STAR ACTOR JIM IYKE BEATEN UP BY SOLDIERS–FLOWN ABROAD FOR SURGERY
Jim Iyke is one of the controversial Nollywood actors who has been in the news constantly lately and it seems the last of him hasn’t been heard.As you read this right now,the dark skinned actor,has been flown to Britain for surgery over the injuries sustained two weeks back in Cameroun.
According to eye witnesses account,Jim Iyke whose real name is James Ikechukwu Asomugba was said to have been in the country to shoot a film and after work on the fateful day,he retired with some girls and his producer,to a nite club called Calypso to catch fun.
The nite club is believed to be located in a Camerounian town called Limbe.
According to eye witnesses,he entered the club and was mobbed by fans quite all right but a particular lady who came with some soldiers was interested in joining Jim Iyke on his table,to the displeasure of the soldiers who brought her to the nite club.She virtually took the drink the soldiers brought and moved over to Jim’s table and the soldiers came for her,asking that she should follow them home,a situation which the girl rejected.
In the process,Jim Iyke rose to the girl’s defence and one thing led to the other,exchange of blows occurred and we gathered that Jim Iyke was seriously beaten up by the soldiers.
He was said to have spent time in Camerounian hospital after the incident and is presently on his way to Britain for plastic surgery.
Speaking on the incident,Jim Iyke’s lawyer,Barrister Esther Uzoma denied that a lady was at the centre of the squabbles.
According to her,the producers,did not provide enough security for her client thereby exposing him to passionate and irate fans who mobbed him.She disclosed further that only two bodyguards were provided for him and so when the fans mobbed him,there was commotion and in the process,he got wounded.
She confirmed that Jim Iyke is indeed on his way abroad for plastic surgery as she is in touch with the doctors who treated him in Limbe Cameroun
PREVIOUS BEATINGs:
Jim Iyke, who is facing trial over his alleged involvement in a N15 million share scam, has begged a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja to allow him to settle the case out of court.
Meanwhile, following his absence in court on Tuesday, Police applied that a bench warrant be issued against him, a move that has prompted the actor to seek an amicable resolution of the matter out of court.
In an oral application he tendered through his counsel, Mrs Esther Uzoma, Jim Iyke, who told the court that he was mobbed in Cameroun when he went for a video shoot, said his inability to appear for trial was owing to the fact that he was receiving treatment at Cidar Press Hospital in Abuja.
“Your worship, I wish to bring to your notice that my client, James Ikechukwu Esomugha, known as Jim Iyke, is presently in hospital, as it stands presently, he is not fit to stand his trial as the constitution requires, if this court is doubting me, I can quickly rush to the hospital to get a medical report or better still, the court can investigate the matter by itself.
“He was mobbed in Cameroun when he went for a video shoot last week, moreover, both parties are making efforts to reconcile the case out of court”, she added.
Not satisfied with the explanation, Police lawyer, Inspector Danjuma Ebune, described it as a deliberate ploy to frustrate the trial.
The prosecution said he had produced three witnesses to testify against the accused person, insisting that police was not ready to settle the case out of court.
Consequently, Magistrate Okeagu ordered the accused to ensure that he is in court on April 17 when the case was subsequently adjourned to, or risk arrest.
Meantime, Saturday Vanguard can exclusively report that in his bid to settle the case out of court, the embattled actor has tendered a written apology to the manager of the company who he was said to have beaten up.
A copy of the letter which was made available to Vanguard by his lawyer, Mrs Esther, reads: “I Jim Iyke Esomugha sincerely apologize to Hajia Habiba Abubakar, her family and my family; the Esomugha family for the pain and embarrassment the court case and ensuing publications in the press may have caused her, her family and my family.
“Hajia Habiba Abubakar is a good friend of my family and a business associate and our families have agreed to settle all lingering issues out of court.”
Superstar Jim Iyke was in Katsina State on May 27th 2009 working on a project called "ay 27" . The Boy's Cot actor signed a 3-day contract to play the lead character in the movie directed by Charles Awurum and co-produced by Chidi Chidioke and Amaka Oleka.
The production quickly run into logistics problems which delayed the completion date of the shooting. Tied up in other commitments, Jim Iyke, who had been paid upfront N 600,000 for his 3-day work, was ready to leave the project after 3 days as contracted even though he hadn't completed his part of the contract. Panic set in and the production offered Iyke extra payment to stick with the project that would have fallen apart without his participation.
The Nollywood bad boy turned a deaf ear to their supplications and also refused to refund the money he already cashed in since he hadn't completed his part. He called a taxi and loaded his luggage in, ready to leave.
Amaka Olenka, who's married to a close advisor to the Kastina State governor, frantically called around, asking for help to prevent Iyke from leaving. The taxi was about to leave the premises when security officers stormed the location and stopped the taxi.
Jim Iyke was dragged out of the car and ordered to stay on the project. Tempers flared and a shouting match followed. The security officers roughed him up and the actor tried to defend himself. The officers ganged up against the actor and beat him black and blue. He was dragged back on the set and forced to complete his part at gunpoint.
His many attempts to contact his representatives and lawyers didn't produce the effect he expected and he remained on the location till he had completed his contractual part.
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