The first edition of EME’s ‘The Baddest Concert‘ took place at the Ocean view Restaurant, Lagos on Friday, December 21, 2012.

The event kicked off with jokes from Basketmouth followed by the Nigeria national anthem performed by the EME clique and later began with Individual performances by the clique.

Before Banky W started his performance he talked about how he started pushing the EME brand alone; expressing gratitude for what the label has now become and what his crew has achieved so far.

Wizkid, Skales, Shaydee and Niyola also thrilled the crowd with amazing back-to-back performances.

In addition, other acts at that performed at the event were D’Prince, Davido, Lynxx, Waje, Ice Prince, Wande Coal, Olu Maintain, Cobhams Asuquo who flew all the way from the US and few others.

Wizkid who gave a great account of himself closed the show, with label-mates joining him to pay a respect to the audience…

Watch out for full concert review.

11:09

After releasing his debut album ‘Superstar’ Ayodeji ‘Wizkid’ Balogun hasn’t looked back. Scoring number one hits, collaborating with international acts, winning world recognized awards and working up his way to A-list status, his nickname ‘Starboy’ might now be looking like an understatement.

In this exclusive interview with NET, the 22-year-old tells us about his experiences performing overseas, working with Akon, Wale, Young Jeezy, and why he feels he’s with the best team.

In one word, describe what the past year has been for you?

Blessing, it has been a blessing.

After the release of your debut album ‘Superstar’, who made decisions to go on tour or travel out of Nigeria?

I feel like everything just happened. It was funny because everything kept on happening, there was nothing we planned for, it was just God. Big shout out to my fans as well because after I released the album, I was getting calls from all over the world for bookings.  I could say it’s by my hard work, though. Of course everyone else is working hard, but you just have to have that x-factor, and that’s what has been pushing me on.

Where did you enjoy performing the most, the UK or US?

It was a totally different experience because in the UK, we have a lot of Nigerians living in one community, but in the US people are scattered all over, you have some people staying in New York, Minnesota, New Jersey. That’s the difference. Everywhere I went to, it was a different kind of love, because some people didn’t even think that I would come for the concert, because they felt like ‘why would Wizkid come to Minnesota or some funny place in the United States?’ It was a just a different experience for me.

How was it, working with the likes of Akon, Wale, Kardinal Offishall, The Game and Young Jeezy?

It was crazy, because I was at BET, then I was invited for a dinner. Wale has always been my friend, and [I'm also friends with] Bu, who’s Akon‘s younger brother. He came there with Young Jeezy and introduced me, and that was how I started work with him. When we recorded the first song, everybody loved it, [and] before I knew it The Game came in and heard the song and said he had to jump on it. We booked another session for the next day, then came back and recorded. Chris Brown and every other person came through, and it was a great feeling. I felt blessed.

Do you think not having a specific genre as an artiste has helped you have an edge over Nigerian artistes?

I wouldn’t say I have an edge over all other artistes because everybody has their own talent, but I’ll just say it’s my thing. It’s something God has blessed me with and I have worked very hard with it. It’s not just that I sit down and it comes to me, I try to surf for inspiration, and I think it has really helped me to be the ‘Wizkid’ that I am. People don’t get surprised by what I do, they feel like I can come up with any style, so it has helped me.

So which other international artistes have you worked with that we don’t know of?

I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag because people know almost all the ones I’ve worked with, so I will keep the others a secret till the time comes.

How did you find time to record your forth-coming album while you were busy on tour?

I am a workaholic, I’m a studio rat. In London, after the concerts I went back to the studio to do my thing,. It’s the love for music that keeps me going.

What is the energy behind you recording and performing?

It’s just because I love it. If you love your job then it’s no longer a job. It becomes a part of you. I don’t complain about doing my job, and my fans show me a lot of love.

What do you think is behind all this growth after your first single ‘Holla at your boy‘?

Firstly, it’s God, because everybody works hard, but it’s whom God has blessed that excels. So I just feel he is the one behind all these things happening, and also the fact that I have a solid team behind me handling my business.

What is the difference between when it was just you, Banky W, and Skales in the EME crew, to the new family now?

It was Banky and I even before Skales (Laughs). The dream at that time was to build an empire, bring some artistes, and build them on the same platform. It’s just a dream coming true, and it’s something we have always wished to do. We just made sure we built the empire, [and] I just thank God that everything is working out well. EME has always been about how good you are, not how well dressed you are.

Banky W postponed his album for the team to release the compilation; would you ever take that bullet for the team?

I [also] didn’t release an album this year just because of the EME album. I was supposed to release an album on June 12 this year, [but] I put that aside, which is a big sacrifice for me. For someone that works hard like I do and [has] a lot of materials, yeah, I’ve taken a bullet already (Laughs).

How was the experience recording the EME album?

It was easy. From day one it has always been about ‘what do you have now, let’s put it together and make something crazy.’ So when we were recording the album it was exciting. I’m glad we made it happen.

What does the wizkid brand stand for?

It stands for an ambitious young man who is trying fulfill his dreams. A lot of people come to me and say they want to be like me, I just feel overwhelmed by it and I’m happy and thank God.

Do you feel at the top of your career?

I am not anywhere close right now, I’m just starting. Every day when I wake up in the morning I feel like ‘what am I going to do today?’

You were nominated at the Channel O Awards but didn’t win. How did you feel?

I didn’t feel anyhow, I have gone through a lot of awards that I didn’t win at all, which is no stress for me. My fans still show me love and I have a couple of other awards, so I’m good with it.

Have you turned down any sort of endorsements?

I have turned down a couple of endorsement because the business is not want I want to associate myself with; I’ve got Pepsi right now.

Where did the rumour of you leaving EME come from?

We have heard that news; I guess some people thought of saying something funny.

Why did you part ways with your manager Osagie Osarenkhoe?

It was a business decision, because the brand is growing. She’s still working with a couple of other EME artistes to push their brands. She is still part of the team, we just needed more hands.

10:59

Check out Iyanya’s new video to his third single ‘Flavour’ off his forthcoming second album.

Directed by Moe Musa (who is now the go-to man for Nigerian musicians shooting vids in the UK), the video blends previously recorded clips of the artiste’s performances with some new footage.

It’s a lovely watch…

10:52

10:48

Reports say that a suicide bomber, Saturday, attacked telecom service provider, Airtel’s office in Kano. The office is located within the Business District, opposite Malam Kato Square in the metropolis.

It is not immediately clear how the bomber gained entry into the heavily fortified Airtel headquarters that has been under the protection of combat-ready JTF officials.

Thought casualty figure is sketchy, but report says the multi-million naira headquarters is still in flames.

Efforts made to reach the JTF spokesman, Captain Ikediche Iweha, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls to his phone.

Details shortly.

09:53

It's a black Saturday in the city of Kano as another suicide bomber attacked MTN Communication office in the state capital. The occupant of the bomb-rigged car hit the MTN headquaters at Post Office Road, Kano, about 30 minutes after the attack on Airtel's office.

As at the time of reporting, credible sources told Olufamous.com that the number of casualty from both attacks were already four.

Some staff and security officials on night shift were said to still be in the office when the building was hit by the suicide bomber. “There may be casualties, but at the moment I cannot disclose to you how many because we are still investigating the matter,” a security source said.

Sporadic gunshots are heard around the area.

09:51

2012 Kwara state university (kwasu) has been renamed to honour kwara state strongest man in politics and father of sen. Bukola saraki and gbemisola saraki. The school will now be called olusola saraki university (OSU)

23:40

A lawmaker representing Gaya constituency on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)  was killed today by unidentified gunmen in Hotoro area of Kano city.
Danladi Isa Kademi was shot dead around 6.30 pm Nigerian time by Islamist militants operating on a motorcycle.
Mr. Kademi was a  former chairman of the association of Local Government Chairmen in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris confirmed the killing of the lawmaker to the media, but said the police had warned the lawmakers to stay away from relaxation joints.

12:07

Two Nigerians have been arrested for allegedly attempting to divert $13,978 belonging to Ghanaian peacekeepers after they had succeeded in hacking into the e-mails of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
The suspects, Peter Okechukwu, 32, and Emmanuel Ifedi, 31, were arrested by officials of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service at a branch of the United Bank of Africa (UBA), in Accra, where they had gone to cash the money.
According to the Director General of the CID, Commissioner of Police, Mr Prosper Agblor, in November, this year, the two suspects managed to enter the e-mails of Continental African Trading Limited (CATAL) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) GHANBATT 76 and intercepted all electronic communications between the two parties.
CATAL, an international organisation, had been supplying home appliances to Ghanaian peacekeeping troops on various missions at different locations in the world.
Recently CATAL was contacted as usual by the GAF to supply home appliances for UNIFIL GHANBATT 76 peacekeeping troops in Lebanon.
Mr Agblor said there was correspondence between CATAL and the military through the Internet concerning the supply of the items.
Somewhere along the line, he said, the e-mails between GAF and CATAL were hacked into by the two Nigerians who intercepted all mails from both ends and replied them as if they were coming from the rightful receivers of the email.
Mr Agblor said the two suspects using the identity of CATAL sent an email to the military instructing them to pay cash in the sum of $13,978 into a United Bank for Africa account number 01011651102235 as part payment for the supply of the goods.
Upon receipt of the information, the GAF transfered $13,978 into the account as instructed by the two suspects.
Mr Agblor said CATAL realised that the military had suddenly stopped communicating with them on matters relating to the transfer of the money so they followed up with a phone call and detected that the military had paid an amount of $13,978 into an account number supplied by them.
He said it was at that stage that they both realised that someone had hacked into their emails and quickly reported the issue to the Documentation and Visa Fraud Unit of the CID.
Mr Agblor said that the Business Development Manager of CATAL reported the case to the police and checks at the bank revealed that the money had not yet been cashed by the suspects.
The police therefore mounted surveillance at the bank awaiting the arrival of the suspects.
According to Mr Agblor, on November 11, 2012, Peter Okechukwu who happened to be the owner of the said account was arrested when he turned up at the bank to cash the amount.
Upon interrogation, the police said, Okechukwu admitted to the offence but mentioned Emmanuel Ifedi as the master brain behind the whole deal and led the police to his house at Ashaley Botwe, an Accra suburb.

He said investigations were still on-going after which the two would be put before court.

11:52

Kamene Okonjo, the mother of finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, released Friday after five days in captivity, was dropped off the road by her captors, the BBC reports.The BBC quotes Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, as saying 82-year-old Mrs. Okonjo was let off on a main road near her home. The driver of the car was detained, he said.
But hours after the dramatic release, said to have occurred about 10 a.m., the police are yet to provide details of the incident.
Police authorities in Delta State said the details were still being put together and would only be available later.
“We are still piecing the information together,” spokesperson, Charles Muka, was quoted by NAN.
Mr. Uduaghan claimed Mrs. Okonjo’s abductors had probably decided to let her go because of the intense pressure they faced.
But those claims are being tested by allegations that ransom was paid for the release as is often the case with kidnappings where payments are secretly made, and never officially admitted.
Mr. Uduaghan told the BBC the government’s policy of rejecting ransom demands did not change on this case.
“For this one we also insisted that we would not pay any ransom [and] as a government we would not negotiate with anybody,” he reportedly said.
Mrs. Okonjo was kidnapped last Sunday in Delta State.
Earlier, Special Adviser on Media to the Finance Minister, Paul Nwabuikwu, confirmed the release in a statement.
“I can confirm that Professor Mrs. Kamene Okonjo, wife of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Professor Chukuka Okonjo and mother of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy/Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was released this morning, five days after her abduction.
“The Okonjo Family is full of thanks to the Almighty for this happy development. The family is also highly appreciative of the support and encouragement of President Goodluck Jonathan; the Country’s security services for their excellent operations; Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Peter Obi of Anambra, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and other Governors as well other friends and well wishers within and outside government for their prayers and encouragement during a very difficult period. May God bless you all,” Mr. Nwabuikwu said.
He did not offer any further explanation on how her release was secured, nor how much ransom was paid.
Prior to the release, speculations were rife that Mrs Okonjo’s abductors had made various demands, including an initial demand for the payment of about N1billion, which later reportedly reduced to N200 million, claims the police said they were not aware.
It was also reported Thursday that the abductors later reviewed their catalog of demands to include a call for the immediate resignation of the Minister, apparently because of her principled stance on the issue of the investigation of petroleum subsidy payments to marketers, which has attracted a lot of acrimonious attacks from some affected persons.

Kidnappings, including that of relatives of public officials, have been on the increase in Nigeria with families of victims paying huge ransoms to secure their release without admitting the payment publicly.

11:42

Four students of Lead City University died in the early hours of this morning in an auto crash around high-court area ofRing Road Ibadan. The student were heading to Koko Dome nightclub for a party hosted by some Lead City students when the car they were riding in hit another car and somersaulted multiple times. The four students were said to have died at the scene. So sad. May their souls rest in peace...Amen. Lead City is a private university in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

08:37

Nov 30, 2012 – Blackout Looms In Nigeria As Egbin Hydro Power Station In Ijede Lagos Breaks Down Serious blackout looms in most partof the Nigeria as three out of the six turbines of 220 mega watts (MW)each in Egbin Hydro power plants collapsed on Thursday . When the Nigerian Tribune visited the premises of Egbin power plant inIjede, a suburb of Lagos State, on Thursday, it was learnt that two units of the largest hydro power plant in Lagos had collapsed. Egbin power plant has capacity to generate 1320MW when operating at full capacity, but now it is generating below installed capacity at about 660MW. The Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Hydro power plant, Mr Mike Uzoigwe, told Nigerian Tribune on telephone that he could not entertain calls because of an emergency at hand. According to him, “ there is an emergency that requires urgent attention. I am sorry I cannot attendto you now, but you can call me later.” But a staff of the power plant who declined to give her name confirmedthe incidents. According to her, “before now, we have five units working optimally, the sixth unit is undergoing some rehabilitation. Due to significant drop in water level atthe dams, two units collapsed this morning, leaving only three working.” However, when the Nigerian Tribuneinquired from a source at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) who preferred anonymity, he blamed the drop in power supply on drop in water level at the dams, system collapse, inadequate capacityand lack of needed infrastructure. He explained that the problem is multifaceted. According to him, “if you are familiar with the trend, you would have observed that during this period of each year, we usually experience this drop in power supplybecause of drop in water level. “Unlike before when we had rainfall at its peak, you will experience greater output. So, power generation has dropped below4000MW as we speak. “There is breakdown of some TCN infrastructure as well which affects supply to distribution companies (Discos). The customers have direct interface with the Discos, but when they do not have enough supply from TCN to distribute to customers, then, thereis a problem. “We are not happy at the situationbecause it is affecting our image and we are suffering loss of revenue as well. But the engineers are working hard to resolve the problem at the TCN end. We are very sorry for this because we cannot give what we do not have,” he said

09:19