Entertainment
Sean Combs sentenced to four years in prison for prostitution offences
Sean Combs sentenced to four years in prison for prostitution offences
Music mogul Sean Combs has been sentenced to more than four years in prison, after a jury convicted him of prostitution-related charges in July.
The sentence, less than what prosecutors sought but more than Combs pushed for, comes after a trial earlier this year in which the rapper-entrepreneur was also acquitted of more serious sex trafficking and racketeering counts.
Earlier at the hearing, he had looked on as six of his seven children — the seventh, Love, is a toddler — made tearful pleas to the judge to let him return home.
“We know he isn’t perfect . . . but your honour, he is still our dad,” his 18-year-old daughter Jessie Combs told the judge.
Combs’ lawyers played a roughly 10-minute video showing clips of him playing with his children, raising money for charity and giving motivational speeches.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik said Combs had “not expressed remorse for the actual offence” that he was convicted of, transporting people for the purposes of prostitution.
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“It’s clear that [Combs] doesn’t appreciate or understand the gravity of his criminal conduct,” she said, adding that he had booked a speaking engagement in Miami for next week.
“That is the height of hubris,” she said.
The trial this year, during which Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie Ventura described a violent and abusive relationship, had been the subject of a media frenzy and one of the music industry’s most high-profile reckonings with alleged sexual misconduct.
When the jury’s verdict was read out in July, Combs smiled and pumped his fists in celebration at being found not guilty of the more serious charges.
Combs has already spent more than a year at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he was sent while he awaited trial. Ahead of Friday’s hearing, Combs’ lawyers asked the judge to sentence him to no more than 14 months, which would allow him to be released soon after on the basis of time served.
Combs was the architect of a far-reaching business empire that included a partnership with drinks company Diageo, a record company, TV network and reality show. He settled a legal dispute with Diageo last year.
Combs’ defence lawyers said he had struggled with substance abuse, anger and anxiety in the past but his time in jail had been “life-changing” and he had “taken the time to achieve necessary rehabilitation . . . including getting clean of all substances”. He ran an educational course in jail called “Free Game with Diddy”, they said.
They submitted scores of letters in support of Combs, including from friends, family members and a handwritten note on behalf of a fellow inmate who said Combs had “inspired me” to “better myself”.
Another fellow inmate, the convicted Chinese businessman Miles Guo, said in a letter to the judge that Combs had asked him if they could create an AI platform together once they were released.
“Without minimising Mr. Combs’s conduct, this is in many ways a ‘sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll’ story,” his lawyers, led by Marc Agnifilo from the law firm Agnifilo Intrater, said in a filing.
Prosecutors had asked for an 11-year sentence, saying Combs had conceded that his past behaviour included “violence, domestic abuse, drug use and distribution, and bribery”.
They submitted letters including one from Ventura, in which she wrote: “Over the nearly eleven years we were together, Sean Combs would hit me, punch me, stomp on my face, pull my hair, and throw my body to the ground and against the wall” and said the sentence should reflect “the strength it took for victims of Sean Combs to come forward”.
Sean Combs sentenced to four years in prison for prostitution offences
Financial Times
Entertainment
“She doesn’t want to see me” – BBNaija winner Imisi’s mother cries out in viral video
“She doesn’t want to see me” – BBNaija winner Imisi’s mother cries out in viral video
The mother of Big Brother Naija Season 10 winner, Imisi Ayanwale, has ignited fresh controversy after releasing a TikTok video addressing growing tensions between her and her daughter.
In the video, she thanked friends, church members and residents of Ebute-Metta, Lagos, for their support during Imisi’s time on the reality show. She also rejected claims that she abandoned her daughter before the show.
“I want to sincerely appreciate all those who stood by me during Imisi’s time on Big Brother. My friends, everyone in Ebute-Metta, the church, I am so grateful,” she said.
Speaking from her sibling’s home in Ajah, she hinted that certain family members had shut her out since Imisi’s win.
“People said I did not take care of my child—thank you for what you said. I was running around to ensure that my daughter wins, so she can become someone in life and take me out of poverty,” she said.
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She further suggested that her daughter had asked not to see her: “She said she does not want to see me wherever she is. Is it that serious? There is still a lot to talk about.”
The mother also alleged she was sidelined during the show’s grand finale.
“On the day of the BBNaija finale, I was not even told it was the final. It was a few minutes to 4 p.m. they called me to dress up and wear something nice. I was even taken somewhere else initially,” she claimed.
During her stay in the BBNaija house, Imisi had spoken openly about her strained relationship with her parents, recounting that she was sent out of the house at the age of 12 — an experience she said exposed her to trauma and abuse while seeking shelter.
The latest video has stirred strong reactions online, with many calling for a reconciliation between the reality star and her family, even as the rift appears to widen.
Imisi mother continues again today
cos the back lash she's getting from strangers on the street is too much..
" i didnt say anything to bash imisi from my video yesterday , but ppl believed the story she said about me , she must come out to clarify it, i never chase her out at… pic.twitter.com/RVPGpsqROm— ARIDEBZ 📍D CREATOR (@EkpohD) November 14, 2025
“She doesn’t want to see me” – BBNaija winner Imisi’s mother cries out in viral video
Entertainment
Genevieve Nnaji makes rare public appearance at AFRIFF, ends disappearance rumours
Genevieve Nnaji makes rare public appearance at AFRIFF, ends disappearance rumours
Nollywood icon Genevieve Nnaji made a headline-grabbing return to the public eye at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos, quelling long-standing rumours about her disappearance.
The award-winning actress, who has maintained a low profile on social media and in public for years, appeared radiant in a colourful outfit that drew admiration from guests and fans alike. Her presence immediately set social media abuzz, with many celebrating what they described as the long-awaited “return of the queen.”
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Photos of Genevieve posing alongside colleagues—including Uche Jombo and AFRIFF founder Chioma Ude—have since been circulating online, further fuelling excitement about her re-emergence.
Her long break from the spotlight had previously sparked speculation about her well-being, particularly concerning her mental health. However, Genevieve has made a few public appearances in recent times, as well as a subtle return to social media, effectively dispelling those rumours.
Her latest appearance at AFRIFF is being hailed as a major comeback moment, with fans hopeful that the beloved actress is gearing up to return to film and public engagements.
For now, Nollywood and its global fanbase are watching eagerly—and with renewed anticipation—for what Genevieve does next.
Genevieve Nnaji makes rare public appearance at AFRIFF, ends disappearance rumours
Entertainment
Baba Ijesha walks free as Appeal Court quashes conviction, viral video sparks reactions
Baba Ijesha walks free as Appeal Court quashes conviction, viral video sparks reactions
Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, widely known as Baba Ijesha, has reportedly regained his freedom after the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction for the sexual assault of a minor.
The embattled comic star, arrested in 2021, had been handed a 16-year jail term by the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja in July 2022 after being found guilty on multiple counts involving the molestation of a 14-year-old girl.
On Saturday, a video — widely circulated across Facebook, Instagram and X — surfaced online showing the actor seated in a vehicle moments after his alleged release. In the clip, he appeared visibly relieved as he spoke briefly on the phone, according to a report by PUNCH.
“Apase, I’m out… I just came out. I want to relax. I just want to leave here so I decided to inform you. Thank you for supporting me. I will call you,” he said in Yoruba.
Though PUNCH stated that it had not independently verified the footage, the man seen celebrating his release strongly appeared to be Baba Ijesha.
Actor Yomi Fabiyi, a close associate and one of the loudest voices advocating for him during the trial, also announced the development in an Instagram post on Friday.
Fabiyi described the Appeal Court’s ruling as a long-overdue clarification, insisting the case had been mishandled from the onset.
According to him, the judgement not only “clears” Baba Ijesha but also reinforces the need for fairness, due process, and the protection of rights in cases involving minors.
Fabiyi, who has repeatedly stressed his stance as a human rights advocate, reiterated that neither he nor the actor condones abuse.
“We never and will never support any form of sexual abuse, especially involving children,” he wrote. “We will continue to stand for justice and the protection of fundamental human rights.”
The development has continued to generate mixed reactions online as Nigerians await an official statement confirming the Appeal Court’s decision.
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