*UBA, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Reacthuman trafficking claims made by Marcia Okhai against Joan Okorodudu. Here are our new findings.Cynthia Omorodion was visibly absent at the recent Nigeria’s Next Super Model Contest held in Lagos and many who attended were curious as to why the ex bearer of the crown was not there to hand over her title. We spoke to Cynthia on Friday December 11th 2009 and reasons for being absent were evident in her response.THEWILL: How did you get involved with the Nigeria’s Next Super Model contest?Cynthia: My former manager told me about it and asked me to go for the audition in 2007. I did not get selected at the time so I tried again in 2008 and I was selected as one of the finalists. Myself and the other contestants proceeded to camp. We were housed in a home in Lekki for one month. The finale was held on the 30th of September 2008 and I emerged the winner.THEWILL: What were your prizes?Cynthia: I was to get a brand new Kia Saloon car, a $10,000 (USD) modeling contract, and a trip to Germany to represent Nigeria in the Model Of the World Contest. None of these happened. I never got the car nor went to Germany and I have not worked on any modeling jobs worth 10,000USD. Instead I was taken to South Africa for Audi Fashion Week in Cape Town.THEWILL: When did you go to South Africa?Cynthia: I went in South Africa in October 2008 with Joan Okorodudu, her son, and six other models. Each of us paid for our tickets.THEWILL: How did you obtain your visa to South Africa?Cynthia: We went to the embassy to pick up the visas.THEWILL: Did you go through an interview process at the consulate for the visa?Cynthia: Yes I did. I was issued a 90-day visa and I told them I was going for Audi Fashion week.THEWILL: So when you arrived in Johannesburg, where did you go?Cynthia: We were taken to the model house. There were other models there. Both male and female and we all stayed in the house. There were like 13 or more of us.THEWILL: Did you do any modeling work while you were in South Africa? Did Joan Okorodudu secure the jobs?Cynthia: Yes I did. I did Elle Magazine SA, and Audi Fashion Week in Cape Town.THEWILL: Did you get paid for these jobs?Cynthia: No I did not get paid.THEWILL: Did you ever get paid for any of your modeling jobs you got through Joan’s Isis Modeling Agency?Cynthia: No I never did.THEWILL: So what were you doing for upkeep and money?Cynthia: I was forced to get myself modeling jobs. And I was fortunate enough to meet people in the industry that helped me by telling me when there were castings. There were also designers who took an interest in me and asked me to model for them. All the models do the same because Joan doesn’t pay.THEWILL: When you heard Marcia Okhai had broken her silence and blown the whistle on Joan Okorodudu how did you feel?Cynthia: I was not happy because I am a private person and I wanted to fight Joan by taking legal action against her. But everyone has their way of doing things. We all do things differently. My Lawyers sent Joan a letter even before Marcia put out her note.THEWILL: And what was her response?Cynthia: She has not responded up till today. We have heard nothing back from her. My lawyer is on it though.THEWILL: Let’s go back to South Africa, so how were you able to work without a legal working permit and proper documents?Cynthia: Joan Okorodudu said she would secure work permits for us, but it was one thing after another and things were not quite working out. She got spouse visas for some models as an alternative so they can legitimize their stay. After I had had enough I decided to return to Nigeria because I refused to continue to suffer in another man’s country. In fact my visa had expired so I was fined 3,000 rands before I was allowed to leave SA.THEWILL: So since this story broke Joan has not contacted you at all?Cynthia: No she has not.Editor’s note: A spread for any internationally syndicated fashion magazine is a very lucrative deal for any model to secure. And it would be disturbing to imagine that the customer never paid Joan Okorodudu and that is why she never paid Cynthia. Typically the client cuts the agent a check and the agent in turn cuts the model a check after deducting applicable taxes and commission, which should never exceed 20% of the earnings. This is standard practice between agencies and their models.UBA CLEARS THE AIRTHEWILL has also been contacted by a representative from United Bank for Africa, one of the supposed advertised sponsors of Joan Okorodudu’s Nigeria’s Next Super Model. They have stated that Tony Elumelu and UBA are in no way related to Joan Isioma Elumelu Okorodudu and any of her projects. They told us categorically that she has used their logo illegally and with out permission. Joan had been to the headquarters to solicit sponsorship many times, but was told they had no interest.Otunba Segun Runsewe condemns the actions of Joan Okorodudu and the NNSM contest.The Director General of The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation has also contacted THEWILL and has thanked us for our investigative report. He expressed his disappointment in Joan Okorodudu for humiliating the image of those young girls and Nigeria as a whole. He said when he assumed office in 2006, he found that many regulations were not in place and that the accreditation procedures were not being enforced for events such as NNSM. He has had to change how licenses were being issued. There is a procedure in place for obtaining a license for an entertainment event and it conforms to those of international standards.The corporation ensures that things are done the way they ought to be. He also stated that since we broke the story, they have decided to put a hold on all such modeling contests and pageants in Nigeria. No permits will be issued until they complete investigations. The DG said, “We are putting strong investigations into the matter. And anyone found wanting shall be prosecuted accordingly.We assure you that we will come out with the results of our on going investigations and we are doing all we can to correct all the lapses in the system.” He expressed his concerns that people do not appreciate that tourism is the greatest employer of labour in the world, and what NNSM has done is giving the sector a bad image.We are yet to hear from Joan Okorodudu since we called her last week and were asked to give her time to respond.
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