Entertainment

RMD Fingered In N50m Fraud

Published

13 years ago

December 7, 2012

Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Richard Mofe Damijo (popularly called RMD) and the acting General Manager of the state’s Tourism Board, Philo Nkem Ajufo, have allegedly embezzled N50 million belonging to the ministry.

Several sources in Delta State, including two employees of the Culture Ministry, told our reporter that a former commissioner in the Ministry had requested N50 million to organize the “Delta State Expo 2007”. However, the state government was unable to release the funds that particular year to sponsor the yearly event.

By some bizarre twist, the funds were finally released to the ministry’s tourism account in May, 2012. “As soon as the money arrived, the commissioner said that the ministry could no longer hold the event since six years had elapsed”, said a source within the ministry. “The Honorable Commissioner also argued that Deltans would have forgotten about the event – and therefore the money should not be used for the purpose it was released”.

However, our reporter obtained documents from the Delta State Ministry of Finance stipulating that the N50 million must be spent on the event for which the Culture Ministry applied for it. The warrant was signed by one P. O Evuojapha on behalf of the Commissioner of Finance. The warrant indicated that N35 million of the funds was to go to the Tourism Board.

Our sources disclosed that Mr. Damijo, a popular Nollywod actor turned politician, connived to issue a cheque of N35 million in the name of Ms. Ajufo who reportedly deposited the sum into her First Bank private account number 30061316119. “Mrs Ajufo and RMD then shared the money”, one of our sources asserted.

Another government source told reporters. “It is very obvious that the manner the cheque was issued in the name of the board GM instead of in the name of the board was fraudulent. It portrays an element of fraud”.

Entertainment

NGO hails Tinubu’s climate awareness tour

Published

7 hours ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Jewel Environmental Initiative (JEI), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has commended President Bola Tinubu for inaugurating the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour, urging Nigerians and stakeholders to support the initiative nationwide.

Mr Ismail Bima, Chief Executive Officer of JEI, said in a statement in Gombe yesterday that the tour would significantly strengthen public understanding of climate change and encourage collective environmental responsibility.

Bima described the initiative as a clear affirmation of the Federal Government’s commitment to pursuing practical solution driven strategies that addressed climate challenges and safeguarded livelihoods, ecosystems, and national development efforts.

He noted that the programme would achieve its objectives if government institutions, private organisations, civil society groups, and citizens actively played their respective roles in promoting awareness, resilience, and sustainable practices.

According to him, the inauguration marks an important step toward building a nationwide movement capable of delivering measurable progress in Nigeria’s broader efforts to secure a climate resilient future for generations.

He said JEI fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour, noting that the initiative could inspire innovation, strengthen environmental education, and promote sustainable development across communities nationwide.

Bima also commended the Minister of Environment and urged federal, state, and local stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that climate change impacts affected all citizens regardless of region or status.

He emphasised that growing climate pressures on agriculture, livelihoods, and ecosystems made the awareness tour timely, adding that stronger information sharing and partnerships were necessary to confront environmental risks nationwide.

He urged authorities to implement the initiative with sustained commitment, extend activities to grassroots communities, and collaborate with state and local governments to ensure wider participation and maximum impact nationwide effectively.

The Tide source reports that President Tinubu inaugurated the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour in Abuja on Tuesday to promote climate resilience and sustainable development nationwide initiatives.

Entertainment

They Booed, Threw Bottles At Me – Tems Recounts

Published

2 weeks ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.

Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.

“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.

“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.

Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.

The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.

Entertainment

Primeboy Pleads For Mohbad’s Burial

Published

2 weeks ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.

According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.

The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”

It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.