are some who felt the actor has shot his career into oblivion but one person who doesn't seem fazed by the development is his girlfriend, Ghanaian actress, Nadia Buari as the couple were spotted last weekend in Accra.

It would appear the actor is taking his 'delivered' status very seriously and keeping his itinerary not too far away from the confines of 'Holy' places as the report claims he was seen leaving a church after a night vigil with his girlfriend, Nadia.
Another report has hinted the lovers have already concluded plans to tie the nuptial in December this year, at least, so it would appear, since the 'demonic spirits' who have kept him away from marrying have been exorcised at Prophet TB Joshua's Synagogue Church of All Nations.
But one thing seems to have definitely changed about Jim, that is, his nature, which is now calmer, less asserting, and the former Sexiest Man in Nollywood is now more preoccupied with evangelising and preaching the word of God. One of his recent tweets was his way of getting back at his critics, but not the old-fashion Jim Iyke's way, but the 'delivered' Jim's way ""His mercy grants true happiness and salvation which you quest. It's devoid of popular opinion"

“I love to have Genevieve as my wife" - D'Banj Reveals!

Singer, Dapo Oyebanji, aka D'banj, finally opened up on his love life in a rare meeting with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday. 

The self-styled Kokomaster was clearly in his elements as he talked at length, amid occasional bouts of laughter, about his career and other issues that were important to him. One of the subjects was about his rumoured relationship with Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji.
Judging by the manner in which the actress' name kept popping off his lips, it was obvious that D'banj had a very soft spot for her.

Aware that the grapevine had bristled with the rumour that he was romantically involved with Genevieve, ever since she appeared in the 2010 video of his hit song, 'Fall in Love', the singer said the actress had played a role in his success.

 "Apart from the fact that she is my friend, she has been a part of my success. There is no way you are going to tell my story that Genevieve's name will not come up because she featured in my biggest song of all time, Fall in Love. So if E True Story comes to Nigeria to interview me, she will definitely be called upon to tell my story," he said.

As if to confirm that there was more to his relationship with the actress than he had always admitted, D'banj added, "I would love to have Genevieve as my wife.  We never can tell what God plans for us in the future. I have studied her and I realised that anyone that has her as his woman has found himself a treasure. Just like the Bible says, any man who finds a wife, finds a good thing."
Perhaps the fans and admirers of the 'love birds' will have to brace themselves for a symbolic wedding of two of the most celebrated artistes on this side of the globe in the nearest future.

 Meanwhile, D'banj plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his music career anytime in 2014. As expected, the singer aims to roll out the proverbial drums to celebrate in style what he describes as the overwhelming success of his foray into the Nigerian music scene.
The one-time harmonica wielding artiste has, indeed, made tremendous progress in his career since his monster hit, 'Tongolo' was released in 2004.
The artiste, who wormed his way into the highly competitive international music market after signing on to Kanye West's G.O.O.D Music in 2011, no doubt, has finally found his bearing as an entertainer since he parted ways with Mo'Hits.

"So much has happened in the last 18 months and I am very thankful to God. By the Grace of God, I have remained relevant for nearly a decade in the music industry and I have released hit songs every year. Also, I am glad that I have been chosen to headline the Hennessy Artistry this year. This is one brand that understands the importance of aligning with the entertainment industry.
"My career is barely 10 years old.                But with the success I have achieved so far, it feels like three decades already. Within my first 10 years as a musician, I have recorded the biggest song and shot the most viewed music video of all time, 'Oliver Twist'. I must say I am humbled and getting ready to take over," he said.

Without mincing words, D'banj noted that the history of his career and the resulting accomplishments will be incomplete without mentioning his humble beginning with the defunct Mo'Hits Records. The mere mention of his erstwhile colleagues, including Don Jazzy, seemed to awaken nostalgic feelings in him.
 "If I say I don't miss Don Jazzy, I am lying. I have spent the better part of my career with him. I was married to him in a way (laughs). So I miss everything about Mo'Hits: the family, the movement, and the vibe of being in the studio with him. I miss the jokes and the arguments, but I have since keyed into the notion that nothing can stop a moving train.

"Nevertheless we can always do music together. The track, 'Top of the World' was produced by a Grammy Award Winner. The songs 'Finally' and 'Don't Tell Me Nonsense' was produced by my producer while 'Oliver Twist' was produced by Don Jazzy. So, why won't I have him on my 10 years anniversary album?
"I have never said I am a musician; I am an entertainer. Some people say I can pick up a microphone and become a comedian. Therefore nobody should come and ask if I want to go into acting because they should know I am already an actor. It depends on when the right script and concept lands in my hands.

"For now, I am concerned about achieving new things and breaking new grounds. By the time I enter Hollywood, I believe that I'll become as successful as I have been as a singer. The movie titled 'I am Banga Lee', starring Genevieve, to be released in 2014, won't be a bad idea," He said.
It seems that the world is at the Kokomaster's feet. Yet, he is not in denial of the fact that his fans in Nigeria are his greatest assets.

 "The Hennessey Artistry Tour afforded me the opportunity to meet my fans here in Nigeria. I have not travelled across the country in a long while because I am abroad all the time. Most of my fans complained that they have not seen me since 2007 and I reallised that I need to be in constant touch with my fans down here."

Victor Moses shows off his cute son as he is unveiled as the newest Glo ambassador (photos)

22 year old Nigerian International and Liverpool Football Club player, Victor Moses, is not just one of the youngest dads alive, he is also a great dad.
He recently shared a photo of his one year old son, Brentley and excitedly announced that the little prince has made 2013 an Amazing year for him! See photo of Brentley below:
Meanwhile, Victor, has been appointed as the newest brand ambassador for telecommunications company, GLO. Moses is full of appreciation to Globacom for considering him worthy of being the company’s ambassador, and he promises to make Globacom a bigger brand and “score more goals for the company”.

Strike: We’ll Not Succumb To Blackmail, ASUU Tells FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities said on Wednesday that the Federal Government's resort to blackmail would not force it members back to the classroom.
ASUU maintained that it would continue to stand by the sanctity of the agreement the Federal Government voluntarily entered into with it in 2009.

The chairperson of the union, University of Port Harcourt Branch, Prof. Antonia Okerengwo, who said this while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, explained that contrary to Federal Government's claim, the union was not fighting for itself, but for the revitalisation of tertiary institutions in the country.

Okerengwo expressed regret that rather than fulfill its promises to ASUU by reviving the Nigerian education sector, the Federal Government had resorted to blackmail.

The union was reacting to claims by the Federal Government that some politicians were encouraging university lecturers to disregard its appeal to call off the ongoing strike.

"The resort to blackmail is not the solution to the present impasse as we cannot run away from our problems. We cannot continue to pretend or wish that these problems do not exist. Practical problems need practical solutions.

"The media must also begin to ask questions about the cost of governance in this country so that we can see the alternative forgone in terms of education, healthcare and infrastructure," she added.

Describing the action of the Federal Government as tantamount to the "repudiation of an agreement that was negotiated and signed," Okerengwo said, "The negotiation itself took three years (2006-2009). As was agreed in 2012, evidenced by the Memorandum of Understanding, government promised to release N100bn immediately in 2012 and N400bn in 2013.

"It may interest you and the general public to note that the technical committee set up by NEC to review NEEDS assessment report also recommended that the sum of N800bn would be required in the short term of two years (N400bn per year) for revitalisation.

"But this has remained a mere promise, as only N100bn for 2012, which is 20 per cent of what is due as at today, has been released. The fact is that the N100bn is the amount due and outstanding since 2012. The question therefore is what about the N400bn for 2013?"

She explained that while a country like Ghana was earmarking 31 per cent of its annual budget to education, Nigeria was allocating a paltry seven per cent to the sector.

She disagreed with insinuations that the union had not been patient enough with the Federal Government, recalling that ASUU wrote over 52 letters to government and lobbied some members of the National Assembly on the need to revamp the education sector.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure a full restoration of normalcy into the troubled education sector in the country.

The President of the NLC, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar, who stated this in a statement issued in Abuja, said the call was necessary in order to prevent a total paralysis of the sector.

Omar said, "We urge Mr. President to muster all the necessary will and skill to confront the issues that threaten this vital sector.

"The threat of a total shut-down is present and immediate and this deserves all the urgency and mobilisation that Mr. President could muster."

The NLC boss noted that the development in the education sector was symptomatic of greater ills in the polity.

He argued that the strike by the ASUU for instance had entered the fourth month and had almost certainly disrupted an entire academic session with collateral consequences.

Tenant Abducts Landlord’s Daughter, Impregnates Her

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a 37-year-old man, Ajibola Idowu, for allegedly kidnapping the daughter of his landlord for three years. The suspect was also said to have forcefully impregnated the victim, Modupe Brown, during captivity.

The police said that after Brown had given birth to the child, Ajibola refused to allow the child access to immunisation.

As a result, the child was said to have contracted polio disease and subsequently became crippled.

Lagos Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Damasus Ozoani, said that Ajibola, was arrested along with his mother, Ebun, who allegedly conspired with him to commit the act.

He said, "Brown, a 400 level student of Business Administration at the Lagos State University, was kidnapped by Ajibola who kept her in captivity with his family for "three years between 2010 and 2013.

"On September 19, 2013, policemen from Area E Command, went to the Sagamu area of Ogun State to rescue the victim and also arrested the mother of the abductor, who watched over the victim. Ajibola was later arrested in the Idumota area of Lagos Island.

"During the three years, Ajibola kept Brown in three locations -Oshogbo, Osun State, where she spent six months; Bariga, Lagos, where she spent six months; and Sagamu, Ogun State, where she spent about two years.

"Ajibola forcefully impregnated Brown while in captivity. She delivered a baby girl, who later became deformed as a result of Ajibola's refusal to have the baby immunised against the Polio virus."

While speaking with our correspondent, Brown described her ordeal in the hands of her abductor as a journey through the valley of the shadow of death. She said she was abducted at her father's house in the Ebute Meta area of Lagos State.

She said, "I can't even remember how he kidnapped me. All I know is that he held me captive for three years. It's as if I was under a spell. Even when I was going to give birth, he did not allow me to go to a hospital. The baby was delivered at home and he was the one giving me medication.

"Even one day, when state officials came to the area to immunise children, he said he would not allow the child to be immunised, saying the drugs had been poisoned. Once, when I tried to leave, he threatened to kill me."

We learnt that during her time in captivity, the victim's parents, who are retired civil servants, searched hospitals, mortuaries, police stations and churches for her all to no avail.

The victim's father, Idowu Brown, said he had no clue that Ajibola was the abductor. He said, "I never knew it was Ajibola that kidnapped my daughter. He was my tenant for six years and greeted me every day. We even used to share jokes. He was aware that I had been looking "for my daughter for three years but he never said anything.

"When we could not find her, I reported the matter at FESTAC Police Division. It was in September this year that we heard from our daughter for the first time. She told us that she was in Sagamu and my wife went there.

"There we met Ajibola's mother. That was how we found out that he (tenant) was the one behind the whole thing."

The suspects however denied abducting the landlord's daughter. Ajibola's mother claimed her son and Brown were lovers, who decided to elope, maintaining that the case was not an abduction.

She said, "They were lovers. I never got involved in their matter until the child was born. I went to stay with them for about seven months to take care of the child, who was very ill. A few months after I left, they moved in with me at my three-bedroom house at Sagamu because they had been evicted.

"Ajibola was not staying with us because his business was in Lagos but I was with Brown "most of the time. Many times, I would ask her about her parents and when I could meet them but she kept on giving silly excuses until the day her mother came to my house with policemen."

Ajibola, who is into satellite dish installation, said the plan to elope was hatched by Brown who paid N200, 000 into his bank account. The money was said to have been meant for her school project.

He said he could not understand why she would make such allegations against him.

"I did not kidnap her; we were lovers and decided to elope. Even when she was at my house, she used to make calls to her relatives telling them that she was alright," he said. -Punch Metro

Brave 7yr Old Boy Leads Police To Smash Lagos Kidnap Syndicate OCT 10

A university graduate and two other suspects were on Wednesday paraded by the Lagos State Police Command, following their arrest, by a tip off from a seven-year-old victim.
The graduate of Economics of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Gbenga Sholaja; Olalekan Benjamin and Samson Shomorin, who specialise in kidnapping little boys, were arrested by men of the Igando Police Division and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, Lagos.

The victim (name withheld) was said to have been held hostage at Benjamin's father's house at Ikotun, Lagos.

The child, who was later released after ransom was paid by his parents, was said to have memorised the house address where he was kept. It was the child who led police officers to the same house where Benjamin was arrested.

Sholaja, who wept profusely during his interview, said that he was pushed by unemployment into kidnapping. He said, "I have a Second Class Upper (Division) in Accounting and have completed my National Youth Service Corps programme.

"I went into kidnapping because since I finished my NYSC in 2011, I have been unable to get a job."

An ex-convict, who was remanded in prison for kidnapping three years ago, Benjamin, said he met Sholaja at OOU while he was trying to gain admission into the school.

He said, "I was a casual worker at a factory in 2007 before I was sacked; I earned N300 per day. After staying idle for some months, I met a friend, Muyiwa, we were carriers of frozen fish at Apapa. He introduced me to Taofeeq.

"One day, Taofeeq brought a small boy to my house and asked me to take care of him. He claimed that the boy was his younger brother; he was about seven years old. The boy stayed in my house with my family and was well taken care of for four days. Taofeeq even sent money for his upkeep.

"When Taofeeq went to collect N150, 000 ransom, he was arrested by SARS and he led them to my house. We were charged and sent to prison in November 2009. In September 2010, we were released because the complainant refused to show up in court."

Benajmin and his wife, upon his release, then moved to his father's house at Ikotun area of the state. In 2010, he was said to have met Sholaja in OOU, where he went to write the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The 30-year-old claimed that Sholaja invited him to take part in another kidnapping; he said Sholaja had read about Benjamin's arrest in the newspapers.

Benjamin said, "We would kidnap one boy and we would keep the boy in his (Sholaja') mother's house at Owode Ijako.

"After a week, the boy's parents paid the money. We were given N100,000 and my share was just N40,000."

Describing their modus operandi, Benajmin said they usually kidnapped children while on their way to or from school. All suspects were said to have collected a total of N260,000 on two separate occasions, to secure the release of two boys.

Benjamin said that he befriended potential victims by buying them biscuits on their way to school, thereby earning their trust.

He said, "It was the last kidnap that got us into trouble. I drove away not knowing that the boy memorised my father's house address, where he was kept.

"After he was released, he led policemen to the house and I was arrested along with my dad but my dad was later released on bail."

Shomorin, on his part, confessed to kidnapping three boys. He urged the government to pardon them, promising not to go back to crime.

Lagos Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Damasus Ozoani, said the suspects were arrested on September 29, 2013.

Ozoani said, "They confessed to have kidnapped three children -one from Omole Phase 1; one Kola at Alagbado area and the last one in Owode Ijako, Ogun State, and various amounts of money were collected as ransom." -Punch Metro