Connect with us

Entertainment

Bill Cosby Freed from Prison

Published

on

US comedian Bill Cosby was freed from prison on Wednesday, in a blow to the #MeToo movement, after a US court overturned his conviction for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 15 years ago.

The 83-year-old left SCI Phoenix, a state jail 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia, after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that Cosby had been denied a fair trial.

Cosby, who shattered racial barriers with his Emmy-winning role on “I Spy” in the 1960s, was convicted in 2018 of assaulting Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia mansion in 2004.

But the judges wrote in a 79-page decision that a non-prosecution agreement between a former district attorney and Cosby over evidence he gave in a civil case meant the actor should not have been charged.

“Cosby’s convictions and judgment of sentence are vacated, and he is discharged,” they wrote.

Cosby, who also starred as a dad and doctor on the hit TV series “The Cosby Show,” in the 1980s, left prison just before 2:30 pm (1830 GMT), a spokesperson for Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections told AFP.

His conviction was the first guilty verdict for sexual assault against a celebrity since the advent of the worldwide reckoning against sexual violence and abuse of power dubbed the #MeToo movement.

Accusers of Cosby and supporters of the movement expressed anger at his release.

Lawyer Lisa Bloom said she and the three Cosby accusers that she represents were “disgusted that he is a free man today.”

Cosby served more than two years of a three-to-ten-year sentence for aggravated indecent assault and has always maintained his innocence.

He has not reacted to his release and Cosby’s publicist did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Although more than 60 women charged that they had been victims of sexual assault by Cosby, he was tried criminally only for Constand’s assault, since the statute of limitations had expired in the other cases.

Cosby has insisted that the encounter with Constand, who was then a Temple University employee, was consensual.

(AFP)

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

Veteran Nollywood Actor, Amaechi Muonagor Dies at 61

Published

on

By

Nollywood legend, Amaechi Muonagor, has reportedly passed on. He was 61.

The actor suffered kidney failure and has been on dialysis.

His demise on Sunday came just few days after a video, where he was soliciting funds for Kidney transplant went viral.

His death comes weeks after another Nollywood actor, Mr Ibu, died.

No official statement has yet been released.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Popular Celebrity Award: Adeleke, Dele Momodu Hail Nigeria’s Entertainment As World Class

Published

on

By

The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, and Publisher, Ovation International Magazine, Aare Dele Momodu have hailed the Nigerian entertainment industry as world-class by all standard.

The duo made the disclosure at the unveiling of a voting platform for Most Popular Celebrity Award in Osogbo, Osun State by Governor Adeleke.

Speaking with journalists at the Celebrity House, Osogbo, venue of the unveiling, Momodu said Nigerian music industry and Nollywood are global brands, adding that the award would further boost the industry’s rating towards becoming a global leader.

“The Nigerian entertainment industry is world-class, it is one that would become number one in the world. So, I am proud of what Osun state has done. Governor Ademola Adeleke is investing in the industry; he is from a family that is into entertainment with the likes of David Adeleke (Davido), Shina Rambo, B-Red among others.

“This project is aimed at producing more of Davidos, B-Reds, not just in the state but also across the country, hence, our decision to support the ambition.

“I urge Nigerians to join the platform and vote for their favourite celebrities. This is an industry that can solve the problem of unemployment if properly supported. It could take our youths out of poverty,” he said.

Declaring the platform opened, Governor Adeleke, who was represented by the Commissioner for Tourism, Abiodun Ojo, said the reason for the choice of Osun for the event is not far-fetched, saying the state is the cradle of entertainment with the likes of late Duro Ladipo, Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande), Yemi Elebuibon to the trendy Davido among others.

“Today, we are unveiling another landmark, a prestigious honour to creative minds. It is an integrity laced process and a unifying force to boost the industry, through an enigmatic progression that will create over 50,000 entrepreneurs Nationwide.

“This will be a drive to a sustainable data based National Recognition in form of an Award to Nigeria’s MOST POPULAR CELEBRITY for the year 2023 in 17 Categories to be crowned here in Osogbo,” he added.

The project coordinator, Solanke Hamzat, said the platform would offer fans opportunity to vote for their favourite celebrities in seventeen categories.

He said the platform is devoid of any technicalities and is making the fans the decider based on the influence such celebrity had on their lives.

The Osun State government under Governor Adeleke has been in the forefront of promoting tourism, culture, entertainment and more in the state.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Glo Launches Naija Comedy Service to Boost Entertainment, Fun

Published

on

By

A new offer, Glo Naija Comedy Service, which features an array of video content from top Nigerian comedians has been unveiled by digital solutions company, Globacom.

Globacom explained in a press statement in Lagos that “Glo Naija Comedy Service, was designed to suit customers’ entertainment and fun needs and its available at the palm of customers’ hands on all android and i-phone devices and on any web browser of their choice.”

Glo stated that the stress-bursting video content service which is deployed in conjunction with NCC-licensed aggregators will feature the likes of Sabinus, Aki and Pawpaw and others, providing rib-cracking jokes and entertainment for the enjoyment of Nigerians. It added that “Glo Naija Comedy Service ensures there is something for everyone”.

The service, according to Globacom,  is easy to use and it works on all web browsers. It stated that there is no need to download any app to enjoy it, adding that “As long as a subscriber has an active data pack, he or she will be able to access Glo Naija Comedy Service and savour the fun”.

Customers can subscribe to the service by dialing the short code 55222 or *55222# while subscription for the service include daily subscription pack which attracts N20 per day, weekly subscription which goes for N100, and the monthly packages starting from N500.

Globacom said “Customers can also call Glo Customer Care Centre on short code 300 for additional information on the service.”

Continue Reading

Trending