Ibinabo Fiberesima, Blind Loyalty and The Rule of Law.

For many of you, this story has been flogged to death on most Naija websites. Others however, have no idea who Ms. Fiberesima is, so I will provide some background. Ibinabo is a model, actress and ex beauty queen (not sure which competition or which year, but na beauty queen sha!!). Anyways, the whole yawa started about 3 years ago. Wetin happen? Well, allegedly, Ms. Fiberisma decided to drive drunk. Before I continue, let me stop here and say that her drunken state was alleged o!! Ehen, we don’t have breathalyzer tests in Nigeria, so we cannot say for sure. Dem say she was drunk sha (let me say it one more time to reiterate the fact that nobody knows for sure).
Anyway sha, drunk or no, she drove her SUV off her lane and straight into the path of Dr. Giwa Suraj, the Head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Unfortunately, Dr Suraj died while his brother who was in the car with him was seriously injured.

Here and here are the accounts of what allegedly happened:

And this is Ibinabo’s account:

Why on earth would I be drunk and still drive? Am I that irresponsible? Nobody even bother to hear my own version before they start spreading the lies. Here is what happened.

I was driving and this car pulled up behind me almost running me off the road, I swerved to avoid hitting him and lost control. That was the last thing I remembered, I was in coma and woke up two days later in the hospital. The family of the other person later took me to court and when the judge saw my condition he threw everything out of the court. He said “how could you bring a person in such shape to the court? I was still bruised and really sick. Even as I speak to you, my disk is shifted and am in pains but I cant travel out to see my doctor because My passport and everything was stolen during the accident. I am waiting till I can collect a new passport before I can travel out.

I was not drunk! I was not! This is getting too much for me, I just wished I had died in the accident it would have been better than all this. Here I am doing the miss earth thing to promote Nigerian culture to the world and I didn't know people hated me this much. I just wish I had died! It was an accident that wasn't my fault and I was not drunk! No I was not!.... The car that caused all of this tried to overtake and block me at the same time. I swevered and hit the curb,and passed out. I woke up in hospital two days later. I heard I was in a coma, and nobody told me about what had happened, till later. I am truly sorry someone lost his life. I will live with that hurt for the rest of my life. I am deeply sorry, but it was an accident.

Full account here

Anyways, the case finally made it to court in 2007 and Ms Fiberesima was found guilty of manslaughter by the chief magistrate. Although the charges carried a sentence of 7 years imprisonment, the judge gave her an option of a fine (N100,000), which Ibinabo paid and she was allowed to go free.

The ruling created an uproar in the Nigerian community and was also received with outrage by the family of the deceased doctor. Many felt that justice was not done in this case, given the light sentence; and that Ibinabo was reaping the fruits of privilege, wealth and celebrity considering the fact that she was rumored to be drunk when the accident occurred. The online community was also agog with the news and a debate raged on and off over whether or not the ruling was fair. You can find my favorite debate Here
Read the whole thread – its really interesting!!






Ms Fiberesima put the whole case behind her and got on with her life. She went on to make more movies (including Letters to a stranger, one of my favs), she hooked up with one of the Amata brothers (royalty in the Nigerian acting world), and had a baby. However, the family of the dead doctor did not give up. They were very disappointed by the ruling and felt that justice was not served. The Lagos state government actually appealed the ruling, going to a higher court hoping for a more favorable judgement.

Well, the news finally broke early this week that the higher court also found her guilty of manslaughter, but this time sentenced her to 5 years in prison – with no option of fine. The judge said

I wonder why the magistrate regards N100,000 as an option for someone who caused the death of another person by dangerous driving. Discretion should be exercised judicially and not recklessly. The nature of the offence is so grave that I do not know how he (the magistrate) came about with an option of fine. Justice is a three-way affair. N100,000 fine is not a reasonable judgment for someone who has taken the life of another person. I hereby set aside the judgment of the magistrate‘s court and impose five years imprisonment on the convict. I also order that the N100,000 fine paid by the convict should not be returned to her.

Full story here



So dat na the tori o!! I was actually going to mind my own business and stay away from this story because nobody really knows what happened, and it’s a difficult situation for all concerned. However, later in the week, Stella Dimoko-Korkus broke this piece of news:

It is no longer news that ex beauty queen and star actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima was last week Friday sentenced to a 5 year prison term by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of the Lagos High Court for manslaughter involving the death of a medical doctor, Mr suraj Giwa.The sentence stemmed from an appeal by the Lagos state Government against the verdict of an Igbosere magistrate court which had earlier given Ibinabo a 7yr jail term or a fine of N100,000.00
That sentence triggered a horrendous health issue which has landed Ibinabo at an undisclosed hospital with doctors battling frantically to save her life.Beyond that, her family has also risen to the occasion and their lawyers have filed a motion for stay of execution of the judgement.

Read the rest here


So far, I have only told the story as I know it, while I (try to) present the point of view of all parties concerned. But two major issues have arisen from this whole Ibinabo story and I think they deserve to be pointed and further discussed.

Issue 1 - Blind loyalty: There have arisen a large group of people, both online and offline who love Ibinabo and who defend her very vigorously. Their arguments are two fold 1) Punishing her will not bring the doctor back, she has children to take care of, she is a single mother, etc, etc. 2) There is no proof that she was driving drunk, it was an accident, she is sorry.

And now that she has been sentenced, they do not want her to go to jail. I bet my last penny that a lot of people are running all over Lagos right now trying to get this sentence changed or commuted, or thrown out, or something!! This of course is not a Nigerian thing – its an human thing. Until Caylee Anthony’s body was found, her grandparents were all over the news vigorously defending their daughter Casey, claiming that their grandchild was stolen, not dead!! You don’t know that story? See here:
And when Jennifer Hudson’s brother in law was accused of killing her mother, her brother and her nephew, his mother was the first one on all the news, declaring her son’s innocence. He is currently being charged with the murders. Reminds me of one of my fav bible stories – that of David and Jonathan found in I sam 18-20; and I sam 31. So Jonathan knew that his father Saul was wrongly persecuting David, and he also knew that David was going to be the next king of Isreal. And yet, he went to war with his dad and died with him rather than defect with David.

So here is the question: At what point do you stop supporting friends/family members when you KNOW that they are wrong? Or is that our duty as friends/family – to support no matter what?


Issue 2 - The rule of law: So if Stella’s story is to be believed (she is a tabloid reporter, so you have to take her stories with a pinch of salt!), then Ibinabo is doing everything possible not to go to jail.I don't blame her o! 5 years in Nigerian prison eating watery beans and stale bread is not easy o. At all. In addition, she is a single mother of three, and she has to leave them behind for 5 years in prison. However, we need to balance her needs with the needs of the victim and the victim's family. Do you feel sorry for Ibinabo? Or is she getting her just desserts? Do you think the law was too harsh on her? Is five years too long? Too short? And what if she was not drunk? Would that change your opinion? Is she trying to use the power of celebrity to escape justice?




Abeg tell me what you think about this whole case o. E really get as e be!!

Jazz and blues : Sade, Asa and Zamajobe

Hiya!! Its been a long day and I am tired. However, I am determined to keep up with this blogging thing, so here I am again. I am determined to avoid serious topics today however, so we will be talking some of my favorite music.

Do you remember Sade Adu? If not, you must be a young 'un!! Sade was/is one of the greatest singers of our time. She has not made a record in a decade (at least), but I still listen to her music and sigh. I was listening to her the other day, and I wondered - what happened to her? Obviously, she just decided to step away from the limelight and face her life. There is a great article about her here. Or you could just google her - there is a great wiki article about her too. Here is a little background blurb from Wiki:

Sade was born in Ibadan, Ọyọ State, Nigeria. Her name, Folasade, means honour confers a crown. Her parents, Bisi Adu, a Nigerian lecturer in economics of Yoruba background, and Anne Hayes, an English nurse, met in London and moved to west Africa. Later, when the marriage ran into difficulties, Anne returned to Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England, taking four-year-old Sade and her older brother Banji to live with her parents. Living in Colchester, Essex, Sade read a good deal, developed an interest in fashion, acquired a taste for dancing and listened to soul artists like Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, and Marvin Gaye.

Anyways, enough talk about Sade. How about some of her outstanding music to help you chill out after a long day?



Ahhh! Pure genius!






There is plenty more on youtube if you like the jazzy, bluesy feel of her music.
I love Sade and I hope she comes back someday to share her gift once more, although you have to respect a woman who walks away from fame.


However, there are a few contemporary singers who remind me of Sade. The first time I heard Asa, I was like what? She's Nigerian? Wow. I went to find that cd ASAP, and played it until I practically knew every song by heart. Asa has gone on to become quite a big star in Europe, even though she has refused to sex it up, and a lot of her music is in yoruba. When you got it, you got it!! Check her out:










Then, I heard Zamajobe - the South African beauty with the voice as smooth as silk. Hear for yourself:





Soo, while I miss Sade and play her old music in my "mellow" moods, Asa and Zamajobe are holding the fort quite well. I think those two will go on to have amazing careers. Their music, like Sade's, is not superficial, but its deep, real, meaningful, beautiful. Just what you need after a long hard day - Ahhhhhhh!


P.S - if you are wondering how to lay your hands on this music - Sade and Asa's music are available for sale on Amazon.com. Zamajobe was neither there nor or itunes last time I checked. I have found a few places where her music might be available, but I will not advertise them until I try them out myself and vouch for their authenticity. So for now, enjoy her on youtube.


Alright, make me sef go sleep ojare. I think I have given you more than enough stuff to waste time with instead of working tomorrow. LOL!!

The Cougar Phenomenon

Hi peeps, Wassup?
Enjoying your Saturday? Sincerely hope so.

Alright, I know I promised to finish up my thoughts on my black history month post. I actually started writing something, but I am honestly not in the mood for something that serious. And what gives me the right to comment on black-white relations on America anyways? The ting wey dem neva resolve for over 200 years, na im I go come put my small mouth? Anyways, the bottomline on all my plenty talk is that I have decided to skip that topic for now. Perhaps I will revisit it someday. PERHAPS!!

Today though, something very different. Do you know what a cougar is? Nooooo, not the animal. The woman. Huh? Yeah, the woman - raaaaawrrrrrr!! Well, a cougar, if I have to tell you, is a woman who ends up with a much younger man - and Demi Moore is the poster child for this fascinating species. Ashton is what - about 20 years younger? Na wah o. And after Donald trump married some hot young Russian chick as his third wife, his first and now ex-wife Ivana also ended up with some hot young Italian stud as her new husband. Do I hear COUGAR? Yessss, now u begin to understand! LOLLLL!!

So is this just an worldly thing? How do we feel about things like this as christians and africans? Is there some rule that says that your boo must be older than you? Me, I was raised in very conservative circumstances, and I thought it was the rule o. Younger man ke? What? Noooooo!! LOLLL!! My first exposure to the whole concept was actually in the church I attend here. Lovely lady on the worship team married someone 9years her junior. Yeah - 9 years. The first time she introduced me to her fiance, all I could do was stare in astonishment. I didn't say nothing, but it boggled my JJC (johnny just come) mind.

So is it only oyinbo people that break all these boundaries? Noooo. Actually, there is a Nigerian movie entiltled FOR REAL that kind of deals with this issue, although in very extreme circumstances. Kalu Ikeagwu and Eucharia really impressed me in this one. I looove this movie. I may do a full review someday, but for now let's just say Kalu's character fell in love with his best friend's mother - much to the chagrin of pretty much everyone. And then sometimes, life imitates art. This one was a famous case in Naija . Check it out:





Gumbodi! Lol!! Open to the universe, bless me from any corner – my kind of gal!!






12.5 years difference!!! The first time I watched this, my mouth was open wide agape!! Omo, dat is love o. No other word for it. Queen, abeg, you get liver.




In a setting like America, where everyone over the age of 18 is equal in the eyes of the law and of society, it’s a little weird but workable. But in an African society, where we place so much premium on respect and everyone is Sister this, and Aunty that, I just wonder how the logistics work out. You know, extended family relationships, how would your friends address him, your younger siblings. I cannot even begin to imagine navigating all those potential minefields. Sooo, its safe to say that I am not sure that I could do something like that. One or two years younger is feasible, five years is stretching it. But 15? Holy Molly!! I never say never, but that love would have to be shacking me like 7 day old fermented pammy for me to even think of doing something like that. In addition, I would need to see a vision from the complete trinity!!



Now of course , if you ask me in theory, I would say – take love where ever you can find it, regardless of the package in which it comes – color, height, age, race, language, level of education, whatever. But I think everyone has limitations placed on them by culture and society, so I am not sure that I could ever cross the age line that drastically.However, I have to salute Queen Ure for being courageous enough to find love and take it regardless of what anyone thinks. Much respect Queen, much respect!



So ladies, you think you could be a couger? Submit to a much younger man? Respect him even if you had hit puberty before he was born? You would not be afraid that he would reach his prime when all your physical assets are drooping? Guys, do you think you have the courage to step up to someone much older than you? What is your limit? You think you can do what Soul E did? Or Kalu’s character in For Real? Is love enough, regardless of the package? Do you think it turns the scriptures about submission on its head?



EPILOGUE: I actually wrote most of this over a year ago - when I saw the movie and read about Soul E and Ure. I was actually very, very disappointed to hear that their marriage had crashed early this year. I was really, really, really rooting for them. Read the story here

The black list - Volumes 1 and 2

So its black history month, and most of the discourse on TV, on radio, all over the web, is on the history, struggles and achievements of black people. I am supposed to be writing my dissertation, but once in a while I take a break and do some waka waka on the web (just as an aside, I will break into pidgin english once in a while - its a naija thing LOL). Anyways, I was going to Youtube to look for something or the other, and I come across a promo for The black list - a show that is going to be on HBO later this month. I listened to a few of the speakers I and was so fascinated by what they had to say, that I decided to share.

Listen to Serena Williams - tennis star



Notice the comments about the focus on her strength and little mention of her ability to strategise as a tennis player?

Then there is Chris Rock - Comedian



Just a dentist! LOL!!

Russell Simmons - Rap mogul speaking in defense of hiphop



Me, I am not gonna talk too much about this one. In general, when it comes to hiphop music and culture, I am a hater. Once in a while, a specific song may tug at me, but in general, HATER!!

And then there is the trailer for the HBO special:



I will comment a little more about their thoughts and about Black history month next time. But just for now - what do you think about what they had to say? Will you be watching the special? I would, but I don't have cable!! Bwhahahaahhahahah!!

Finally!!

Hellooooooo peoples!! Holyebony don land o!! I have finally joined the blogosphere!

Welcome to my site, my introduction into blogville. I have been watching African bloggers from the sidelines for a while now and have been most impressed by the creativity, talent and knowledge that have been on display. I have decided to jump into the fray, and make functional use of all the useless information I have packed into my small head over all the years (it has to go somewhere abi? LOL!). Anyways, this is holyebony, and it’s a place for life, faith and knowledge to overlap in what I hope will be interesting ways.

I had very ambitious plans for my arrival in webland. I was going to unveil this amazing website that would knock your socks off. Alas, it was not to be - at least not yet. What happened? Well, a combination of lack of time and money!! It is probably smarter or me to start with a blog anyways - I am not sure that I have time for much more than that at this point in my life. I actually don't even have time for this - I have a huge (yes HUGE) pile of papers that I am supposed to be reading right now. But I am too tired to do that at this moment. So therefore, I blog.

I hope reading all my blah blah will give you as much pleasure as writing gives to me. This is gonna be fun!!