Another Nollywood actor, Collins Ifeanyi Chukwu passes on!

Just as Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the death of Goldie, a popular Abuja based actor, director and producer, Collins Ifeanyi Chukwu is dead.

The artiste died yesterday at the Maitama General Hospital after a brief illness. He is survived by his young wife, Blessing Collins, and little son, Doxa Efechukwu Collins.

The news, which was confirmed yesterday by the chairman of the guild in Abuja, Agility Onwurah, has thrown the Abuja chapter of AGN into mourning. 

The usually boisterous Access Garden, which is the official location of the guild’s activities, was full of tears and wailing yesterday. 

A call placed to his wife yesterday was answered by her mother who said Blessing Collins was not in the right frame of mind to speak. The mother-in-law however confirmed the sad news.

Doxa Efechukwu Collins, his sole heir, was born on May 12, 2012, and was dedicated on Sunday July 22 at the Christ Chosen Church of God, Gwarimpa, Abuja, after which his parents treated entertainment practitioners to a lavish ceremony at their Jikwoyi residence.

“It is quite unfortunate that the young lady has been widowed at this early age with such a little boy. This is a big loss, not only to the family, but to the entertainment industry in Abuja,” Frank White, chairman of the Producers Guild of Nigeria, Abuja Chapter reportedly lamented.

The late Collins had a knack for producing gospel movies and has to his credit The Burning Flames, el-Gibor, Back to Bethel, and was before his death, reportedly working on another blockbuster.

He is one of the very successful Abuja based entertainers who have been able to prove that you don’t have to be in Lagos to make it in the industry. 



Until his death, he was the Public Relations Officer elect of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Abuja chapter.

May his soul RIP.

Conclave electing new pope could start before March 15: Vatican

The conclave to choose Pope Benedict's successor could start earlier than expected, giving the Roman Catholic Church a new leader by mid March, the Vatican said on Saturday. 

Less than two weeks away from a historic papal resignation, the Vatican also stressed again that the pope was not abandoning the Church in times of difficulties and urged the faithful to trust in God and in the next pope. 

Five days after Benedict announced his resignation in Latin to a small group of cardinals, the Vatican was still in a state of spiritual and bureaucratic shock, groping for ways to deal with a situation without precedent for at least six centuries. 

Some 117 cardinals under the age of 80 will be eligible to enter the secretive conclave to elect Benedict's successor. Church rules say the conclave has to start between 15-20 days after the papacy becomes vacant, which it will on Feb. 28. 

But since the Church is now dealing with an announced resignation and not a sudden death, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the Vatican would be "interpreting" the law to see if it could start earlier. 

Cardinals around the world have already begun informal consultations by phone and email to construct a profile of the man they think would be best suited to lead the Church in a period of continuing crisis. 

The Vatican appears to be aiming to have a new pope elected and then formally installed in a solemn ceremony before Palm Sunday on March 24 so he can preside at Holy Week services leading to Easter. 

The 85-year-old Benedict was having as normal a Saturday as possible, considering that his remaining scheduled public appearances can now be counted on one hand. 

The Vatican has been at pains to stress that the pope was leaving exclusively because of diminishing spiritual and physical forces and that the pontiff was certain it was the right thing to do and would not hurt the Church. 

"Benedict is not abandoning us in times of difficulty," Lombardi said in his weekly editorial for Vatican Radio. "With confidence, he is inviting the Church to trust in the Spirit and in a new successor of St. Peter." 

Deteriorating health 

Benedict's papacy was rocked by crises over sex abuse of children by priests in Europe and the United States, most of which preceded his time in office but came to light during it. 

His reign also saw Muslim anger after he compared Islam to violence. Jews were upset over his rehabilitation of a Holocaust denier. During a scandal over the Church's business dealings, his butler was convicted of leaking his private papers. 

Meanwhile, new details emerged on Saturday about the state of Benedict's health in the months before his shock decision. 

Peter Seewald, a German journalist who wrote a book with the pope in 2010 in which Benedict first floated the possibility of resigning, visited him again about 10 weeks ago and asked what else could be expected from his papacy. 

According to excepts published in the German magazine Focus, the pope answered: "From me? Not much from me. I'm an old man and the strength is ebbing. I think what I've done is enough." 

Asked if he was considering resigning, the pope said: "That depends on how much my physical strength will force me to that". 

Seewald said he was alarmed about the pope's health. "His hearing had deteriorated. He couldn't see with his left eye. His body had become so thin that the tailors had difficulty in keeping up with newly fitted clothes ... I'd never seen him so exhausted-looking, so worn down." 

Keeping to his schedule, Benedict met a group of Italian bishops and Guatemala's president on Saturday morning and in the afternoon was receiving caretaker Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in a farewell audience. 

Monti, a devout Catholic, is leading a centrist coalition in next week's elections but the Vatican says the farewell meeting has nothing to do with the vote. 

On Sunday, the pope will hold his customary noon blessing from his window overlooking St Peter's Square before going into a previously scheduled, week-long Lenten spiritual retreat. He will emerge from that on Feb 23. 

He will then say one more Sunday noon prayer on Febuary 24, hold a final general audience on Feb. 27. The next day he will take a helicopter to the papal summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, flying into the history books. 

Vatican officials said he would stay there for the two months or so needed to restore the convent inside the Vatican where he will live out his remaining years.

Woman with permanent arousal syndrome!

Living in a state of permanent sexual arousal might not sound like such a bad deal for many of us, but for Amanda Gryce, 22, it's no laughing matter. 

The 22-year-old says her life is being ruined by constant multiple orgasms which can be triggered by just about anything imaginable, including loud music, car journeys and even ringing mobile phones.

And it can happen absolutely anywhere - when she's with her friends and even while she's at work as a sales associate in a baby products shop.

Last year, 39-year-old Gretchen Molannen, from Florida, committed suicide after battling the condition for 16 years. 

The news was particularly difficult to take for Amanda, also from Florida, who sometimes has to masturbate up to 15 times in one day to get relief. 

She said: 'It is not pleasurable: you could say it has become a torture. This condition controls your life completely and it is like living a nightmare.'

'I can have 50 orgasms in one day and five or ten within an hour of each other. It happens when I'm with my friends or out in public and it's very embarrassing. 

'It kills me inside. I just have to put on a smile and pretend that nothing's wrong.

'Orgasms are supposed to be a good feeling but I've had them every day for so long now that I'm living with constant fear and shame.'

She added: 'At my lowest points, I have thought about suicide but I had to reassure myself that I would never resort to something like that and that it wasn't going to happen to me.'

Amanda first began suffering from the condition when she was just eight and by the age of 13 she was battling the intense feelings as she sat in her classroom during lessons.

But, raised Catholic and told in Sunday school that sexual thoughts and masturbation was a sin, she was too scared to confide in anyone.

She said: 'As a child I had no idea what was happening to me - I thought I was just sex-obsessed. I had to masturbate to relieve my condition and I felt guilty every time I did it.'

It wasn't until 2008 that she heard about PSAS while listening to the radio but despite contacting four different doctors for help, found that none had ever heard of the condition. 

Since then she has tried to move on with her life and, at 20, even lost her virginity after years of fearing sex would make her condition worse. 

But she admits she has not been able to have a steady relationship - because men either take advantage or are intimidated. 

She said: 'When I lost my virginity I was left emotional and disappointed. It didn't make me feel better. The guy that I was with seemed sympathetic at first but then used my condition to get more sex.

'I've been with a few guys since but it's difficult- I've found some guys are even intimidated.

'Thankfully I've had the courage to tell my family and they have all been very understand and supportive.'

She added: 'I get people say I'm making it up and that I'm really a nymphomaniac but I don't let it faze me. 

'I just now hope that there will one day be more understanding of this condition and my story will give just one other person the courage to get support.' 

Bomb blast rocks Pakistan's Quetta city

A bomb blast in Pakistan has killed 47 people and injured 200 others, The bomb was attached to a motorcycle outside a vegetable market in Quetta. The device was detonated by remote control.

"The Shia community was the target," police officer Wazir Khan Nasir told AFP. 

According to news reports, the explosion took place near a school. Police officials and paramilitary troops have cordoned off the entire area and injured have been rushed to Bolan Med Complex of Quetta amid high security. 

"The blast took place on Kirana road market and it was through a remote controlled device," DIG said. 

However, rescue officials have confirmed that at least 10 people, including women and children were killed in the blast. 
Till now the nature and target of the blast is not clear as media and residents are kept away from the targeted area.

Some eyewitnesses coming from the site told media that the blast destroyed several shops, houses and vehicles. Hospital sources said the death toll may rise further as several people among the injured were in critical condition. 

Yet now no group have claimed the responsibility for the blast. 

Similar attacks in the recent past have been blamed on the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a notorious militant group that often targets Shias. 

On January 10, a twin suicide attack in Quetta killed 92 Hazara Shias, the highest toll in a single attack on Shias, who make up 20 per cent of Pakistan's population of 180 million. 

Following the attack, the federal government imposed Governor's Rule in Balochistan province.

Goldie's Husband Shares Their Wedding Photo, Tells Prezzo To Leave Their Family Alone!

In a reported interview, late Goldie's husband, Andrew  Harvey, a former expatriate staff of firms in the oil and telecommunications sector in Nigeria, but presently based in Malaysia, allegedly confirmed the following:

• That he and Goldie met at a friend’s party in Nigeria and the love connection was instant
• That he and Goldie got married in December 2005
• That he and Goldie were until her death, legally married
• Their marriage was “secret” because – “Our private life is nothing to do with work life, there has to be a balance“
• That he and Goldie were planning on starting a family (having children) this year
• That Goldie’s “relationship” with Prezzo was just for TV – “Prezzo was part of BBA game, just like in the movies, there was nothing to fear“
• That Goldie had no preexisting medical condition
• That Goldie was already a British Citizen before they met (she lived and schooled there) while he was in the process of working on his Nigerian citizenship
• That he and Goldie actually spent the most recent Christmas holiday together in Malaysia
• That he and Goldie were still together and spoke on the day she passed away – 14th February 2013

Some wedding pictures reportedly shared by Andrew  Harvey:

Some of Goldie's Childhood Pictures:

Andrew Harvey's alleged message:

Extract of the alleged interview:

...How did you hear of her death? I found out you last saw her in December?

I was talking to her on arrival in Lagos before the fateful event

How did you meet her? She must have been very young…

I met her at a friend’s leaving party and fell in love straight away, but had to work hard to persuade her I was genuine

So you will be planning to come here for burial rites…

Yes I have applied for visa and shall come next week

But how did you manage the Prezzo drama? 

Prezzo was part of BBA game, just like in the movies, there was nothing to fear

But funny it dragged way beyond BBA

It dragged because the media dragged it, other wise it would have died naturally. Prezzo will say anything to get attention

Do you think he fell in love? And did you ever think Susan liked him for a minute…?

People fall in love and it’s not impossible to love more than one person, but there are different levels. She liked him initially, but began to despise him and distanced herself as he tried to use her she complained he was very manipulative

How did you come about your alias ‘Oyibopeppay?

Oyiiibopeppay is a name used in the villages for white man getting burned in the sun. I used to work in the bush erecting BTS for MTN and Glo

You have direct access to her password? The memories album was posted on her twitter. Or you requested for an admin to post?

I am an official admin. I don’t need any password but my own. It was authorised by Goldie

One last question: so much speculation on cause of death. I see from your facebook timeline that you’ve followed the reports. Have the doctors/family/label told you what the cause of death is?

An autopsy is being carried out and we will await results. The rest is speculation and hearsay

And did she have any medical condition?

She had no medical condition,

Is it true she was in India recently?

She was in Malaysia, we spent Christmas together away from prying eyes

What will you miss most about her?

Everything, she was the most beautiful person I ever met, no moment was wasted. Sweet, intelligent, sexy and a magnificent cook!!!!

And she was a determined young lady…

Very. That’s what I liked about her

Are you originally from England? Was she officially a citizen of your country by marriage? Or that was not concluded?

I’m from England and was processing Nigerian citizenship before I was transferred to Malaysia. Of course she was citizen of UK before we met, she lived and schooled there

She was indeed a star, as I’m sure you’ve seen from the tributes coming from far and near. Even the BBC and Billboard recognise her star

Yes we saw it on BBC news tonight. It is a devastating loss, but I support just as much wherever she has gone to.

Cruise ship nightmare!

Thousands of passengers who spent five days stuck on a stinking cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico headed home on Friday by bus, plane or car, and relished the chance for a warm shower and working toilets after finally arriving back on land.

"I got some sleep. I got a shower. A working toilet was really nice," said Nancy Petrone, 58, who was heading to southern California after spending the night in Mobile, Alabama, where tugboats had pulled the stricken Carnival Triumph into port

It took several hours for more than 3,000 vacationers to make their way off the ship after it arrived late on Thursday. Some travelers kissed the ground when they walked off, and others disembarked wearing the ship's white bath robes, part souvenir and part protection against the chilly night air.





About 100 buses waited to carry passengers on the seven-hour journey to Galveston, Texas, while other buses departed for shorter rides to New Orleans or to hotels in Mobile.

One bus broke down on its way to New Orleans, said passenger Jacob Combs, an Austin, Texas-based sales executive with a healthcare and hospice company.

Carnival officials said the Triumph, which entered service in 1999, would be towed on Friday to a Mobile shipyard for damage assessment.

The 893-foot (272-metre)vessel was returning to Galveston from Cozumel, Mexico, on the third day of a four-day cruise when an engine-room fire knocked out power and plumbing across most of the ship on Sunday.

Passengers described an overpowering stench on parts of the ship and complained to relatives and media via cellphone that toilets and drainpipes had overflowed, soaking many cabins and interior passages in raw sewage.

The saga, which received extensive coverage on U.S. cable news stations, was another public relations disaster for cruise giant Carnival Corp. Last year, its Costa Concordia luxury liner ran aground off the coast of Italy, killing 32 people.

The nature of the troubles aboard the Triumph inspired bathroom-humor banter among late-night comedy shows and the amateur comedians who took to Twitter with poop puns.

PRAISE FOR CREW

Passengers had some harsh words for Carnival but praised the efforts of the ship's crew during the ordeal.

"Just imagine the filth," said Combs, 30. "People were doing crazy things and going to the bathroom in sinks and showers. It was inhuman. The stewards would go in and clean it all up. They were constantly cleaning."

Facing criticism over the company's response, Carnival Cruise Lines Chief Executive Gerry Cahill boarded the ship after it arrived in Mobile to personally apologize to passengers.

"We pride ourselves with providing our guests with a great vacation experience and, clearly, we failed in this particular case," Cahill said.

Operated by Carnival Cruise Lines, the flagship brand of Carnival Corp, the ship left Galveston a week ago carrying 3,143 passengers and 1,086 crew. It was supposed to return on Monday.

Some passengers said conditions deteriorated rapidly on the Triumph earlier in the week, with people on board getting sick and being told to use plastic "biohazard" bags as makeshift toilets.

Smoke from the engine fire was so thick that passengers on the lower decks in the rear of the ship had to be evacuated and relocated on other decks of the 14-story ship, where they slept under sheets for the rest of the voyage, passengers said.

Some said they tried to pass the time playing cards and organizing Bible study groups, as well as scavenger hunts for the children who were on board.

Valentine's day tragedy!

Nigeria:

Tragedy struck, on valentine's day, in Asaba, Delta State when two lovers reportedly drowned in a swimming pool of a popular Hotel.

Sources claimed that the said hotel (name withheld) has been a base for love birds during festive periods especially Christmas and New Year.
 

It was reliably gathered that the ‘love birds’ had resolved in the early hours of the day to swim after drinking at the hotel(s) pool side, against the boy’s mother’s advice.

It was further gathered that the boy, a highly placed, “Asaba yuppee” had been having problems with his step mother who allegedly placed a death curse on him.

But his friends who disagreed with the story said he died on deaf ears.

While they were at the hotel, our informed sources said they both dived into the pool and soon after started shouting for help to no avail.

Police spokesman in the state, ASP Famous Ajieh confirmed that the owner of the hotel including some of the workers were being interrogated and added that the corpses of the victims were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) mortuary.