True story of, one of Africa's leading gospel artistes and Globacom ambassador, Sammie
Okposo’s arrest in
Following the misleading story reported by Evening Express, a Scottish evening paper, on the arrest of one of Africa's leading gospel artistes and Globacom ambassador, Sammie Okposo during his honeymoon in Aberdeen over a racist statement, the artiste and the Nigerians who were present at the scene of the ugly incident have risen to set the records straight.
According to information made available to us by MME (Media & Marketing Experts), Sammie Okposo's PR company and different comments of eye witnesses posted on different websites especially on nairaland.com, Sammie and his newly wedded wife, Ozioma in the company of their friends, Mr and Mrs Efemua, also Nigerians, had gone to a restaurant known as Jimmy Chung's on Aberdeen's Beach Esplanade to attend to their noisy stomachs.
They were said to have arrived at the restaurant at exactly 4.30pm in the evening but were not aware that lunchtime ended at 5pm. One of the attendants, a lady, who some Nigerians described as very violent, announced to them few minutes later that they have to rush their food and leave the restaurant before 5pm or else they will be charged for both lunch and dinner.
At this point, Sammie was already serving the food while the others were sorting out where they would sit.
Witnesses said the Nigerians questioned the attendant. They wondered why she had not informed them when they arrived, saying they would probably have waited till 5pm before settling down in the restaurant.
Photo:One location of the chinese restaurant in Aberdeen
The argument was said to have attracted the attention of the manager of the restaurant (identified as Ronny Shui Hung Yung), who aggravated the issue the more. Another lady allegedly went ahead to drag Sammie's shirt, ordering him to stop dishing out the food; an act that so many people in the restaurant described as unprofessional and barbaric. But Sammie was said to have taken it easy. “He told her politely that she shouldn't have pulled his shirt. At this point, the manager of the restaurant was already harassing Sammie's wife and the pregnant wife of his friend, Eloho Efemua, who happens to be the younger sister of popular Nigerian actor, Fred Amata.
"When Sammie turned back after the violent attendant pulled his shirt and realised the manager was raising hands and pointing accusing fingers at his wife and the pregnant lady in a very disrespectful and demeaning manner not meant for a gentleman and a service provider, he immediately swung into action and warned the manager in a very hard tone to desist from harassing and accusing his wife and Mrs Efemua after he had been briefed about what happened", a witness told Rhythm and Sounds.This photo Sammie & wife about to wed !
When the manager wouldn't stop but was getting more motivated, we heard that Sammie, who was very shocked and displeased at that point, told the manager that he should make sure his fingers don't touch his wife and that if he is tired of running this kind of restaurant, he should return to his country. Immediately Sammie made this statement, the manager wrote down Sammie's friend's car number and called the police to report a racial statement being made against him.
Having realised he had called the police, Sammie urged his wife including the other couple that they should wait for the police's arrival and thrash out the issue once and for all. It was reported that the police didn't arrive until 30 minutes after the distress call but the couples waited outside the restaurant till they arrived.
What however shocked the people present at scene, we gathered, was that the Scottish Police, as professional as they claimed to be, failed to ask any questions from the two Nigerian couples before taking them to the police station after listening to the restaurant manager. This, we heard, infuriated some Nigerians present at the restaurant and they registered their displeasure with the restaurant management.
Speaking for the first time on the incident, Sammie Okposo told journalists in Lagos who have been eager to hear from him that he is only a victim of circumstance. “It is true they took us to their police station without listening to our own side of the story but we played along with them as good and law abiding citizens of Nigeria. After the court in Aberdeen did a thorough check on me from all the countries I have visited, they said my record is clean and impeccable.
I was released the next day without making any official statements. But if the manager of the restaurant presses the issue further and it results to a court case, my lawyer in Scotland, Michael Munro will handle it. I don't regret my actions for speaking up against bad and rude behaviours from the staff of Jimmy Chung's. I don't regret defending my wife as a true African man,” he said.
Sammie's wife, Ozioma was very sad about the incidence. In her words, “We could afford to go to anywhere in the world for our honeymoon, but we chose to visit Aberdeen because of all the good things we had heard. We have been emotionally, mentally, financially and physically drained by this trip; which brings us to one conclusion: that going to Aberdeen for our honeymoon was the biggest mistake we would ever make in our marriage”.
Okposo was alleged to have caused alarm or distress to Ronny Shui Hung Yung by shouting, swearing and uttering racial remarks at the Aberdeen restaurant. He was also accused of acting in a racially aggravated manner by Scottish Evening Express. Against the ethos of journalism, the paper published the story based on the reports of the restaurant's manager, whose unprofessional conduct has greatly been criticised, without listening to the other party and the eye witnesses.
Sammie Okposo's lawyer in Nigeria revealed that Sammy is going to raise a case of personal harassment and aggravation against the restaurant management and the violation of his human rights by the Aberdeen police. The lawyer is filing a petition to the Nigerian High Commission and United Nations, where he is an ambassador.
One of the comments posted on nairaland.com, based on the experience of the writer at the said restaurant, says “the distasteful, snotty and poor attitude of staff of Jimmy Chung Restaurant resonates in good measure to all of its outlets in the Granite-city of Aberdeen; as if to say it was a management requirement for its staff. The attendants and staff look down their nose at you as if you're a fly in their soup”.
Marvelous Benjy Is Married: Popular dancehall act, Benjamin Ukueje, a.k.a Marvellous Benjy is now married. The wedding took place on July 9, 2010 in Bayelsa State. Speaking on his new status, the once upon a time rave of the moment described being married as one of the greatest things that has ever happened to him. “I'm very happy because I have found someone that truly loves me and I am very grateful to God about it. My attraction to her is divine because it is not something anybody can explain. I love her so much”, he said.
The Ajegunle-breed act with lots of energy-sapping dancing skills however, did not marry a Nigerian. His wife, Vanessa is a Spanish based in London.
The wedding took place at the State Registry where the lovebirds exchanged marital vows. The reception followed immediately and it was well attended by prominent Bayelsa State indigenes.
Marvellous Benjy became a household name after the release of his popular song, 'Suo' under Kennis Music Imprint. But since his fallout with the record label that promoted him massively, little or nothing has been heard about him musically. The talented dancehall act however said he has been working.
Lara George Emerges Gospel Artiste of the Year: Talented leading gospel artiste and award wining vocalist, Lara George is doing us proud. The more we think we have had enough of her, the more her talents prove us wrong. It has now been established in all quarters that she is one of Nigeria's best in and outside the country.
Few weeks back, the respected vocal gymnast, who won the Best Vocal Performer (FEMALE) at the just concluded Hip Hop World Awards, was selected as a member of the voting academy BET set up to decide the winners in different categories of the BET awards.
Last weekend, Lara emerged as the Best Gospel Act of Year 2010 at the City People Entertainment Awards in Lagos. The cheering audience confirmed the fact that it was a well deserved award with a standing ovation for the great vocalist.
And, this may just be the beginning as she is also a nominee for the Best Gospel Act award in Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEA) coming up in America on September 18, 2010.
Immediately after the awards ceremony, Lara George will proceed on a tour of the USA where her esteemed fans are already waiting for her superlative performances.
She has also recently been selected out of hundreds of candidates, as one of the few finalists to take part in the British Council initiative called the Creative Entrepreneurs (formerly tagged Creative Lives). Creative Entrepreneurs is a project for training, mentoring, networking and secondments across the Creative Industries. It is led by the British Council. The vision of the project is to be Africa's most respected and effective scheme for developing aspiring creative entrepreneurs.
Kunle Bakare Stages White And Black Ball 2: Publisher, power dresser, stylist of note, brilliant journalist and one of the best party organisers in this part of the world, Kunle Bakare, is once again set to spoil us silly with a helluva party that fun lovers always look forward to. What is it this time around you may ask? It is the second edition of the Black and White Ball, a high-octane, all glitz and all glamour party incorporating a spectacular fashion show and the Elegance and Style Awards 2010; an occasion when distinguished stylists who have always been on point will be honoured.
Due to the successful outing of the first edition, fun lovers are already looking forward to having a good time this Sunday, July 25 at The Darlinton Hall in Ilupeju, Lagos where the event will be held. The high-octane event will parade fashionistas, A-list celebrities, society pillars, politicians and the stars of music and movie..
Top rated designers expected to showcase their designs at the events are House of Nwocha, Zizi Cardow, JD7, Vigold, Imol, Shakara, Nobel Afrik, Adu, Rogue and Design for Love.
Some of the categories in the Elegance and Style Awards are All-Time Beauty Queen, Best Promoter of Style, Most Dashing Celebrity Couple, Best Hairstylist, Best Make-Up artiste, among others.
There will be no short supply of music as renowned DJ, Jimmy Jatt and popular music band, God Bless will dish out good music to nourish the soul and body and make guests engage their legs in a little exercise of dancing.
Two brand new limousines, A Lincoln Continental and Chrysler will ferry the guests from the car park to the entrance of the hall. The organisers insist that full royal treatment awaits all the people that made it to their guests' list this year.
The event, which is strictly a black and white affair, is by invitation but guests who are not properly dressed will not be allowed into the venue.
Sparkling Talents Make Project Fame Season 3 Tick: We are about to witness the best MTN Project Fame
ever. Instead of the usual 15 contestants that normally make it to the Performance Academy, 18 contestants made it this time around due to their impressive outings at the opening night on Sunday July 18, 2010.
The contestants sang their hearts out and their performances were filled with so much promise and potential that it was virtually impossible to eliminate any of them._
When it was time for the judges to get down to business, they couldn't execute any elimination because all the contestants poured out their hearts and showed enormous potential.
Their work will however be cut out for them as 5 contestants with the lowest public votes will automatically be up for eviction from Saturday July 24.
The contestants will be taught aspects of song composition, vocal training, physical fitness and live performance by a group of professionals known as the Faculty whose latest member is Kaffy- the renowned choreographer. Other faculty members are Joke Silva (Principal) Ben Ogbeiwi (Music Director) and Dupe Ige (Voice Coach). The rank of judges has also swelled to 4 with the addition of a new member- Nomoreloss. The three other Judges are Kwame, TY Mix and Bibi.
A lot is at stake in the third season of MTN Project Fame. Besides fame and fortune, this year's winner will be going home with a fantastic recording contract, N2.5m and a brand new Toyota RAV4. The 1st runner up will get N1.5m and a Toyota Corolla while the second runner up gets a Toyota Yaris and N1m. The producers of the show have also revealed that renowned female singer, Asa will, on Thursday, visit the Performance Academy to mentor and advice the contestants. As a tribute to the singer, who has proudly flown the Nigerian flag, the contestants will be performing her songs this Saturday as part of the week's show. The contestants will also perform select numbers from Tracy Chapman's albums.
The project title references the fact that we all deal with fears of various sorts, and that for Kirk Franklin, the time for turning and facing fears is now. The transparency is palpable.
Newcomer and fast riser Mali Music is tapped to join Franklin on "Give Me", adding his distinctive delivery to this soundtrack to prayer for God's strength and wisdom. Insistent snare percussion overlays high register keyboard stylings, making the sound stick.
