8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 14, 2014
How popular singer, Kefee died in Los Angeles BENJAMIN NJOKU, ISHOLA BALOGUN, IYABO AINA , ANOZIE EGOLE & JULIET EBIRIM
ULTIPLE awardwinning Nigerian gospel singer, Kefee Don Momoh, has died. Kefee passed on in the early hours of yesterday, after she had been in coma for two weeks in an undisclosed American hospital. She went into a coma, after collapsing on a 14hour flight on her way to Chicago from Lagos for an event about two weeks ago. Her United Kingdom-based manager, Adeline Adebayo confirmed her death. Kefee died, on a day, the remains of icocinic Nollywood producer, Amaka Igwe were laid to rest in her marital home, in Ndiuche Arondizuogu, Imo State. An official statement from Kefee’s U.K. publicist, said: “On behalf of the family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing to glory of Kefee.” “Due to lungs failure this morning , our leader, daughter, wife, sister, friend Kefee Branama Queen died. May her
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•Late Kefee
beautiful, gentle and precious soul rest in perfect peace. Amen! “In contrast to earlier rumours and stories, I do state that Kefee wasn’t six months pregnant, neither did she have pre-eclampsia,” the statement said. On-Air-Personality, Yaw, a close friend of the late singer ’s husband, OAP Teddy Don Momoh also confirmed the sad news on Wazobia FM yesterday morning, saying: “One of our very own is
dead. May her soul rest in peace.” Meanwhile, Saturday Vanguard gathered that the singer had finished recording songs for her upcoming album in Nigeria and was returning to Chicago where she was based when she suddenly slumped on a US bound flight, and later died after 15 days. Reports had it that when she slumped, the plane was forced to make an emergency landing as she
was rushed into the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Los Angeles. It was initially rumoured that she had recovered from the coma, which raised hopes of her survival, until yesterday morning when her death was announced. Kefee whose music career started at age eight in her church choir, was famous for her gospel songs ‘Branama’ and ‘Kokoroko’. She won several awards including the best collaboration Headies Award in 2010. She was one of the top nominees for the 2014 Crystal Gospel Awards, taking place next month at Muson Centre, Lagos. Until her death, Kefee resided happily with her husband in the United States and managed her restaurant, Branama Kitchen, in Maryland, Lagos. In 2010, Kefee won the Best Collaboration award at the Headies for her song ‘Kokoroko’ featuring Timaya. In 2012, she married Star FM radio personality, Teddy Esosa. She was formerly married to label owner, Alec Godwin for three years. Their marriage crashed in 2008. She later remarried radio and show host, Teddy Don-Momoh. She opened ‘Branama’ kitchen in 2012. Kefee was one of the top gospel singers in Nigeria. Her soulful songs delivered in her native dialect gained her critical praise and commercial success.
BRIEFS
Obasanjo , Alake eulogise CBN ex-deputy governor, Lemo BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta
ORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo F and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo have eulogised the immediate-past Deputy
Governor in charge of operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Tunde Lemo at a reception organised in his honour by Egba sons and daughters in Abeokuta to welcome him after his ten years service at CBN. Speaking at the reception, both Obasanjo and Alake however, advised that laudable government programmes should not be discontinued after the expiration of the life of an administration. Obasanjo in his tribute said if his wishes were to have come through, Lemo would have been retained in higher capacity at the Apex Bank, saying bigger roles await him in future. “I have had cold in the last 48 hours and my Doctor advised me to rest, but it is only a bad father that will not want to honour a good child.
Ofuani insists on equity, fairness in Delta 2015 BY HUGO ODIOGOR
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Edo Assembly crisis: CP raises alarm over alleged plot to unleash mayhem *As Police parade 42 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers, child defilers BY SIMON EBEGBULEM OLLOWING the po litical crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Foluso Adebanjo has raised an alarm over alleged plot by politicians to unleash mayhem in the state during the next Monday sitting of the State House of Assembly. The CP disclosed this when he paraded 42 suspects involved in armed robbery, defilement, kidnapping and murder including a 42 years old Pastor who raped a 12 year old girl. Adebanjo stated that “in the last few days, the Edo state Police Command has done its best to contend with the crisis without loss of lives. From the information available, politicians are heating up the polity by making unguarded statements which is creating unnecessary tension in the state.
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ELTA State governorship aspirant, Chief Clement Ofuani, has stressed the need for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to adhere to the provisions of its constitution on power rotation as a means to strengthen internal democracy and eliminate rancour and distraction within its fold. He said the founding fathers of the ruling People Democratic Party enshrined section 7 Sub Section 8 (c ), in its constitution at the onset of its formation because “it recognised the need for every section of the country in the party to have a sense of belonging and eliminate the inequality that may arise from the uneven demographic distribution in each zone, region or social unit”. Ofuani said, “Nigeria’s electoral experience which had shown that people generally vote along ethnic lines that give undue advantage to candidates from certain demographic majorities, ensuring that they always emerged with scant regards for the yearnings of the minority.” He said that the State Chapter of the Party should uphold this provision as any attempt to jettison the constitutional provision would create rancour which would not augur well for internal democracy. Ofuani who was first Commissioner of Economic planning in Delta state and former Senior Special Assistant on Policy matters,to late President Musa Yar’Adua,dismissed criticisms that zoning gives opportunity to unqualified hands to aspire to govern the state.
NBA rejects amendment on High court law •Says: We ‘ll challenge it in court BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME and DAVIES IHEAMNACHOR IVERS state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Asso ciation yesterday condemned the amendment on the 2001 Rivers state High court law by the state House of Assembly, saying it would challenge the new law signed into existence by the state governor in court. The Rivers state governor had signed the amended bill into law which authorizes the Chief Registrar of the court to assign cases to judges in the absence of a substantive Chief Judge or acting Chief Judge in the state. Chairman of the NBA, Bar Denis Okwakpam who briefed media men at the end of their meeting yesterday evening said there was no way the Chief Registrar who is junior to judges would be allowed to assign cases to his superiors, adding they had constituted five committees to meet with all parties in the crisis with a view to ending it. “We have informed the house and have gotten approval to form committee from the 5 branches of High courts in the state in order for the house to participate actively in the case. We believe with this development the crisis will come to an end”.
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Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson(m), Mr. Ron Yeffet, President Yeffetmesika Group (l) and Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, Minister of State for Power (r), when Mr. Yeffet paid a courtesy call on the Governor at the Bayelsa House, Abuja.
“Information from undisclosed sources revealed that political stalwarts, supporters are arming thugs with offensive weapons for a complete show down at the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday 16th June 2014. The Edo State police Command therefore is using this medium toi warn politicians, party
supporters and political thugs to have a rethink and desist from making unguarded statement capable of creating chaos at the state House of Assembly. “The Command wishes to warn and advise politicians to follow due process through the courts or political solution in resolving their observable
disagreement amongst themselves. For the avoidance of doubt and purpose of clarity., the command will not tolerate any act of thuggery but will encourage the good citizens of Edo state to be law abiding and go about their lawful business without fear of harassment.