Controversial singer Portable has opened up about his recent detention in police custody, where he was held over alleged conspiracy and assault.
In a recent interview on Echo Room, Portable shared details about his time in Cell 4, including the harsh conditions and his interactions with fellow inmates.
According to Portable, he was treated with unusual respect by the prisoners, who even offered him leadership but he declined, stating that the cell was not his home.
Portable also claimed that he was spared from physical abuse, which was typically meted out to new detainees, because he had “blessed” the prisoners.
Portable recounted how he refused to participate in prayers with his cellmates, citing their confessions of murder and his own innocence.
He said: “Thank God I am a Government’s child. They said I am a crãzy person, when I got the government I told them I am not a crãzy. When I entered Cell 4, I blessed them. Normally, they beat new people in the cell; when I got there, the head of the cell dethroned himself for me to become the leader, but I said No, this is not my house. Then I asked what his offence was; he said they accused him of murder. I told him to stay beside me as long as he didn’t kill me.
“A person said we should pray; I said No, God doesn’t answer this kind of prayer. We aren’t in church. One said he had killed one person, another said he killed two people, and another said three people. I haven’t killed anyone, so our prayers cannot work together. Pray on your own”.
Comedian and singer Olamide Ogunleye popularly known as Oluwadolarz has opened up about the controversy surrounding his stage name.
In a recent interview on Open Up podcast, he revealed that the name “Dolarz” originated from a humorous remark he made about the dollar’s value fluctuating against the naira back in 2010.
The joke resonated with his audience, and soon, people began calling him “Dolarz.”
However, Oluwadolarz said his stage name took on a life of its own, leading to unfounded rumors and misconceptions about his character with assumptions that he was involved in illicit activities, such as fraud or money laundering, due to the “Dolarz” name.
He said this misconception deterred some brands from collaborating with him, fearing that his reputation would tarnish their image.
He said: “My stage name started with “Dolarz” first in 2010 when I was doing stand-up comedy. People started calling me “Dolarz” because I cracked a joke about the dollar rising and falling at the time.
“So whenever people are with me, they forget my real name and call me Dolarz because that’s the joke they can remember.
“Around 2014, I started saying “Oluwa is involved” so when people call me Dolarz, I will reply “Oluwa is involved ” and that’s how Oluwadolarz was coined.
“However, because of the name, a lot of people thought I was one yahoo boy or bad guy. Some brands did not even want to be associated with me because of the misconception that I’m just a Yahoo boy trying to cover up with comedy.“So, I had to start explaining how the name was coined and its meaning”.
Prolific American actor Val Kilmer, who was propelled to fame with “Top Gun” and went on to starring roles as Batman and Jim Morrison, has died at age 65, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
The cause of death was pneumonia, his daughter Mercedes Kilmer told the Times. He had battled throat cancer following a 2014 diagnosis, but later recovered, she said.
AFP has reached out to his representatives for comment.
Originally a stage actor, Kilmer burst onto the big screen full of charisma, cast as a rock star in Cold War spoof “Top Secret!” in 1984.
Two years later, he gained fame as the cocky, if mostly silent fighter pilot in training Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in box office smash hit “Top Gun,” playing a rival to Tom Cruise’s “Maverick.”
A versatile character actor whose career spanned decades, Kilmer toggled between blockbusters and smaller-budget independent films. He got a shot at leading man status in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors,” depicting Jim Morrison’s journey from a psychedelics-loving LA film student to 60s rock frontman.
After a cameo in Quentin Tarantino-written “True Romance,” Kilmer went on to star alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in “Heat” and took a turn as the masked Gotham vigilante in “Batman Forever,” between the Bruce Wayne portrayals by Michael Keaton and George Clooney.
A 1996 Entertainment Weekly cover story dubbed Kilmer “The Man Hollywood Loves to Hate,” depicting him as a sometimes surly eccentric with exasperating work habits.
A New York Times interviewer in 2002 said Kilmer “hardly lives up to that reputation” and found the actor instead “friendly, buoyant and so open that he often volunteers personal details about his life and is quick to laugh at himself.”
“You have to learn to speak Val,” director D. J. Caruso told the newspaper.
– ‘ Magical life’ –
Born Val Edward Kilmer on New Year’s Eve 1959, he began acting in commercials as a child.
Kilmer was the youngest person ever accepted to the drama department at New York’s fabled Juilliard school, and made his Broadway debut in 1983 alongside Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon.
In Hollywood, the Los Angeles native longed to make serious films but found himself in a series of schlocky blockbusters and expensive flops in the early 2000s.
Chastened by a decade or more of low-budget movies, he was mounting a comeback in the 2010s with a successful stage show about Mark Twain that he hoped to turn into a film when he was struck by cancer.
“Val,” an intimate documentary about Kilmer’s stratospheric rise and later fall in Hollywood, premiered at the Cannes film Festival in 2021 and showed him struggling for air after a tracheotomy.
Kilmer “has the aura of a man who was dealt his cosmic comeuppance and came through it,” US publication Variety wrote of the film. “He fell from stardom, maybe from grace, but he did it his way.”
When he reprised his role as “Iceman” in the long-awaited sequel “Top Gun: Maverick,” Kilmer’s real-life health issues,and rasp of voice,were written into the character.
“Instead of treating Kilmer — and, indeed, the entire notion of Top Gun — as a throwaway nostalgia object, he’s given a celluloid swan song that’ll stand the test of time,” GQ wrote.
On his website, Kilmer said he had led a “magical life.”
“For more than half a century, I have been honing my art, no matter the medium. Be it literature, movies, poetry, painting, music, or tracking exotic and beautiful wildlife,” he wrote. According to the Times, he is survived by two children, Mercedes and Jack Kilmer
Actor Segun Arinze has endorsed Uzor Arukwe, describing him as the “biggest deal” in Nollywood as of now.
Arinze’s praise comes on the heels of Arukwe’s impressive performance as Odogwu Obiora in the highly acclaimed movie “Love In Every Word”.
In a recent interview, Arinze expressed admiration for Arukwe’s talent and dedication to his craft.
He stated: “Love In Every Word’, Uzor [Arukwe] did so well in that film. He is the biggest deal right now. I’m so happy for him because he has worked his way up the ladder”.
Expressing his gratitude, Arukwe reposted a clip of the interview, writing, “This is the most humbling video I’ve come across on the internet today. Hearing a veteran like Uncle Segun, whom I respect so much, sing my praise really put me in my feelings. Thank you so much, Uncle Segun, for your kind words. This video made my day”.
Uzor Arukwe and Bambam’s performance in “Love In Every Word” has been making waves.Uzor’s portrayal of Obiora, a wealthy Igbo businessman, has people raving about his character being the kind of man they wish existed in real life.
Bambam, on the other hand, delivered a stunning performance as Chioma, bringing a soft and authentic touch to her character.While some critics found Bambam’s facial expressions and speech mannerisms to be somewhat limited, her overall performance was still commendable.
Life is like a roller coaster ride with several ups and downs, bad and good incidents, and happy and sad phases. Though everything that happens brings some kind of lesson or guidance for you, it’s the moments that challenge our assumptions about others that truly transform us. An experience that changed my life taught me that learning from bad experiences and showing gratitude in happy times is important, especially when these experiences teach us about empathy and understanding. Certainly, it depends on how you take every situation and make it work despite difficulties and hardships. Every individual goes through such incidents that either break them or make them a better and stronger version of themselves. My journey from privilege to understanding taught me one of life’s most valuable lessons. I have gone through events that stand out in my life and have helped me become a better and stronger person. One of these has been very impactful for me and changed me from who I was to who I am today. It began during my school days when I belonged to a family struggling with financial difficulties. I didn’t have the means to keep up with my friends, and I felt depressed about being in such a situation. I was unable to mingle with them because I didn’t have what they had, and I felt left behind. This made me feel uneasy, and I created distance between us due to how they reacted and belittled me. I made sure to find friends who were on my level, and we could build ourselves together. I met Kayode and Blessing, and we shared common interests. We began to cope with certain criteria and planned to mingle with someone who could provide us with some financial support during weekends by helping them. We accepted the offer and gradually started making some money.
I started seeing changes, and this made me feel that nothing was impossible when you had the courage to make it happen. Then something unexpected happened – my friends who used to mock me were now trying to mingle with me due to the changes they had seen. I was astonished, asking myself repeatedly why they were being so nice to me after everything they had done. They said they came to apologize This incident made me realize that people often mingle with successful people, not those who are less privileged. This experience taught me the importance of empathy, understanding, and gratitude. It showed me that true friends can be found in unexpected places and that success is not solely defined by financial means
As a student of lens polytechnic, department of strategic communication and mass media, I’ve encountered various challenges both physically and financially.A experience that stands out is when I am in year one in lens polytechnic ,my senior brother is in the final year, during this tribulation,our parents lost their job.I struggled with self doubt and imposer syndrome during my first year of studying.During the time my parent had to relocate to a smaller home.This suddenly changes was overwhelming and I struggled to cope with the uncertainty. On a special one day, I am online and I came in contact and met a counselor She encouraged me and told me all his past experiences she had had .She introduced me and joined an online Coaching class.I was paired with a successful lady, who became my mentor,she taught me valuable skills such as time management, Graphic design, Advertisement and marketing,goal setting and resilience .Her guidance helps me stay focused and motivated. Through this experience, I learned to realize that I had a unique skill and talent that could contribute effectively physically and academically to my success.I understand that challenges are opportunities to grow and learn.I learn to appreciate the small things in life and be thankful for the support of others. This Experience has shaped me into a more confident and determined individual.I’ve applied the Lesson I learned to various aspect of my life.I am now more equipped to handle challenges and pursue my goal with passion and purpose. Inconclusion,As a student of strategic communication and mass media, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of effective communication,skills , critical thinking and creativity.This experience has taught me that overcoming self doubt is a journey. I’m grateful for the lessons, I’ve learned and the person I’ve become as a result.
Netflix drama Adolescence has become the first streaming show to top the UK’s weekly TV ratings, beating BBC shows like The Apprentice and Death in Paradise in the latest official rankings.
The first episode of Adolescence was watched by 6.45 million people in its first week, according to ratings body Barb.
That is the biggest audience for any streaming TV show in the UK in a single week, beating the 6.3 million who watched Fool Me Once on Netflix in January 2024.
Adolescence’s achievement in breaking the dominance of the traditional broadcasters at the top of the UK’s weekly TV ratings will be seen as another milestone in the growth of Netflix and streaming.
The second episode of Adolescence was seen by 5.94 million, with BBC One’s The Apprentice and Death in Paradise third and fourth respectively in the weekly chart with almost 5.8 million each.
Adolescence’s third episode was fifth in the weekly ratings with 5.14 million, while the fourth and final instament was seen by 4.65 million.
About 17 million UK homes have Netflix subscriptions.
National conversation
Adolescence quickly became the most talked-about show of the year so far after it launched on 13 March.
It won acclaim from critics and viewers for its hard-hitting story of a 13-year-old boy who is arrested on suspicion of murdering a girl from his school, with the drama made more intense by filming each episode in a single shot.
Its cast has come in for particular praise, including newcomer Owen Cooper as young Jamie, and Stephen Graham as his dad.
The show has also sparked a national conversation about the impact of social media and “manosphere” influencers.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told BBC Radio 5 Live in an interview broadcast on Monday: “There’s a reason why the debate has suddenly sparked into life – a lot of people who work with young people at school or elsewhere, recognise that we may have a problem with boys and young men that we need to address.”
Adolescence is now among the programmes with the highest seven-day ratings so far this year, behind the BBC’s The Traitors, Call The Midwife and the Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell documentary.
ITV’s drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, which similarly made headlines and set the political agenda last year, was watched by 10 million people in its first week.
Barb began including streaming data in its ratings in November 2021.
Bauchi State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Rifkatu Yakubu, has urged female Corps members to return to their parents after completing their service.
She spoke during the distribution of National Service certificates to corps members.
While addressing the 2024 Batch ‘A’ Stream 11 female corps members, she said: “Ladies, please remember that your boyfriends are not your parents.
“Do not say that after collecting your certificates, you are heading to your boyfriends’ houses.
“Go back home to your parents and celebrate with them. You have just completed your national service, and this is a moment to share with your family.”
She also encouraged corps members to put their skills to good use, particularly those acquired through the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
“Even if you haven’t learnt anything from the SAED programme, it’s not too late.
“Instead of going home to sit idle, find something to do to support your parents. Use this last allowance wisely; invest in learning a trade,” she said.
Yakubu further cautioned corps members against engaging in fraudulent activities such as internet fraud, kidnapping, or ritual killings in pursuit of quick wealth.
In Katsina, 11 serving corps members had their service year extended for various breaches.
NYSC Coordinator in Katsina, Ibrahim Sa’idu, who spoke during the passing-out parade, said: “The corps members, comprising three females and eight males, who committed different degrees of offences, were given an extension of service in accordance with the NYSC by-laws.”
He commended the 859 corps members who completed the service year without any disciplinary issues and urged them to be good ambassadors of the scheme wherever they find themselves.
The New Associates formed by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike is mobilising for a mega-rally in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital to drum support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The NEW Associates said that the event would also be an opportunity to inaugurate the group in Bayelsa and unveil its officials.
The acronym NEW represents the first letters of the Minister’s name, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
The organisers of the mega rally said besides drumming up support for President Tinubu, they would use the event express appreciation and solidarity with Wike.
One of the organisers and former Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Ebilade Ekerefe, said that the group had been activated in Bayelsa to galvanise support for President Tinubu in the rural communities.
Ekerefe said that Wike had been a good leader, who deserved to be celebrated for his honesty, bluntness, and good leadership.
He said as the country moved gradually towards the 2027 election, there was a need to mobilise Southsouth youths to support the President.
He explained the group was created by Wike as a mobilisation platform for the President’s re-election.
Ekerefe said part of the strategies to be adopted by the group was to showcase projects the President Tinubu’s administration initiated in the Southsouth geo-political zone.
He said the goal was to ensure the people of Southsouth were enlightened on the achievements of the current administration of President Tinubu and support his re-election.
He said: ‘’The New Associates is a grassroots-based political movement set in motion by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to mobilise grassroots support across the states of the South- South geo-political zone for the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office come 2027″.
Popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Jaiye Kuti, has emphasized that while education is valuable, natural talent remains a powerful force in the entertainment industry.
Speaking during an interview with The Nation on the role of formal education in show business, Kuti noted that being uneducated does not equate to being unimportant. According to her, some individuals possess exceptional gifts that cannot be taught in schools but are essential in the entertainment space.
“As much as education is important, it doesn’t mean that those that are uneducated are not important,” she said.
The veteran actress highlighted the unique skills some uneducated individuals bring to the creative industry, referencing traditional performers who excel without formal training.
“For instance, some of them have a lot of gifts that people that are not educated can not do. I can not chant, and there are some things that I can not do, but there are some body language and facial reactions that when these babas give you, they will deliver a hundred percent. They didn’t read it in books, and they didn’t go to school for it, but they are so good at it,” she added.
Jaiye Kuti further stressed that in the world of entertainment, natural ability often outweighs academic qualifications, stating that success in the industry is driven by one’s innate skills rather than formal education.
“When it comes to entertainment, it doesn’t really have to be education; it has to be what you got inside of you,” she noted.
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