Entertainment
Mohbad: ACON Urges NDLEA To Suspend Naira Marley As Ambassador
The African Council on Narcotics (ACON) has recommended that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) temporarily suspend Azeez Adeshina Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, from his role as an ambassador while investigations into the death of Nigerian musical talent Ilerioluwa Oladimeni Aloba, also known as MOHBAD, are ongoing.
ACON also emphasized the importance of government agencies thoroughly vetting individuals considered for ambassadorial roles to ensure they are suitable candidates who can positively represent the brand without any tarnished reputation or negative influence on the brand’s target audience.
Rekpene Bassey, the President of ACON, emphasized in a statement from Abuja on Wednesday that the fundamental purpose of selecting a brand ambassador is to project a positive image for the brand.
This guidance comes in response to the ongoing controversy and various opinions regarding the unfortunate passing of MOHBAD on September 12, 2023, and the alleged swift burial in Ikorodu, Lagos, within a 24-hour timeframe.
Bassey in the statement said, “In the wake of this, the Nigeria Police authorities directed detailed special homicide inquest into the cause of his death.Consequently, the homicide investigators swung into action with several steps including the exhuming of his remains for autopsy.
“Several persons are being interrogated and/or interviewed over the case. All of these are being done because of the suspicion that his death was masterminded through forced ingestion of some deadly substances by certain folks who were directly or indirectly connected to him.
“However, as we await the outcome of official security investigation into the case, it may be expedient to question the rationale for the engagement of one of those suspected to be the brains behind MOHBAD’s death namely Azeez Adeshina Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley as an ambassador of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) – Nigeria’s foremost anti-drug agency.
“Naira Marley hardly represents any strong positive social energy as can be seen in his public conduct and the character traits of the so-called Marlians modelling after him.
*Most of them are deviants, to say the least; engulfed in youth bulge, cultism, petty criminality, internet fraud and the abuse of dangerous drugs. How can such fellow be a role model for our youth?” he added
Entertainment
FULL LIST: Nigeria Ranks 5th Worldwide For Daily Social Media Usage
Nigerians have been ranked among the top social media users globally, with 2024 data positioning the country fifth in the world for average daily time spent online.
According to figures from Cable.co.uk and We Are Social, shared by World of Statistics on X, Nigerians spend an average of 3 hours and 23 minutes per day on social media.
Leading the global list is Kenya, where users spend the most time on social media at 3 hours and 43 minutes daily. South Africa follows closely with 3 hours and 37 minutes, Brazil with 3 hours and 34 minutes, and the Philippines at 3 hours and 33 minutes.
READ MORE: Prayers Won’t Build Roads, Fund Children’s Education – Jesse Jagz To Nigerians
With an average of 3 hours and 23 minutes, Nigeria ranks just behind these top four countries in social media engagement.
Other nations with notable social media usage include Colombia at 3 hours and 22 minutes, Chile and Indonesia both at 3 hours and 11 minutes. Completing the top ten are Saudi Arabia and Argentina, with daily averages of 3 hours and 10 minutes and 3 hours and 8 minutes, respectively.
By comparison, some countries report lower social media usage. Ghana averages 2 hours and 43 minutes, Egypt 2 hours and 41 minutes, and Thailand 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Among European countries, social media engagement is generally lower, with Portugal averaging 2 hours and 23 minutes, Romania 2 hours and 20 minutes, and Italy 2 hours and 17 minutes, highlighting significant regional variations in social media usage.
Full list:
Kenya – 03:43
South Africa – 03:37
Brazil – 03:34
Philippines – 03:33
Nigeria – 03:23
Colombia – 03:22
Chile – 03:11
Indonesia – 03:11
Saudi Arabia – 03:10
Argentina – 03:08
Mexico – 03:04
Malaysia – 02:48
Ghana – 02:43
Egypt – 02:41
Thailand – 02:30
Bulgaria – 02:26
Vietnam – 02:23
Portugal – 02:23
Romania – 02:20
Italy – 02:17
Entertainment
Shanty Town Director Dimeji Ajibola Is Dead
Renowned Nollywood director and editor, Dimeji Ajibola, has passed away.
Ajibola reportedly died in the early hours of November 3, 2024, following a battle with an undisclosed illness.
READ MORE: IPOB Calls For Ban On Miyetti Allah, Open Grazing To Curb ESN Operations
Actor Bolanle Ninalowo confirmed the tragic news through an Instagram post featuring a photo captioned: “I love you, brother, and I miss you, Dimeji Ajibola. May God heal your family and loved ones. Till we meet again, didi dox, rest on the champ.”
Ajibola was known for directing the 2023 Nigerian crime thriller series ‘Shanty Town’ and the 2012 award-winning urban musical film ‘Hoodrush,’ which earned accolades such as Best Movie at the 2012 Green Me Film Festival in Germany, among others.
Entertainment
Bobrisky Granted Bail After Denying N15m Bribe Voicenote Claim
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has granted bail to the controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.
Bobrisky was intercepted and taken off an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday night while trying to depart for London, United Kingdom.
The cross-dresser promptly informed his followers on social media about the incident, claiming he sustained injuries during the arrest.
READ MORE: May Edochie Reveals Why She Rejected Lucrative Movie Roles
Bobrisky wrote, “Nigerians, help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”
He was subsequently flown to the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja, where he was interrogated on his bribery allegations against the commission.
In a voice note shared by a controversial social critic, Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky allegedly said he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him.
BIZTELLERS gathered that Bobrisky perfected his bail late Friday night and was subsequently released.
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed Bobrisky’s release on Saturday but declined further comments.
However, a source familiar with the matter said the cross-dresser denied bribing the EFCC in his confessional statement made at the commission’s headquarters.
The source added that the cross-dresser challenged the person who posted the voice note to defend it.
“He denied everything about releasing money to any official as a bribe to drop the money laundering charges against him. He denied it in his statement. He said the fellow who posted the voice note should come over to justify it. He said nobody requested money from him in the EFCC and he didn’t give anyone anything”, said the source.