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One Direction star Liam Payne took cocaine, others before death, says Prosecutors

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One Direction star Liam Payne consumed cocaine, alcohol and a prescription antidepressant before falling to his death from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony last month, Argentine prosecutors said Thursday.

The prosecutor’s office added that three people were charged with supplying him with drugs and one of them was also charged with abandoning a person in a vulnerable state.

“The results of the toxicological studies, which have been communicated to his family, revealed that, in the moments prior to his death and over a period covering at least his last 72 hours, Payne had traces of polydrug use of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his body,” the prosecutors said.

Payne was found dead on October 16 after plunging from the balcony of his third-floor room at the CasaSur Hotel in the Argentine capital.

An autopsy found he died after sustaining “multiple traumas” and “internal and external hemorrhaging” from the fall.

One of the highest-grossing live acts in the world in the 2010s, One Direction went on indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Payne went on to enjoy a degree of solo success but his career had languished recently.

His death at age 31 prompted a global outpouring of grief and condolences from family, former bandmates, fans and others.

– Three charged with drugs supply –

Prosecutors said one of the three people charged in the case had accompanied him on a daily basis during his stay in Buenos Aires and was charged with abandoning a person who later died as well as supplying him with narcotics.

The second suspect is a hotel employee accused of twice supplying Payne with cocaine while he was staying at the CasaSur. A third person is also accused of supplying him with the drug on October 14, two days before his death.

The prosecution ruled out self-harm and the “physical intervention of third parties” as the cause of Payne’s death, saying that the injuries he sustained were compatible with those caused by a fall.

“Payne was either not fully conscious or was in a state of markedly diminished or absent consciousness at the time of the fall,” the report said.

He was found dead after hotel staff called emergency services to report “a guest who is overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol, and destroying his room.”

The toxicological report was published a day after the singer’s father Geoff Payne repatriated his body to Britain aboard a flight from Buenos Aires to London.

Payne’s death has prompted a debate about whether the music industry has a duty of care for the mental health of stars who find fame at a young age.

The singer from Wolverhampton in central England had spoken publicly about struggles with substance abuse and the pressures of teenage stardom.

He first auditioned for the hugely popular television talent show “The X Factor” at the age of 14 but was unsuccessful.

Two years later he hit gold on the program, which teamed him up with Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik to form One Direction.

Over the next six years, the group enjoyed global fame and legions of screaming fans, selling more than 70 million copies of their five albums. They went on four world tours and won nearly 200 awards.

Entertainment

Laju Iren narrates how she juggle marriage, ministry with filmmaking

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Laju Iren, a pastor at Celebration Chuch International (CCI), has revealed how she manages her multifaceted life as a minister, wife, and filmmaker.

In a recent interview on the WithChude podcast, Laju, the wife of Emmanuel Iren, the founder of CCI, credited her ability to balance her roles to early self-awareness and the support of people around her, including her husband.

She also emphasized the importance of defining herself based on her relationship with Christ, rather than her various roles.

“Because I am a girl with many places, what I learnt very early is to first define myself based on who I am in Christ. Because there are going to be seasons in my life maybe I am not preaching as much or making films. I have a beautiful marriage which is amazing, but the thing is, if you keep defining yourself by roles, once any of those roles are not in their perfect positions, it becomes very difficult to find yourself,” she said.

“There have been seasons in my life where I was just a pregnant woman being on bed rest and raising a child.

“One great gift I have is self-awareness. If I am working on anything apart from ministry or family, it is most likely a three to four-month project. One thing that has really helped me is to realize that all the things I do do not define me. I am defined by Christ. Many people are called to be pastor’s wives. Of all the things I do, that one is a lot. I think it is a grace thing. I am also surrounded by incredible people. My husband is a lot of things. He is also a creative guy.”

Laju has written movies such as ‘Mistakenly Yours’ and ‘Loving Amanda’, which feature notable stars like Blossom Chukwujekwu and Teniola Aladese.

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Actress Kudirat Ogunro builds house for mum

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Kudirat Ogunro, the Nigerian actress, has built a house for her mum.

The actress, who is popular in the Yoruba film industry, took to her Instagram page on Monday to share a video from the housewarming ceremony.

Ogunro showcased the interior of the stunning property. She expressed joy and pride in being able to build her mum the house, describing it as an “incredible milestone”.

She also took the opportunity to pray for her fans, wishing them the grace to celebrate similar milestones.

“A special piece of my heart, built just for my mom. I did my best and God did the rest. Congratulations to her on her beautiful new home,” she wrote.

“This moment is so precious to me as I celebrate this incredible milestone with her. There is truly no greater joy than bringing happiness to your loved ones and seeing their dreams come true.

“As I share this joy, I pray God in his infinite mercy bless every one of you. May he provide for all your needs, make your dreams come true and grant you the grace to celebrate beautiful milestones like this with your loved ones.

“May your hinds be filled with love, peace and divine blessings. Here is to new beginnings, endless joy and countless reasons to celebrate for us all. Cheers to love, family and blessings.”

Ogunro, who learnt acting under the tutelage of Iyabo Ojo, has featured in several films, including ‘Okan Dudu’ and ‘Abomination’.

Aside from being an actress and producer, she also sells herbs and herbal medicine.

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Actress Princess Chineke joins US army

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Princess Chineke, the Nigerian actress, has joined the United States army.

The film star shared photos of herself in uniform on Instagram, reciting the soldiers’ creed and seeking divine guidance as she embarks on the new journey.

“I’m an American soldier. I’m member of a team. We are the army and proud of our name, we are the army and proudly proclaim,” she wrote.

“I answered the call of service to my country, to serve the people of United States. This I will defend, so help me God. God bless America. What God cannot do doesn’t exist.”

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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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