Big Bammy's Blog: 2016-01-17

Saturday, January 23, 2016

#BBB NEWS| Check Out Mariah Carey’s Sizeable Engagement Ring [PHOTOS]

Mariah Carey’s new engagement ring is as large as her discography. The “My All” singer was proposed to by her billionaire fiance, James Packer, earlier this week.

Although details on the proposal event were kept silent, images of Carey’s new piece of jewelry is creating noise across the Internet.

The 35-carat ring is etched in diamond and platinum accents, which you can view below.

Steve Kerr picked a great night to make his return to the sidelines as the coach of the Warriors. He saw his team improve to 40-4, which was led by Steph Curry’s triple double with 39 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

He also saw Steph make history with a half court shot right before halftime.

Just before the half court buzzer, Steph pulled up from just beyond half court and banked the shot in. He practices shots like that all the time so believe me there wasn’t much luck involved.

Bill Cosby has been freed of one of his many defamation lawsuits when a judge dismissed the charges this week, CNN reports.

The ruling states that the 78-year-old did not defame Renita Chaney Hill, who accused him of sexual assault, when he denied the charges last year.

Hill came forward against the actor/comedian in October 2015, stating that Cosby damaged her reputation after depicting her as a liar and an extortionist. In a courtroom Friday (Jan. 22), federal judge, Arthur J. Schwab dismissed her defamation charge, bringing in question the statements used to make her case.

Wedding bells will chime in the near future for Mariah Carey and James Packer, Billboard reports.

The pair got engaged earlier this week during an evening of entertaining friends and family at a private dinner in New York City.

The couple met in 2014 and have meshed ever since, so it’s only right that they seek to make things official.

Ibrahim Magu, the Chairman of The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) met with yesterday with Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and disclosed that funds looted by Nigerian public officials were enough to finance three years of the country’s budget.

Mr. Magu made the revelation during an informal meeting in Ikeja, Lagos State with Mr. Soyinka, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for literature.

Mr. Magu used the occasion of the meeting to discuss his plans for a renewed clampdown on corrupt officials in Nigeria.Earlier at the meeting, Mr. Soyinka bantered with the EFCC chairman, at one point wishing him “good luck, but not that other one.” Mr. Magu was accompanied by some of his aides.

#BBB NEWS| Patti LaBelle, L.A. Reid, ‘Empire’ Cast Will Appear At The 2016 BET Honors

Years since his Coming to America role, the 2016 BET Honors chose comedian Arsenio Hall as host to the individuals reigning in entertainment and contributions to the community.

Details of the awards rolled out with notable honorees, presenters, and performers headlining the show (Feb. 23).

Hit drama Empire will dominate the BET Honors with presenter Taraji P. Henson, performers Jussie Smollett and V. Bozeman, and Television and Film Award recipient Lee Daniels. Henson will be joined by R&B diva Mary J. Blige in presenting a night special.

The soulful stylings of performers Leon Bridges, Ledisi, and Fantasia will echo throughout Washington D.C.’s Warner Theatre. And the Godmother of Soul herself, Miss Patti LaBelle, will be honored with the Musical Arts Award.

President Muhammadu Buhari honored several athletes and sports icons at the State House. Among the athletes present was the 1985 Class of U-16 boys who won the inaugural FIFA Cadet World Cup title when Buhari was a military Head of State.

Also present were men and women basketballers, powerlifter, world scrabble champion Wellington Jighere, boxer Olanrewaju Durodola, the U-17 world champion footballers, and the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations winners.

The ceremony, which was brief but impressive, was attended by the Diplomatic Corps and other officials.

Monetary rewards were also handed out to the athletes, including N2 million for each of the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Cup winners, N1.2 million for the 2015 FIFA U-17 world champions, and N500,000 for each of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations winners.

#BBB NEWS| Eminem’s Sister-In-Law Found Dead Of Apparent Overdose

Dawn Scott, the former sister-in-law of rapper Eminem, was found dead at Motor City Trailer Park in Detroit, Mich., of an apparent heroin overdose on Tuesday (Jan. 19).

The 40-year-old is the twin sister of Kim, Eminem’s ex-wife, as well as the birth mother of the former couple’s adopted daughter, Alaina.

According to RadarOnline, Scott came forward in August 2014 to discuss her anger towards Slim Shady and her sibling, claiming that despite the fact that both are wealthy, they have not helped her find a home or helped her combat her drug addiction.

“I have a millionaire brother-in-law and a sister with money up the a**, but they’re refusing to give me any help,” she told the site. “It’s a betrayal. He’s been part of our family since he was 15!…One night I called my sister and told her I had nowhere to go. She said, ‘That’s not my problem. Don’t bother me,’ and hung up.”

The controversy surrounding the lack of diversity among this year’s Academy Award nominees continues to be a hot button topic, and more tastemakers are lending their voices to the conversation.

50 Cent posted a message via Instagram geared towards the show’s host, Chris Rock, asking him to step down from his hosting duties in lieu of the controversy.

After being found guilty in December of rape and sexual assault of 13 black women, an Oklahoma City judge sentenced ex-officer Daniel Holtzclaw to 263 years in prison, Associated Press reports.

A jury found Holtzclaw guilty on 18 out of the 36 charges brought against him, which include sexual battery, forcible oral sodomy, indecent exposure, stalking, and first and second-degree rape. The victims ages range from 17 to 58.

According to reports, the judge has declined the motion for a new trial.

Marijuana is slowly getting legalized state-by-state (In the US) but it has not yet been passed everywhere. As for a company called Flow Hub, they feel that weed can help improve the quality of their employee’s work!

Co-founders Kyle Sherman and Chase Wiseman actually encourage their workers to partake in some marijuana fun while at work. Since the building is a smoke-free zone, their employees are encouraged to eat edibles and juices infused with the recreational drug.

“If it [marijuana use] helps our employees get work done, then we don’t care if they consume at work,” they explained.

Usher’s been training for two years at Decatur Boxing Club outside Atlanta to prepare for his role as boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard in the upcoming Roberto Duran biopic “Hands of Stone.”

The club’s owner Xavier Biggs tells TMZ Sports his student put in two-a-days — 2 hours a day, 6 days a week and even met with Sugar Ray to prepare for the role in the film

Filming has wrapped, but Usher hasn’t stopped climbing into the ring. Biggs — whose brother won Olympic gold — says the singer’s gotten so good he can hang with the pros.

Watch video and see more photos below..

As R. Kelly’s music gained ignition, cultural representations of his scandal-clad career made the world more familiar with a remix of the R&B singer/producer’s life story.

His sexual habits not only fueled his explicit lyrics and latest album The Buffet but the rumors tarnishing the Grammy-award winner’s reputation.

Recently, Kelly met with GQ to amend some of the talk—discussing sexual abuse as a child, days on trial for child pornography, his relationship with the late Aaliyah, and even a few words on Bill Crosby’s downfall.

R. Kelly starts with his upbringing in a poverty-stricken Chicago neighborhood where he was taunted for his inability to read. A close relationship with his single mother could not distract him from his father’s absence in their South Side home, he told GQ.

A handful of performers for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards were announced today (Jan. 20), and many of the artists taking the stage on Feb. 15 have had incredibly successful years.

According to The Wrap, this year’s most Grammy-nominated artist Kendrick Lamar is set to perform, after hitting the stage previously in 2014 with Imagine Dragons.

The Weeknd, who has seven nominations this year, will make his Grammy performance debut that Monday night.

Although her album 25 was ineligible for nominations this time around, record-breaking songbird and low-key rapper Adele will be saying “hello” to the Grammy stage for the first time since 2012.

A Boko Haram kingpin operating in Damboa, Chibok and Askira axis of Borno State, has been arrested.

Jarasu Shira was on Wednesday morning arrested at a motor park in Damboa.

He was arrested at the park at about 8:30am along with 10 other suspected members of the group who escorted him to Damboa to connect a vehicle to Biu en route Lagos.

They were arrested by men of the vigilante (Civilian Joint Task Force, JTF) who are providing support to the Nigeria military battling the militant group.

The Nigeria Prisons Service has said that putting handcuffs on the National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh while appearing for his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday was at the discretion of the prison officer, who supervised his court appearance.

The NPS spokesman, Francis Enobore, said the officer in charge of the escort that took Metuh to court was at liberty to determine if the inmate should be handcuffed based on security situation, the environment and intelligence report made available to him.

Enobore made the clarification following comments in the media and by PDP, that putting handcuffs on Metuh is a plot by the All Progressives congress -led to subdue the major opposition party.

Enobore, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, stated that Metuh was not maltreated in any way, stressing that handcuffing an inmate was a standard procedure, which the prison warden could employ based on the situation at hand.

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has asked all officers of the Nigerian Army who have not declared their assets to do so immediately.

A statement released today by military spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, revealed that General Buratai "gave the directive today during a conference with Principal Staff Officers and Directors serving at the Army Headquarters."

The Nigerian Armed Forces have been in the spotlight after an audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari found that numerous retired and serving military officers may have colluded in billions of dollars worth of weapons procurement deals. Mr. Buhari asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence investigation of the officers.

Colonel Usman's statement disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff had declared his own assets shortly after his "appointment as Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force in May 2015 and also on his appointment as Chief of Army Staff in July 2015." He revealed that copies of both declarations were with the Code of Conduct Bureau.

#BBB NEWS| Bobby Shmurda Denied Bail For The 7th Time, Judge Refuses To Lower Bail

Bobby Shmurda has remained in police custody since December 2014, and circumstances don’t point to him being free anytime soon.

A judge has denied yet another bail package for the Brooklyn rapper–marking the seventh time this has occurred–on Tuesday (Jan. 19). After a nearly hour-long hearing, a judge also refused to lower Shmurda’s $2 million bail, DNA Info reports.

The 21-year-old rapper currently faces charges for conspiracy, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon and criminally using drug paraphernalia.

The production process for Tupac’s All Eyez On Me biopic is currently underway in Atlanta, Ga., and this week brings even more news on the makeup of the cast.

According to Deadline, Grace Gibson will star as famed R&B singer Faith Evans. Gibson, the daughter of world-renowned actress Lynn Whitfield, signed on to portray Evans in the Benny Boom-directed motion picture.

The singer will also act alongside Jamal Woolward, who played Biggie Smalls in the Notorious biopic.

Recently, Kat Graham signed on to play Jada Pinkett-Smith, while former The Wire actor, Jamie Hector, will assume the role of Pac’s stepfather, Mutulu Shakur. But one of the biggest additions was The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira.

#BBB NEWS| Selena Gomez Finally Confirms Romance With Samuel Krost [PHOTOS]

Selena Gomez has just confirmed she's dating model Samuel Krost, after the pair were snapped walking hand in hand following a dinner date this weekend.

After sparking romance rumours back in November, when the brunette beauty sat happily in her beau's lap, they appear to be bringing their blossoming relationship out into the open at last.

The couple were both dressed to impress as they walked out of Beverly Hills hotspot SLS hotel.

Selena, 23, stunned in a figure-hugging black dress, braving the cold as she showed off her slim figure. See more photos below..

Things are continuing to look up for Lil Wayne and Birdman, as the two took the stage at the LIV nightclub in Miami on Sunday night (Jan. 17).

Following a year-long dispute between the two over the delayed release of Wayne’s Carter V album, and a whopping $51 million lawsuit that ensued, the two have made their second appearance together since the start of 2016.

While in front of the crowd, Birdman took the opportunity to publicly declare his love for Wayne, noting that he will take necessary measures for his “son.”

“This my motherf***in’ son, and I’ma die for him, I’ma live for him, and I’ll motherf***in’ kill for him, ya heard me? That ain’t gon’ never change. It’s YMCMB for life.”

Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security has replied Biafra agitators and the Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS) over their call for a referendum.

The OEAS had earlier requested that the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security utilizes their good office to help bring about a referendum for Biafra’s independence.

The OEAS also called for release of all Biafran political prisoners, a stand down of Nigerian forces, and a snap referendum to be held within 90 days.

In response to their request, Mogherini replied Dr., Jonathan Levy, OEAS Chief Administrative Officer, stressing that, the European Union’s official position is that while it has strong diplomatic and economic ties with Nigeria, “protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms remains a priority for the EU and we encourage the authorities [Nigeria] in every occasion to respect such rights.”

Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Tuesday in Abu Dhabi signed six agreements to enhance bilateral relations between them.

The signing of the agreements on trade, finance and judicial matters was witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Nigeria's Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Attayar signed the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, while the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah signed the Agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection with the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs.

The embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh was brought to the Federal High Court Abuja by the officials of Nigerian Prison Service in a handcuff in his hand amid tight security.

Metuh, who was sent to the prison by the court last week, was in court to push argument for the written bail application which the court directed him to file last week.

The court equally asked the prosecution counsel to respond to the application accordingly. Metuh’s fate will be decided today as to whether he returns to Kuje prison custody over allegations that he defrauded the Nigerian state of N400 million. See more photos below..

Nigerian state governors, ministers, business leaders, public officials and bankers allegedly stole $6.7 billion in public funds in seven years, information minister Lai Mohammed said on Monday.

Mohammed told reporters in the capital, Abuja, that some 1.34 trillion naira ($6.72 billion, 6.15 billion euros) was allegedly stolen between 2006 and 2013.

“The situation is dire and the time to act is now,” he added.

Giving a breakdown of the alleged theft, Mohammed claimed:

– 15 former state governors stole 146.84 billion naira

– 11 businessmen took 653 billion naira

– Eight people in the banking industry stole 524 billion naira

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Muhammad Abdallah.

The announcement was made on Monday by the Secretary to the Federal Government (FG). In the statement it was announced that Mr. Abdallah will serve in his capacity as chief of the NDLEA for 5 years.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, January 18, 2016 arraigned the duo of Valentino Chibueze Enudi and Monday Adewale Lawal before Justice Valentine Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on a 15-count charge bordering on forgery and obtaining by false pretence.

The offence is punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code and Section 1(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Enudi and Lawal were apprehended by EFCC operatives following a petition alleging that the duo specialize in using forged bank statements and other documents to fraudulently obtain money from people under the guise of processing United Kingdom visa for them.

#BBB NEWS| London Mom Loses 140 Pounds, Breaks Up With Her Husband For A Younger Man [PHOTOS/VIDEO]

35-year-old Katie Williams from London used to be a very big girl. However, the woman lost 140 pounds and decided to break up with her husband to get with a man 12 years younger than her!

Hit the jump for details..

The Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder said on Sunday that it had handed over a vessel and wooden boat loaded with about 10,000 litres of diesel worth N11m to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The petroleum product was suspected to have been stolen as the vessel was said to be transporting the fuel without required documents.

A statement signed by the Base Information Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Lt.-Cdr. Hamman Ahmed, indicated that two crew members of the vessel were also handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.

The statement quoted the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, as saying that the vessel; MT Purity, and the wooden boat were impounded following a routine patrol of the waterways and creeks by navy troops on December 2, 2015.

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Charles Soludo, has said former President Goodluck Jonathan ran the bank like a movie from Uganda under Idi-Amin.

Idi-Amin Dada ruled Uganda with an iron fist between 1971 and 1979 and has been described as one of the most corrupt African rulers.

Soludo said, “Imagine a scenario where a president can order the CBN to create an intervention fund for national stability and CBN literally ‘prints’ say, N3 trillion, and doles it out cash to the Presidency to prosecute an election campaign or for just about anything he fancies. It is a scary thought.

“We are going down a dangerous path that ruins the economy. I don’t know any other country where such is tolerated, except perhaps what I watched in a movie about Idi Amin and his governor of central bank.”

#BBB NEWS| Rick Ross Inks Deal With Epic Records [PHOTOS]

Rozay just inked another game-changing deal. The MMG leader just signed on the dotted line with Epic Records, shifting his talents from his previous label home of Def Jam.

Pictured on Epic’s Twitter account, the entity announced the move on Friday (Jan. 15), with the caption “Welcome @rickyrozay to #EPIC family!”

In preparation for their new baby girl, Grammy award winner John Legend and his model wife Chrissy Teigen purchased a chic and modern mansion in Beverly Hills formerly owned by pop phenom Rihanna.

The home cost them a whopping $14.1 million, which is almost $10 million more than what Rih paid.

Read more and see photos after the jump!

January 16 marks the day that one of music’s most influential artists was born. Aaliyah Dana Haughton would later grow up to be an icon across all genres of music, and leave a lasting imprint on the film scene.

In memory of her birthday, one of the “4 Page Letter” singer’s closest collaborators, Missy Elliott, commemorates her special day.

Taking to Twitter Saturday afternoon, the award-winning rapper said, “Aaliyah your heart was so huge and you loved your fans and always wanted them to know that!”

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Friday, January 22, 2016

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Monday, January 18, 2016

Sunday, January 17, 2016