The family of ailing actor, John Okafor, aka Mr Ibu, has clarified that the thespian wasn’t amputated on both legs.

The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Dr Emeka Rollas in a recent chat with newsmen disclosed that Mr Ibu, has undergone another leg amputation and is barely able to talk.

Reacting in a post shared via the actor’s Instagram page on Saturday, the family clarified that the second amputation was carried out on the same leg that was earlier amputated because “the first amputation didn’t completely correct his health predicament.”

The family also clarified that Mr Ibu is not diabetic but “had constant clotting of the blood in his leg [diseased blood vessels] and other health challenges posing risk to his life, therefore the need for the amputation.”

The family explained that the actor hasn’t been flown abroad for advanced treatment because doctors have tagged him “Not fit to fly.”

The family, however, said the legendary comic star was recuperating, urging his “friends, colleagues, fans and Nigerians at large to keep him in their prayers and peddle down on unconfirmed reports concerning our dad’s health.”

Nigerian singer Chike Ezekpeazu Osebuka, simply known as Chike, says he prefers romance with older women.

The ‘Running To You’ crooner said his preference for older women was because most women were only able to communicate properly when they were “slightly advanced in age.”

Chike was featured as a guest in a recent episode of the Unpack Podcast hosted by NAY.

The 30-year-old said, “Most can’t communicate properly. The time you start finding a woman who can communicate, they are slightly advanced in age. Not a girl of 23 years.

“Imagine I’m running around with some 23-year-old, what’s she going to handle? What’s she going to understand?

“She just wanna take pictures and be on Instagram and tell everybody that she’s dating you. What are you unpacking for that person?

Let’s be honest, you can find younger women who are so mature but they are rare. But you find it more in older women.

“Then before you know, you find guys dating older women. And you wonder what is going on. It’s because as a guy when you are getting to a place where you want a certain level of peace, it’s only older women that can give you that.

“The past two relationships I have been in, they [my partners] have been older than me. There is no small girl that can say I am dating her.

“I mean, I probably just say ‘Hi’ to them [younger women]. And that’s it. It’s not going to get past that. Because I know where it’s going. Our visions are just not the same.”

He added that the only younger women he can talk to are career women “who I know that are dedicated, they are trying to do something. Not the ones that are not doing anything.”

Social media influencer, Priscilla Ojo, has criticised singer, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, for accusing her actress mother, Iyabo Ojo, of defamation and threatening legal action.

Naira Marley had taken legal action against actress, Ojo, alleging the dissemination of false and defamatory content on her Instagram account.

In a letter sent to  Ojo, Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, outlined the accusations made in a September 2023 post, stating that the actress accused Naira Marley of engaging in spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad. Responding on her Instagram stories on Friday, Priscilla questioned the singer’s audacity to threaten her mother, highlighting ongoing legal matters involving Naira Marley.

She wrote, “The audacity!!! You want to sue? Sue who LMAOOOOO clowns. The cases you have in court for the boys catalogue and unpaid royalties have you finished that one? You want to sue who? When they’re legit videos and evidence of you and your gang steady bullying that young man before he died? Dey play.

“Nigerians y’all amaze me sha but I’ll like to say no celebrity would have put their safety, career, or kids on the line to fight for justice.

“That woman y’all are dragging now didn’t only come online to fight. She was legit was at the police station back to back till now still paying for DJ Splash hospital bills and treatment!! Yet you call it clout, like she made money out of it what other clout does a whole Iyabo Ojo want again!

“She was supporting LP. clout? Can’t you see our economy now? She was supporting the young girl that was raped clout! Didn’t the girl later get justice?

“Now she was fighting for the young man that was vividly bullied with evidence from his record label before he died.

“Just because one protein shake charcoal body builder came to change the narrative and asked a grieving mother of 24 years old for DNA test!!!!! Yall fell for that, really?

“And y’all judging someone from a reality show when they’re being told to give drama and spice up the show?? Okay o. One thing is sure. He might not be alive to fight for himself but I know that his spirit cannot be asleep.”

The award-winning comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, created by and starring Larry David, is coming to an end after 24 years.

The 12th season of the show will be its last, said Warner Brothers-Discovery, which owns the HBO network.

The comedy, which premiered in 2000 and stars David in a fictionalised version of his own life, is HBO’s longest-running scripted comedy series.

Comedians including Jeff Garlin and Susie Essman have featured on the show.

They will be returning for the final season to reprise their roles.

The season will be comprised of 10 episodes and will premiere on 4 February, streaming on Max, with new episodes airing on Sundays at 22:00 EST until the series finale on 7 April.

The first episode of the show aired to critical acclaim in 2000, garnering 51 Emmy nominations and two wins, along with five Golden Globe nominations and one win.

David is also well-known for having created the show Seinfeld alongside comedian Jerry Seinfeld. David was head writer and executive producer on the sitcom for its first seven seasons.

“As Curb comes to an end, I will now have the opportunity to finally shed this ‘Larry David’ persona and become the person God intended me to be – the thoughtful, kind, caring, considerate human being I was until I got derailed by portraying this malignant character,” said David.

The show previously took a six-year hiatus between its eighth and ninth seasons before coming back. But this time it seems it really is the end of series.”

‘Larry David,’ I bid you farewell,” said David.

“Your misanthropy will not be missed. And for those of you who would like to get in touch with me, you can reach me at Doctors Without Borders.

“HBO and Max content chairman Casey Bloys said it was “hard to say farewell to such a ground-breaking, brilliantly funny and iconic series”.

Paying tribute to David, executive producer Jeff Schaffer and the rest the team, he added he would “always treasure” the “comedic masterminds” that created the show.

David has remained in the limelight in the US since Curb Your Enthusiasm was last broadcast, parodying Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders on Saturday Night Live.

Nigerian entertainer, Afeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, has taken legal action against actress, Iyabo Ojo, alleging the dissemination of false and defamatory content on her Instagram account.

In a letter sent to  Ojo, Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, outlined the accusations made in a September 2023 post, stating that the actress accused Naira Marley of engaging in spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.

The lawyer further asserted that  Ojo accused Naira Marley of causing mental harm to Mohbad, whom he referred to as a brother.

Naira Marley’s attorney is seeking a redress of N500 million from Ojo and a public apology.

The  counsel asked that the apology  be posted on  Ojo’s official Instagram account and published in a national daily.

According to Naira Marley’s lawyer, failure to adhere to the condition placed before her would force them to file a lawsuit against her.

The letter in part reads, “We are Solicitors to Azeez Fashola (a.k.a. Naira Marley) an internationally renowned British and Nigerian Singer/Artist with over seven million followers hereinafter referred to as our client pursuant to whose instruction we write concerning the aboveheaded subject matter.

“It is necessary to preface this letter by stating that in recognition of the iconic status of our client, the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) engaged him to use his skills and platforms to put out content that will discourage millions of his followers and Nigerian youths from substance abuse.

“It is our instruction that sometimes in September, 2023, you maliciously and falsely published of and concerning our client on your official instagram handle ‘iyaboojofespris’ the following words: and destroying their lives and leaving them without a kobo to get help…….you go still explain taya bcos evidence dey, that your interview you go still re do am again…….make we get justice for Mohbad first”.

“It is unarguably clear that the above quoted words are in their ordinary and natural meanings meant or were understood to mean by ordinary right thinking members of the public that have read the post that our Client is a drug addict and that he laced the food and drinks which our Client gave to the boys staying with him with drugs with the resultant effect of occasioning monumental destruction of their lives.

“Your publication of the above words on the internet which is readily accessible to users of the system constituted a very serious libel and has caused our client colossal damage to his reputation.

“It is incontestably clear that the above quoted publication which has been read by countless internet users globally is defamatory of our Client and has brought him to public ridicule and or contempt with the resultant damage to our Client’s reputation.

“It is our further instruction that since the publication our Client has been inundated with calls from his followers, colleagues, friends and fans all over the world who had read the post expressing their disgust and dismay at the defamatory and libelous publication you had maliciously and falsely posted on your official instagram handle “iyaboojofespris” of and concerning our Client.”

Award-winning South African Afro-pop singer Bulelwa Mkutukana, popularly known as Zahara, has died, the country’s culture minister announced.

She had been in hospital, reportedly with liver complications, and the government had been assisting the family “for some time”, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa said.

The songstress won fame in 2011 with her album Loliwe, loved across Africa.In 2019, Zahara opened up about her battle with alcohol addiction.

Last month, the family confirmed she had been admitted to hospital and called on South Africans to keep the musician in their prayers.

She passed away on Monday night in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 36, state-run SABC news website reports.

While her family is yet to release an official statement, fans have been grieving and sharing fond memories on social media.

“Zahara and her guitar made an incredible and lasting impact in South African music,” Mr Kodwa posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“She left us with such beautiful music,” one X user posted.Zahara, who released five albums, won dozens of awards both local and international. In 2020, she was named in the BBC’s 100 Women list.

The songwriter also used her platform to speak out about violence against women in South Africa, something she revealed had happened to her.

In an interview with a local radio last year, Zahara said her music was not for recognition but to bring comfort to broken souls that need healing.

Multi-award-winning music star, Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has announced plans to gift N100 million to children for Christmas.

The singer revealed this in posts on his Instagram story on Monday, stating that this will start from the Surulere area of Lagos State.

He added that he is doing this in honour of his late mum, Juliana Morayo Balogun, who died on August 18, 2023.

He wrote, “100M for the kids for Christmas! Lord bless us all 😇 start in Surulere tonight!

“All in Morayo’s name! The love of my life! ❤️❤️🕊️”

Belcalis Almánzar, an American rapper popularly known as Cardi B, has confirmed the end of her marriage with her husband, Offset.

Rumours about the couple’s divorce have been swirling on the Internet after a series of cryptic posts popped up on Cardi’s Instagram page last week.

In one of the posts the rapper said she was getting rid of “dead weight” in the coming year.“…and when it comes to dead weight … I’ll say mentality, procrastination, laziness and people.

A lot of people are deadweight, too. Next year is gonna be all about me,” she said.

In another post, she wrote, “You know when you just outgrow relationships I’m tired of protecting people’s feelings…I GOTTA PUT MYSELF FIRST.”

The couple also unfollowed each other on their Instagram pages last week.

During an Instagram Live session on Monday, the “WAP” rapper confirmed that she has parted ways with her husband.

“I don’t know if y’all have been getting clues from me from my Live, I mean… or from my Instagram Stories, where I put certain music. When it comes to events and stuff, I don’t think it’s true, I don’t care to find out because I have been single for a minute now.

“But I’ve been afraid…not afraid, I just don’t know how to tell the world. The last time I went on Live, I kinda wanted to tell you guys, but I didn’t know how to tell you so I changed my mind. But it has been like this for a minute now,” she said.

The break up comes amid accusations levelled against Offset by American rapper, Blueface that the former had a relationship with his baby mama, Chrisean Rock.

Indigenous rapper, Remilekun Abdulkalid Safaru, popularly known as Reminisce, has recalled his “first major” rejection in the music industry.

The ‘King Of Boys’ star said his first major rejection was when a radio station rejected him and singer, 9ice’s CDs because they performed their music mostly in Yoruba.

He disclosed this in a recent interview with Zikoko.

Reminisce said, “My first major rejection was with 9ice on the Island at a radio station where we went to submit our music CDs for airplay, and the feedback we got was that we would never make it.

“They said 9ice was singing like Babalawo [native doctor] cos he sings in Yoruba.

“The other guy told me: ‘why am I rapping like a buffoon, can’t I see Ruggedman? He said that we should both go back and look for something to do with our lives and be better.

“That was my first major rejection. I will never forget it, even 9ice I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten it.”

Nigerian rapper, Oladipupo Oladimeji, popularly known as Oladips, has apologised to the public for the recent death hoax orchestrated by his management.

He expressed regret for the confusion and emphasised that his illness was not a prank, stating that he was “very sick.”

In an interview with Naija FM which went viral on Friday, Oladips said he took full responsibility for the false alarm, vowing to surround himself with professionals while seeking forgiveness from his followers.

Oladips said, “To Nigerians and my core followers, I will never play with people’s emotions like that. It was never a prank. I was sick sick. I am really sorry for the confusion, the false alarm and everything. I take full responsibility.

“I’ll make sure I’m surrounded by professionals going forward. Since I believe that’s where the issue originated. I’ve gone through a lot, like having my manager steal from me and wish me dead. I eventually reached the point where my manager was no longer with me. It was just me and my boys.

“All I’m attempting to do at the moment is make sure the individuals I choose are professionals who understand what’s appropriate to do. No be person wey because he no hear from my mum, he feel like, ‘Ah! This guy don die’.”

He claimed that his manager would not have misbehaved if he was truly a professional.

“That is why I said I take full responsibility. So, I’m really sorry. Make una forgive me abeg.”

Rapper Kodak Black, who was pardoned three years ago by Donald Trump, has been arrested in Florida on drugs charges.

Officers said they noticed a strong smell of marijuana from a black Bentley SUV with the 26-year-old asleep at the wheel inside.

According to CBS News, police found a white powder later confirmed to be cocaine when they searched the vehicle.

Black, appeared in court on Thursday and was freed on a $75,000 bond.

The rapper, real name Bill Kapri, was accused of possession of cocaine, tampering with physical evidence and improperly stopping or parking a vehicle.

Regular drug testing is a condition of his release.

The Super Gremlin artist was also arrested last year on charges of trafficking in oxycodone and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

After reportedly failing to show up for multiple drug tests, he was ordered to spend 30 days in rehab earlier this year.

In January 2021, Black was on a list of more than 140 people who were pardoned by then-US president Donald Trump.

He had been sentenced to almost four years in jail in 2019 for making a false statement to buy a firearm.

But he served only half of his sentence after Trump intervened.

Following his release, Black thanked Trump on his track Last Day In and also expressed his support for the former president on social media.

The rapper has sold more than 30 million singles and has collaborated with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott and Jason Derulo.

American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift has been named Time Magazine’s ‘2023 Person of the Year’.

“This is the proudest and happiest I’ve ever felt, and the most creatively fulfilled and free I’ve ever been,” Swift said during an interview with TIME.

Swift was announced the winner of Time Magazine’s ‘2023 Person of the Year’ by the publication’s editor-in-chief, Sam Jacobs, who shared the news with Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie during Wednesday’s Today show.

“Picking one person who represents the eight billion people on the planet is no easy task… There are a number of different choices that could have represented 2023 but we picked a choice, someone who represents joy,” Jacobs said during the announcement.

He added, “Someone who’s bringing light to the world, someone who’s taken her own story and made it big enough for everyone. And I don’t think there’s anyone who’s moved so many people so well as Taylor Swift did in 2023.”

Swift’s musical exploits have quickly earned the 33-year-old being mentioned alongside other legendary pop stars, including Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Madonna. She was recently crowned Spotify’s 2023 most-streamed musician.

Earlier this week, Forbes updated Taylor Swift’s net worth to $1.1 billion, “solely based on her songs and performances” — becoming the first musician to reach the landmark.

Nigerian disc jockey (DJ) and singer Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, has urged her fans to be patient with her as she is still trying to perfect her music.

She admitted that she promised to release new music this year but she wants to, first of all, perfect the art.

The billionaire heiress said her new age makes her feel like she has another “proper shot”, urging fans to be patient with her.

Speaking in a video shared via her X handle on Wednesday, Cuppy said, “I posted something the other day which is so true. I promised my fans that I will drop music this year, it has been almost four yeas since my debut and only album.

“But, let me say it again, God’s timing is the best even if it doesn’t align with your ego. I wanna make sure I get music right. And at 30, I feel I have another proper shot, and I’ve small small energy. So, be patient with me.”

Music streaming platform Boomplay has revealed its year-end charts for the most streamed songs and albums of 2023 in Nigeria.

Davido’s fourth studio album, ‘Timeless,’ emerged as the most streamed project in Nigeria on the platform this year, followed by Asake’s sophomore album, ‘Work Of Art’ and Omah Lay’s ‘Boy Alone.’

Omah Lay’s hit song, ‘Soso’, leads the most streamed songs chart. Kizz Daniel’s ‘Cough (Odo)’ and Adekunle Gold’s ‘Party No Dey Stop’ featuring Zinoleesky complete the top three.

The most streamed gospel song of the year is ‘Daddy Wey Dey Pamper’ by Moses Bliss, followed by ‘Miracle No Dey Tire Jesus’ by the same singer. Ebuka Songs’ ‘I Will Pray’ completes the chart.

Meanwhile, Asake was named the most streamed male artiste on the platform in the year under review, while Ayra Starr is the most streamed female artiste.

Popular comedian, Onyebuchi Ojieh, widely known as Buchi, has announced that he has been granted full access to his children.

He made this known on his Instagram account on Monday.

He wrote, “I have been granted full access to my kids.. we better in all things.. THANK YOU EVERYONE .!! the good the bad the ugly ..Thank u the SALAMIS ,mama Azmin ..Engr ISEDE #1 grandpa..❤️❤️ Update dropping soon.

“This development comes after Buchi took to Instagram in November to share his frustration about being denied access to his children by his ex-wife and her parents.

The comedian had accused his former in-laws of “abducting” his kids and claimed they were demanding money before allowing him to see them.

Buchi and his ex-wife, Rukky, tied the knot in 2017 and have two children together.

Rumour of marital issues surfaced in 2022, with speculation about the marriage facing challenges, including alleged violence.

British-Nigerian singer, Moelogo has recalled how a false accusation in the UK made him contemplate suicide.

He said before the experience, he used to think people who commit suicide were weak.Speaking in a recent interview with Cool FM, Lagos, the singer said friends prevented him from taking his life.

Moelogo said, “I used to think people who commit suicide were weak until it happened to me. Then I realized that it’s not about you being strong, it can happen to anybody. That was the first time I ever felt like, ‘What’s the point? Let me just go.’

“I’m just grateful that I had at least two people around me that time that actually showed me that ‘Guy, you’re here for a reason. Don’t worry, this will pass.’ And I thank God that I had evidence of what they were trying to accuse me of. The evidence was audio evidence from one of their family members. I heard my friends planning what they were about to do and I just cried. It was crazy. The audio evidence was what saved me from the law.”

He said his friends whom he had known for over a decade tried to blackmail him to extort money from him because they thought he was rich.

He said the incident nearly discouraged him from helping people.

Whitemoney, Big Brother Naija Season 6 winner-turned musician, has revealed that he has not been benefiting from music.

The reality star stated this in his recent interview with BBC Igbo.

Giving insights into his music career, he explained that music streaming has not proven to be a profitable avenue for him.

He further emphasized that he may not have a ‘fine’ voice, but his focus is on delivering meaningful content rather than conforming to conventional standards.

“The truth is singing has not started paying me because I don’t get money from streaming, but I get money from performances. I don’t have the best voice but I have a message and melody.

“People criticise me, even those paid to criticise me. What you need to know is that I don’t sing to make you feel fine because you don’t feed or fund my musical career,” Whitemoney added.