Entertainment
Bobrisky challenges court conviction, seeks fine option

Bobrisky challenges court conviction, seeks fine option
Controversial cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, alias Bobrisky, has appealed against the six months imprisonment imposed on him by the Federal High Court in Lagos which convicted him of charges of abuse of naira.
In the appeal lodged on his behalf by his lawyer, Bimbo Kusanu, Bobrisky wants the Court of Appeal to convert the six-month imprisonment to N50,000 fine on each of the four counts he was convicted of.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro had on April 12, 2024, sentenced Bobrisky, to six months imprisonment without an option fine for abusing the naira by spraying the currency at a party, leading to mutilation.
Bobrisky had on April 5, 2024, pleaded guilty to four counts of abuse of the naira preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The judge while sentencing the cross-dresser, said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira.
However, in his Notice of Appeal filed before the Appeal Court, the cross-dresser urged the appellate court to consider the fact that he has no previous record of criminal conviction.
He averred that the sentence imposed by the trial court against him was punitive contrary to the mandatory provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law on sentencing.
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He stated that the trial court did not consider the positive antecedent of the appellant, who did not waste the precious judicial resources of the trial court, when he pleaded guilty to the charge.
He also noted that he honoured the invitation of the EFCC on the first invitation during the investigation leading to the charge.
“The sentence of the lower court that imposed the maximum penalty of six months imprisonment without option of fine on the appellant, who is a first-time convict without a previous record of criminal conviction, is harsh.
“The learned trial judge erred in law and facts by his imposition of the maximum sentence of six months imprisonment terms against the appellant without the option of fine contrary to the provisions of Section 416(2) (d) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 that prescribed the mandatory guidelines on the trial court on imposition of sentencing after criminal conviction of a first time offender as the appellant.
“The trial court imposed the maximum sentence on the appellant, who has no previous record criminal of conviction, when there are options to impose a lesser sentence by the provisions of the ADCJA.
“The sentence imposed by the trial court against the appellant is punitive contrary to the mandatory provisions of the law on sentencing.
“The appellant has suffered a miscarriage of justice by the maximum sentence imposed by the learned trial court.
“The reasons adduced by the learned trial court for the imposition of maximum punishment on the appellant, which is essentially on what foreigners think of abuse of naira, is perverse and is out of tune with the reality of what the trial court should have been considered to impose maximum punishment on the appellant.
“The intendment of the provisions of the Central Bank Act 2007 that the appellant was charged with is for Nigerians not to tamper with naira and not what nationals of foreign countries view about tampering with naira.
“The trial court did not consider the positive antecedent of the appellant, who did not waste the precious judicial resources of the trial court when he pleaded guilty to the charge. The appellant honoured the invitation of the respondent, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on the first invitation during the investigation leading to the charge.
“The trial court failed to exercise his discretion judiciously and judicially in sentencing the appellant which has occasioned a miscarriage of justice against the appellant.”
Bobrisky challenges court conviction, seeks fine option
Entertainment
Nollywood filmmaker jailed five years for drug trafficking

Nollywood filmmaker jailed five years for drug trafficking
A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a Nollywood filmmaker, Emeka Mbadiwe, to five years in prison for trafficking 17.30 kilograms of “Canada Loud,” a unique strain of Cannabis Sativa.
The trial judge, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, jailed Mbadiwe after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of unlawful importation of the prohibited drug brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The NDLEA prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim had earlier informed the judge that the convict was arrested on December 24, 2024, during the examination of incoming cargo with Airway Bill No: 00637337285 from Houston, United States.
Mbadiwe was arrested at the National Handling Company (NAHCO) Import Shed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
Ibrahim also claimed that the convict had enlisted the help of one Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James to import the banned substance.
He stated that Emeka’s actions violated Sections 21(1)(e) and are punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
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After convicting Mbadiwe, the court allowed the prosecutor to present the case’s facts and tender all exhibits related to the charges, including the bulk of the seized drug, the convict’s confessional statements, and an iPhone Pro Max 12.
The defence lawyer, Dennis Warri, pleaded with the court to consider a lighter sentence, arguing that his client’s timely guilty plea indicated remorse and saved the court time.
Warri also pleaded with the court to impose a non-custodial sentence or a fine instead of a prison term on the convict.
After considering the submissions from both parties, Justice Lewis-Allagoa sentenced Mbadiwe to five years in prison but also allowed him to pay a fine of N3 million as an alternative to the jail term.
The judge further ordered the forfeiture of the drug and the iPhone Pro Max 12 to the federal government of Nigeria.
The charges against Emeka stated: “That you, Mbadiwe Emmanuel Emeka, Male, Adult, on or about the 24th of December, 2024, during the examination of incoming cargo with Airway Bill No:00637337285 from Houston, United States, at the National Handling Company (NAHCO) Import Shed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, procured one Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James to import 17.30 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, LSD, heroin, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21(1)(e) and punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Nollywood filmmaker jailed five years for drug trafficking
Entertainment
Tragedy hits Nollywood again as actress Pat Ugwu dies

Tragedy hits Nollywood again as actress Pat Ugwu dies
The Nigerian film industry was thrown into mourning on Wednesday morning as news broke of the sudden and untimely death of Patience Ugwu, popularly known as Pat Ugwu.
The 35-year-old actress, who was rapidly making a name for herself in Nollywood, left her colleagues and fans in shock and grief.
The cause of Pat Ugwu’s death is still unknown, but her colleagues took to social media to express their sadness and pay tribute to her memory.
Actor Emeka Okoye wrote a heartfelt post on Instagram, saying, “Rest in peace sis. Pat Ugwu… so we no get to work again? Death whyooo? God please. Rest in peace PAT. May your soul rest in the bosom of the Lord.”
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Another actor, Kevin Mike, also expressed his shock and sadness, writing, “Chai, just woke up this morning to hear the death of one of our crew and casts @patpat_ugwu. Rest in peace dear.”
Pat Ugwu’s death comes as a devastating blow to her family, who are still reeling from the loss of her father, Evaristus Ugwu, in September 2021.
Pat had been very close to her father and had expressed her grief and pain on social media after his passing.
As the news of Pat Ugwu’s death continues to spread, her fans and colleagues are taking to social media to pay their respects and share their memories of her.
Tragedy hits Nollywood again as actress Pat Ugwu dies
Entertainment
Tems wins 2025 Grammy award, beats Davido, Burna Boy, others

Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, has won the ‘Best African Music Performance’ category at the 67th Academy Grammy Awards for her song ‘Love Me JeJe’.
It was first individual Grammy award and was obviously elated during the presentation at the event held in the early hours of Monday morning at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, United States.
The songstress edged out fellow Nigerians in a strong field of nominees — including Yemi Alade, Asake, Wizkid, Davido, Lojay, and Burna Boy — to secure the coveted award.
In her acceptance speech, the singer, said: “Wow, dear God. Thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this team.
“Tomorrow is my mum’s birthday and this is her first Grammys. I just want to thank you ma because she has really done a lot for me and my brother.
“Happy birthday, mum. And I want to thank my team. Muyiwa, Wale, my beautiful stylist, and lovely girls… I love you guys.
“Thank you so much. To God be the glory. Honestly, He has changed my life so much.”
Tems, however, lost the ‘Best R&B Song’ award to US singer SZA.
She also lost her third nomination in the ‘Best Global Music Album’ category for her project ‘Born In The Wild’ to Matt B’s ‘Alkebulan II’ featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Also in the category was Rema for ‘Heis’ album.
This is not her first Grammy Award win.
In 2023, the Afrobeats singer won the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category for her role in ‘Wait for U’, the 2022 hit song by Future featuring Drake.
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