Entertainment
Chidimma Adetshina, Miss South Africa Hopeful, Quits After Citizenship Row
A Miss South Africa contestant whose Nigerian heritage sparked a national controversy and a government investigation withdrew from the beauty pageant Thursday.
Chidimma Adetshina’s announcement that she would not take part in Saturday’s final came a day after the Home Affairs ministry accused her mother of fraud and identity theft.
“After much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I,” Adetshina, 23, wrote on Instagram.
Adetshina, a law student, has been the subject of vicious, xenophobic attacks on social media since she was announced as a finalist in July, with many — including cabinet ministers — questioning her credentials because of her Nigerian descent.
Adetshina has previously told local media she was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent.
The ruckus led to an investigation into her citizenship following a request from the pageant’s organisers.
On Wednesday, home affairs minister Leon Schreiber said the investigation uncovered “prima facie indications” that Adetshina’s mother might have committed fraud and stolen the identity of a South African woman.
The ministry said it was obtaining legal advice on the implications of this on the citizenship of Adetshina, who was an infant at the time of the alleged fraud.
South Africa grants citizenship by birth to anyone born in the country after 1995 to a South African parent or permanent resident.
Adetshina’s participation in the pageant stoked anti-foreigner sentiment in the nation, which has witnessed violent, and at times deadly, attacks on immigrants in the past.
Politicians, celebrities and ordinary citizens weighed in on the debate. While many came to her defence, others argued she should be disqualified.
Announcing her decision to quit, Adetshina thanked everyone who “stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey”.
“I am really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown,” she wrote.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has sparked controversy after declaring herself “a Jesus baby.”
The Crazy Tings crooner made the declaration while responding to a question about her zodiac sign in an interview with The People Gallery at the 2025 Fashion Awards.
“Oh, I’m a Jesus baby. My sign is love, peace and joy,” she said.
This earned Tems backlash after a clip of the interview went viral on social media, with critics chastising her for associating herself with Jesus despite being a secular artist.
Read some of the reactions on X below: xm_muva wrote: “She [Tems] makes worldly music and shakes her fine ass on stage to the entire world. Christians are hypocrites lol. Y’all think your religion is a buffet, bro. Be free, ah?”
Phena95 opined: “Jesus or Christianity is not an aesthetic; it’s not just about love, joy and peace. Repentance as well.”
Chocodilish wrote: “Add some personality to your music, this Jesus baby bllsht is killing your brand abeg.”
max_sticks said: “It’s funny when I see believers attacking her [Tems] for doing too much. Your identity is Christ and not one useless zodiac sign, please.”
Gigialwashere added: “I agree with her [Tems]. Grown past being a Gemini, now I identify as a Jesus baby.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that it has no evidence to support the allegation that Jude and Paul Okoye of P-Square fraudulently withdrew $800,000, contrary to claims made by their brother, Peter Okoye.
Peter had in 2024 petitioned the EFCC accusing Jude of diverting the P-Square group funds, operating 47 undeclared bank accounts and manipulating the share structure of Northside Entertainment Ltd, a company jointly owned by them
The EFCC subsequently filed charges against Jude over alleged financial misconduct in the management of the P-Square brand.
During resumed cross-examination, EFCC counsel, M.K. Bashir, told Justice Rahman Oshodi that the commission could not present evidence for the alleged withdrawal.
When asked by the judge to substantiate Peter’s claim, Bashir said: “We do not have it. It is his evidence. Let him prove it. I can’t give what I don’t have.”
Peter had testified on May 23, 2025, that he obtained new evidence showing how Jude and Paul allegedly withdrew and shared more than $800,000 between March 2023 and October 2024.
But when defence counsel, Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN, confronted him with inconsistencies, he shifted his position, stating that the alleged withdrawal actually occurred between 2013 and 2014.
The defence further challenged Peter’s assertion that Jude operated 47 bank accounts.
Peter insisted the EFCC held the evidence, but Bashir denied the claim, saying: “I do not have 47 bank accounts. It is one of the witness’s claims, but I do not have such a copy.”
Onwuenwunor asked the court to order Peter and the EFCC to produce the alleged 47 accounts.
Justice Oshodi however rejected the request and ruled that the defence must apply formally since the documents were neither before the court nor part of the admitted evidence.
The defence also confronted Peter over his claim that Jude owned 80 per cent of Northside Entertainment.
Although Peter maintained he had proof, the defence tendered CAC records contradicting his assertion.
Peter was further questioned on his claim that he was unaware of the existence of Northside Music and that Jude signed artist Cynthia Morgan without his knowledge.
He said he only discovered the company in 2024 when Cynthia Morgan sent him her contract on Northside Entertainment letterhead, adding that while the contract was signed with Northside Music, her albums were credited to Northside Inc.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to December 12, 2025, for continuation of trial.
Late American singer, Michael Jackson, has been crowned the highest-paid deceased celebrity of 2025.
The ‘King of pop’ topped the list of the highest-paid deceased celebrities of 2025 recently released by Forbes.
According to the magazine, Jackson earned $105 million over the past year, more than any other late icon by a wide margin.
The majority of Jackson’s recent earnings came from the 2024 sale of a 50% stake in his master recordings and publishing catalog to Sony Music for $600 million.
Other musicians on Forbes’ annual list of top-earning deceased celebrities cover ten of the top thirteen spots including Prince, John Lennon, and Bob Marley. Collectively, the group earned $541 million in the past year.
Since Jackson’s death in 2009, his estate has generated a staggering $3.5 billion, making him the most posthumously successful celebrity of all time
-
News3 years agoJust In: President Tinubu returns to Nigeria
-
News3 years ago2023 Elections: Outgoing Rwandan High Commissioner say s Nigeria, ‘ handle their destiny’ in a peaceful way.
-
Entertainment3 years agoSocial media cloth Vendor Found Dead In Ibadan Hotel.
-
News3 years agoOgun HoS Solicit Affordable Housing For Civil Servants
-
Sports3 years ago
CAF SALUTES RIVERS UNITED AFTER SEALING QUARTER-FINAL TICKET.
-
Trending News3 years agoFG begins 40% pay rise for workers.
-
Entertainment3 years ago9mobile Ambassadors Begin “Meet And Greet” Session With Staffs, Customers.
-
Health & Wellness3 years agoBreastfed babies have lower risks of diabetes – Nutritionist