Happy happy new month my darlings!!

Happy new month to you all, viewers, commenters, and all those who have supported me one way or the other, may God send your helpers to you and meet you at the point of your needs.

The blog is officially one year today. How time does fly.


May God who has started this journey for me continue to pave the right path.amen!!!



All blog visitors who are born in the month of may can send in their birthday dates so as to get a birthday shoutout on the blog.




All my love
Isyberry Nwegbu.

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Read Angela's side of the theft story.

Who knew that this Nwa Abakiliki movie will open up a can of worms that will cause this huge scandal for Nollywood actor Prince Eke and actress Angela Okorie. 

Well read how the scandalous gist started when you continue

Recently, news filtered in that Nollywood actress Angela Okorie was involved in a theft scandal in South Africa which saw her get arrested and detained by the South African police. The actress in an interview with Yes magazine has debunked the theft case stating it was a case of blackmail after she had turned down a certain Prosper's sexual advances. 
Here's her account of what happened plus pictures of her in South Africa with Muma Gees's husband Prince Eke below:

"I left Nigeria for South Africa to shoot my movie, Nwa Abakaliki in South Africa on Monday April 7 2014 with Prince Ekeh, Muma Gee's husband. I paid for his flight and accommodation from Port Harcourt to Lagos and from Lagos to South Africa. Then at a point, I decided to move to a hotel so as to give him space and a friend of mine called M.K said I should come over to her place at North Gate Estate where I can pay less for my accommodation because she has a 3 bedroom flat.  

So I moved in and met a friend of mine called Prosper who is actually one of my biggest 
fans in her place. But he was also living in a separate room with the lady. As time went on, this guy started disturbing me for sex. He said he liked me and would not mind having an affair with me. But I told him I am married with a child but he would not let me be. It got to a stage he went to hire a car to take me around so as to aid my production but I never gave in to his demand for sex. 

Then on Good Friday, April 18th, I was in my room and didn't bother locking my room door. Prosper came in and tried to rape me but I told him that I am ready to kill and go to jail if he ever tried it. After much sweet words and threats, he left me alone and I moved out of the house to Hilton Hotel, Sandton that day. 

On Sunday, April 19th, Prince Eke called me that Prosper and some people were coming to meet me at the hotel and I said no problem. Unknown to me, he was coming with about three policemen. I opened the door for them but to my greatest surprise, Prosper said that I stole his 32,000rand which is about $3,200. I was surprised because that to me is ridiculous. How can I steal such money when I paid for Prince Ekeh's flight and accommodation which amounts to about $4,000 dollars, not to talk of myself? I was taken to Honeydew from where I was moved to Ranburg Police station in Johannesburg on Saturday April 19th and was released the following day, being April 20, 2014, Easter Sunday. 

Why I am sad about the whole blackmail is that it was after my release that I got to know that Prosper's job in South Africa is to con and defraud new Nigerians in S.A. He would identify strangers who have come with money for a project and offer to assist. Afterwards, he would call the policemen who are also working with him to defraud the innocent people, claiming to have done something for them or that they stole his money. He picked on me because he knows I am a celebrity and would not want to soil my name.  

Prince & Angela with BBA Luclay on set

I was seriously embittered when I later learnt that Prince Ekeh harbored him in the house I left for him to stay and that he was on the run because I vowed to take the matter in the law court for defamation of character. When the issue became serious, they started begging me, sending different set of people to beg me but I promised to show them the other side of me because I have not been able to complete my movies since then. Prince Ekeh was even threatening to shoot me; that why would I be telling my friends about the incident and also queried the policemen who gave me my passport.  

Prince is an ingrate. I paid for his ticket from Port Harcourt to Lagos and from Lagos to South Africa to help him and his family because his wife, Muma Gee has been the only one assisting his career and all he could pay me with is this cheap blackmail. He was not even happy that my passport was released to me. I keep asking myself why? What does he want to achieve? Anyway, I have told him and his accomplice who tried to rape and blackmail me that I am taking this up in a reputable law court"

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That's he says I tried to rape her is laughable' prosper and Prince Eke replies Angela Okorie.

Being a celebrity is a lot of hard work. I can't even begin to imagine what this whole story will cause in Angela Okorie's marriage. 

She has not only been accused of sleeping with one man, but two.... 

This alleged theft scandal involving married Nollywood actress Angela Okorie has taken a real big dramatic turn. Because the people Angela accused of setting her up and blackmailing her have just sent out their own side of the story and it's quite messy!

Muma Gee's hubby Prince Eke and the alleged blackmailer, full name Prosper Tchidi in a mail they exclusively sent to Linda Ikeji are insisting Angela truly stole Prosper's money, that Prosper and Angela are actually lovers, that Angela moved in with him when she arrived South Africa. Please read:

"Mid last month, Angela Okorie called me help her shoot a movie in South Africa. My wife (Muma Gee) was due to give birth but because of the respect I have for her, I agreed to do the movie. It was her own movie called Ada Abakaliki but she also wanted me to act in another movie being produced by a guy named Ikenna in South Africa which she was also supposed to feature in. It was her movie and she was the one inviting me to South Africa so yes she's supposed to pay for my flight and accommodation because I 
had no other reason to be there.  

We arrived South Africa on Monday. She wanted me to stay with her friend but I told her I would rather stay in a hotel that I wasn't comfortable staying in someone's house. She put me in one hotel but I didn't like the place. She paid for a guest house and she asked me to stay with her there but I refused, telling her that she's a married woman and I am a married man, that I wasn't comfortable staying with her. I eventually paid to stay at City Lodge but later she called me and told me to come and stay at the guest house she paid for, that she would move out.  



Prosper with Prince Eke in SA

 When I went to her hotel, she introduced me to a guy named Prosper who I'd never met before. She introduced him to me as her boo. She told me I could stay at the guest house, that she would move in with Prosper. She told the magazine she moved in with a friend name NK. That's a lie. There's no friend named NK. Angela moved in with Prosper who has a two-bedroom flat and a roommate who is Tanzanian and not Angela's friend. Angela lived with Prosper for nine days. 

Anyway, eventually Angela told me she was no longer doing the Ikenna movie. But we continued shooting her own movie. Some days later, I saw Angela and Prosper kissing and I was very shocked because I know she's married. I confronted Prosper and told him he was messing with a married man. Prosper told me Angela had claimed she was estranged from her husband, I told Prosper that was a lie because I know she's still very much married. When Prosper questioned Angela about what I said they began to have problems. She became angry with me for telling Prosper she was still very much married. 

On the day of the alleged theft, we had finished shooting for the day and I wanted to have a shave. I told Prosper to take me to a barbing salon. Angela said she wasn't going to the salon that she wants to go home. About 30 minutes later, Prosper told me he just received a text message from Angela that she was leaving his house. When Prosper eventually got home, he called me to say Angela had stolen his money, $3,200 and he had been calling her and she was not picking. 

I tried calling Angela but she also didn't pick my calls. Prosper managed to track her down and she was traced to Hilton Hotel in Sandton. He went there around 2am with police officers to have her arrested. Angela was there with another man named Daniel. This is a girl who told me she couldn't afford to pay for hotel and wanted me squatting with friends, all of a sudden she could afford to pay for a room at Hilton Hotel. 

The guy they met in her room returned 10,000 rands to Prosper and signed an affidavit. I don't know if she took the money but why sign an affidavit to return it? 

Angela was taken to Sandton police station, from there she was transferred her to Honey Due police station where she was found guilty, and finally transferred to Ranburg police station where she slept in a cell.  

I, Prince Eke bailed her and stood as surety and the first statement she made after she came out was that I sold her out. That I didn't tell her Prosper was coming with police. Angela was charged to court, she went to court on Tuesday. It was the court that granted her bail. I can send you her charge number. Saying Prosper set her up to take money from her is not true. She introduced him to me as her boo and never said he was harassing her sex. It was strange to read all that. Besides Prosper drives a Mercedes Benz E360 and he's a well known rap artist.

Prosper Tchidi

Prosper Tchidi's side of the story:

That I tried to rape her or was begging her for sex is laughable. I knew she was coming to South Africa. I promised to help her when she got here. She and Prince Eke arrived on Monday morning, I saw them in the evening and Prince was complaining that he didn't like where he was staying. So Angela and I agreed that she would move out of the guest house and move in with me so Prince Eke could move into the guest house. She left the place and moved in with me on Wednesday. She said she moved in with her friend named NK. There's no such person. I have a roommate, a young girl that I am helping, who is like a family friend. She didn't know Angela until she moved in with me. She lied about moving into a friend's house. She moved into my house. We were lovers. Please quote me.  

When Prince Eke confronted me and said I was messing around with a married woman, I was quite surprised because Angela told me she was estranged from her husband. After I heard she was married, I distanced myself from her and we began to have issues in the house. She started to give me attitude and also Prince Eke because he had told me she was married.  

About the money, after we finished shooting that Saturday, I took Prince Eke to a Barber's salon to get a hair cut. Angela said she wanted to go home. Later she called me to say she was leaving my house. We had quarreled that morning but she didn't tell me she would be leaving. She was supposed to stay at mine until she leaves South Africa.  

When I got home I asked my roommate if she'd seen Angela and she said Angela had left the house in a hurry with her things, that someone had been waiting for her outside the house. I checked the cameras in the premises and saw that she'd left in a hurry. I went to my room and searched for my money and saw it was gone. I called her for several hours but she didn't pick, so I went to the police. We were able to trace her to Hilton hotel. She and the guy with her were both arrested and it was the guy that signed the affidavit. Why would I set her up? I am a rap artist and producer in South Africa. My stage name is P-Skrilla.

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Peter Okoye flaunts dollar notes on the set of 'O Set' music video shoot

Who else is feeling the man of the year album like I am????? So yesterday I was blasting seriously and dancing to this 'O set' music with my hubby and people were looking at me like who is this girl driving by with such loud music!!! Hehehe 

It's bad like that, and Peter Psquare is showing you that 'ife adigo' as he flaunts this dollar bills on the set of the music video shoot. 

The song is originally Phyno's song but he featured the twin music lords as par the Igbo boys movement!!

Don't mind me oo I am a local Igbo girl!!!! 

You like?

Lol I know all you aproko must have seen the hubby before every other thing.  That is way of ending the month of April!!! No hubby oo ok bye!!!

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Nollywood Actress Daniella Okeke shares pictures of her garage!!!

When you are big, you are big!!!!

Daniella Okeke a Nollywood actress shared these picture flaunting the fleet of cars in her garage. 

She further captioned the pictures 

'my garage u won try me?'

Ok car lovers what do you think of this garage? Good enough? Why you are at it, she also has bragging rights on her fab body!! Hehehehe 

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Because she can!!! Rita Dominic rocks outfit she wore last year to a recent event.

Alist actress and fashionista Rita Dominic has been on the low recently no plenty pictures or gist to write about her so here is one to read!! Hehehe 

It's not news that this celebrities make it seem like a sin to re rock your outfits, accessories, clothes shoes and everything or sort. 

Well Rita is putting a piece of wet cloth on that burning rule as she has rocked her outfit twice in less that 6 months. Hehehe 

 

 Rita Dominic wore this same light green wrap dress to AFRIFF press parley in November 2013. Now yesterday she shared pictures of herself posing with the same dress again, which she wore to an event spicing up the look with a black leather

jacket to cover up and gold shoes over the previous nude and black shoes she wore last year. 

What do you guys think? With or without the jacket?

To an event yesterday…

She's seen here posing with dress last year.

  

At AFRIFF press parley in November 2013

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Lol Angela Okorie rains curses on Prince Eke over arrest in South Africa.

I don't know of you guys remember some pictures I posted early this month of Nollywood actor prince Eke and actress Angela Okorie in South Africa where they went to shoot their 'news abakiliki in South Africa. Well all isn't well between both movie makers as Angela Okorie took to her Instagram page to lash at prince over a theft and arrest issue. See how she put it when you continue: 

Angela Okorie was arrested in South Africa for an alleged theft when a man named Prosper reported her to the police. The said Prosper happened to be a friend to Nollywood actor and Muma Gee's husband Prince Eke. Different versions of the story has been published online and Angela even granted an interview few days ago to clear her name.

"My God said ten thousand shall fall on my right hand, and also on my left hand and they shall not come near me, I am like a tree planted by the river side, who ever that offends me has offended God, I brought prince eke to shoot my film and he planed with Prosper to dupe and crucify me for what I didn't do, may God judge you, may ur prayers become curses, may you never see good in ur lives, as u hate people's progress, may u never excel in your lives, may u never find favour in the eyes of men and God, I am surrounded by God's glory, and there is nothings you can do, prince eke u said u will shoot me for exposing you, but trust me you and prosper will suffer for the rest of your lives. As much as my God is alive you shall no no peace in Jesus Name I pray Amen."

 Lol nwa Abakiliki has finally returned to her base in Nigeria. 

What do you guys think?

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Rate Actress turned Evangelist Eucharia Anunuobi's outfit to Susan Peter's brother's wedding.

Eucharia has always been an actress with a signature look and her brows does it for her all the time.

Though she is assumed to have accepted her faith with Christ and has become an evangelist, her signature eye brows are still as high as ever.


I am guessing Eucharia Anunuobi's wore this outfit in a bid to outshine the bride cause who rocks a white gown like this to a wedding? Lol

Just kidding anyway. She wore this white outfit to Susan peter's brother's wedding.

What do you guys think?

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Yoruba Movie Actress Oshodi Oke speaks on rumoured divorce' there is nothing wrong with my marriage'

In her latest interview with Encomium, the Actress and mother of one who got married in 2009 has debunked the reports and explained why she doesn't live with her husband, Anthony Gbolahan.

"There is nothing wrong with my marriage. That's how people are just feeling. Recently, City People magazine celebrated me. I received an award. My husband was there with me. So if there was anything wrong with our union, would he be there? Things like that, you can't hide them from the public. I just believe people only like fabricating issues for whatever reason or reasons best known to them" she said

Explaining why they don't live together – Ronke's husband lives in Surulere, while she lives in Ijaiye, Lagos "If you have a partner or spouse who is your friend, you will understand each other very well. Fine, I am a reserved person and on the other hand I am also into showbiz. So for me to manage these things, you have to be in a reserved person. For instance when you are going out or coming in, nobody knows your movement. Secondly, I am friendly but I don't really like crowd. My husband likes Surulere, he is a Surulere person. I like surburbs like Abule-Egba, Ijaiye area and so on. So both of us know how to manage the situation.

Whenever I say I am going to Surulere, I just go there to catch fun, see people and things I love to see. But the fact remains even if I am in Surulere, people don't really know I am there because I don't go out. I am not an outgoing person. Most of the events you see me, its either I am invited as a Master of Ceremony or the celebrant is my friend.

Anytime I don't go out and I am not on set, I go to my husband's place in Surulere and he understands me very well. All these kidnappings here and there, one needs to be very careful. When they kidnap your child and they say they need ransom, what would you do? So we know how we manage the situation. He also comes to Ijaiye where I live. That's where my mum lives" she concluded.

Label:Econmium 

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Read and see pictures of 27 year old medical stuns who is auctioning her virginity for about N80,million naira

Lol when i first opened this gist i smiled, not because i thought it was stupid but for the fact that some girls actually lost theirs over nothing and this lady is getting a bid for about 80Million naira. 

hehehe 

The 27-year-old medical school student using the name "Elizabeth Raine" to protect her identity, has been running the online virginity auction since March 31 which ends May 7.

She told Huffington Post

"I actually didn't like the anonymity. People mistake it for shame.Plus, there has been some speculation that I'd be outed and I wanted to do it on my own terms."

The current top bid listed on her website is $300,000, but she said she's received bids near $550,000 that she's in the process of confirming.

She says her main purpose of the auction is to make money and also adventure, eroticism, scandal and the chance to challenge norms about virginity .

"I've been planning this for a year and I've had a personal transformation because of it."I'm more educated about prostitution, virginity and slut-shaming.I am not emotionally damaged, broken or shut off as a result of it," 

 The winning bidder will have to provide Raine with proof that he has no sexually transmitted diseases and is willing to wear a condom. He also may not be under the influence of booze or drugs during the encounter, nor may he attempt anal sex or treat her violently.

She's also open to kissing the winning bidder, and even holds out a small amount of hope that it might lead to something more.

"I wouldn't rule out love, but it's very unlikely,There will be a legal contract between us," she said. "[The winner] may not be happy [with the sex], but he knows what he's paying for."

Raine admits she does have a thing for older men and tall guys, but those factors probably won't come into play for what is basically a business deal.

What do you guys think?

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Tiannah Styling's CEO Toyin Lawani rocked blue velvet outfit and super long braids. Hot or not?

I love long braids, I am actually even rocking one that is up to my butts now but this one is way pass me!! Hehehe

It's almost on the back of her knee and it must be pretty heavy to carry.

But oh well she is Toyin Lawani and as the swagger queen she does it how she likes it.

The pretty mother of two rocked this super long braids and her blue velvet outfit recently.

You like?

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Alist Actress Omotola Ekeinde, Aliku Dangote, and Ngozi Okonjo Iweala at the Time 100 gala in New York.

So this year, ngozi Okonjo Iweala, and Africa's richest man Aliku Dangote were listed alongside Beyonce on the Time magazine 100 most influential people in the world and Omotola joined them yesterday night Tuesday 29th April at the gala which held at Jazz, Lincoln Center in New York.


What do you think about her outfit?


Ngozi Iweala still rocked her signature Ankara piece but she looks really nice.

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Kanu and his wife of 10years Amarachi Nwankwo shares adorable pictures with their 3 Kids

Time does fly! Who else remembers that peak advert, when I grow up I want to be just like my daddy?

He is all grown up now and even has 2 younger siblings too. 

Footballer Lanu Nwankwo and his wife Amarachi tied the knots way back in 2004 and have been blessed with 3 children. 

These pictures were taken at the christening of their daughter pinky Amarachi Kanu Nwankwo last year January. 

Image credit: bellanaija
             

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Rapper Naeto c and pregnant wife Nicole stuns at the one night live event

Just few years after their wedding and the birth of their first child together, mrs Nicole Chikwe looks amaze balls rocking her baby bump in the midst of friends and her husband Naeto C at the one night love event. 

Image credit: BellaNaija.  

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See pictures from Ini Edo's surprise birthday party by her husband

Mr and Mrs Philip Ehiagwina shared some PDA when Philip organised a surprise get together for his actress wife super pretty Ini Edo who turned 32 recently.


Pregnant actress Uche Jombo was also there to celebrate.



These two tied the knot in 2008 and have continued to shock the entire public with amazing pictures and love stories amidst their rumoured divorce each time.


Spot Ini's excitement in the group picture? Too cute
You like?

I apologise for not posting most of yesterday. It was s busy and hectic day. Finally done with the burial yay!!!! Will post pictures once I can.

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Rate Funke Akindele's outfit.

What do you guys think of this outfit?

Hit or miss?

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Another actress turns musician. Read Angela Okorie's note

Madam Angela Okorie shared this picture of herself and a caption that might insinuate she is about to release her own album. 

Read how she put it below.

" I have not done any song, but I've written a lot of them and I will soon hit the studio. I'm still putting finishing touches to my songs before going to the studio. I'm not going to release just single, I'm planning to come out big with my album. This is what I've been doing since my childhood; it wasn't a child play for me. I grew up with it. While growing up, I was singing in the choir. Then I became a soloist in my church. I came back to Nigeria to do modeling and from modeling to acting. So singing has been part of me. Most times, I sing without instrument and if you listen to me, you'll be convinced that I am a singer." ‪#‎AngelaOkorie‬

What do you guys think?

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Khloe Kardashian flaunts flawless skin tone in short shorts

The pretty kardashian sister went on a lunch date with her sisters rocking this pretty short jean.


You like?

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Battered girlfriend of Ogun state APC politician narrates the story of her now sour relationship

He forced her to swear to a "fetish" oath in which she had to pledge never to sleep with another man except after his death.' 

Of everything I read today, this is obviously the most shocking. He forced you to swear??? Did he put a gun to your head? Or a bullet in your bank account? Which one madam?

Anyway read the full story when you continue:

Bayo Awosanya, a prominent member of the All Progressives Coalition in Ogun State, has gone underground after he allegedly battered his mistress who asked to be identified simply as Victoria. According to the victim and a police source, Mr. Awosanya beat his girlfriend over her failure to join him at a social party over the weekend.

The victim, who has a child with her alleged assaulter, told Sahara reportersthat she was determined to end the relationship.

Our police source said the APC official had asked Victoria to meet him at a "house warming" party, but got uncontrollably furious when he returned from the event and found her still at home. As the mistress attempted to explain her absence, Mr. Awosanya dealt her several blows to the face and head. Continue after the cut.

The victim, who showed serious head wounds, explained that she had fallen asleep after receiving Mr. Awosanya's telephone call, waking up only after the party would have been over. Irate, the APC official reportedly pummeled her with punches before bashing her head into a glass-window steel grille, telling her it was time for her to die.

In an interview with SaharaReporters on Friday, the victim, Ms. Victoria, said she had tried to escape the assault, but Mr. Awosanya grabbed her hair weave-on and violently pulled it out. She added that the APC official was fond of physically maltreating her. Ms. Victoria stated that she could no longer remember the number of times Mr. Awosanya battered her. She told a correspondent of the website that the last beating was too gruesome because she feared he was about to kill her. She vowed to end her relationship with the politician.

She said Mr. Awosanya had given her a vicious beating in 2008, two days before their "introduction ceremony," a prelude to traditional marriage. She explained that she had often postponed their marriage plans due to fear of the politician's horrible temper and his possible involvement in "fetish" and a dangerous lifestyle.

Mr. Awosanya was in line to become an executive member of the APC after a party congress that held yesterday.

Ms. Victoria accused the APC politician of practicing different kinds of religions out of desperation. She added that he engages in all manner of rituals in a desperate bid to advance his political goals and financial interests.

She disclosed that Mr. Awosanya had once forced her to swear to a "fetish" oath in which she had to pledge never to sleep with another man except after his death.

Ms. Victoria disclosed that she and Mr. Awosanya have a two-year old baby named Jomiloju.

Officials of the Ogun State police command claimed that they could not find Mr. Awosanya to arrest him, but a police source told SaharaReporters that they knew the politician was in town. The source added that the alleged batterer was expected to be present at his party's state congress where he was going to be inaugurated as the APC's financial accountant.

"We know where Chief [Awosanya] is, but our commander doesn't want to be involved in this palaver," our police source said.

Label:Sahara reporters 

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MTV shuga actor 'femi' ikubese Emmanuel gets crowned mr Nigeria 2014

Popular MTV series shuga actor Ikubese Emmanuel has emerged the newly crowned Mr Nigeria 2014.

He will be representing Nigeria in the Mr World pageant later in the year.

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' I have suffered enough for refusing to party with any government'' says Omotola in new interview

Speaking as a guest at the just concluded Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NEC), the actress said;

"Somebody on a blog a few days ago wrote that there are Nollywood personalities who are friends with politicians, sharing the national cake together. I, Omotola, have never campaigned or partied with any government, so don't mention my name among those who do that. I have suffered enough for refusing to party with them and take 'Ghana Must Go' back home, so don't let me suffer more."

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Read how Edo state former governor lost about 3.3billion naira to Venezuelan conmen

Nemesis may have finally caught up with ex-convict and former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, as he has lost over N3.3 billion to Venezuelan fraudsters, in a deal that bears all the marks of a classic 419 scam, Premium Times can authoritatively reveal.

Court documents seen by Premium Times also suggest that Mr. Igbinedion may be insolvent, as two US-based law firms have walked away from a $600 million lawsuit he instituted against the alleged mastermind and the Venezuelan state owned oil company, Petroleos De Venezuela S.A (PDVSA), over his inability to pay retainer as low as  N627,000.00 ($3,800.00).

Mr. Igbinedion plundered Edo State treasury for the eight years he was governor. He escaped jail after he reached a controversial plea bargain agreement with the Farida Waziri-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which dropped all but one of the 191 charges of corruption and money laundering against him.

In 2008, a Federal High Court in Enugu sentenced him to six months in prison with the option of a N3.5 million fine. The controversial plea bargain agreement he reached with the EFCC also required that he return N500 million and three of the houses he acquired with stolen public funds to the Federal Government.

But it's not yet Uhuru for Mr. Igbinedion as the Court of Appeal in Benin ruled on April 9, 2014 that he has a case to answer over a fresh 66-count money laundering and financial impropriety suit brought against him by the EFCC. A Federal High Court had ruled in 2011 that it would amount to double jeopardy and abuse of court process to try him again after the plea bargain he entered with the EFCC.

He has been accused of stealing over N3 billion from Edo State's treasury.

Classic 419-scam

In 2006, looking to cash in on the lucrative but fraud-tainted fuel importation business, the ex-governor's front and Managing Director of Skanga Energy and Marine Limited, a company formed by Mr. Igbinedion and his brother, Bright, in 1992, Christian Imoukhuede, approached the then Venezuelan Trade Consul to Nigeria, Enrique Arrundell, about the prospect of importing petrol, aviation fuel, and diesel from the South American country.

According to documents filed with a US District Court in New York, Mr. Arrundell advised Mr. Imoukhuede that the best way to get fuel was to go through a PDVSA approved agent.

Mr. Arrundell then introduced Mr. Imoukhuede to Arevenca, a fraudulent firm owned by alleged notorious Venezuelan conman, Francisco Gonzalez.

That meeting with Mr Gonzalez marked the beginning of Mr Igbinedion's woes.

Mr. Igbinedion and his front, Mr. Imoukhuede claimed in court that they did due diligence checks on Arevenca through the Venezuelan embassy in Abuja. They claim that embassy officials confirmed Arevenca as a reputable Venezuelan business concern and validated documents provided by Arevenca that supposedly showed a relationship with PDVSA.

But it has since turned out that Arevenca might be a complete fraud. PDVSA has since said in court that it has no records of any relationship with Arevenca.

Arevenca is a registered corporation under Venezuelan law but was most recently headquartered in Aruba. Its subsidiaries are: Arevenca AKTM, registered in British Virgin Islands; Arevenca SL, registered in Spain; and Arevenca Aruba Holding NV.

Others are Arevenca Bank, Arevenca Foundation, Fly Aruba Suriname, Arevenca Mining and Arevenca Petroleum Company registered in offshore tax haven, Suriname. There is Arevenca Finances Holding registered in Switzerland and Arevenca Ivory Coast.

Many of these subsidiaries are shell companies or exist only in names.

A Canadian-based freelance journalist, Steven Bodzin, who worked as an energy reporter in Venezuela and has written a number of exposés on Arevenca, revealed that Arevenca's website is a repository of mind-numbing lies meant to hoodwink mostly unsuspecting international investors.

For instance, on its website, Arevenca claims to have a global refining capacity of 2.5 million barrels per day and plans to build a two million barrel per day refinery in Ivory Coast.

It also claims to have a fleet of 72 ships.

However, the company with the highest refining capacity in the world as at September 2013, Reliance Jamnagar Refinery, India, has a refining capacity of only 1.24 million barrels per day.

In fact, Arevenca is not listed among the top ten refineries in the world. The only Venezuela-based refinery in the top 10, Paraguana Refining Centre, belongs to PDVSA and has a processing capacity of just 955,000bpd.

And despite claiming to have 75 vessels, a PREMIUM TIMES search on Lloyds Ship Directories shows that Arevenca does not operate from any of Venezuelan's 16 ports. There is also no proof that the company is building a two million barrel per day refinery in Ivory Coast as it claimed.

These are just few of the web of lies contained in Arevenca's website. Other false claims made by the company to defraud investors can be found on Mr. Bodzin's blog.

In October 2006, Mr. Imoukhuede, who was Mr. Igbinedion's schoolmate, arrived at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas and was ushered into the VIP lounge of the facility and later given a luxury ride to the exquisite InterContinental Tamanaco, rated among the top three hotels in the country.

It was at Intercontinental Tamanaco that Mr. Imoukhuede had initial negotiation with Mr. Gonzalez and an unnamed Nigerian.

After the meeting, Skanga reached a tentative agreement to buy "petroleum products" from Arevenca. Arevenca also agreed to give Skanga the first right of refusal to buy its AGO (diesel), PMS (premium motor spirit) DPK (kerosene), Jet Al fuel, Bitumen and Fuel oil.

The deal was to take off with a 35,000 metric tones of AGO in the first instance and then grow into about three cargoes monthly, according to an official statement by Skanga.

Bank transfer documents show that Skanga paid $1.05 million of the $1.4 million cost of freight.

Skanga's officials claimed during interrogation in court that their company made these payments ($580,000 and $470,000) based on the proof of certain "inducement documents which included an alleged PDVSA bill of lading.

After Skanga made these initial payments, it became trapped. The duping of the former governor and his corrupt clan began in full swing.

Igbinedion goes to Caracas

In January 2007, four months before the expiration of his governorship term, Mr. Igbinedion travelled to Caracas, ostensibly on an official visit and possibly lavishing Edo state money on the deal.  But our investigations indicate the visit was to put finishing touches to the deal earlier reached by his front three months earlier.

According to the Bolivarian News Agency (ABN), Mr. Igbinedion and his entourage were purportedly met by some of the influential "Chavista" politicians in the country, as supporters of the late Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chávez, are called: the Mayor of Central Caracas, Freddy Bernal, the Governor of Miranda, Diosdado Cabello, and Deputy Foreign Minister for Africa, Reinaldo Bolívar as well as other top Venezuelan government officials and businessmen.

It was an elaborate event accompanied by lavish photo op, expensive alcohol and dinner in the evening at the "Gran Melia Hotel, another top three luxury hotel in Venezuela, according to luxury hotel reservations website, Five Star Alliance.

Mr. Igbinedion was handed the key to the city of Caracas and announced as the "Alcaldía de Libertador", the honorary Mayor of the central Caracas borough of Libertador. He also held a meeting with top officials of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry at their headquarters, the Yellow House.

But the whole fanfare was a grand charade and part of a well orchestrated confidence trick put together by some of the most devious conmen in Latin America.

It later appeared that Mr. Gonzalez received an intensive course on Nigerian niceties.  Emails from Mr. Arrundell and Gonzalez to Mr. Igbinedion have that uniquely Nigerian informality. Rather than write in a formal manner as one would have expected of parties in a multi-million dollar deal, they addressed Mr. Igbinedion as "My brother Lucky" or "Dear brother Lucky."

One letter by Mr. Gonzalez, filled with grammatical errors, reads:

Dear brother lucky

I already send the dignity signed invoice.
You know what this mean.
Nobody do this, but I always honored my word, agins all the logical and normal status.
I prefer died that do not honored my word.
This is another demonstration that I am a honor man.
That mean that the product is yours.
I trust you like a brother I hope you do not let me down.
I do not want disappoint you, I hope you do not disappoint me.

Best regards, 
You brother and friend

Francisco JAvier Gonzalez

The geniality of Mr. Gonzalez's letters coupled with the grand reception, some would say deception, he got during his "official" visit to Caracas apparently made Mr. Igbinedion even more trusting of the Venezuelan gang.

Nigerian thief, money launderer, is scammed

After a couple of other meetings later that year, Arevenca made Skanga a deal too good to be true: a consignment of 35,000 metric tonnes of diesel will be sent to Skanga.

All it needed to do was to prepay the charges for delivery and complete the full payment for the delivery in three months.

Mr. Igbinedion could not believe his luck. Skanga promptly transferred $19.6 million more to Arevenca's Swiss bank account as freight charges and partial payment for two consignments of Petrol and diesel aboard two vessels named "Digniti" and "Ventur."

The vessels never arrived.

The Nigerian Port Authority said it does not have any record of "Digniti" or "Ventur" entering Nigerian waters at the time it was billed to arrive.

In fact, PREMIUM TIMES investigation reveals that there are no vessels named "Dignitii" or "Ventur".

Searches on Lloyds directories and other ship directories show that the ship don't exist anywhere in the world.

All efforts made to contact the Venezuelan embassy to confirm the extent to which Mr. Arrundell, who has been posted out of the country, was involved in the scam was unsuccessful.

The embassy's phone number seems to be out of order and emails were returned as undelivered.

Mr. Imoukhuede declined to comment when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES. He explained that since the case is in court, Skanga's lawyer was in the best position to make public comments on the matter.

"You know the case is in court. I don't think I am at ease to talk about it. I would have to talk to the lawyer. I can't make any comment. The Nigerian legal system is different from the American system. The best thing is to talk to Femi Salu," he said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The remaining parts in this series will look at courtroom intrigues; how two of Igbinedion's American counsel abandoned the case due to his inability to pay their retainer.

A part will look at the role played by MRS Oil Nigeria Limited plus interesting revelations in court while another will take a look at the role of the Venezuelan authorities in the entire scam.

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