Entertainment

UK urged to return sacred treasures hidden away for 150 years to Ethiopia

They are hidden religious treasures that have been in the British Museum’s stores for more than 150 years, never on public display – with members of the public strictly forbidden from seeing them.

Now hopes have been raised that Ethiopian tabots, looted by the British after the battle of Maqdala in 1868, could finally be returned home following a new legal opinion and an appeal backed by Stephen Fry, the author Lemn Sissay and the former archbishop of Canterbury George Carey.

The wood and stone tabots are altar tablets, considered by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as the dwelling place of God on Earth and the representation of the Ark of the Covenant. They have, everyone agrees, huge spiritual and religious value for the people of Ethiopia.

A letter has been sent to British Museum trustees signed by supporters including Fry, Sissay, the actor Rupert Everett and the former British ambassador to Ethiopia Sir Harold Walker. It says the museum has acknowledged the sanctity of the tabots and has never put them on display, allowed them to be studied, copied or photographed. “Instead, they sit in the vaults, where they remain over 150 years later, unknown to the vast majority of people of this country.”

It continues: “We believe that today the British Museum has a unique opportunity to build a lasting and meaningful bridge of friendship between Britain and Ethiopia by handing the tabots back to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.”

A number of attempts have been made by Ethiopia to get the tabots returned but the museum argues it is forbidden by the British Museum Act of 1963 to restitute objects in its collection.

Campaigners sought a new legal opinion that proves, they say, that the tabots can be legally returned.

The opinion, seen by the Guardian, has been drawn up Samantha Knights QC and was commissioned by the Scheherazade Foundation. It points out that the 1963 act has a provision that allows disposal of objects “unfit to be retained” and that can be disposed “without detriment to the interests of students”.

It argues the tabots fall within this category, that they have “no apparent use or relevance to the museum”.

The website has no image of them and only the briefest of descriptions. “As such they are currently and apparently always have been in effect treated very differently to the rest of the collection and could be properly said to be ‘unfit to be retained’.”

On the question of detriment to students, no student is permitted to study them, the document says.

Eleven tabots are in the museum collection; nine can be directly linked to British looting after the Battle of Maqdala in 1868, an event that came about after the Emperor Tewodros II had taken British hostages. More than 500 Ethiopian soldiers were killed and the emperor killed himself rather than be taken prisoner.

Hundreds of objects were subsequently plundered. They are in a number of collections. The V&A, which has Maqdala treasures including a gold crown and a royal wedding dress, has floated the idea of a long-term loan.

The British Museum said in a statement: “These documents need to be reviewed and addressed with full consideration, and more time is required before this can be looked at by trustees.”

Entertainment

Court admits Mompha’s iPhone in ₦6 billion fraud case

BREAKING: Court grants Instagram celebrity, Mompha, N200m bail

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday has admitted as evidence an iPhone belonging to social media celebrity Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, in an ongoing ₦6 billion money laundering case.

Mompha, who is still at large, is being prosecuted alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on an eight-count charge of money laundering.

During the hearing, Musa Idi, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the sixth prosecution witness, testified that the phone had undergone forensic analysis conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He revealed that fraudulent documents were retrieved from the device during the investigation.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Mr. Suleiman Suleiman, Idi confirmed that the iPhone was seized during the course of the investigation. Suleiman subsequently requested that the court admit the phone as evidence.

Mompha’s counsel, Mr. Kolawole Salami, objected, arguing that the prosecution had not provided the required foundation for admitting the phone, citing the absence of a certificate accompanying the device as stipulated by the Evidence Act.

In response, the prosecutor argued that the Evidence Act’s provisions were not applicable in this case, urging the court to admit the phone regardless.

Justice Mojisola Dada overruled the defence’s objection, ruling in favor of the prosecution. The court admitted the iPhone as evidence, marking it as Exhibit P7.

At a prior hearing, two other documents—a statement from the first defendant and an asset declaration—were admitted as Exhibits P5 and P6.

The witness had earlier testified on July 1 about the EFCC’s investigation, which began after receiving intelligence from the FBI implicating Mompha and his company in cybercrime activities in the United States.

Justice Dada adjourned the trial until January 3, 2025, for the continuation of proceedings

Entertainment

Legendary British singer, Elton John loses eyesight

Legendary British musician, Elton John, has lost his eyesight.

At the premiere of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ The Musical in London on Sunday, December 1, the 77-year-old pianist revealed that while he couldn’t see the show, he thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

Addressing the theatre audience, the award-winning singer expressed his gratitude for his husband’s support during difficult times.

He said, “As some of you may know I have had issues and now I have lost my sight. I haven’t been able to see the performance but I have enjoyed it.

“To my husband, who has been my rock because I have not been able to come to many of the previews.

“It’s hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it and it sounded good tonight.”

The music icon had earlier shared that he lost vision in one eye after contracting a severe eye infection during his vacation.

John is one of the best-selling artists of all time, renowned for iconic hits like Your Song, Rocket Man, and I’m Still Standing.

Over a career spanning six decades, he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide.

His accolades include five Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards (including Outstanding Contribution to Music), two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globes.

Entertainment

Rapper Speed Darlington arrested again by police

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested Nigerian singer, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington barely two months after he was released.

It would be recalled that the singer, also known as Akpi, was arrested on 4 October, following the release of a contentious video in which he allegedly mocked his colleague, Burna Boy’s association with American rapper Diddy, who has faced legal issues with the FBI over charges of sexual exploitation.

The outspoken Nigerian singer was, however, released on bail on October 9 after spending five days in detention.

His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju announced the latest arrest on Wednesday via a post on his official Facebook page.

He wrote, “Our client Speed Darlington, a.k.a AKPI has been arrested by the Nigerian police in Owerri at his show upon return to Nigeria”.