Around and about Nollywood in one week

The last one week has seen a few Nollywood celebrities make headline for the right and wrong reasons. Here is a pick of the newsmakers…

Finally, Iyabo Ojo finds true love

Sultry actress, Iyabo Ojo, has finally found love again. The actress of ‘Fools Day’, ‘The Ghost and The Tout 2’ fame chose the occasion of her 45th birthday anniversary on December 21 to announce that she has now found warmth in the arms of entertainment entrepreneur Paul Okoye aka PaulO.

The ‘Beyond Disability’ actress shared the big news on her social media handle, thus ending months of speculation of who Iyabo Ojo’s new found love could possibly be. The ‘Black Val’ actress took to her official Instagram page to share a romantic video compilation showing photos and clips of them having fun together. The photos and clips clearly showed that Iyabo has found love.

Describing Paulo as ‘Obim’ which in Igbo means ‘my heart’, the mother of two captioned the photos and clips thus: ‘’my Obim. Happy 45th birthday lysexy. New age, new life, new wins. Cheers to forever’’. It will be recalled that the actress had hinted that she was in a relationship during her stint in season 1 of Real Housewives of Lagos. The fair skinned actress revealed weeks after the show that her new lover was responsible for her glowing skin and happiness. A confirmation that she has indeed been captured by a lover from the south east came when she penned and shared a post on her timeline appreciating her new found lover boy.

She wrote: ‘Thanks Obim (Paulo) for loving me so much and lifting my spirit. Chai, this Yoruba girl’s heart has finally been captured by an Igbo man’’.
Reactions have trailed her decision to publicly declare that she has found love. Fans took to her comment section to congratulate her with many hoping that it will be ‘permanent’.

TAMPAN battles Veteran actor Ebun Oloyode over nude prayer video

For appearing unclad in a video where he was seen praying by the beach for the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Congress Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Veteran actor Ebun Oloyede has been summoned by The Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners of Nigeria (TAMPAN).

The actor will reportedly face a disciplinary committee set up by the association over the controversial video. Actress and TAMPAN executive, Rose Odika, confirmed that the actor of vast movie credits had been summoned to face a disciplinary panel to explain himself.

According to Odika, TAMPAN is interested in the moral justification of his action. It will be recalled that Oloyede who is popular as Igwe Olaiya shook the social media space when he shared a video of himself praying for the APC presidential candidate. Olaiya had hinted in the caption to the video that it was his pleasure to ‘support a candidate who truly reflects our values and highest ideals’.

Not a few people spared Olaiya in the comment section seconds after he shared the post. But the actor would later clarify that he went naked because he was commanded to do so spiritually. Nothing has been heard about Olaiya’s invitation to appear before TAMPAN’’s disciplinary committee as at press time.

Criticism trails Yul Edochie’s apology to first wife

Controversial Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie is in the news again. The son of the veteran actor Pete Edochie has been trending since he unveiled his second wife and fifth son in April. This time, the news is that he has publicly tendered an apology to his first wife, May over his decision to take a second wife and welcome a son with her. In an Instagram post that went viral minutes after it was shared on Wednesday, Yul pleaded and swore that he did not intend to replace May whom he described as ‘Queen May’.

The actor wrote: “To my dear wife, Queen May Yul Edochie, I acknowledge that I hurt you deeply and I have apologised to you countless times. I take the blame for my actions. I agree with you that polygamy shouldn’t be forced on anyone. You never bargained for it from the beginning neither did I. But I guess life happens. You already know the whole story. I didn’t do it to disrespect you. I didn’t do it to replace you nor because I do not love you anymore, no. I have always loved you and always will. I have been a good husband and a wonderful father’’.

Continuing he said: ‘’….I have apologised to you countless times sincerely from my heart. I am sorry. I have always loved you and always will. We can live peacefully and happily.”.

Reactions have continued to trail his apology to May. While some fans have called on May to accept his apology, others think that May should not accept the apology until he calls his other relationship off. Yul who married his first wife in 2004 has continued to receive criticisms for venturing into polygamy since he unveiled his second wife and fifth son in April.

Francis Onwochei stars in riveting stage play ‘Motherland The Musical’

Stage and screen actor Francis Onwochei is among the heavyweight Nollywood actors that Bolanle Austen-Peters Production (BAP) has enlisted to star in a riveting stage play titled ‘Motherland the Musical’. The other actors in the musical that tells the story of the past, present and future of Nigeria include Gideon Okeke, Temi Otedola, Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan and Uzo Osimkpa. Promoted as a fest of beautiful costuming, storytelling, amazing music and exceptional dances from different tribes in Nigeria, the musical, according to Bolanle Austen-Peters who is the production head director, promises to be a rollercoaster of emotions and a spectacle of all Nigeria’s cultural outfits, music and stories. Supported by MTN foundation, the play is to be staged at Terra Kulture Arena, Lagos between December 23, 2022 and January 2, 2022.

Busy’ week for celebrity couple Lateef Adedimeji and Mo Bimpe

Celebrity couple Lateef Adedimeji and Mo Bimpe had a loaded week. The couple was in Gbagura in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday as the celebrity guest for the commemoration of the 13th Gbagura Day celebration, which was held at Ago Ika in Abeokuta. They both returned to Lagos for a shoot and on Thursday they celebrated their first year together as man and wife.

Recall that the couple got married on December 22, 2021. To mark the day, the couple took to their social media handles to pen sweet messages. Lateef was first to share his message of gratitude to his wife for bringing peace to his life. The ‘Ayinla’ actor wrote: “Thank you for the peace you bring, thank you for your subtleness, thank you for taking care of this big baby even when you are supposed to be the baby. Thank you for making me work on myself, thank you for discovering a lot that I don’t even see in myself. You have constantly brought out the best in me. Just want to let you know that loving you is so sweet. If I have to marry you again and again, be rest assured that Ade will do it again and again with you. Happy anniversary to us my love”.

Within a few minutes, Mo replied stating that the best day of her life is the day she married Lateef.

She closed her reply thus: ‘’Happy first wedding anniversary my big baby, the father of our unborn children, Baba ibeji. This time next year, we will be celebrating this day with our babies. I Love You So Much okomi’’.