NIGERIA: NBC, NFVCB deny ban of Musical Videos.

The Nigerian Broadcast Commission, NBC, and National Films and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, on Monday denied banning the broadcast of some musical videos by Nigerian artistes.

Mrs Maimuna Jimada, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Commission, disclosed in Abuja that the commission was not aware of the ban.

According to her, NBC was not in charge of banning musical videos. “NBC has not banned any videos as we are not in-charge of placing a ban on music videos.”

Some newspapers had reported that the commission had banned some new musical videos from being broadcast in the country for containing offensive materials.

The report named some of the affected artistes as P-square, Wande Coal, Timaya, Flavour, D’prince, Goldie, Chuddy K and Tillaman.

Elton John and David Furnish show off baby No:2

ELTON John introduces his new son to the world — in a snap with the infant’s big brother.

Sir Elton, 65, and partner David Furnish beamed with joy as they posed with Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John and Zachary, two.

NIGERIA: Boko Haram Declares Ceasefire

After about three years of attacks on security formations, public and worship places, the Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram, on Monday agreed to cease-fire.

The organisation’s Second Commander (southern and northern Borno), Muhammed Abdulaziz, in a statement, cited dialogue with the Borno State Government as reason.

 “I am announcing this ceasefire with the approval and consent of the leader Sheikh Abubakar Shekau. We, therefore, call on all our members to stop all acts of violent immediately and await further directives,” said Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who introduced himself as the second in command to Mr. Shekau.

MUSIC: Justin Bieber Sings For Selena Gomez - Listen!

If two new reports are to be believed, the Justin Bieber/Selena Gomez break-up is set to get real ugly, real fast.

The tabloid says Justin has included on "Believe Acoustic" a track titled "Nothing Like This."

It's allegedly all about Gomez, and it's places the blame on the couple's split squarely on her pretty shoulders.

[VIDEO] China: Motorcyclist In Lucky Escape.

A motorcycle rider has had a lucky escape while waiting at a pedestrian crossing in eastern China.

The accident happened in the city of Linhai, in Zhejiang Province, as the truck driver was travelling to the city of Ningbo.

The truck rolled over when the driver was making a turn at a junction, nearly crushing the motorcyclist.

Nobody was killed or injured in the accident

NIGERIA: Fake Currency Syndicate Arrested in Lagos.

MONDAY was a day of reckoning for five-man syndicate that deals in counterfeit dollar, naira and other international denominations.

The gang was caught when the Commander in charge of the Lagos State Police Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Mr. Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, (SP) received an information that a syndicate, which specializes in printing different fake notes of various denominations both in local and foreign currencies, operates at No. 6 Ogunlana Street, Alagbado, Lagos.

Kyari and his men, who swiftly swung into action, led his team of operatives to the address where intense surveillance yielded fruits with the arrest of the five suspects.

The suspects were 28-year-old Femi Jacob, Ramon Adeoye, 20,  and Akeem Ayodabo, who is 42years old.

Others were 38-year-old Isaka Usman and Onyeka Ibe who is 37.

NIGERIA: Kidnappers strike in President Jonathan’s council

Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped Mr Festus Ibegu, and Mrs. Abiye Ibegu, the parents of Mr Richard Ibegu,Chairman of Ogbia Local Government of Nigeria’s Bayelsa state.

The abduction was carried out at about 10pm on Sunday, at Oloibiri, the village where Nigeria struck her first crude oil in commercial quantity in 1957.

last week, mother of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mrs. Betinah Benson was released by ye to be identified abductors.

Our sources in at the seat of Government in Yenagoa told our correspondent that the latest kidnap was aimed at embarrassing President Goodluck Jonathan who comes from the local Government and Governor Serike Dickson who is celebrating his 47th birthday today, and will clock one year in office in about two weeks time.

AFRICA: AMVCA nominees announced.

AVCA Nominee Announcement, was watched by audiences in 47 African countries, the nominees for the first-ever AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) were revealed during a special edition of lifestyle program 53 Extra. Held in association with MultiChoice, and headline sponsor Amstel Malta, the AMVCAs recognizes and rewards excellence in African film and TV.

Encompassing 28 awards in 26 categories, the AMVCAs includes 6 categories where viewers will vote for winners and 18 more technically focused categories where winners will be selected by an expert industry based judging panel (judges will be announced at a later date).

NIGERIA: Abuja Court orders bride’s parents to refund dowry over sexless marriage

A Nigerian court based in the capital Abuja has ordered a 16-year-old girl, Maryam Suleiman, and her parents to refund N570, 000(about $4,000) to her husband, Mukailu Naibi, over a fraudulent marriage.

The judge in the Area Court sitting in Lugbe, Haruna Masanawa, ruled that Suleiman and her parents must refund the money to Naibi within 30 days. Masanawa also ordered that Naibi’s estranged wife, who had filed for divorce, must remain married to him pending the full refund of the amount.

“Based on the evidence before me, the court is convinced that the plaintiff’s parents are dubious people that no child should be proud of. They collected money from different suitors, all with the fraudulent intention of marrying their daughter out to them; all of which turned out to be fake promises.

CHRIS BROWN & FRANK OCEAN: HUGE FIGHT AT RECORDING STUDIO

Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown is under investigation for an alleged assault in a West Hollywood parking lot, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said early Monday.

Deputies responding to a report of six men fighting Sunday night found the scene clear, but were told by witnesses that there had been a brief fight over a parking space.

"The altercation allegedly led to Chris Brown punching the victim," the department said in a statement released early Monday morning.

NIGERIA: PLAYA’S BALL TO HOST EDI LAWANI AT CLUB RUMOURS ON THURSDAY 31st JANUARY 2013.

The entertainment industry will come to a standstill on the last day of this month (January 2013) as Industry top shots and shot callers will come together to celebrate Edi Lawani, as Playa’s Ball will host him in conjunction with Club Rumors.

Playa’s ball; a Now Muzik En.Core initiative is an exclusive player rendezvous that celebrates achievers in the industry. The red carpet of the party, which is strictly by invitation, will open from 8 PM on January 31, 2013 at Club Rumors, in Ikeja G.R.A and is proudly supported by Teezers and Chelsea dry gin.

NIGERIA: Give peace a chance, FG begs MEND

The Federal Government has appealed to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta not to plunge the region into another round of violence, following the conviction of its leader, Mr. Henry Okay, for terrorism.

A South African court had last Monday found Okah guilty of masterminding the October 1, 2010 bomb blasts in Abuja, among other terrorism charges.

Following the conviction, MEND, in a statement on Saturday, threatened to renew attacks on targets across the country.

SAG AWARDS 2013: Complete List of Winners

SAG Awards! Actors shared their love for other actors at the 19th annual Screen Actor's Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in L.A..

Check out the complete list of winners below

Male Actor, Supporting
Alan Arkin, Argo
Javier Bardem, Skyfall
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
**Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln**

Female Actor, Supporting 
Sally Field, Lincoln
**Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables**
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy
Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

NIGERIA: TILLAMAN BAGS FIRST AWARD!

Prince Adeyemi Adetona aka Tillaman last Saturday (26th Jan) bagged the award for the Best Comeback Artist of 2012 at the just concluded PRODIGIE Awards held in Akure, Ondo State.

Tillaman who signed on to a new label, Euphoric Heritage Records late 2011 and moved back to Nigeria from the UK in 2012 to give his career a boost had earlier dropped a couple hit singles like Puyanga, Fori Fori, Trying amongst others in the past before putting out the monster hit Koma Roll featuring rapper Vector which rocked the country (and beyond) in 2012, setting him as one of the fastest rising acts of the Year.

NIGERIA: Third Mainland crash [Driver] - ‘I was not speeding’

Olusola Oladimeji, the driver of the Toyota Sienna that fell off the Third Mainland Bridge into the lagoon on Saturday, has described his escape as a miracle.

The father of three-said contrary to reports by traffic and emergency officials, he was not on high speed when the incident occurred.

Oladimeji, who is a minister of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, said he was on his way home from work.

He said, “I work on the island and I left home for a meeting in the early hours of Saturday. After the monthly environmental sanitation, I started driving back home.

“I was driving at the speed of 60km/hr and was on the fast lane because the road was free. At Ebute Meta bypass, I saw two vehicles that had been involved in an accident but I kept on driving. Suddenly, everything went blank, I couldn’t see anything again, and I just found myself in the water.”

Ibori: EFCC’s claim on my Lekki property is bizarre.

FORMER Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, who is serving a jail term in a London prison for money laundering, has described the recent allegation by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that there was a new discovery of his secret mansion in Lekki, Lagos State, as bizarre, saying he built the house five years before he became governor of the state.

NIGERIA: How we arrested man with five human skulls, three others –STF

The special task force on Jos crisis had yesterday paraded a suspect, said to be a community leader   caught with five human skulls and three others. Spokesman of the force, Captain Salisu Mustapha who paraded the men disclosed that they were arrested during a cordon and search operation within Bokkos and Mangu local government areas of the state due to the incessant violence in the area.

IRS TO O.J. SIMPSON Seriously, You Need To Pay Your Taxes!!!

O.J. Simpson may be rotting behind bars, but it doesn't mean he can skate on his taxes ... so says the IRS, who just slapped him with yet ANOTHER tax lien.

According to a federal lien filed in December, O.J. failed to cough up $17,015.99 in taxes for the year 2011. This makes for the THIRD lien filed against him in the last 12 months.

KARDASHIAN: Widow of Robert Kardashian Fires Back at Kim, Khloe

Robert Kardashian's ex-wife is not afraid of her late husband's two daughters.

After releasing Robert's journals to In Touch Weekly - which allege Kris Jenner was abusive to Kim and Khloe Kardashian - Ellen Kardashian was the subject of online vitriol from the reality stars, who referred to her as a money-hungry "disgrace" in various messages this week.

NIGERIA: Man Builds Light Plane in Bayelsa

Unemployment or underemployment need not keep anyone from fulfilling their dreams says a young man from Brass in Bayelsa state, who in homestead has built a light plane that he hopes will fly someday soon.

NIGERIA: How to escape from a car boot and kidnappers

With the rising cases of kidnapping in Nigeria and kidnappers locking up victims in car boots, there must be a way to outsmart them. And there are indeed ways to do so.

A recent case was the kidnap of a man in Ijebu North East, who was taken more than 100 kms away to a hideout in Odeda, in the Obafemi Owode area of the state. The victim, 35-year-old Aremu Oluwasogo Peters was locked all the way in the boot of his car.

NIGERIA: Man hacks mother to death in Kwara

Tragedy occurred in Isanlu-Isin Kwara State, when a middle-aged man, Taye Ibiwoye, allegedly clubbed his mother to death with an axe.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the deceased, identified as Sarah Ibiwoye, who was said to be in her late 60s, died instantly from the attack, which shattered her skull.

NIGERIA: Five Indian Sailors Kidnapped Freed

Five Indian sailors kidnapped when their ship was attacked off the coast of Nigeria last month have been released, the vessel’s operating company said on Saturday.

Pirates looted the SP Brussels, an oil and chemicals tanker, on December 17 about 40 miles off the coast of the Niger Delta, a vast wetlands region home to Africa’s largest energy industry.

VIDEO: Toke Makinwa bares it all

Rhythm FM’s On Air Personality; Toke Makinwa in a no holds barred interview on Rubbin’ Minds revealed all that her fans might be longing for.

Beyonce on Lip-Synching Scandal: Can I Live?!?

For the first time since the Beyonce lip-sync scandal broke, the singer at the center of this controversy has spoke out.

American Idol: Finalists Defend Show Against Allegations of Racism

A quartet of former finalists has come out and vehemently denies charges that American Idol is racist.

Melinda Doolittle (Season 6), Vonzell Solomon (Season 4), Taylor Hicks (Season 5) and Casey Abrams (Season 10) all spoke to TMZ this week and defended the program against charges from nine other finalists that claim Idol shows a racial bias in disqualifying contestants.

Justin Bieber: Investigated for Nerf Gun Assault

This really is not Justin Bieber's week.

First, the singer was accused of cheating on Selena Gomez while smoking pot in December with someone named Mimi Jenson.

Then, a radio host in Charlotte said Bieber was really mean to her at the gym.

Miley Cyrus: Cosmopolitan Pics: SEXY!

Miley Cyrus is featured in the latest issue of Cosmpolitan, talking at length to the magazine about the hotness of Liam Hemsworth and also giving readers an idea of what that actor goes home to every night.

Indeed, these may be the raciest, most seductive photos of Cyrus yet, as she poses for the cover without a bra - and then inside the publication with the exact opposite look.

21-year-old Nigerian hangs himself in UK over fear of deportation

Riliwanu Balogan was found hanged at Glen Parva Young Offender’s Institute in Leicester in 2011, a day after his 21st birthday.

The inquest heard he had told staff he had nothing to live for. The hearing coincided with the release of a report, which said the centre had improved, but there were still problems.

Peter Odemwingie: Blasts West Bromwich Albion in Twitter Tirade

West Brom star Peter Odemwingie has taken to Twitter to reveal the reasons behind him trying exit the Hawthorns.

The 31-year-old striker handed in a transfer request, which was rejected by the club, as he looks to push through a move away from the Midlands.

And with Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp keen to add the Nigeria forward to his squad in west London, he took to Twitter to announce the reasons why he wants to exit the club.

He tweeted: 

• “I can understand the reaction of few Albion fans on my desire to leave the club. Real reason? Cos they once doubted my commitment.