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«Lagos Assembly to sue actress over allegations of assault. They are claiming extortion and blackmail. » |
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The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday said it will take a legal action against claims made by Nollywood actress, Ufoma Ejenabor.
Addressing a media briefing on the issue, Segun Olusesi, the Chief of Staff of the Assembly, said the House will make the issue a deterrent case. The incident,which happened on October 29 on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, had two different accounts from the two parties.
While Ufoma claimed one of the vehicles (the Pilot) in the lawmakers' convoy hit her Nissan Xterra car, Mr. Olusesi, who claimed to be driving directly behind the Pilot vehicle said Miss Ufoma drove into the convoy, hitting the left rear of ‘the pilot ‘ vehicle's bumper with her right front bumper.
"Even if it is true that we hit her car, which cannot be proven from the video recording, when there is an accident on the road, the first thing you do is not to call a lawyer. So, it was obvious she was onto something right from the beginning and that was why the Speaker directed that everything be recorded," he said.
A rowdy scene ensued and rather than continue on their journey to Lagos University Teaching Hospital to visit an ailing lawmaker, who died three days later, the lawmakers decided to drive to Zone 2 Police headquarters at Onikan. As seen from the footage provided, the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lateef Junaid could not resolve the impasse as Mrs. Ejenabor refused all entreaties.
Though, Mrs. Ejenabor did not make any statement to the police, she claimed, in a letter dated November 2 and written to the Speaker by her lawyer, Obinna Ukawoko, that she was beaten and that her vehicle was damaged. She also alleged that the following items stolen: white gold necklace (N850,000), Silver Gucci wristwatch (N475,000), Pink Ipod (N55,000), Blackberry Bold (N150,000) and Channel Sunglasses ($1,215). She also claimed that her wedding band, worth £3,000 was broken and her damaged vehicle will be repaired for N595,000.
"We have our client's firm directive to demand N35million as compensation," said the letter, advising the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, to quickly pay in order to avert imminent bad publicity and legal action.
Mr. Olusesi rebuffed all the claims, saying that the video showed Mrs. Ejenabor as she drove her car away from the police station without any visible damage and she still had her wedding band and bag while she was at the station.
"The photograph of her damaged car, as she claimed in the media, can be best described as insurance fraud and an attempt to extort and blackmail this Honourable House and the Right Honourable Speaker in particular," he said.
"Nobody touched her. At a time when the security officers were not sure what to do with her, one of them wanted to deflate her tyres, but the Speaker kept shouting from inside his vehicle that nobody should touch her vehicle." "If she was beaten by policemen as she claimed, she won't be the one to drive her vehicle to Zone 2 headquarters. Her dress was intact throughout and she claimed she was stripped. She alleged that her fingernails were broken but she refused to show the police. And if she was truly in pains as a result of the beating, she will not be able to put up such display at the police station." "She provoked everybody present, including the members of the public. She wanted to be beaten by the way she behaved but we were lucky and matured enough, especially because we were in a state of mourning and that is why we didn't give it to her." |
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«2011: Francis Duru, Others Deny Receiving N300,000» |
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Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, has denied being paid to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan’s ambition in the forthcoming 2011 elections.
Contrary to reports that the light skinned actor, Duru, with over 50 Nollywood stars, collected N300, 000 each to campaign for President Jonathan, some of the actors have denied the claim. They said they joined the campaign team because they believe Jonathan is the man that can bring positive change in Nigeria.
The star actor said: “It’s funny to see how my colleagues have embraced this project. It’s so amazing that these people left their busy schedules and time just to do this for the cause they believe in. They were not paid a dime for what they are doing. As a matter of fact, they are all doing it for their love, support and belief in the man. And for me, Jonathan is the man, I have seen him, met him, seen his works and I know he deserves to handle the baton.”
The project, which is coordinated by the actor Richard Ossai, motivated by Hon. Ned Nwoko and supported by the Sea Petroleum and Gas boss, Stella Odua, has been designed to help propagate the goodwill of Jonathan’s presidential ambition.
Managed by the Naija Artistes for Goodluck with an umbrella body, Goodluck Campaign Group, top Nigerian actresses and actors have supported the project.
While 31 make-believe stars recently completed a video shoot with the theme song Goodluck 2011, produced by award winning producer, Cobhams Asuquo, 20 Nigerian musicians have also produced a heart warming song for the presidential campaign with the same theme, Goodluck 2011.
Top Nigerian music acts that participated include the award winning gospel singer, Sammie Okposo, African Chyna, Daddy Showkey, Zaaki Adzee and Tosin Martins .
Also in the team are Linc and Yul Edochie, Yemi Blaq, Mercy Aigbe, Ejike Asiegbu, Uche Iwuji, Chinyere Winifred, Uche Obodo, Emmanuella Njudigbo, Maureen Solomon, Tony Umez, Emeka Enyiocha, Benita Nzeribe, Anne Macaulay and several top Northern-based Nigerian actors .
Desmond Elliot, Ufuoma Ejenobor, Ngozi Nwosu, Nonso Diobi, Clem Ohameze and Femi Brainard are also among the MSquad crew to shoot a video for the song
Winifred said: “I believe so much in the candidacy of Jonathan Goddluck and that is why I have thrown my weight behind this project. Aside that, we entertainers are serious minded people that have been neglected and we feel this is the time to take our own destiny in our hands and vote for the man we believe can do the job for us.”
Ebube Nwagbo, Uche Iwuji and Emmanuella Njudigbo also said their support for the project simply means they are casting their votes for no other person than the Bayelsa State born- professor.
Femi Brainard and Desmond Elliot, also expressed their delight to be part of the campaign.
“I decided to join the train because I think it’s a noble venture. Aside that, the man has a good record because what Bayelsa is today, President Jonathan was part of it, when he was a deputy governor and governor of the state. So for him to be the next president simply means he would be continuing his act of governance which is quite exemplary,” said Femi Brainard.
Also commenting on the project, Desmond Elliot said: “Of course I believe strongly in the cause and that is why I have thrown my weight behind it. We all have choices to make and this is my choice. No doubt I would be voting for Jonathan.”
The Goodluck Campaign group is under the auspices of Barrister Gullac, who has been working round the clock to achieve success with the Nigerian entertainers. |
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