SEGUN ARINZE QUITS AGN LEADERSHIP

National president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Segun Arinze, has reportedly resigned, owing to internal wrangling, with immediate effect.

In a statement addressed to the AGN Board of Trustees, and purportedly signed by the actor, he is giving up his post as a result of the ‘sad development’ which marred the guild’s elections, which took place at Baden Hotel in Benin City, Edo state, on Friday April 27, 2012.

Confirmation is yet to be received from the actor, as repeated phone calls and text messages were unanswered at the time of reporting. However, it appears to be the outcome of the ‘drastic action’ he previously told NET he would take after consultation with the guild’s Board of Trustees (BOT), immediately after the botched elections.

The elections into various positions in the guild have witnessed various challenges over time, including three postponements and a court injunction halting its conduct, championed by factional leader, Emeka Ike.

Below is a copy of the said resignation letter;

‘ …In view of the recent happenings in the actors guild of Nigeria and the recently botched elections in Benin… It is indeed a sad development for AGN. In actual fact my tenure as president ended on the 9th of December 2011 but I stayed on as president in deference to the

BOT and the vast majority of our members who prevailed on me to oversee a successful transition to a new president through a free and fair election. The events in Benin on the 28th of April 2012 is now common knowledge. I know I constituted an independent Agnec that was supposed to be devoid of any electoral rancour or external influences. For my integrity and honour, I hereby resign as president of actors guild of Nigeria and it comes into effect immediately. I want to thank the BOT for all the support given during my tenure, the state chapter chairmen, my fellow presidents from other guilds in Nollywood, all AGN members and especially the media for their tremendous support and positive given during my tenure. I want to thank profoundly my wife julie for holding on during the challenging period of service to the guild.

I wish the guild the very best as we move forward.

Thanks and warm regards.

Yours faithfully

Segun Arinze‘

SEGUN ARINZE, HAKEEM RAHMAN FIGHT DIRTY OVER AGN MONEY

Segun Arinze and Hakeem Rahman are undoubtedly top actors; they both serve in the outgoing exco of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), as National President and National Vice President respectively.

The interesting thing about these actors is the fact no love exists between them, the genesis of which is a certain money allegedly given to the AGN by Oil and Gas Magnate,Ifeanyi Ubah of Capital Oil.

The 2 of them have continued to live like day and night for a while, avoiding to see each other one on one.

The latest gist on this fight between Segun Arinze and Hakeem Raham is that their cat and mouse relationship recently degenerated into a physical confrontation during the recently held AGN Day, at the National Theatre,Ignamu ,Lagos.

We learnt since their cold war started,they have not seen face to face until that fateful day.

Segun Arinze,after the event, made for his silver colour SUV to leave the venue, but almost immediately,Hakeem Rahman accosted him and roughly opened the car’s door.

The next thing, he started raining punches on him,asking him why he(Segun) has been sidelining him on all the monies accruing to the Guild as its National Vice President.

This attracted the attention of people around,including the AGN’S Board of Trustees(BOT) Chairman,Ifeanyi Dike,state and national officers present,members of the BOT amongst others.

Segun Arinze all this while didn’t fight back,saying he does not want to discuss the issue.

It would be recalled that things went awry between the duo over Ifeanyi Ubah’s largesse.

According to the story,Hakeem Rahman accused Segun Arinze of not giving him his own share of the money,and not including him,Segun’s Vice,among the few actors who went to Hollywood courtesy of the same Ifeanyi Ubah.

These,indeed,created a lot of controversies among members of the guild.

According to one of them,on condition of anonymity, the largesse was not properly shared,hence the anger among some executive members and senior actors,who were completely left out of the money.

It’s quite sad,unacceptable and unethical for our President,Segun Arinze,and a few of his cronies to embark on a frivolous trip to the US,with the whole money given to the Guild.What was their rationale for selecting those who went on that jamboree?

How much was kept in the AGN account? Nothing! I even gathered that they shared the remaining dollars among themselves.Is that good for the image of AGN?

It’s high time these people stopped running our noble Guilld like a private estate.They keep crucifying government officials for disobeying due process,yet they are the worst culprits.How can you embark on a jamboree with the millions you used the Guild’s name to collect without following due process? Asked this insider.

The Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the AGN,Mr. Abubarkar reacted to the allegation saying that the 20,000 US dollars was money donated to the Guild by Ifeanyi Ubah.

According to him the money was not meant for AGN,but for those who made the trip to the US,that is where they got it all wrong.That was why the man refused to give such money to the Guild because of these kinds of wahala

He further said each person had a BTA,and they were all given an equal BTA.Those who did not travel would not have part of the money just as I did not because I did not make the trip.

All of these were thrown at Hakeem Rahman and he confirmed that I fought Segun Arinze because of AGN money and not just over Ifeanyi Ubah’s donation

Someone very close to Hakeem,told us that the Guild is now waiting for Segun Arinze to step down,for him to properly and openly investigate him and his cabinet for allegedly misappropriating the Guild’s fund.

CONVICTED ACTRESS RABI ISMAIL ESCAPES FROM PRISON

Following several unconfirmed reports by different news outlets, we can now confirm that convicted actress Rabi Ismail is indeed on the run, having escaped from Hadejia prison in Jigawa State.

The popular actress mostly known for Hausa roles in the Kano film industry known as Kannywood (Hausa-language version of Nollywood), as reported earlier in July 2011 was sentenced to death by the Court of Appeal for killing a male friend.

Reports say Ismail was ‘found missing’  days before she was to be executed, and that the State Prison Service has issued a search order for her capture.‘The escapee was accused of murder and a high court in Kano ruled that she was guilty and sentenced her accordingly, six people including three female wardens have been arrested and are being investigated for the mysterious disappearance of the convict’, the state’s comptroller of prisons disclosed.

The incident has sparked off an investigation, which has already consumed at least six prison officials. ‘I’m just getting to hear the news, it’s unfortunate, I hope she doesn’t complicate her matter’, President of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Segun Arinze told NET in a telephone conversation.

CELEBS RECOUNT MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCES (YOU MUST READ THESE)

Damilola Purple and Tonto Dikeh

The celebrities are human too. They have memories of pain, love, pleasure and time. A number of celebs have opened up to Showbiz Now on their most memorable Christmas experience.

Stella Damasus
I was seven years old then. They took us all to my mother’s village in Owerri. We had a singing competition and I won. The rule was that every household must give me a gift. I got so many gifts than I could handle. That was so memorable.

Francis Duru
As a child, my father would always buy a big cock and would eat special Christmas rice with us. Another memorable experience was going to the church to watch Baby Jesus in a manger and attend Christmas carol. Times have changed, what children want now isn’t what we wanted as children. Things have changed.

Uche Jombo
December 28 is my birthday, so every December is always memorable for me. I don’t separate one from another. I mark my birthday and Christmas in December and, as far as I can remember, they have always been memorable.

Bhairay
Coming from an upwardly mobile family, everyone is so busy and on the go, even at Christmas. So, a couple of years ago, my mum sent me a flight ticket to come home as something serious had happened. Of course, I got into the next flight only to discover it was a prank! And she had sent every other person a return ticket as well just to get the family together for some great thanksgiving and family home-made meal!

Ali Baba
The first Christmas that Xqzmoi, my event centre hosted, besides being fully booked from November 23, 2006, till January 16, 2007, just to see a dream come to life, brought tears to my eyes. I’m working towards another project that would open in February 2012.

Segun Arinze
Being alive every Christmas is always very memorable because God kept me alive by His grace and compassion! I thank him for sustenance of life!

Blessing Egbe
My funniest time of Christmas was way back in the police barracks when the eve of Christmas was a big deal. We would stay up till the break of 25th, decorating the house and going from door to door singing carols in groups. And D-day it was a do or die matter to compare and flaunt your new Christmas dress, wear new shoes, hairdo and earrings. And after visiting every family friend and relation, we would retire to a home full of presents and gifts as compared to who got the most. And on the 26th, all boxes and presents would be opened.

Tonto Dike
My favourite memory of Christmas when I was a kid are new clothes, shoes, jewelleries and I would be unable to sleep at night (eve of Xmas) out of joy, because I couldn’t wait for dawn so I could bathe and slip tiny me into my new outfit to show off in church the next day (December 25th). Christmas was so much fun as a child.

Basket Mouth
My favourite Christmas memory is awkward, it was in 1999, we left school for the Christmas holiday and decided to spend it with my manager back then, Bayo Adekeye, in his home town (Ile Oluji) in Ondo State. His parents were not supposed to be around, but we were surprised with their presence and had to sneak out of the house to squat with some of his friends. It was the first and last Christmas I didn’t eat the traditional Christmas rice and stew. Didn’t even get a Christmas gift; it’s the one Christmas I would live to remember.

Damilola Purple
Its a different ball game now, before i used to watch Tv after church (Xmas Day), my food will be served and i dont have to do anything, i dont have to buy or cook anything... BUT now.. It is OYO (On YOUR OWN). Alot of responsiblity like i have to make sure my siblings are okay and with the fact that you have to make sure your girlfriend or fiancee looks good... mehn.. i wish i can go back to my old to life where i dont have to do anything... Lol.. i am enjoying my life now anyway

Monalisa Chindah
Christmas season brings forth the beauty of Christ, love and salvation. Spending precious moments with my diamond, Tamar, last Christmas left a soothing and lasting memory in me.

Denrele
My unequalled, unparalleled and unrivalled Christmas would be the very first time I was away from my family during Christmas! Christmas is always with family and I delight in trying to harass the daylight out of them, especially my dad, my sisters and my uncountable cousins!

The memorable Christmas would definitely be in 2008 with P-Square as we invaded Lusaka, Zambia. It was the final leg of their African tour and I was opportune as a media personality to tag along and report the whole event for Soundcity. The whole Zambia besieged us at the airport! We practically had to change hotels like four times, and for every radio interview we did, there were boundless crowd waiting for us outside!

ACTOR SEGUN ARINZE/WIFE JULIE EXPECTING BABY NUMBER 2 !

National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, (AGN) Segun Arinze is going to be a dad again!

The actor and his wife Julie, are reportedly expecting their second child.

Julie first child with Segun is about nine months old.

The AGN president has a daughter with ex-wife Anne Njemanze and another child from a previous relationship.

I wish Julie safe delivery.

AGN FACE-OFF: EMEKA IKE DARES SEGUN ARINZE, 'CONDUCT ELECTIONS AND GO TO JAIL.'

Trouble seems to be brewing in the divided body of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) as one of its factional leaders and notable ‘Nollywood’ actor, Emeka Ike, has declared the activities of the Segun Arinze led faction of the body as illegal.

The actor in a statement made available when he recently addressed a world press conference in Gbagada, Lagos, stated that ‘it is most important to note that any signature Segun Arinze has ever appended on behalf of the guild (AGN) is an illegality and does not represent the didactic opinion of the real and constitutional executives of the Guild hence bringing every agreement, terms of grant facilities of funds acquisition into total illegality and consequently a nullity’.

The actor also decried the activities of certain ‘middle men’ who claim to represent the interests of film makers in the country by parading themselves to government officials and bringing the industry to disrepute with their illegal activities.

The meeting was attended by representatives of The National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Association of Ibo film Makers and a few independent film producers.

However, in an earlier call by Nigerian Entertainment Today reporters to AGN ‘President’ Segun Arinze, it was revealed that nothing was going to come in the way of the elections, as the actor vowed to go ahead with the controversial elections. He also claimed not to be cowed by any move by anyone to deter him from handing over at the appointed time.

‘Nothing will stop me from handing over, the elections must go on’, Arinze told NET. The controversial elections are due to be held later this November.

UNVEILING SEGUN ARINZE'S NEW HANGOUT

This season is absolutely the best of times for National President of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Mr. Segun Arinze. This seasoned actor who is fondly called Black Arrow by friends,colleagues and fans is actually enjoying his last days in office as he has gradually turned not only a party fixer but also one of the enjoyment lovers of Nollywood.

From his popular hangouts in Surulere and Ikeja respectively,the half Igbo and half Yoruba actor has moved his grooving base to a popular hotel at Alakara Street,Ajegunle Lagos State. As gathered,Mr. Arinze kicked-off his patronage of the place recently and since then his face has been spotted regularly around the area.

People who have seen him around Ilaje Quarters where Ajegunle dancers reside are wondering if he is searching for new talents that will make the industry proud from there.

HOW SAM LOCO'S BURIAL YIELD MONEY FOR SEGUN ARINZE

Aftermath of Sam Loco’s burial, more behind the scenes of the funeral arrangement seem coming to limelight as the president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Segun Arinze has allegedly been involved in the industry’s burial business as usual.

After it was confirmed of the late actor’s demise in a hotel that is inside Imo State, the heartland city of Owerri; we learnt that the Imo State government released a huge sum of money that contributed in settling the police that carried an autopsy and as well the transfer of the comic actor’s corpse to his home town, Benin City.

When this certain amount of money was pronounced and made available, to the hearing of Segun who as well is in a better position as the incumbent president of the guild to monitor and protect the happenings of the burial arrangement till its final day flew into Owerri, only to request for the sum of three hundred thousand naira for logistics of the members that will be coming from different chapters and states to attend the burial and disappeared.

Bismark, the first son of the now buried veteran actor who gave out the money to him with clear minds couldn’t stand it when some close members of the guild called him to know further preparations, which he explained his ordeal but blamed himself as a fresh man and someone who never cared to know his late father’s source of survival.

To the disappointment of guests and members of the guild that attended the burial, it was revealed that some left Benin in anger cursing the organizers of the burial for giving them false assurance of accommodation and security.

According to one of them who pleaded for name not to be on print disclosed, “We are highly disappointed with the whole arrangement; how could the organizers gamble with our welfare? I know the late actor, he hated unplanned arrangement, and the opposite was exactly what came for him. We could not even attend the funeral service with the family, because no proper arrangement was made for that”.

A situation like this is never the only experience, as it happened to the likes of Ashley Nwosu, Geraldine Ekeocha and a few of others who we were told that some undisclosed persons gave out money to contribute for their burial preparations but at the end did not get to the family.