I’m projecting N200m in sales for ‘Champagne’ — Emem Isong

Nollywood’s ace producer and scriptwriter, Emem Isong is set to release her directorial debut ‘Champagne’. The movie which was shot in South Africa and America features Majid Michel, Alex Ekubo, Mbong Amata, Tana Adelana, Padita Agu, Susan Peters, Anita Chris amongst others. ‘Champagne’ premieres & starts showing in cinemas nationwide from Friday December 19th. In this interview, she talks about the movie, her career and new found love. Excerpts….

Innoson Motors Sign MoU With Oko Poly on skills acquisition for students

The Federal Polytechnic, Oko has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Anambra State government and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing,  Nnewi for a partnership programme on skills acquisition for students of the institution and all technical and vocational colleges in the state.
The bedrock of the agreement, according to the  Commissioner for Education, Professor Kate Omenugha, was to boost technical and vocational education in the state.

2 sentenced to death for stealing fowls in Osun

Justice Jide Falola of an Osun State High Court sitting in Okuku has sentenced two robbers to death for stealing fowls.

The convicts, Olowookere Segun and Morakinyo Sunday, were found guilty of forcefully breaking into the house of one Mr. Balogun Tope, a police officer attached to Divisional Police headquarters, Okuku, in April 2010 and carting away some of his belongings.

The convicts were charged with conspiracy, robbery and stealing contrary to Section 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of Robbery and Firearm (Special Provisions) Act, cap R 11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section (390)(1) Criminal Code Law, Cap 34, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

The prosecution team, led by the state Solicitor-General, Mrs Abiola Adewemimo, called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits during the prosecution.

What veterans of Nollywood said at Legends of Nollywood awards

THE third edition of Legends of Nollywood Awards, initiated and organised by Nollywood actor, Paul Obazele held on the 6th of December 2014 at the National Theatre in Igammu area. The award was created to honour founding fathers and mothers of the Nigerian movie industry.

In attendance where legendary names like Sadiq Daba, Mrs Taiwo Ajayi Lycet, Nkem Owoh, Tony Akposheri, Franca Brown, Zack Orji, Nobert Young, Larry Koldsweat, Ejiro Okurame, Emeka Ike, Henrietta Kosoko and a host of other celebrities and media personalities.

At the award, WG Spoke with some of the veterans concerning the award and here are what they said:

Sadiq Daba

NIMASA spends N20bn on Seafarers’ programme

The proposed Ibaka deep sea port, Akwa Ibom, has been relocated to Ibeno Local Government Area, while the name has been changed to Ibom from Ibaka.
Vanguard gathered that the project analysis done by a foreign consultant and Transaction Advisers, FELAC Concept and Marine and Transport Business Solutions, MTBS, of Netherlands, showed that the port project would not be commercially viable if sited at Ibaka due to its long distance from the sea..
A source close to the Ministerial Steering and Delivery Committee for the port who spoke to Vanguard, explained that the project had to be moved initially to Okposo. The source further noted that the same problem of distance from the sea as well as the dense population, made it non-viable.
The source said that the soil analysis on Okposo showed that the earth there is marshy which would further drive up the cost of construction should it be sited there.

Amaechi leads APC presidential campaign team

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has named Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, which will drive the party’s efforts to win the 2015 presidential election.
In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the announcement followed the hugely successful convention at which its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), was democratically elected, and the follow-up successful choice of his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
It said Gov. Amaechi’s outstanding reputation as a man of courage, principle, strength of character, decency and love of country as well as his administrative prowess and organisational skills combined to fetch him perhaps the most important task in the quest for positive change in Nigeria. 
APC thanks Nigerians.

Bode George cautions Obanikoro over attacks

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, has called  for an end to verbal attacks by Obanikoro.
The statement reads; ‘’One has refrained from engaging Senator Musiliu Obanikoro despite his gross and alarmist provocations. I have deliberately remained distant and quiet, ignoring the stark obscenities of a desperate and obsessed man who is apparently incapable of absorbing the reality of his defeat by a well-bred and better man.
‘’For Obanikoro to claim in sheer ludicrousness that I, even remotely, identify with any intimations of violence is utter lunacy and blind, vindictive madness. Surely, Obanikoro is possessed and obsessed. He needs immediate psychiatric treatment. He is a desperate sinking man, grasping and thrashing in self inflicted chasm.

2015 Election: Buhari takes contest to Facebook

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has deployed the use of major social networking sites, to worm his way into the hearts of the electorate.

Checks by iPUNCH on Facebook on Thursday showed that the retired general had begun keeping up with the use of the social service with a view to attracting the support of the younger generation.

Although many online analysts might argue that Buhari registered his presence on social media late, his followership has begun growing in leaps and bounds.

Osinbajo laid foundation for efficient Lagos judiciary – Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has described the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as a competent professional who laid the foundation for an efficient judiciary in Lagos during his time as the Attorney-General.

Osinbajo, who was the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice under the administration of former Governor Bola Tinubu, was picked on Wednesday as the running mate for the APC Presidential candidate in the 2015 general elections, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Fashola, who attributed what he described as an efficient and incorruptible Lagos State judiciary toOsinbajo, said he wished him well in his new journey.

Tompolo: Reps set to probe purchase of warships

The House of Representatives said on Thursday that it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the six warships said to have been procured by an ex-militant leader, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a, Tompolo.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, also added that the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly would submit their report on the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to the National Assembly on Friday (today).
The House described the alleged purchase of the six warships by Tompolo as “scary,” saying that it raised security concerns at a time the country was facing tough security challenges.
Although, the Nigerian Navy said on Wednesday that the warships belonged to NIMASA, a Federal Government agency, Mohammed said the House would be interested in knowing how a private individual was now performing a function that was statutorily the Navy’s.
“That function should have been performed by the Navy.