Connect with us

Entertainment

Mr Ibu’s family debunks claim of soliciting funds for burial

Published

3 weeks ago

on

The family of Mr Ibu, the late actor, has denied a report claiming that the burial planning committee is seeking financial support from the public.

Born John Okafor, Mr Ibu died from a cardiac arrest on March 2 at Evercare Hospital in Lagos.

The 62-year-old actor had battled with a life-threatening illness for months before he passed on.

In April, the family of Mr Ibu announced that the actor will be buried on June 28.

The family said the ceremony will open with a novelty match on June 25, followed by a candlelight procession the following day.

There will be a wake-keep ceremony at the actor’s compound while a thanksgiving service will be held on June 30.

Last weekend, a blog post claimed the family and friends of Mr Ibu set up a GoFundMe page to help finance the burial.

But reacting via a statement, the burial committee denied the report, saying “it is an attempt to ridicule and malign the Okafor’s family”.

“Contrary to speculation and misinformation from a group of people who have been sponsoring fake news about the burial arrangement for late John Okafor popularly known as Mr. Ibu,” the statement reads in part.

“The Central Planning Committee (CPC), some notable friends and family members of the late actor have distanced themselves from such publications on social media sponsored by some evil minds and published by one Mazitundeednut concerning late Mr Ibu’s burial with the caption: ‘Family, friends beg for funds to bury Mr. Ibu’.”

Monday Diamond Ani, the committee’s chairman, described the report as “manipulating, malicious, fabricated and engineered by the evil gang against Mr. Ibu”.

Diamond, however, warned rumour mongers to desist from “tarnishing Mr. Ibu’s personality to avoid the wrath of God”.

“It is important to note that the night of tribute which is coming up on the 26th of June will be preceded by a novelty match which will be played on the 25th of June between celebrities and personalities against Rangers International football club of Enugu at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu,” he said.

“I want to make it categorically clear that there was never a time when such publication emanated from us. It is the handwork of some miscreants, enemies of progress who must have wished for Mr. Ibu’s death and are perhaps happy that Mr. Ibu is no more and wanted to use this medium or avenue to tarnish the name of Mr. Ibu and the Okafor family in general.

“It is a fact that a fund is being raised to support the burial of Mr. Ibu which is customary in Igbo land where well wishers will be contributing funds to support the burial. Some will even bring live cows, provide financial support, provide help in logistics and that’s what is happening in the case of Mr Ibu, so it is not a taboo.”

The committee revealed that Rudeboy, Flavour, Apkororo, and Chukwuemeka Odumeje Ohanaemere will attend the burial ceremony.

Other personalities expected are Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh, Patience Ozokwor, Osita Iheme, Chinedu Ikedieze, Mercy Johnson, Rachel Okonkwo, Ngozi Ezeonu, and Emeka Rollas, the AGN President.

Related Topics:

Entertainment

Olamide’s surprise EP ‘Ikigai’ sets record for opening day streams on Spotify Nigeria

Published

1 hour ago

on

June 29, 2024 10:58 am

By

Olamide's surprise EP 'Ikigai' sets record for opening day streams on Spotify Nigeria

For over a decade, Nigerian rapper Olamide has dazzled listeners with his music which has earned him a status as one of the greatest Nigerian artists of the modern era.

On June 27, 2024, Olamide released a surprise 7-track EP titled ‘Ikigai,’ a Japanese word that means “reason for being” or “life’s purpose”.

In an impressive feat, the EP has set the record for most opening day streams by a project on Spotify Nigeria in 2024.

According to Nigeria’s music chart publication, ‘Ikigai’ garnered 1.86 million streams in its opening 24 hours thus leapfrogging Shallipopi’s ‘Shakespopi’ which totaled 1.59 million streams.

The EP’s impressive first-day numbers restate Olamide’s status as the most streamed African rapper on Spotify. He also boasts of having the most streamed album by a Nigerian rapper on Spotify with his 2020 project ‘Carpe Diem’.

On ‘Ikigai,’ Olamide features YBNL superstars Fireboy and Asake on track 3 ‘Uptown Disco’. He also teamed up with former YBNL associates Pheelz, Young Jonn, and Lil Kesh for track 7 titled ‘Synchro System’.

The project becomes Olamide’s 10th solo project and 15th total project which further stretches his discography as one of the biggest in Nigerian mainstream music since 1999.

With ‘Ikigai,’ Olamide records his biggest first-day numbers yet as it surpassed the 1.81 million posed by his 2023 album ‘Unruly’. It also placed him 5th on the all-time list of opening day numbers on Spotify Nigeria behind Davido’s ‘Timeless’ (4.91M)’, Burna Boy’s ‘I Told Them’ ( 2.93M), Asake’s ‘Work Of Art,’ (2.27M), and Wizkid’s ‘S2’ EP (2.08M).

https://twitter.com/Peller089/status/1806588554853671342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1806588554853671342%7Ctwgr%5E36ac2cca14511abe4ae5ab78827be7b74395bba0%7Ctwcon%5Es1&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpulsembed.eu%2Fp2em%2FLn_ONVMAq%2F

Shortly after releasing ‘Ikigai,’ Olamide released the music video for the ‘Metaverse’ while also appearing on TikTok live with content creator Peller for a virtual listening event.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Mother of Hausa singer Rarara feared abducted in Katsina

Published

6 hours ago

on

June 29, 2024 6:08 am

By

Halima Adamu, mother of Dauda Kahutu, a singer better known as Rarara, has been reported abducted in Katsina.

The Katsina state police command confirmed the abduction to TheCable Lifestyle on Friday.

It was reported that the singer’s mother was attacked at her residence in Kahutu village of Danja LGA in Katsina state.

Sources close to the family said the attackers stormed the village in the early hours of Friday.

The abductors were said to have silently come on foot as the villagers never heard gunshots during the operation which “took only a few minutes”.

Hamila was said to have gently followed attackers when they struck at her home.

The attackers reportedly came on motorcycles but left them afar from the village to avoid making sounds.

Some reports also claim that the abductors specifically picked Rarara’s mother while leaving other residents behind.

Abubakar Sodiq Alihu, the Katsina police command spokesperson, said an investigation has commenced on the case.

“We are aware. We received the report of the abduction of his mother and we are on top of the situation now,” the police spokesperson said.

Born in Katsina, Rarara is a famed political singer and songwriter in northern Nigeria.

He is known to have put out some songs in support of Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 general election.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Court grants Mohbad’s family permission to conduct independent autopsy

Published

6 hours ago

on

June 29, 2024 6:08 am

By

The Coroner’s Court sitting in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State has granted the family permission to conduct an independent autopsy and toxicology test on the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad.

The family had applied for an independent autopsy citing suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased.

The court’s decision comes after the previous autopsy conducted by the Lagos State Government was declared inconclusive.

The Aloba family’s legal team had rejected the results and pushed for an independent postmortem.

According to statement obtained by PUNCH Online on Friday and signed by the head of the family’s legal team, Taiwo Odumosu, the court during its sitting on Wednesday also ordered that all legal expenses for the conduct and process of the toxicology test would be borne by the Aloba family.

The statement read in part, “The court has ordered that all legal expenses for the conduct and process of the toxicology test would be borne by the Aloba family. The deceased’s father, mother, and wife are also required to be present during the autopsy.

“The Coroner’s Court chaired by T.A Sonubi, who gave the order however said that all the legal expenses on the conduct and process of the toxicology test would be borne by the Aloba family.

“The application was brought because the late Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad), died in suspicious circumstances on the 12th day of September 2023 and the applicant and his family are desirous of getting an independent autopsy and toxicology test to be done as a second opinion of the prospective autopsy report of the death of late Ilerioluwa Promise Aloba (Mohbad).

“The court further ordered that the father, mother and the wife of the deceased must be present at the autopsy.”

Odumosu added that the family welcomed the court’s decision, stating that they were eager to get to the bottom of the circumstances surrounding the late singer’s death.

The legal team, at a press conference addressed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu and Odumosu on June 17, 2024, had rejected the autopsy and toxicology test result on behalf of the Aloba family and urged for an independent toxicology test.

Meanwhile, the application to recall witnesses who had given testimony earlier was not granted but the application to call new witnesses in the matter was granted on the basis that the family would provide further details of the witnesses for witness smmons to be issued by the court.

According to the statement, Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, also applied that she should be allowed to bury the late singer, just as the legal team offered that it depends on how soon the autopsy and the toxicology test could be conducted.

“The court was disposed to the burial but said all parties (which include: Mr. Joseph Aloba (father of the deceased), Mrs. Abosede Olumiyi (mother of the deceased), and Mrs. Wunmi Aloba (wife of the deceased) must agree to the burial and if not the dispute should be referred to the High Court for settlement,” the statement added.

Continue Reading

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

Most Read...