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Portable In Trouble After US Visa Denial

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Portable In Trouble After US Visa Denial

Again, Portable, the well-known Nigerian street artist whose real name is Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, has made headlines for a negative cause.

Potpourri received a statement indicating that Portable had reached an agreement with one Mr. Musibau Olawale Babalola, a music promoter based in the United States and the Chief Executive of Fathia Entertainment LLC, to collaborate on a musical concert.

The agreement stipulated that Portable would perform in 8-10 cities in North America, and the promoter would obtain an American Visa for Portable and his crew members.

Fulfilling his own end of the deal, the promoter engaged the services of American Attorney and paid the sum of $12,000:00( Twelve thousand US dollars) to secure a work permit for Portable to enable him transverse the designated US cities for the shows, in consonance with US immigration laws.

The promoter also said he paid the sum of $3,950 statutory fee for USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services work permit on behalf of Portable.

The promoter also submitted that he paid Portable the sum of $2,500, N3.4M and N1M respectively and a date was fixed for Visa interview at America Embassy.

“Portable in his characteristic manner, displayed unprofessional conduct at US embassy and exhibited other sundry abrasive behaviors and was denied visa on two occasions. All the pertinent questions normally asked of a visa applicant were posed to Portable and instead of him answering the question in simple English he understands, instead he decided to answer the Consular in his local language, obviously not understood by the Consular,” the promoter said.

“Portable’s denial of visa could be predicated on his claims on social media of being the founding member of a dreaded cult group. The US Embassy does not issue visas to people of questionable character and therefore could be one of the reasons he was denied visa,” he added.

After the visa denial saga, there was an agreement between the promoter and Portable, that the latter will refund all the expenses incurred.

Considering the circumstances, the promoter said he reduced the amount to be refunded to N8M and Portable agreed to make the payment, but pleaded to do so in 5 installments.

Portable made the first installment of N2M, but reneged on his promise to balance up. Due to Portable’s refusal to effect the balance payment, the music promoter engaged the services of M. B. Fabunmi Esq of law firm of Messrs Hoxton Partners to commence a legal proceedings against Zazzu star to recover the said debt and damages.

In the Lawyer”s letter to Portable, the sums of $29,890 and N3.4M were demanded from him and

Although his lawyer denied owing the music promoter $29,890, Portable admitted to owing a total of N8M, of which N2M has already been paid. The case has been assigned to Honourable Justice Ogala of the Ikeja High Court.

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Why Nigerians Think I’m Wicked — Patience Ozokwor Finally Reveals the Truth

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My Kids Begged Me Not To Remarry Says Patience Ozokwor

Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor has opened up about the public perception that she is wicked in real life, explaining that the belief stems from the villainous roles she has played throughout her successful acting career.

Popularly known as “Mama G,” the 67-year-old actress said many Nigerians often struggle to separate her on-screen characters from her real personality.

SEE MORE: Patience Ozokwor Inspired Me To Stop Indecent Dressing – Mercy Johnson

Speaking during a recent video chat, Ozokwor stressed that the tough and controversial roles she portrays are meant to expose societal problems rather than define who she is as a person.

According to the veteran actress, she deliberately takes on challenging roles that reflect real-life issues, including family conflicts, oppression, and other social vices that many people prefer to ignore.

“I feel bold to expose the ills in society. Those things happen and nobody wants to expose them. I am exposing them,” she said.

Ozokwor noted that while she is often cast as a strict mother, troublesome mother-in-law, or other antagonistic characters, those roles are simply part of her profession as an actress.

The Nollywood icon emphasized that she is nothing like many of the characters she portrays on screen and urged fans to understand the difference between acting and reality.

“I am not like that, but I expose it. I am extremely proud of myself and Mama G lovers are proud of me,” she added.

The actress further explained that storytelling plays an important role in addressing societal issues and encouraging positive change.

She expressed satisfaction that many of her fans appreciate the deeper messages behind her performances rather than judging her based solely on the characters she plays.

Over the years, Patience Ozokwor has built a reputation as one of Nollywood’s most respected actresses, earning praise for her powerful performances and ability to bring complex characters to life.

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Grammy-Winning Singer Talay Riley Stabbed to Death in London

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Grammy-winning Nigerian-British singer and songwriter Talay Riley has died after being stabbed in East London, a tragic incident that has prompted a murder investigation by British police.

Talay, whose real name was Mark Yinka Orabiyi, was reportedly attacked around 9 a.m. on Friday on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown, East London. Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene but were unable to save the 35-year-old musician.

Homicide detectives from the Specialist Crime Command have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

READ MORE: Talay Riley

Confirming the heartbreaking news, Talay’s family released a statement expressing their grief and paying tribute to the late artiste.

“It is with overwhelming sadness that we confirm that Mark ‘Yinka’ Orabiyi professionally known as Talay Riley passed away yesterday morning,” the family said.

They described him as a Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum-selling songwriter and artist whose humour, generosity and presence touched countless lives.

“We are deeply grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support that we have received through messages, calls and visits over the past hours,” the statement added.

Talay, the brother of renowned music producer Scribz Riley, built a successful career spanning more than a decade in the R&B music industry.

He secured a publishing deal with Global Publishing at the age of 18 before later signing with Jive/Sony Records after featuring on rapper Chipmunk’s 2009 single.

Reacting to the tragic loss, Scribz Riley shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, describing his late brother as a mentor, inspiration and a light to many.

“My heart is shattered! This doesn’t feel real. It feels like a bad dream. Just before he went to sleep we spoke about the future, staying positive and about everything we still had left to do. I never imagined that would be our last conversation,” he wrote.

He continued: “Yinka wasn’t just my brother. He was my mother’s son, a friend to many, a mentor, an inspiration, and a light in so many people’s lives. He had one of the purest hearts I’ve ever known. He loved deeply, gave freely, and touched countless people through his talent, kindness, and spirit.

“The outpouring of love already shows how many lives he impacted. You inspired so many people and your legacy will continue to live on through your music, your family, your friends, and everyone blessed enough to have known you.”

Tributes have continued to pour in from across the music industry, with notable artistes including Stormzy and Craig David among those mourning the late singer.
Police investigations into the fatal stabbing remain ongoing.

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Singer Niniola Announces Death of Husband

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Nigerian afro-house singer Niniola has announced the death of her husband, Michael Ndika, in a series of emotional posts shared on her Instagram story in the early hours of Wednesday.

The Grammy-nominated artiste disclosed the heartbreaking news with short but emotional messages accompanied by photos of herself and her husband.

SEE ALSO: BREAKING: Nollywood Star Alex Ekubo Reportedly Dies at 40 After Health Battle

“God took him,” she wrote in one of the posts.
In another post, the singer added, “My husband died,” before sharing a third message that read, “God took him. 13 years. 13 f***ing years.”

Until his death, Michael Ndika was the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform known for promoting afro-house and contemporary African music.

Details surrounding the cause of his death were not immediately made public, as the singer has largely kept her private life away from social media and public attention over the years.

Niniola, 39, rose to fame after emerging as one of the top contestants on Project Fame West Africa in 2013. Since then, she has built a successful music career and gained international recognition for her afro-house sound.

Her hit single “Maradona,” released in 2017, earned global acclaim and attracted recognition from international stars including DJ Snake, Drake, Timbaland, and Beyoncé.

Fans, colleagues, and well-wishers have since taken to social media to sympathise with the singer over the tragic loss.

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