Entertainment

Mr Ibu, Arinze Condemn Court Judgement Against Ibinabo’s Election

Published

11 years ago

March 27, 2015

John Okafor (Mr Ibu)

Nollywood Comic Actor,
John Ikechukwu Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu and ‘Black Arrow, Star Actor, Segun Arinze have condemned the recent court judgment which upturned Ibinabo Fiberesima-Ebuka’s election as the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). They said it as an attempt to draw the AGN backward.
In a telephone interview with The Tide Entertainment on Monday, Mr Okafor who condemned in strong terms the high court ruling on the matter said “it is an unfortunate development as it would affect the image of the industry negatively. It is an internal affair that could have been handled in-house rather than going to court”.
He, however, stressed that as a law abiding Guild, the actors body would not disobey the court ruling, because that would amount to contempt of the court which is not a good thing, but the body will do everything possible to resolve the issue amicably among the members and inform the court of our resolution on the matter.
The award winning comedian noted that Ibinabo had done very well for the movie industry by repositioning it positively among other glaring achievements which have given the actors and actress a sense of belonging not only in Nollywood but the society at large.
He said the AGN president should be allowed to continue with her selfless service towards moving the industry forward instead of dragging the members backward because of selfish interest. He stressed that members of the Guild are solidly behind their dynamic president, Mrs Ibinabo Fiberesima-Egbuka.
In a related development, a former president of the AGN, Mr Segun Arinze popularly known as ‘Black Arrow’ recently lambasted A-list Actor Emeka Ike for taking the AGN president, Ibinabo Fiberesima-Egbuka to court. He said “it is a sick joke, I find the judgment shaddy and a kankaroo arrangement”.
The former AGN president noted that Emeka Ike is a non issue as far as the AGN members are concerned. He urged members of the Guild to resist the evil plans of Emeka Ike and his cohorts. According to him, the AGN has gone passed that, we should not condone one man to embarrass the industry.
The ‘Black Arrow’ declared that Emeka Ike needs help to save himself from himself. He stressed that AGN should declare him a person non grata in the industry as they are moving forward ‘cest fini’. The popular actor stressed that Ibinabo Fiberesima-Egbuka remains the bonafide president of the AGN, enough is enough. This shenanigan has to stop for good”, he maintained.
However, Nollywood Super, Actor Emeka Ike, has described the court ruling that upturned Ibinabo’s election as AGN president few days ago as “victory for Nigerian judiciary and Nigeria as a whole, it is a victory for the young and oppressed in Nigeria and it shows that our justice system is still very tenable, Ibinabo should cover her face in shame for wanting to deceive the Nigerian people.
He described Arinze’s comments as “mere market talk”, that should be discredited. He stressed that Arinze is an illiterate who should be ignored. According to him, reacting to the comment of a man the court has disenfranchised shows that I do not have respect for the rule of law. His statement does not matter as much as the statement of the judge.
Meanwhile, in a statement released by Ibinabo’s camp, the actress insists that she is still the president of the AGN since the judgement did not make Emeka Ike the president of AGN. According to her, the Board of Trustee (BOT) had done well to uphold the AGN constitution’s provision that there cannot be a lacuna in government, hence she remains the president of AGN.
The actress and ex-beauty queen said she does not have any problem with Emeka Ike, but ‘the case in question is between Emeka Ike, the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the Segun Arinze-led government of national unity, it is not I and Emeka as some blogs have wrongfully reported”. She however stated that she would appeal against the judgement.
It would be recalled that two weeks ago justice James Tsoho at the Federal High Court Lagos, nullified Ibinabo Fiberesima-Ebuka presidency of the AGN which he said was illegal, while Emeka Ike, who filed the case against Ibinabo is rejoicing over the judgment which annulled the election of November 2012 that brought Ibinabo into office, the registered board of trustees has gone to the appeal court to challenge the judgement.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.

Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.

Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.

Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.

What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.

Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.

Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.

Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.

Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.

And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.

Entertainment

Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twin Babies

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.

The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.

“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.

While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.

Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”

The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.

Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.

The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.

Entertainment

Jesse Flames Opens 2026 With ‘Praise The Lord’ Featuring Magnito

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.

Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.

“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”

The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.

Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.

Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.

The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.

“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.