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Nollywood veteran, Sola Sobowale’s journey from ‘Toyin Tomato’ to caregiver in London

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Sola Sobowale, a veteran in Nigeria’s Nollywood movie industry, has recounted her ordeal while working as a caregiver in London, England.

The 58-year-old actress, noted for her acting prowess in movie scenes, made the revelation during her interview on the ‘Teju Baby Face Show’ on Tuesday.

The thespian said she left Nigeria in 2004 and returned 12 years after for the audition of a movie.

While the show host asked why she referred to herself as ‘elevated omo odo,’ literally meaning ‘a glorified servant,’ the talented actress gave the narration in the form of a person who, after facing the struggles of life in many forms, was then fortunate to have conquered all obstacles.

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She said, “Oh yes. It was after Toyin Tomato – Super Story that I left (for London). I left Nigeria totally in 2004 and I didn’t come back until I came for the audition of the Wedding Party in 2016.”

After featuring in the popular television drama series, ‘Toyin Tomato’ in the early 2000s; the popular actress took some time off the screens and decided to work in an unrelated role in London.

“When I started work in that office, there were Nigerians, Jamaicans, Ghanaians, and all of them know Sola Sobowale. But it was confusing because my tag read ‘Olu,’ and not Olusola,” the award-winning actress stated.

She recalled how a Nigerian man (Seye Fadipe) had walked up to her and said she looked familiar, but she refuted it. However, at a later time, the man advised her to return to acting after she had admitted that she was the same ‘Sola Sobowale’ he used to see on the TV.

Sobowale said, at that time, she worked as a caregiver, saying she would “wash, carry, clean…you’ll do everything. That was what I was doing,” adding that she would later obtain her National Vocational Qualification certificate levels 2, 3 and 4, up to the level of a team lead.

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Speaking further, the veteran actress noted that “there’ll be a time that the noise, the energy that Sola Sobowale had” will be no more.

The actress stated, “When I started this ‘elevated omo odo’ thing, I started from the grassroots. Then, I went to the college. I got my NVQ 2,3,4, to a team leader.

“I believe in dignity in labour. There’s no job I won’t do to put food on my table, to provide for my children, except prostitution and fraud.”

When further asked how she managed to conceive and implement an upcoming movie project in the Indian movie industry – Bollywood, she said, “It’s the grace of God. When you’ve grace, you have everything, and that’s what has been working for me.”

She recalled that she struck up a movie project with an Indian lady (Amsha) when the popular movie streaming platform, Netflix, first came to Nigeria.

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The host, Teju, featured alongside Sobowale, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Bukky Wright, among others in a 1998 thriller movie directed by Tade Ogidan, titled ‘Diamond Ring.’

Another Nollywood actress, Doris Simeon, had said she was not ashamed of doing menial jobs in the United States of America, because she needed to pay her bills.

Simon said, “It was not easy starting all over, because in this place, only the tough will last. If one is lazy, one will be hungry. People who have been here for 20 to 50 years don’t find it easy, because with the kind of system they have, one cannot avoid paying bills. If one does not work, one won’t eat, and one won’t be able to pay bills.”

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Why Mohbad’s cause of death could not be ascertained – Pathologist

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The toxicology test carried out on late music star, Ilerioluwa Aloba popularly known as Mohbad has revealed that the singer’s cause of death cannot be determined.

Speaking to the press today after the Coroner Inquest, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, revealed that the pathologist in his submission in court said that at the time the test was carried out the body of the singer had already decomposed.

“According to him, the cause of death cannot be determined,” Shittu told pressmen outside the court.

“He gave a lot of reasons. He said by the time they conducted the test, the body had decomposed and that it is not possible for them to determine the cause of death. So the summary he is saying is that the cause of death cannot be ascertained and when you say the cause of death cannot be ascertained, it means it is suspicious, it is not clear, no particular reason.”

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The lawyer also said the pathologist also said the cause of the death could be attributed to reaction to certain drugs administered on him before he died.

“He also went further to say that it may be attributed to reaction to certain drugs administered on him before he died. Again he then qualified that to say he does not know whether it is those drugs that actually led to his death,” he added.

On March 20, the Director of Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, Richard Somiari, said that the toxicology result of Mohbad would be ready in the next three to four weeks.

Somiari, while testifying during a coroner’s inquest into the death of the singer said, “We expected to get the first set of autopsy results in three to four weeks and re-confirm to authenticate the cause of the death.

“We searched for multiple possibilities, to check if poison was involved in the death of Mohbad since no actual cause was mentioned,” he said.

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The forensic expert assured the public of adequate security and monitoring of samples for the autopsy.

“We have a place where items are stored for safety and security of results. There is a procedure for monitoring samples moved abroad,” he said.

Mohbad died at the age of 27, on September 12, 2023, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.

A former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022.

The Lagos State Police Command had, on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the singer’s death.

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His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, among others.

The singer’s body was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy.

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Simi blasts police over approach to child exploitation case

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Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi has called out the police over their method of handling a case of alleged child exploitation.

Police had arrested a young man named Musa Suleman after allegedly posting semi-nude photos of his four-year-old daughter on social media.

The police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, flagged the inappropriate content on social media, adding that the Edo state police command planned to “counsel” the father instead of pressing charges.

“This is an act of indecency and exposing the young child to moral dangers. The PPRO of Edo command will take it up and counsel the parents rather than prosecute them,” he wrote.

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“Many of us do not know the implications of what we do. We will educate them, and many alike. This kind of a thing will expose the girl to the rots in our system and moral dangers. Not in all cases we prosecute, there is a room for ADR and CSR in our duties, and we shall be adopting such. @EdoPoliceNG, @PoliceNG.”

The approach sparked outrage from some X users including Simi, who took to her page to criticise the police.

“You want to “counsel” parents that blatantly and repeatedly sexually exploit a baby??? A FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD!!! Wtf is going on?????? Omg,” she wrote.

Suleman’s child exploitation case comes days after the Lagos sexual offences and domestic violence court sentenced Success Ude to 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy with hearing and speech impairments.

Ude pleaded not guilty to the charge when he was first arraigned on February 17, 2022.

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During the ruling on May 9, the judge held that all evidence presented in the case indicates the defendant’s guilt, leading to a conviction under section 262 of the criminal law.

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Portable arrested over G-Wagon debt

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Controversial street musician Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has been arrested by officers of the Lagos State Police Command.

The ‘Zazzu’ crooner was nabbed on Tuesday following his alleged refusal to pay the debt he incurred when he purchased G-Wagon from Unique Motors, a car dealer in the state.

It was gathered that Portable had paid only N13 million after purchasing the vehicle, which was worth N27 million. He was said to have refused to pay the N14 million balance.

The car dealer reportedly took the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the singer.

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The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, also confirmed the arrest to newsmen.

He said: “The report is true. He was arrested today.”

In January, Portable called out Adebiyi Adesina, the owner of Unique Motors on social media over their ongoing dispute.

On Saturday, January 6, 2024, the singer, who had been an ambassador for the brand, expressed grievances over a Brabus G wagon he purchased from them, which was later involved in an accident.

Portable emphasized that he is still in possession of the automobile’s documents and hinted at considering an ambassadorial deal from another car company.

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Portable also shared his frustration over the termination of his contract and the repossession of his jeep, urging fans to be cautious in trusting others.

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