― As Entertainment Industry Mourns Sound Sultan
By Adeniyi Onifade
Nigerian celebrities, in the first half of the year, have been in the news for different reasons. However, most of them were in the news for the wrong reasons as they were enmeshed in different controversies.
Here are some of the celebrities that made headlines due to controversies:
Yomi Fabiyi & Iyabo Ojo
The alleged child molestation case involving notable Yoruba comic actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, who is popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has pitched two notable actors, Yomi Fabiyi and Iyabo Ojo, in a fierce battle.
Ojo, who has been vocal in condemning the alleged act of child molestation, had via her Instagram page, published a letter signed by her lawyers, demanding N100 million as payment for damages caused by Fabiyi’s ‘defamatory publication’ during a protest that Fabiyi held in Lagos State on Tuesday to demand that ‘Baba Ijesha be granted bail’.
Recall that Baba Ijesha, who is popular amongst fans of Yoruba movies, became a news item when he was accused of molesting a 14-year-old foster child of the comedienne, Damilola Adekoya, otherwise known as Princess. Fabiyi had led some people to stage a protest at the premises of Panti Police Station in Yaba, Lagos demanding that Baba Ijesha, who had been under the custody of the police for allegedly molesting a minor, be granted bail.
However, Ojo’s worry was with a defamatory publication that she alleged that Fabiyi made on his Instagram handle and during the protest by Fabiyi. The pretty actress had, through her lawyers, demanded a publication of full retraction of the said defamatory publication “on his Instagram handle for seven consecutive days, and acknowledge that the allegations are false, misleading and entirely defamatory of client’s character’’ within 14 days.
Ojo also demanded that the retraction and public apology must further be circulated, and published by select media outlets. In addition, Ojo is demanding that Fabiyi ceases and desists from making further, additional or fresh defamatory publications against across social or print media platforms.
The actress is also demanding that “N100 million must be paid as damages for the unjustifiable injury and losses” occasioned by the defamatory publication.
But in a swift response to the demand notice, Fabiyi maintained, during an Instagram live session, that he could not be served a legal letter via social media.
Fans are waiting to see who blinks first between Fabiyi and Iyabo Ojo.
Desmond Elliot
Notable Nollywood actor and Lagos State lawmaker, Desmond Olusola Elliot, was in the news for the wrong reasons recently. The actor became a subject of merciless trolls on social media when a Twitter user, @victorisreal, advised another Twitter user, @dearolaa, to head to Surulere (Desmond Elliot’s Constituency) to flush a ‘10k ring’ in ‘Desmond Elliot’s Toilet’, after @dearolaa had complained that her friend “cut off an engagement because her boyfriend proposed with a 10 thousand naira ring”.
It would be recalled that Elliot had built a toilet for his constituents in 2020. However, the commissioning of the toilet was greeted with rounds of merciless and hilarious trolls across social media platforms.
Twitter users capitalised on this exchange by @dearolaa and @victorisreal to recall the infamous toilet saga, and they have not spared the actor of vast credit and politician who still finds time to do some acting.
Most of those trolling the actor have hilariously been blaming him for their personal issues and nation’s woos. Some have even knocked him for being responsible for the Bill and Melinda Gate’s break-up in their relationship. Observers say that the actor has had more than a taste of cyber bullying within the last two years.
It would be recalled that the actor walked into the waiting hands of Twitter trollers in the heat of the #EndSars protests, where he pitched his tent with the government, and also described Nigerian youths in a session at the Lagos State House of Assembly as “children”.
Desmond even got plenty strokes for his comment on the floor of the House.
But the most recent round of merciless trolling he got was when he reportedly declared, in an interview, that he was a product of ‘godfatherism’. Though still trending, the trollers are likely to cease-fire since the actor has come out, following this fresh face-off, to assure his fans that he will improve and do better in areas that they think he has not performed well.
Uche Ogbodo
Famous Nollywood actress, Uche, also made headlines recently. First, was that she was expecting her second child, and the next gist that trended was an exposition on the ‘the baby daddy’ of the actress who has been missing in action, particularly mainstream movie run lately.
The actress trended, and has continued to trend since a video showing the actress kissing a young musical artiste believed to be her ‘baby daddy’ surfaced on the Internet. The viral video, which showed Uche and the artiste, Bobby Maris, in an intimate show of affection, was reportedly shared by celebrity blogger, Stella Dimoko Korkus, on her social media handles.
Although the actress has kept her relationship with Bobby private and would not reveal the identity of her spouse no matter the pressure, fans have observed that Uche and Bobby have been exchanging affectionate comments on their social media handles.
In a post he shared on New Year Day, the artiste posted a photo of himself with the caption ‘Happy New Year My People, From Us All”, and straight up in the comment section of same post, Uche reacted thus: “Happy New Year Handsome”, accompanied by several love emojis.
In yet another post that Bobby shared, Uche commented thus: “Thanks Baby”, accompanied by several love emojis. So, it took the viral video for fans to conclude that it was more than those affectionate comments laced with love emojis between the fair skinned actress and the young artist.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
While some of her colleagues made headlines for the wrong reasons, Nollywood diva, Omotola, made headlines for finally opening the doors to her well-equipped production lot, Double Doors Studio, for use by creatives and professionals. Although the official commissioning of the studio held earlier in the year, Omo T, as the actress is fondly called by fans, shared pictures of the studio located in the heart of Lekki.
Promoted as a multipurpose development built for ‘work, live and play’, the actress disclosed that the studio boasts of facilities such as a large studio or hall space for any set, large kitchens, offices, bedroom, boutique, hotel, including bunked hostels, a suite, bar, large sit-out terrace and conference rooms.
“The studio was curated specially with creative and professionals in mind. Our super power is that we can customise your own space when you stay with us,” she said.
Sound Sultan
Meanwhile, the whole entertainment industry was thrown into mourning, following the death of popular Nigerian musician, Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, who has since been buried amidst tears from scores of sympathisers.
The 44-year-old singer was buried in New Jersey, U.S. on Sunday (the same day he died), according to Muslim rites.
The popular singer’s death was announced in a statement on Sunday, July 11 by his family.
His relative, Kayode Fasasi, who signed the statement, said Sound Sultan passed on after a “hard-fought battle” with the Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He is survived by a wife, three children and his siblings.
Also, his colleague, Lamboginny, who is now based in the U.S., hosted an Instagram live video, showing the burial ceremony of the late Jagbajantis crooner.
The family of the late singer and his friends, dressed in black outfits as they mourned his sudden passing were present. Singer, Olamide, was also spotted at the funeral.
His wife, Farida, was completely inconsolable as she witnessed her husband’s burial.
The mother of three was held by two women who comforted her. At a point, she was also spotted laying on her late husband’s coffin, while crying bitterly before it was finally lowered into the grave.
RMD, Kate Henshaw, Wale Ojo, Tunde Ednut, Seun Kuti, and many others have expressed shock at the untimely passage of their friend and colleague.
Background
Sultan was a singer, songwriter, and recording artiste, who was regarded as one of the pioneers of hip-hop music in Nigeria.
His showbiz career began in the 1990s when he hosted shows to raise money for studio sessions.
By 1999, he had won numerous local talent-hunt shows, and released his monster hit, “Jagbajantis” in 2000.
After independently releasing other singles, and featuring in hit songs of other artistes, Sultan was signed by Kennis Music.
More than 20 years after he launched his music career, the ace musician remained relevant in the industry even in death.
He released his eighth album, ‘8th World Wonder’ in May 2020.