Showbiz
Naira Marley, Gbadamosi Apologise to Lagos Govt
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Popular music artiste, Mr Azeez Fashola, otherwise known as Naira Marley, has tendered an apology to the Lagos State government for violating a lockdown order and social distancing directive made to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.
On April 8, 2020, the state government had filed charges against the defendant at the Magistrate Court sitting at Ogba for attending a birthday party organised by celebrity couple, Mrs Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband, Mr AbdulRashed Bello, at Amen Estate, Ibeju-Lekki on April 4, 2020.
The singer was charged alongside a former governorship candidate, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, owner of the estate, where the party took place.
At the court, the state government withdrew the charges against the defendants, claiming they had showed remorsefulness. They were asked to write letters apologising to government.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Lagos State government said Naira Marley and Mr Gbadamosi have fulfilled the letters of apology condition of the court for withdrawal of the cases against them.
Speaking on the case, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr Yhaqub Oshoala, said, “In accordance with the restorative justice procedure, the state agreed to withdraw the charges on the condition that the defendants will fulfil the following: Write a formal apology to the government of Lagos State; Issue an undertaking in writing to comply with the Regulations of Mr President and Mr Governor which is the subject matter of the case before the court and self-isolate for 14 days to protect other members of the public.”
“The fourth condition, which pertains only to Azeez Fashola a.k.a Naira Marley, was that he will support the Lagos State government campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic by using his position as a renowned artiste to urge the youth to stay at home and keep the required social distancing directives issued by Mr. Governor, at no cost to the Government,” he added.
Mr Oshoala emphasised that the approach was adopted primarily because the defendants voluntarily surrendered themselves to the police and even after being granted administrative bail by the police, made themselves available for arraignment.
He stated that the defendants have also pleaded that they went to visit the family not knowing there was a party going on in their residence, but admitted that having arrived at the home of the Akindele’s while the party was going on, they did not leave despite the social distancing regulations in Lagos State.
It is instructive to note that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice will continue to prosecute anyone who violates the social distancing and stay-at-home order of the state and federal governments.
This February, Showmax is serving a lineup of brand-new series, blockbuster movies, Emmy-winning stand-up, Grammy-nominated docs and cult-favourite classics to stream. See here for a full list of what to watch this February.
DIDDY: THE MAKING OF A BAD BOY | First On Showmax | Stream from Friday, 7 February 2025
Best for true-crime and hip hop fans
Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy is a raw, exclusive look at Sean Combs long before he was known as Puff or Diddy.
Featuring never-before-seen footage and stories from those who know him best, Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy sheds light on his childhood, rise to fame, and recent criminal allegations, challenging viewers to rethink everything they thought they knew about the mogul behind the music – and the mugshot.
Combs’ trial is scheduled for May 2025.
Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
THE WHITE LOTUS S1-3 | Mondays from 17 February
Winner of 15 Emmys, The White Lotus returns for a third instalment following a new group of guests at another White Lotus hotel, this time in Thailand.
Once again written and directed by Mike White, the new season returns Natasha Rothwell to her Emmy-nominated Season 1 role as Belinda alongside a star-studded new cast. This includes Emmy nominees Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, and Walton Goggins, BAFTA winner Aimee Lou Wood, Teen Choice nominees Leslie Bibb and Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Critics Choice nominee Michelle Monaghan.
While you wait, rewatch the first two seasons on Showmax.
Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
SUITS: LA S1 | Mondays from 24 February
Teen Choice winner Stephen Amell (Arrow) stars in Suits: LA as Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York who has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles. His firm is at a crisis point, and in order to survive, he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career.
Gabriel Macht returns to the franchise to guest star as Harvey Specter, while the new cast includes Josh McDermitt (Eugene in The Walking Dead).
While you wait, binge all nine seasons of the original Suits on Showmax.
Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
YELLOWJACKETS S1-3 | First on Showmax | Saturdays from 15 February
The third season of the Emmy-nominated series continues to explore the harrowing survival story of the high school women’s soccer team that crashed in the wilderness in 1996.
Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) and Critics’ Choice nominee Joel McHale (Community) join the cast this season, which also sees Melanie Lynskey and Christina Ricci return to their Emmy-nominated roles.
Yellowjackets S1 was the second-most streamed series in Showtime’s history.
While you wait, binge the first two seasons on Showmax.
Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
THE DAY OF THE JACKAL S1 | Mondays at 8:30pm
Nominated as Best Drama Series at both the 2025 Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, The Day of the Jackal follows a ruthless, mysterious assassin known as the Jackal, who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. He meets his match when a tenacious British intelligence officer starts to track him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe.
Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, Fantastic Beasts franchise) has earned Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his shape-shifting performance as The Jackal.
BAFTA winner Lashana Lynch (The Woman King, No Time to Die) plays Bianca, the British intelligence office hot on his heels.
Written and adapted by Ronan Bennet (Top Boy), The Day of The Jackal is the biggest Sky Original ever and has an 84% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety calls it “exhilarating… a breathless adventure until the very end.”
The Day of the Jackal is a modern-day reimagination of Frederick Forsyth’s classic novel, which earned the 1972 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America.
Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS S1-2 | Binge from Tuesday, 18 February
Rotten Tomatoes’ second-best romance series of last year, and third-best returning series overall, Season 2 of Australian comedy series Colin from Accounts picks up with Ashley and Gordon needing to work out whether they want a relationship … or if they just wanted a dog.
With Season 2, real-life couple Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall (who created, wrote and star in the show) have cracked a rare 100% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes for a second time, with the critics’ consensus saying it’s “as cranky, funny, and delightful as ever.”
The hit series has already won three Logie Awards – Most Outstanding Comedy, and both Most Outstanding Actress and Actor for its leads – as well as the 2024 Australian Writers’ Guild Comedy Award.
While you wait, binge Season 1 on Showmax.
Watch the trailer:
NIGHT SWIM | Stream from Thursday, 6 February
Best for horror fans who aren’t planning to swim this summer
Night Swim follows Ray Waller, a former major league baseball player forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness. Ray moves into a new home with his concerned wife, Eve, and two children, unaware that a dark secret from the house’s past will unleash an evil force in the backyard pool.
Teen Choice nominee Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) and Oscar nominee Kerry Condon (Better Call Saul and The Banshees of Inisherin) co-star as Ray and Eve.
The #1 US box office hit is produced by horror legends James Wan (Saw) and Jason Blum (Get Out). As Los Angeles Times says, “[Bryce] McGuire, who executed a trial run of this concept with a 2014 short film, knows exactly what he’s doing, scene after scene, especially when it comes to the deliciously sadistic grammar of suspense.”
Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
THE FRANCHISE | First on Showmax | Binge from Monday, 10 February
Ever wondered what really happens behind Hollywood’s blockbuster machine? HBO’s satirical comedy The Franchise follows a film crew on an unloved franchise movie fighting for their place in a savage and unruly cinematic universe. Is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand?
Emmy nominee Himesh Patel (Station Eleven, Yesterday) and Critics Choice Super winner Aya Cash (The Boys) lead the cast, which includes 2024 International Emmy nominee Jessica Hynes, Screen Actors Guild nominee Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts franchise) and Eswatini-born Oscar nominee Richard E Grant.
Watch the trailer:
Bonus: Couch Classics & Blockbuster Hits
Bonus: Couch Classics & Blockbuster Hits
The Nun & Friday the 13th – Streaming from 10 February
Joker, Suicide Squad, Superman Returns, & Wonder Woman – Streaming from 13 February
Frasier S1-11 & Dawson’s Creek S1-6 – Binge from 28 February
The Bodyguard (1992) – Streaming this February
From iconic teen drama (Dawson’s Creek) to award-winning comedy (Frasier), plus Whitney Houston’s legendary performance in The Bodyguard, these classics are ready for a rewatch!
Get Showmax Entertainment Mobile for just N1,600 and start streaming! Sign up now.
By Oludayo Salami
Kunle Ogunrombi, popularly known as K-Peace, has once again raised concerns about unpaid prize money from his 2015 victory on “Etisalat’s Nigerian Idol”. His recent interview on The Honest Bunch podcast has re-ignited discussions about prize settlements after reality TV shows in Nigeria.
As the winner of a reality TV show, backed by a popular brand (Etisalat at the time), K-Peace deserves the money he won on the show. However, K-Peace’s claims are marked by glaring inconsistencies. Maybe it was intentionally shared to whip public sentiments, knowing that most people would run with that snippet, not the full story. Whatever the intention was, it turned out to be quite misleading. So, here are the facts, available to everyone who can do a simple Google search.
Etisalat’s Nigerian Idol was organised by Optima Media Group in 2015. The cash prize at the time N7.5 million along with a brand-new car, a recording deal worth and some high-end devices. K-Peace won the season, and rightly deserved the promised prize.
In interviews, K-Peace admitted to receiving N5 million and the car. The next season, 6 years later, a totally different brand got the rights to the show and revived it simply as Nigerian Idol. Recently, a snippet of K-Peace’s interview on a podcast alluded to the fact that the organisers had not paid him.
The public, including myself, will naturally side with K-Peace, as it is in us to side with a perceived underdog in any fight. An underdog deserving of public support should be one able to tell a coherent story.
If K-Peace still hasn’t received the full amount, he should directly call out those responsible. He won Etisalat Nigerian Idol in 2015, so if there’s an outstanding balance, he should demand payment from Etisalat—now rebranded as 9mobile or the franchise owners at the time Optima Media Group. Publicly addressing the right entity will generate pressure and increase his chances of getting what he is owed.
A background check will reveal that Nigerian Idol went on a six-year hiatus after K-Peace’s season and was revived in 2021. Since then, the show has produced four winners—Kingdom Kroseide, Progress Chukwuyem, Victory Gbakara, and Chima Udoye—all of whom have received their prizes. This further suggests that the issue lies with the former organizers.
To get justice, K-Peace must clarify his claims. Is he seeking the remaining N2.5 million, or is he alleging he was never paid anything? And most importantly, he must call out those holding on to the prize he won. If he remains vague, Nigerians may end up supporting the wrong fight.
This is 2025—there’s no need for fear or hesitation. If there’s money to be recovered, the right people must be held accountable. But without clarity, this could become just another social media distraction. K-Peace, Nigerians are willing to help, but only if the facts are clear.
It’s that time of the year again—when love is in the air, flowers and chocolates are everywhere, and social media becomes a battlefield between lovebirds and the singles.
For couples, it’s a day to flaunt their romance and make the rest of the world just a little jealous. For the singles, it’s either a self-care weekend, a Galentine’s hangout, or the annual debate about how Valentine’s Day is actually about celebrating St. Valentine and not romance. But whether you’re in love, in a situationship limbo, or proudly single, one thing is certain and can definitely not be denied—love takes centre stage on this day.
What better way to celebrate or escape it than by diving into the perfect lineup of films and series? Whether you’re in the mood for thrilling romance, heartwarming adventures, or gripping drama, we’ve got you covered. So, grab your snacks, settle in, and let’s set the mood for the ultimate Valentine’s weekend.
The Franchise | Streaming from 10 February
If you’re in the mood for a laugh this Valentine’s, The Franchise serves up Hollywood satire at its finest. The series takes a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the making of a failing franchise film, as a desperate crew tries to keep their blockbuster dreams alive. With a stellar cast led by Himesh Patel (Station Eleven) and Aya Cash (The Boys), and produced by the masterminds behind Veep and Succession, this comedy is perfect for anyone who prefers witty chaos over sappy love stories.
She Came to Me | Streaming from 17 February
Keep the Valentine’s magic alive with She Came to Me, an enchanting romcom that takes love, art, and self-discovery on an unexpected journey. A composer struggling to finish his opera, a conflicted psychiatrist, and a free-spirited tugboat captain cross paths in a story that sails into uncharted emotional waters.
Starring Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Anne Hathaway, and Marisa Tomei, this critically acclaimed film features a Golden Globe-nominated song by Bruce Springsteen and a fresh take on romance.
Yellowjackets | Streaming from 15 February
Love, survival, and secrets collide in the Emmy-nominated thriller Yellowjackets. As the story of a high school girls’ soccer team stranded in the wilderness unfolds, the lines between past and present blur in chilling ways. With two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank and Critics’ Choice nominee Joel McHale joining the cast, this season promises more twists, dark revelations, and gripping suspense. Whether you’re watching for the intense drama or the tangled relationships, it’s the perfect binge for those who love their romance with a side of mystery.
Harold and the Purple Crayon | Streaming from 11 February
If you’re spending Valentine’s weekend with family or just want a heartwarming escape, Harold and the Purple Crayon is a whimsical delight. Based on the beloved children’s book, the film follows Harold, a boy who can bring anything to life with his crayon—until he accidentally draws himself into the real world. Featuring the voices of Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel, and Alfred Molina, this charming adventure is perfect for kids and adults alike, proving that a little imagination can turn any situation into magic.
The Day of the Jackal | Stream now
Who says Valentine’s weekend has to be all about romance? For those craving high-stakes action and suspense, The Day of the Jackal delivers. This modern reimagination of the classic novel follows a ruthless assassin, played by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, as he embarks on a deadly mission across Europe—until a determined British intelligence officer (Lashana Lynch) starts tracking him down. With its intense cat-and-mouse chase and Golden Globe-nominated performances, this thriller is a pulse-pounding alternative to love stories.
Ready to take your valentine weekend to the next level? Get the Showmax Entertainment mobile plan for just N1,600 monthly, or subscribe for multiple devices at N3,500. Visit www.showmax.com/ng or download the Showmax app to register and subscribe.
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