Notorious ex-armed robber Shina Rambo: How I tormented Lagosians, Police

Shina Rambo was a household name in the world of crime - fearful, ruthless, dangerous and a terror in the society. The former kingpin and a serpent to security agencies is now a professed Evangelist and maverick preacher who is as meek as a dove. In this encounter with Sina Fadare, he poured out his mind on how he tormented Lagosians, the police and how he snatched 42 exotic cars in a day and how he remained invisible for the police dragnet.(Interview by Sina Fadare of Sunday Mirror newspaper) Enjoy the excerpts
What’s your background and where are you actually from?
It is true that people are always confused about where l come from. Actually my father came from Abeokuta in Ogun State, but I from Sanbogida-Ora in Edo State. That is where my mother came from and where l lived all my early life.
How did you acquire the name Sina Rambo?
There is a saying in Yoruba that a child acquires any name that suits him when he was not in his place of birth. That was the appellation l was given in those days when l ventured into the world of crime. The name that was given to me at birth was Omokenwa, meaning a child is the one that takes care of the home. The meaning of Sina Rambo stands for a team or a group of deadly squad with a mission. I was the Rambo. Therefore, the merging of Shina with Rambo is just like any organisation like cooperative society which has each name to identify their group, yet they belong to the same cooperative society. To those people who thought that l came from Cotonou, Republic of Benin, or Sabongida- Ora, they are all correct because wherever you are living or place you are used to, that is your home. Though my father is from Abeokuta, many people did not know me there because apart from Cotonou where my operating business took me, l lived my adolescent life in Edo State, the place of my mother.
At what point in your life did you veer into crime?
Everything comes down to the lackadaisical attitude of my parents in taking adequate care of my need when l was growing up. My father was a military man who married virtually everywhere he was posted to in his career; this gave him the opportunity to have many wives. One of the early memories l could recollect which l will never forget in my life was that my father was the first person to cut me with a cutlass. That is why l said that the nonchalant attitude of my parents dragged me into the world of crime.
Was that actually what led you into crime?
I will say that the moment a child lacks parental care, love and attention, such a child is being nursed towards crime. In my own case it was a combination of many things that led me to the world of crime. Poor and not caring family, later my business was almost grinded when some of my goods were confiscated. Along the line, my younger brother was also killed; in the mission of avenging l was gradually involved in crime and before l knew it l wanted to excel in it. What we called the real Shina Rambo lives inside.
Your name created tremor among people in society, the security operatives inclusive, how did you get such power?
If a child knows how to wash his hand well, definitely he will eat with the elders. I know how to appease the elders, therefore anything l need from them l usually get it. Now that l am in Christ, l know better. The fact is if you decide to eat with the devil, make sure you do it to a logical conclusion and if you want to follow Christ, let him be your sole companion in anything that you are doing. I got power in the world of devil, and l followed it to a logical conclusion. In the world of the devil, police or any security has nothing to do with us, as a daredevil robber then. There are certain things which an armed robber should have. The first is what you call afoola. We used many human beings to do this native medicine, including a foetus in his mother’s womb. The second is ikiya (boldness).
This will give you the audacity and effrontery to do anything at any time no matter how dangerous the venture is. The third one is that anybody who wants to venture into highlevel robbery must be ready to squeeze all the water inside his eye and use it for a powerful medicine, so that there is nothing that would happen that such a person will cry again, no matter how devastating or big such a calamity is. I searched for power from the demons of various types, inside the most powerful water called water of the world at a town called Ogoja. All leaders of the world who are actually looking for power used to go inside this water. At that point when I was on operation l will put on the appearance of different types of people to the extent that it was difficult for anybody to identify my real being. There is no amount of picture that you took that you will get a clear view. That was why when they said that, ‘Oh! they have killed Shina Rambo,’ but it was another person that they would kill instead. From that place, l went to Oke Idanre and later Enugu and Abeokuta to look for power that can make me to be invisible at will.
I was able to have a magical power that allowed me to look differently in eight places. At Abeokuta, the nine herbalists that did the medicine for me were killed so that one day they will not reveal the secret behind the medicine to any mortal. There is a place in Oyo State called Fiditi; lawyers also go there to look for power. Along the line l entered into different cults that are very powerful. There they have to change my body because l was buried alive for seven days in the burial ground and my soul was kept in a small coffin. After the seventh day, l became powerful and more dangerous, too hot to be handled by anybody. Again l went inside the Iroko tree to seek for power. In fact, you will not believe the number of houses that you will find inside the Iroko tree, its a whole town inside the tree. When you get there, you are going to chant some incantations and the door will open, you will see various types of people engaging in activities like selling, eating, having meeting and doing all sorts of things done in the physical world. When l went there, we entered through the ninth door before we entered the town. I was able to do this because l was able to produce for the elders what they needed, so they were ready to give me what l wanted and ready to take me to wherever it would be possible for me to get what l wanted. There was a time l was taken to a burial place with 15 heads to go and to collect some charms from the spirit. From there, l was fortified to the extent that there is no bullet that could enter my body, it will just be like pure water.
What is your relationship with the police?
Normally we and the police are supposed to be enemies, but unfortunately a lot of them are our friends. There are some policemen who are mere saboteurs; they love money more than the job. Such police officers are mole in the force because they sell vital information to robbers and most of the time turned their back when their “friends” are on the road. At this point in time, it is people like us who could assist government to nab criminals because l know their antics and modus operandi. Not all of police are bad, but there are some moles among them that are spoiling their good work. These few ones know the real robbers and most of the time assist them (robbers) to achieve their deadly mission.
You were once rich and famous where is the wealth today?
In the first instance, where did all the luxuries come from? No matter how plenty the devil gives, it is for a short period, he will collect it back. No matter how smart you are, any covenant with the devil, you are going to lose at the end. It is the devil that will give you a cap and in return asking buba and gele from you. Vanity upon vanity all is vanity. There is nothing that one can gain from the devil apart from frustration and humiliation; at the end you are going to have disappointment. You can imagine when I would strike and snatch more than 30 cars. I once snatched over 42 cars in a day. Some of the cars I gave to whomever I wanted. I had so much then. Paul said in Philippians 3:7-13 “But, all that amounted to profit for me in life, I have now seen as loss in Christ”. Verse 13 now says, “Brethren, I have forgotten the things that are behind, I press towards things ahead.” In Psalm 126:1, the same Bible tells me that “when God returns the loss of Zion, we would be like them that dream”. I know that to rise in Christ is the responsibility of every member of the household of faith. The Holy Spirit would use every true Christian to put on real genuine footing. The devil gave me so much at that time and it took what it gave me. If I have to recall the painful details and the anguish, it does not worth it because I am a new creature. What has been destroyed cannot be restored just like that. We are now in Christ, he owns and dispenses eternal joy, when we end our race here, we would return to our eternal home: heaven, where there is no weeping, no anxiety, anguish, hunger and pain.
Do you have any godfather?
Definitely. When we were in Edo, we had our godfather who is always there for us anytime we went on operation. It was the same place that the likes of Anini, a.k.a. the law and Monday Osunbor Pero, and Lucky learnt the rudiment of robbery. We sprung up from one source.
What usually comes to your mind any day you are going for operation?
The first thing that readily came to mind was that ‘the dead must be done’. But before that, we must first ask people who owns the world how the day would look like before we step out. There is a charm called atona (Pathfinder) that we consult before we go out. It would tell us what we are going to do and which sacrifice we are going to make before we move out. Again there is what we call eru (fear) which has been deposited into my body, wherever l go, that fear will not let you challenge my authority.
Where and how did you get the ammunition you were using?
As I told you that my father was a military man, from the beginning gun had been assembled and dismembered in our house. Innocently, my father will be doing this virtually on a daily basis and he tells me to go and bring one or two things that had connection with the gun in the house and at the end he would put the gun together as one. From that daily experience l knew how to handle a gun and by the time l left him, there was no gun l could not put together. Ironically, what parents did not take serious and handle with levity, the kids are fast learning and before you know it, they have mastered the act. If it is a bad habit, the family will definitely pay for it. The gun l was using then was in pieces when brought from outside the country. I later put it together to make it a complete gun. After that l return it into the world of darkness where it was changed to the gun of the elders. After this l just recite a few incantations to the gun and whatever l ask the gun to do is what it will do. However there is no gun that l cannot handle a few minutes after studying it.
Those who are working with you, how were they trained?
There is always time for training; we teach them how to handle it and how to get their target. It was an extensive training which we normally do most of the time especially when we are going on operation. All those that are working with me are all in the same cult, they know our dos and don’ts, we have gone to many places together, that was why it was difficult for the police to kill anyone of us. There is a general charm that the death that is meant to kill anyone of us should kill outsiders. There are some incantations to back it up and it would be backed up in the world of darkness. Therefore anywhere we go on operation, instead of recording any casualty, it is the people around that will die.
Can you recollect how many people your gun had killed?
No, they are just plenty that l cannot remember. Aside from this, l used a lot of people for sacrifice that l cannot even remember. I don’t want to remember those dark days.
Now that you are a pastor, do you believe that there is a curse that actually affected your destiny?
You are right. There is a saying in Yoruba that it is only in war that one can die accidentally, but a curse has a target and no matter the year it was invoked it will still be operational. That crisis and curse entered my life when l was still in my mother’s womb. My father is a polygamist and one day there was a quarrel between my mother and my father’s mother. Then l was told that my father’s mother invoked a curse on my mother that she will never deliver me in peace otherwise she is not from Ikereke (a town in Oyo State) and my mother replied that she will have a normal delivery as God lives otherwise she will not serve God if she comes in the next word. From that altercation from both, the curse entered into my life and l carried the curse and the burden until l met Christ.
How do you handle women and wine?
I engaged in all what you can call devilish ventures, like smoking of Indian hemp, wine and in the company of women of easy virtue. I was in a hotel with about 58 women playing with me, but the warning from the world of darkness is that l should not take any of them to bed. The instruction l followed to the letter. Then l love women but there was a boundary which l must not cross. I am compelled to have fun with my only wife who knew my entire venture into the world of darkness. That was why all the women sent to me cannot do anything to me. Though l spent for them, but that was just the limit l could go.
Is it true that you once spent N50 million a day?
How many of that do you want to count, plenty? There was a time we went for an operation in Lagos, and it seemed we were in a tight corner, we just decided to be giving out the money to the people in order to escape. There was commotion, everybody was trying to pick as many naira notes as they can pick.
Did your friends know the type of person you were?
You know birds of the same feather always flock together. The so-called friends that l was moving with as at then were also into one form of shady deals or the other. But the funny thing is that nobody could identify my being with what l was doing. Even if some of them know me they cannot say it out because it was too dangerous and there was nobody l cannot kill. I usually come out in different faces which made it difficult for anybody to really identify me. That was the power given to me in the world of darkness.
Who was the lady that used to accompany you to all operations?
She was not a human being, though people referred to her as an alhaja, but she was a demon donated to me in the world of darkness. She will dress the way l dressed and must always be with me any time I am going out on operation. She is the one that was picked from the kingdom of Satan to be my partner.
How did you meet Christ?
It was such a miraculous way. I met Christ at a cross road. It was a miracle l did not expect. I met Christ through Prophet T. O. Obadare. I made myself available to the police and l have to bear all the detention and all the agonies l faced for about 11 years. A lot of Christian brothers rallied round me with conviction that l should give my life to Christ. Then Papa Obadare came to me in the prison that though l was expecting death, God has removed death from my head if I am ready to surrender everything to him. In my own thinking l thought all was over, with all the atrocities l had committed, but God showed me mercy and gave me the second chance. So when l slept, l saw that the cloth of yoke and burden was removed from my neck, l was off from the bondage of Satan, a new cloth was given to me. By the time l woke up, l was talking in tongues. From that encounter, for the first time in my life that my soul would calm down, l learnt how to pray. I stopped taking cocaine and Indian hemp. Everything about me became new.
What do you think government can do to stop robbery?
The simple truth is that we cannot stop robbery, but we can reduce it to the barest minimum, because we asked for it. In Matthew 27, we asked for it. They said Barnabas should be released instead of Jesus Christ, when Pilate said that this man did not commit any sin. They said no way, release Barnabas and let his blood be on us and on our children. Ever since then robbery and killing became the order of the day. Government should be able to tap from the wealth of experience of people like us who can decode a lot of knotty issues as regard how to curb the menace of armed robbery. Some of those that are inside the prison are not supposed to be there. By the time they are out, they become hardened criminals. I pray that God will help us to make things work in this country, if he could locate me from the pit of darkness where l sojourned, and now in Christ, he will deliver the country from bad leaders who make things difficult for the masses.

Denrele Edun in suicide mission

This was the thought that ran through the minds of those who saw the former Soundcity presenter, Denrele Edun, riding a commercial motor bike popularly known as Okada last Saturday.
Although, we could not ascertain if Denrele was being pursued, the manner in which the rider of the motorbike that carried the weird presenter cum model took the sharp corner of Apapa road roundabout by Funsho Williams’s way, Costain, Lagos, left no one in doubt that Denrele must be pursuing something that evening. The situation became more dramatic when Denrele’s motorbike that was navigating the road with heavy vehicles almost ran into a Danfo bus. And before the incident could attract much attention, Denrele and his biker fled the scene while raining abuses on the driver.
While few people, who recognised the acclaimed adopted son of Charly Boy are wondering if Denrele did not have a car, many were disappointed with such stunt on the bike, which they considered to be suicidal.

Zule Zoo reunite,dispels rumour of insanity

With Kerewa still one of the most used slogans in social circuits, only few people will claim ignorance of the presence of Zule Zoo, the sensational traditional musical group that created the slang in the Nigerian music industry.
Although, the group that is made up of Ibrahim Alhassan and Michael Aboh had three follow-up albums which include Chumpa Reloaded and Destiny, their controversial debut album titled Kerewa that was full of pulsating beats and lewd lyrics, was what kept the name Zule Zoo in the consciousness of music lovers. While SS can authoritatively reveal that Zule Zoo had reunited, it was quite shocking when the news broke out a couple of years ago that Zule Zoo had broken up. The unexpected separation that stirred different speculations to the extent that rumour was making the rounds then that Micheal was inflicted with madness over a particular song that was alleged to be offensive to one of the gods in his home town in Benue State.
Revealing what led to their breakup and the reunion during a brief chat with SS, Ibraheem Zule Zoo’s lead vocalist said, “For real, this time around, we are back with a positive force. Michael actually went to study Sound Engineering in Ghana which took him up to three to four years. I was just alone trying to keep the name and continue with what we both started. People only thought we were separated but nothing like that happened. We are right now done with a new album that will be coming out a couple of months with the video CD coming out in December.” Speaking further on the return of Zule Zoo, “We are still who we are and in fact, we are an improved version of Zule Zoo. There must be improvements and changes in everything you do, what we have now is better than what we had in the past,” Ibrahim said.

Oby Edozieh goes salacious again!

No doubt, Oby Edozieh is bold, blunt and brainy. Qualities which close buddies of the tall and sexy actress believe distinguish her from her peers in the Nigerian movie industry.
But bits of misconception coupled with clashes with one of her colleagues over a man are such cases that have earned Oby Gold, as she’s prefers to be called, a place among the controversial queens of the silver screen. Apart from the fact that Oby is known for sexy poses, the gifted actress cum producer has never hid the fact that she loves showing off her height and smooth long legs.

Interestingly, as some of the numerous fans of the actress are getting used to her sexy pictures, Oby stunned all sometime ago when she adopted a corporate kind of fashion trend, which saw her concealing her sensitive body parts. The idea has however made critics claim she is adopting a strategy to project a new face in marketing Save our Soul, her popular flick about cancer. And it may interest you to know that Oby always insists on those decent poses for publications instead of her old sexy pictures.
While many think Oby is done with salacious poses, the screen beau hit Facebook with something fresh for her fans and friends to savour. Call it the return of Oby Gold, you may not be wrong. But what is Oby up to is now the question being raised and this has attracted lots of sweet comments from secret admirers.

MORACH bounces back, rebrands with new video

The entertainment industry sure has missed him and the creativity that revolves round his work, but barely before the reality of his comeback dawned on some people, he's starting to make bold statements again!

Morachi last night at an event hosted by INDUSTRY NITE in his honour, launched his brand new video IBU ONYE (shot by BERYLS) which features several elements of the traditional Nigeria as it relates to the east where he's from. Some of these elements include masquerades, a 150yr old tortoise, 2 live ostriches, a live python, and many more

On the night, he also performed for the 1st time, his new single "Bend Down Touch Your Toes" featuring LYNXXX, thrilling fans, friends, the media and other attendees at the well attended event.

Now that the new video and even a newer single have been pushed out, Morachi's label II-Flame Entertainment is ready to introduce his new brand "The #godofpassion" which is an encapsulation of how sexy and sensationally passionate his personality is.

King Oogbodo swaggers on

Fast-rising singer-rapper, King Oogbodo, is set to drop his latest
singles, Mo Ti De, Ife Ikeja, Ere ‘fe and the Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba
versions of his acclaimed smash hit, Swagga 4 Jesus.
King Oogbodo, whose debut album, Carry Your Own Cross, was released on
January 7th, said he will soon be releasing the new songs because
there isn’t anything like too much promotion.
“These new songs won’t affect my album sales,” disclosed Oogbodo. “The
songs on my album are very different from these new songs so there
won’t be a conflict of interest but an enhancement of my brand.”
Speaking further, Oogbodo revealed that the new songs are going to be
part of his new album, Swagga 4 Jesus, scheduled to drop in the third
quarter of the year.
“The demand for Swagga 4 Jesus is such that we have to drop an album
dedicated to it. Unlike Carry Your Own Cross, my debut album, that had
only the original version of Swagga 4 Jesus in it, the Swagga 4 Jesus
special album will have all the new versions of Swagga 4 Jesus as well
as Mo Ti De, Ife Ikeja, Baby Pamela and Birthday Song.”

Pornography picture: I’m not the one-Empress

Entertainment scene was ignited last week when an X-rated picture of a lady who was presumed to be sexy star actress, Empress Njama, finds its way to the internet.  The pornography picture, which indeed not suitable for public consumption, has a woman and her male partner engaging in oral sex.

While fans and friends of the bootylecious actress did not find the claim of the online blog that the lady in the photo is Empress funny, those who have seen the pictures have not minced words that the picture is either a work of a graphics artist or sort of resemblance.

“That is not Empress, carefully looking at the picture you will see that the face of the lady was lightly blurred. I know Empress very well and the shape of that girl in the picture is not of Empress,”said a popular actor who pled anonymity.

In her swift reaction to the controversial picture in a telephone chat with SS, Empress said, “All I can say is that I am not the one. Those who know me know that I don’t carry Synthetic hair; I wear long nails and have a bigger back side. That is not my body and I am not bothered because I know who I am. That is the work of my enemy and I leave them to God.”

Beverly Naya defines love

Among the freshest faces currently rocking the movie industry, is Beverly Naya an unsung gifted Nigerian actress cum model born in the United Kingdom (UK).

Beverly has decided to retrace her steps to her Naija motherland in Lancelot Imasuen’s movie Home in Exile, to lay claim to fame in the Nigerian movie industry.

Aside her amazing character interpretation in the flick, Beverly’s steaming kiss with star actor, Desmond Elliot, was one scene that was well feasted on by the critics. While the City People’s Fastest Rising Actress award winner’s quiet moves have ignited speculations, Beverly told Entervaganza that she is highly excited with Make Me a Heart, Dark Waters and Mystery of Destiny, her new flicks waiting for release.

 “I currently have two great projects in the works; one is Charles Novia’s movie, where I played a lead role alongside OC Ukeje.  The other film, which will be shot in Akwa Ibom, will definitely engage the audience mentally and intellectually. It is a historical piece which will essentially empower women, this is one of the reasons why I find my character very inspiring,” she said.

While describing Nigerian guys, the UK babe, who believes roles must be interpreted according to the mood of the scenes, said: “They are generally cool and unique, I like nothing more than to be able to connect with someone intellectually.”

Aside hitting the limelight at a very young age, the 22 years old actress has her own definition for love. “Love is an intimate eternity shared between two people spiritually, romantically and mentally. It is filled to capacity with moments and memories that you cherish only with your significant other, because you know they can never be replaced by anybody else,” she said.

I’m celebrating my birthday with a Rolls Royce- Charly Boy

A lot has been said, read and written about Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy. But every day in the life of the orator, singer, writer cum is a fresh episode. The Area FADA, as he’s now fondly is  a year older today, June 19,2011. He spoke with KAZEEM POPOOLA about his life, family and career at 60. Excerpts:

Congratulations on your birthday. People still wonder about your real age. What is it?

My real age is still a misery to me. Sometimes I feel 60 when I am with people in that age range and feel like 30 when I am with young people who have a lot to offer and have so much to learn from them. Age is a thing of the mind to me, it depends on my environment and who I am with because my age keeps fluctuating and I am confused about it. Anybody can take a guess about my age and attach any figure to it.

You’ve managed to get many people confused about who Charly Boy is....

(Cuts in) Not really, but lot of people still see Charly Boy as a person but Charly Boy is a way of life, a philosophy and mindset and I am happy that I am the one giving out all these as Charly Boy. I have had enough self discipline in terms of my lifestyle to keep my youthful look and take more responsibilities.

How do you feel about the birth, growth and maturity of the brand, Charly Boy?

I am happy to have gone through those phases of life because we all have to go through such in our lives and the lessons I have learnt have made me who I am today and will make me who I will become in future. I am still Charly Boy in progress because the work is never finished and not anytime soon. I remember in the first phase, it was just me and I was unknown. The second phase was like how would I be known? Trekking, jumping on molue was part of the struggle in the second phase. Not only to be known but to be understood and be dignified at the work you do and attract respect. With all this creativity that heralded the second phase, I didn’t even have money. I had to repackage myself for the next phase on how to convert all the creativities to cash.

How are you celebrating your birthday?

I am celebrating this because it is a landmark of sort. I am usually not in the habit of doing it that is why I don’t precisely remember when I was born and maybe I don’t want to remember. Moreover, I am celebrating because I am growing in health, which has been my focus and I am working hard to maintain that. I can only thank God because it is not my doing. I will take few of my associates to the Dome and give them a wonderful performance.

As a youth ambassador any plan for the youths to join your birthday celebration?

I don’t have to wait for my birthday before doing something for the youths. A lot of things happen on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. There are a lot of people I have taken from the streets, put them in schools, encourage and mentor them especially with the Charly Boy Foundation, which is my social responsibility.

Are you getting a special birthday gift for yourself?

I was thinking of a Rolls Royce, not as a status symbol kind of a thing. I think the most important thing is after my birthday, I will go on a vacation to ease out. I think I deserve it.

What has life taught you so far?

Life has taught me that unless you find peace and contentment, you can never be really happy. I wonder why rich people have so many problems and see people who are still struggling with daily living being cheerful. This makes me wonder what the true value of life is. Having my father living with me for the past seven years, I have been able to learn quite a lot from him. My father is particularly not a rich person but I have seen how he has grown in character, integrity and all the good values. He is a very contented person and as far as he is concerned, there are boundaries and that is what I have taken from him. I think a part of a good fulfilment in life will hinge on the fact that until you have peace and contentment, nothing will make you happy, not even money. I think God has blessed me with better wisdom of that.

Is there any bad habit of yours, which you would like to give up for God on your birthday?

I have one habit, which is smoking, and I have been praying to God to grant me courage to be able to do away with it. I know it is not good and I am not proud to say that I smoke, but I am succeeding in cutting down the rate that I smoke and I am hoping by next year, I will do without it.

Can you recollect any particular moment you shed tears?

There are many moments I have shed tears most especially when things upset me, overwhelm me or when I see grave injustice. I am an emotional person and will not think twice to shed tears when I am in a situation to express my emotion.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

That I am able to find peace with myself and able to be contented with what I have. That is the greatest thing I have learnt about life and I thank my father for that. I have been able to be myself at all times without listening to what the people say.

How are you coping with the controversies surrounding Charly Boy?

Believe me; I enjoy all sorts of what people think of me. I am thrilled with the different opinions the name Charlie Boy evokes when it is featured in conversations. The different meanings the name has to people had shown that we’ve done a good work in creating a brand that has miseries and angles. It can’t just go away; Charly Boy has become a way of life and philosophy. The brand will always get matured; it has gone through different looks in the past three decades and it has also gone through a lot of rebranding.

What is holding back your white wedding with Lady Di?

The Catholic Church is giving me too much stress; they have to check this and that. Like you know, the Catholic Church frowns at divorce. There are lots of investigations going on. I was born Catholic, my father is a Catholic but my mother is an Anglican. It is my wish and that of my family that we wed in Catholic Church but it is taking too much time. I thought they would have been through with their findings and I will give them till August and if they are not ready then I will go to Anglican, or other church, enough of all these delays.

Having been living with Lady D for many years, why has it taken you this long to go for a church wedding?

                 

I don’t believe in titles. Marriage in church is just a formality. I have been with the same woman for over 30 years but maybe she wakes up one morning after watching a movie that has to do with church wedding and she feels like wearing a wedding gown. To make her happy, I said ok, that is how women manipulate us. My wife is very good at getting me do what she wants, that is how we men become boy boy to our wives (Laughs). I can see my father now going on errand for my mother and I say maybe that is how I will end up.

What is the greatest gift received from your wife on your birthday?

The greatest gift is what she has been giving me for about 30 years that we have been together. She really don’t know what to give me, she is very jumpy in that regards but I will say the biggest gift is being who she is and being tolerant, understanding and knowing me well, because sometimes I don’t understand myself.

How is your relationship with your children?

My children are my buddies, allies, and I thank God that I have a very good relationship with them. I relate with them like age mates not like father and sons or daughters. They are most comfortable in my presence and we discuss anything under the sun with one another. I thank God for the beautiful children He has given me.

Any plan of having another Charly Boy in the family?

No! I don’t think so, one Charly Boy is enough. On a serious note, my kids took different things from me. Few took from my intellectual perspective, some from spiritual belief  while some are indifferent because they are not into music or TV productions. My last son is into fashion, design and stuff like that, my first son will soon get his professorship at the Institute of Technology in Massachusetts; he is a teacher, one of my daughters is into modelling, they just took little bit and pieces of me.

Are you fulfilled with all you have achieved with the brand, your family and others?

Yes, Charly Boy is still work in progress; I know I am getting there faster than expected. I am learning the act of calmness in which religion has played a major role not just because I have aged, I am older and wiser. As human beings we don’t discipline ourselves and we run into problems with that. Now that I understand life, I am at peace, calmer and I am mastering the act of contentment.

Are you still into music?

Music is what I give to those who love Charlie Boy that way. I will still break in as long as there are creative minds around I could ginger with. Music has become something that has always made me happy and I am not really keen about the financial gain. It is a stuff I do at my pace and time. It is what people know me with.

Whereabouts of Genevieve’s daughter uncovered!

As the dust rose by the controversial picture that has Genevieve Nnaji posing with an unknown damsel, who bore a striking resemblance to her is settling down, the photograph seems to have given SS the lead to the whereabouts of Genevieve’s daughter.

While some people are still very much in doubt as to the real identity of the girl in question, SS got an SMS message from a faceless fellow, who claimed to be a close ally of Genevieve

The short text message sent to SS read thus: “I read your article on Genevieve on May 21 edition and I want to tell you that the girl in the picture is not Gene’s daughter. Her daughter lives in the US with the father, the person, who impregnated Genevieve. She is 16 years old and a complete replica of Genevieve but not like the girl in the picture. Gene’s daughter is a lovely girl and her father is proud of her.”