Yesterday, Thursday, April 26, 2012 the very popular Bukola Elemide popularly known as Asa made her first court appearance at the on-going N700m lawsuit brought by her against a celebrity magazine ‘News of the People‘.
The soul singer, her manager Janet Nwose and other reps arrived at the Lagos High Court a few minutes before 10AM. She didn’t answer any questions the few reporters who were present.
‘I expect the judge to handle the matter in the best way she deems it fit’, Janet Nwose told NET when asked about her expectation of results from the proceedings.
The case which eventually started hours later didn’t last up to five minutes as the defendant – publisher of the magazine Loye Hamzat and his counsel were missing in court. Asa’s counsel from Abraham and CO. then pleaded to the judge stating if the case has to be moved, the adjournment should be close because his clients, the claimant (Asa) does not reside in the country.
Presiding judge Justice A.J Coker then adjourned the case to May 3, 2012.
‘Asa is a law abiding citizen, that’s why she’s here. We hope things work out the right way as it should‘, Adebola Williams of RED Media explained.
Asa had slammed the lawsuit against the celebrity magazine on November 22, 2010, after they published an article portraying the musician as a homosexual.
It looked like it would never happen, but Micro-blogging site Twitter has finally verified official accounts of some Nigerian celebrities.
And the first set of celebs include international singers Asa, Nneka and Premiership footballer Peter Odemwingie.
In June 2008, Twitter launched a verification program; allowing celebrities to get their accounts verified as a way of helping users verify which celebrity accounts were created by the celebrities themselves.
Prominent Nigerians and celebs such as Paul Okoye, Jim Iyke, and Wole Soyinka have all suffered from fake or parody accounts on Twitter which often mislead and confuse followers. With the new development this might stop soon.
Interestingly, the three new verified accounts are owned by people who have plied their trade in the international scene and have less than 50,000 followers as compared to the likes of Don Jazzy, Wizkid, and Banky W who have well over a hundred thousand followers but are more rooted in Nigeria.
The Nigerian with the highest Twitter followers so far is popular Pastor, Reverend Chris Oyakhilome totalling over a million.
Nigerian international singer Asa has threatened take legal action against her former record label Questionmark Entertainment for allegedly infringing on the singer’s trademark by ‘preparing to go into commercial production of a purported Asa music production’.
A press statement released by Asa’s reps, Red Nigeria, alleges that Questionmark, in partnership with a marketing-distribution company MacKings Limited have commissioned the production of a ‘purported Asa music production titled ‘Down On Me’’.
The production according to the RED Nigeria was commissioned to a CD factory Nigerian Chronotech Limited. Chornotech however contacted Asa’s management to confirm the authenticity of this production.
‘We have informed our lawyers and appropriate action will be taken against any individual, body or corporate entity associated with this’, the statement further stressed.
Questionmark did not immediately offer comments when contacted. A rep assured us they will soon release a statement concerning the matter.
Asa’s famed battle with Questionmark owned by Kevin Luciano-Gabriel dates as far back as 2006 when the singer walked out of her production deal, alleging, amongst many other things, that the label was trying to sign her on to a foreign label without her consent, and insisting that the circumstances surrounding her deal with Questionmark were suspect ab initio.
After much highly publicised legal tussles between her and the label, she eventually walked out of the deal and released her self-titled debut album in 2006.
Asa is currently also in court with a Lagos-based publication.
DEVELOPING STORY: We have confirmed that singer Asa is to appear in a Lagos court this afternoon. Details are sketchy for now, but our reporters are in the court room monitoring proceedings.
UPDATES
Justice A.J Coker (Mrs) got to Courtroom 23 of the Lagos High Court, Judicial Division Annex at 8:45.
As at 9AM, Justice Coker was filing papers. Asa was not yet at the courtroom.
Only a few journalists including reporters from AP and National Mirror are at the Lagos High Court Annex.
According to the court roaster, Asa’s case will be the 19th for Justice Coker today.
It might not be a case of FGN vs Asa being accused of lesbianism as is being rumoured.
The court roaster says: Bukola Elemide & Another VS Dockland Commercial Services.
Case number 19. LD/208/10.
We’ll keep you updated…
UPDATE:
Asa did not show up in court as she’s away in France. She was represented by her Lawyer who told the court she’s ‘indisposed’. The publisher of News of the People Loye Hamzat was personally in court.
Apparently, the musician is suing a Lagos-based celebrity magazine ‘News of the People’ for a published article alleging she’s a lesbian. We’re told this case has been on for sometime, and is now nearing conclusion. The case has been adjourned till April 26, 2012 when Asa is expected to be present in court. Full story to follow…
The list was determined by fame ,fanbase , number of concerts the artistes have performed across the world.
Nigerian Music stars Asa ,Nneka and 2face were listed first ,third and fourth respectively . Others on the list include Somalia born rapper Knaan, Senegalese's Youssou N'Dour, Ghana's Rocky Dawuni.
American publishing and media company Forbes has named Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic, Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe better known as Chinua Achebe as the most influential celebrity in Africa.
Achebe ranks number one out of a list of 40 most influential celebrities which also includes actors, cerebral authors, musicians, movie producers, supermodels, TV personalities and athletes selected from all across the continent of Africa. The second position is occupied by Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, while the third position by Ivorian footballer and Chelsea FC centre forward Didier Drogba.
The 40-man list selection involved picking out individuals with the highest number of votes from a vast nominations entry of 7,500 people. And then their media visibility (which includes exposure in print, television, radio and online), references on Google, TV/radio mentions and other mentions across continent.
A total of 11 Nigerians including Achebe are featured on the list. They include Noble laureate Wole Soyinka (6), Afrobeat maestro Femi Kuti (10), Nollywood star actress Genevieve Nnaji (19), Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie (32), hit producer Don Jazzy (36) and musicians 2face Idibia (34), Psquare (35), D’banj (37), Nneka (38) and Asa (39).
