Entertainment

‘I was attacked, abused ’ – Adekunle Gold speaks on battle with Sickle Cell

Nigerian singer, Adekunle Gold, has gone down memory lane remembering how he was attacked and abused for publicly speaking about his struggle with sickle cell disease.

The ‘Orente’ crooner, during a recent interview with CNN, said he decided to create awareness about sickle cell disease after summoning the courage to speak.

The singer, who noted that he has been aware of his ailment since he was a child, said he’s on a mission to make people living with sickle cell feel safe and feel they have support.

He said, “I want people living with sickle cell to feel safe, to feel like they have help and support.

“They call you a sickler… Recently, when I talked about it [my struggle with sickle cell] on the song [‘5-star’], I saw a lot of tweets from people attacking and abusing me.

“I’m speaking about sickle cell disease now because I just got the courage to come out and speak up openly about it. A lot of people can’t share their stories like I can.”

Adekunle Gold said he has been aware of his diagnosis since he was a child, adding that growing up, he constantly put himself in situations that made him sick.

“I’ve known about my sickle cell disease all my life. I knew since I was a child that I couldn’t do certain things. They said, ‘You know you have sickle cell, you can’t play football in the rain just like your peers.’ And I was like, ‘No, I want to play.’ I’ve always been rebellious,” he recalled.

“I’ve known about my sickle cell disease all my life because growing up, I had crises every time. I was in the hospital back-to-back.

“As a child, I constantly put myself in situations that made me sick. And it affected me a lot. For example, I’m not supposed to be in the rain, so what happened to me was that I would have pains in my joints from being in the rain. But I always knew that I didn’t want this thing [sickle cell] to define me.”

Entertainment

Popular TikToker involved in ‘Justice For Mohbad’ movement dies during live stream

A popular TikToker known as Disturbing, who was involved in the ‘JUSTICE FOR MOHBAD’ movement has d!ed during a live stream.

A video making the rounds on social media shows the moment he suffered what looks like a seizure before passing away in front of the camera.

Investigative journalist, Temilola Sobola, shared the viral footage on Instagram.

“A popular TikToker known as Disturbing who was also into JUSTICE FOR MOHBAD passed away some hours ago while he was on a live video,” he captioned the post.

Reacting to the incident, some social media users alleged that Disturbing had been seen vocally cursing individuals linked to the late singer Mohbad’s case, including Mohbad’s mother, widow, his brother Adura, and Liam, during his live broadcast.

The cause of his death cannot be ascertained at the time of filing this report, however some people suggested that it may be a result of substance abuse or heart attack.

The deceased is survived by his mother, a pregnant wife and children.

Entertainment

Court remands musician Terry Apala over naira mutilation in Lagos

Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, April 25, 2025, remanded a musician, Terry Alexander Ejeh, otherwise known as Terry Apala, in a Correctional Centre for alleged mutilation of the Naira notes.

He was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, April 25, 2025, on a one-count charge of mutilating the Naira notes.

The charge reads: “That you, TERRY ALEXANDER EJEH, on the 5th day of January, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by marching on the same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”

He pleaded not guilty to the offence when it was read to him.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, prayed for a trial date and also urged the court to remand him in a Correctional Centre.

The defence counsel, Felix Nwabuda, informed the court of a bail application dated April 23, 2025 and prayed the court for a short date for the hearing of the application.

“ Whilst praying the court for a short date for the hearing of the bail application, I will be craving the indulgence of the court to release the defendant to the defence.

“We undertake to produce him in court. He will not evade hearing. He came in from the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025; and on the invitation of the EFCC, he came on his own.”

The prosecution counsel, however, opposed the application, saying, “ the application is alien and unheard of.”

“I urge the court to afford us the opportunity to look at the application and respond properly so that the court can make a well -informed ruling,” he said.

In a short ruling, Justice Aluko refused the application of the defence.

Justice Aluko adjourned till May 5, 2025 and ordered the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the determination of the bail application.

Entertainment

We can not continue like this – AGN president reacts to death of Nollywood actors poisoned on movie set

The president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, has reacted to the death of two unidentified Nollywood actors who were poisoned on a movie set in Owerri, the state capital.

Nollywood actor Stanley OnTop, in a post via his Instagram page on Friday, revealed that four actors were rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, and two were pronounced dead on arrival.

He said the two deceased persons and other crew members ate rice and drank wine provided by the unnamed movie director after shooting a movie.

Reacting, the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) shared an update on Instagram on Sunday, stating that the actors in question were not members of the Guild. He expressed concern over the increasing number of unlicensed filmmakers in the country.

He also urged all actors and actresses to get ready for the annual prayer gatherings aimed at preventing deaths in the industry.

He wrote: “So sad some actors who are not members of Actors Guild just lost their lives while filming in Owerri. We have repeatedly warned that Actors must join the Guild to practice in Nollywood..

“Barely a week after the memorial service of our member Late JNR Pope, tragedy struck in Owerri involving two promising young actors.

“They are not members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria but this points to two things:

“1. The devil still wants this pattern of mass death repeated on an annual basis. If not for God the death toll in Owerri could have been four persons. Exactly the same number last year in Asaba. Please let all Actors and indeed Nollywood prepare for this year’s prayer outingwith @realjerryeze @streamsofjoyabuja

“2. We cannot continue like this. Everywhere in the country people just wake up and equip themselves with cameras and they have become Nollywood

“This is a bad trend. These people camp themselves in an unhealthy, unverified environment making content. Content creators have to be licensed.”