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Harrods reacts as multiple women accuse former owner Mohamed Al Fayed of rape

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Multiple female ex-employees have accused Mohamed Al Fayed, the late billionaire and former chairman of Harrods, a luxury United Kingdom (UK) department store, of rape.

Fayed died last year at the age of 94.

The BBC said a documentary and podcast — Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods — gathered evidence that during Fayed’s ownership, Harrods not only failed to intervene but helped cover up abuse allegations.

One woman said Fayed raped her at his Park Lane apartment, while another, who said the late billionaire assaulted her when she was a teenager, described him as a “monster”.

“A sexual predator with no moral compass whatsoever,” she added, saying all the staff at Harrods were his “playthings”.

“We were all so scared. He actively cultivated fear. If he said ‘jump’ employees would ask ‘how high’.”

Fayed owned Harrods for 26 years and later owned Fulham Football Club and the Paris Ritz.

Former staff told the BBC that the businessman would regularly tour the department store’s vast sales floors and identify young female assistants he found attractive, who would then be promoted to work in his offices upstairs.

The assaults would be carried out in Harrods’ offices, his London apartment, or on foreign trips—often in Paris at the Ritz hotel, which he also owned, or his nearby Villa Windsor property.

On Friday, lawyers representing the assaulted employees said many of them were aged between 19 and 24 when they started working for Fayed.

Some were as young as 15 and 16, the lawyers added.

Fayed sold Harrods to the Qatar royal family in a deal reported to be worth around 1.5 billion pounds in 2010.

The new owners issued a statement saying they were “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Fayed.

“These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated, and we condemn them in the strongest terms,” the statement said.

“The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.”

The store offered its sincere apologises, saying it was prioritising settling claims in the quickest way possible to avoid “lengthy legal proceedings for the women involved”.

Forbes said Fayed’s net worth was around $2 billion when he died.

Entertainment

Olajumoke Onibread recounts struggles as she returns as radio host

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Olajumoke Orisaguna, the model better known as Olajumoke Onibread, has launched her talk show titled ‘Kilon Shele’.

The former bread seller turned model joined City FM as a radio presenter following a long hiatus from the spotlight.

Speaking at a news conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Orisaguna expressed gratitude to TY Bello, the renowned photographer who played a pivotal role in her rise to fame in 2016.

The model expressed willingness to return to school, adding that she encountered challenges due to her lack of formal education.

She disclosed that her radio show will focus on her personal story, including her experiences with exploitative managers who took advantage of her lack of education.

The former model said she will also address the emotional struggles she faced during her time away from the public eye and her path to self-discovery and empowerment.

The show will also feature inspiring conversations with guests who have faced similar challenges.

“I want to use my platform to share my story, the good and the bad. I want to show that even in the darkest moments, there is hope for a better tomorrow,” she said.

“My show will be a beacon of inspiration for those who have faced similar struggles.”

Olajumoke revealed mistakes that damaged relationships with benefactors.

“I have suffered a lot,” she said. “But I thank Azuka and TY Bello for not giving up on me. My advice to those coming behind me is to work hard and never bite the finger that feeds them. I made many mistakes, but I’ve learned my lessons and want others to learn from my story.”

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Comedian Funnybros welcomes baby girl with partner

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Onwuka Ugochukwu Richard, the Nigerian skit maker popularly known as Funnybros, has welcomed a baby girl with his partner.

The comedian took to Instagram on Wednesday to share photos from his partner’s maternity shoot while expressing gratitude to God for the new addition to his family.

“It’s a bouncing baby girl 🤍👧🎉🎉. Thank you Lord 🙏💫🤩,” he wrote.

The announcement triggered an outpouring of congratulatory messages from fans and colleagues in the comment section.

Skit maker Iamdikeh commented, “Congrats bro❤️”, while Cute Abiola, another content creator wrote, “Congratulations”.

MC Edo Pikin, the comedian, added “Congratulations brov❤️”.

The skit maker’s bundle of joy comes shortly after Dayo Amusa, the actress, celebrated the birth of her first child, a baby boy, in the United States.

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Davido’s ‘Na Money’ wins best costume award at Berlin Fashion Film Festival

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The music video of ‘Na Money,’ a song by Afrobeats star Davido, has earned international recognition, securing the ‘Best Costume/Styling (Craft)’ award at the 12th Berlin Fashion Film Festival.

Directed by Dammy Twitch and produced by Blessing Uzzi, ‘Na Money’ is the third track off Davido’s album ‘Timeless’.

The project features Grammy Award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo and Nigerian highlife stars The Cavemen.

The visuals’ vibrant costumes, rich cultural elements, and stunning visuals impressed the judges.

Davido’s win highlights the growing global appreciation for African creative talent.

The Berlin Fashion Film Festival is part of the renowned Berlinale, a prominent European and global film industry event since 1951. The festival annually attracts industry stars, filmmakers, and enthusiasts to Berlin.

Watch the colourful visuals below:

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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

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