Entertainment
Shakira Faces Tax Fraud Trial In Barcelona
On Monday, Colombian superstar Shakira would be standing trial in Barcelona for a tax fraud case, with Spanish prosecutors pursuing over eight years of jail time.
The 46-year-old is accused of defrauding the Spanish state of 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) from income earned between 2012 and 2014.
Shakira denies the charges, asserting that she only relocated to Spain full time in 2015.
The focus of the case revolves around determining the time the singer, known for hits like “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Whenever, Wherever,” and the 2010 World Cup song “Waka Waka,” spent in Spain between 2012 and 2014.
Spanish authorities claim that Shakira, dubbed the Queen of Latin Pop, spent more than half of the period between 2012 and 2014 in Spain and should have paid taxes in the country.
They assert that she moved to Spain in 2011 after her relationship with former FC Barcelona star defender Gerard Pique became public. However, they argue she maintained official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015.
According to the indictment, the prosecution alleges that Shakira “used a set of companies” based in tax havens “with the intention of not paying” tax in Spain.
Prosecutors are pushing for an eight-year and two-month jail term, along with a fine of nearly 24 million euros ($24 million) for the singer.
In defense, Shakira’s lawyers argue that until 2014, she led a “nomadic life,” primarily earning from international tours, and only permanently moved to Barcelona just before the birth of her second son in January 2015.
In a 2022 interview with Elle magazine, the singer declared, “I’ve paid everything they claimed I owed, even before they filed a lawsuit. So, as of today, I owe zero to them.”
In June 2022, Shakira announced her separation from Pique, concluding a decade-long relationship that marked one of the world’s most famous celebrity couples. In April, she relocated to Miami with their two sons, Milan and Sasha.
The high-profile trial is scheduled to commence at a Barcelona court at 10 am (0900 GMT). Anticipated to extend until December 14, the proceedings are set to involve the testimonies of nearly 120 witnesses.
During the trial’s opening session, the singer is anticipated to take the stand, but there may be a request for her absence in subsequent hearings.
The proceedings are expected to unveil details of her private life, as Spanish prosecutors conducted a thorough investigation, interviewing neighbors, monitoring social media images, examining payments at hairdressers, and even scrutinizing the health clinic she attended during pregnancy to substantiate their accusations.
The Plateau State Government has thrown its weight behind Big Brother Naija housemate, Sheba Faith Gamde, urging residents and supporters across the country to vote massively for the Plateau-born contestant.
The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Prince Miaphen, made the call when he received members of Team Sheba, who visited the ministry on Thursday to seek government support for the reality TV star.
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Miaphen assured the delegation that the ministry would mobilise support for Sheba and provide the encouragement needed to help her succeed in the competition.
Describing Sheba as a proud daughter of Plateau State, the commissioner said her participation in the popular reality show provided an opportunity for the state to showcase its talents and culture on a wider national platform.
“As a proud daughter of Plateau, I believe it is our collective responsibility to stand behind her and support her journey,” Miaphen said.
He called on Plateau indigenes, residents, friends and supporters of the state to unite behind Sheba and vote for her, stressing that every vote could make a difference in determining the eventual winner.
“Together, we can help our own bring the ultimate prize home,” he added.
Miaphen further encouraged youths and other residents to support the housemate throughout her stay in the BBNaija house.
“Let us support Sheba. Let us make Plateau proud,” the commissioner said.
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has sparked a debate over money and power in relationships after revealing how she would behave if she were financially richer than her male partner.
The “Bloody Samaritan” hitmaker shared her views on financial disparity in relationships while speaking on an episode of the Wahala podcast.
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Ayra Starr said that if she dates a man who is not as wealthy as she is, she would naturally have control over him because of her financial advantage.
According to the singer, however, being richer than her partner would not mean he would be exempted from providing for her.
“If I date a man who I am richer than, I will control him. But even if I am richer, he will still be providing, and I won’t let him know I have a lot of money,” she said.
Ayra Starr also disclosed that she would deliberately keep the extent of her wealth away from such a partner, meaning he would not necessarily know that she has substantial financial resources.
Her comments have since generated mixed reactions from members of the public.
While some people agreed with the singer’s position, arguing that “it is a man’s job to provide” regardless of how much his female partner earns, others criticised her stance.
Critics particularly questioned her decision to hide her financial status from a future partner, arguing that openness about finances is an important part of a relationship.
The singer’s comments have consequently reignited conversations about financial power, control, transparency and traditional gender expectations in relationships.
The debate also comes amid growing conversations about changing gender roles, as more women attain financial independence and, in some cases, earn significantly more than their male partners.
Ayra Starr, who has established herself as one of Nigeria’s prominent Afrobeats artistes, continues to attract attention both for her music and her outspoken comments on issues surrounding relationships and society.
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, and her former husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, have sparked reactions online after they were spotted together in Paris, France, during a family holiday.
The former couple were seen spending time with their twin sons while exploring different parts of the French capital.
In a video shared by JJC Skillz on Snapchat on Wednesday, Akindele and her ex-husband were seen with their children at what appeared to be a shopping centre in Paris.
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The video was captioned, “Family time.”
In another clip, JJC Skillz asked Akindele, “Mama Ibeji, are we playing games?”
She replied, “Yess ooo.”
The former couple were also reportedly spotted at the Eiffel Tower, according to videos shared online.
Akindele also shared a video showing herself, JJC Skillz and their children at a PlayStation section of what appeared to be a mall in Paris.
The family outing comes after Akindele and her children travelled to the United Kingdom for a holiday following the completion of her latest cinema project, The Four.
Akindele and JJC Skillz got married in London in 2016 and welcomed twin boys in 2018.
However, in June 2022, JJC Skillz announced their separation in an Instagram post, citing
“irreconcilable differences.”
Despite their separation, the former couple have continued to maintain a relationship centred around their children.
Their latest reunion in Paris has attracted attention online, with the videos showing the pair enjoying family moments with their children.
The Paris outing is also not the first time Akindele and JJC Skillz have been seen together publicly since their separation.
In 2023, the former couple were spotted together at the Lagos premiere of their movie, She Must Be Obeyed. They were seen dancing and embracing as they joined other celebrities at the event.
JJC Skillz also directed the movie.
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