NEWS

Russian Ambassador to turkey Shot Dead by Man screaming “Allahu Akbar” [PHOTOS/VIDEO]

Published

8 years ago

December 20, 2016

Russia’s ambassador to Turkey has been assassinated by an off-duty police officer in front of terrified witnesses allegedly in retaliation for the crisis in Aleppo.

The gunman – smartly dressed in a black suit and tie – reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” and said in Turkish “We die in Aleppo, you die here” after shooting Ambassador Andrei Karlov in the back.

Rant: Altintas shouts ‘Allahu akbar [God is great]’ as Andrei Karlov lies dying on the floor after the fatal gallery shooting [PHOTO DailyMail]

The attacker was fatally shot by police after killing Mr Karlov and wounding three others in what Russia’s Foreign Ministry has called “an act of terrorism”.

Mr Karlov, 62, was delivering a speech at an art gallery in the capital of Ankara when he was shot from behind in an attack caught on camera, and then shot at least once more at close range as he lay on the floor.

Bloodied end: An image of the gunman, lying dead on the floor of the art gallery, was posted on Twitter after the stand-off

The gunman – identified by Turkish officials as Mevlut Mert Altıntas – was a police officer who used police identification to enter Ankara’s Centre for Contemporary Arts.

The 22-year-old had been a member of Ankara’s elite anti-riot police for two-and-a-half years.

After killing the ambassador he reportedly shouted: “Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria! As long as our brothers are not safe, you will not enjoy safety.

“Whoever has a share in this oppression will pay for it one-by-one.

“Only death will take me away from here.”

Prosecutors said authorities raided an address linked to the shooter and his family, and Turkish media said the gunman’s father, mother and sister had been detained for questioning.

A senior security official told Reuters there are “very strong signs” that the gunman belonged to the network of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who was accused of orchestrating a failed coup in July.

The unnamed official said the current investigation was focused on the gunman’s links to the network.

One of Gulen’s advisors strongly denied the allegations.

Poised to strike: As Andrei Karlov takes to the microphone, about to make a speech at an art exhibition, as gunman Mevlut Mert Altintas, left in the background, stands calmly behind him

The gunman stands near Andrei Karlov’s body (Photo: AFP)

Terror: Spectators cowered in the corner of the gallery as Mr Karlov was shot at close range by the 22-year-old gunman

Lockdown: Dozens of Turkish police secured the area around the gallery following the fatal shooting of the diplomat last night

EVENTS

Nigeria Selects “Mai Martaba” As International Feature Film (IFF) Contender For 2025 Oscars

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2024

Reporter

Mai Martaba as international feature film contender | fab.ng

The Nigerian Official Selection Committee has selected the epic Hausa film, Mai Martaba as its contender for the International Feature Film (IFF) category at the 97th Academy Awards. The Committee announced in an official statement that they selected the film to contend for the Oscars because of its theme and visual appeal.

“The Nigerian Official Section Committee (NOSC) selected the film for its relevant theme of diverse voices in decision-making and inclusive leadership and its visual and technical appeal,” the post said.

Acclaimed director Prince Daniel produced and directed the epic Hausa film “Mai Martaba.”

The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has selected as its contender for the International Feature Film (IFF) category at the 97th Academy Awards. The NOSC announced this decision in an official statement, praising the film’s powerful themes and visually captivating qualities.

“Mai Martaba” explores the complexities of power, love, greed, and betrayal within the context of an ancient African kingdom. The film presents a transformative tale that challenges conventions and celebrates female leadership. Notably, it offers a fresh perspective on the region’s rich cultural heritage.

The NOSC’s voting members are an impressive roster of industry luminaries. They include award-winning filmmaker and NOSC Chairperson Stephanie Linus. Victor Okhai, the President of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), is also a member. Veteran actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is on the committee. Former DGN President Andy Amenechi is a member. Yibo Koko, a theatre practitioner, is on the committee. Writer/director Izu Ojukwu and prolific film producer Emem Isong are also members.

Additional members include Ali Nuhu, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC). Kene Okwuosa, the Co-Founder and Group CEO of Filmhouse Cinemas, is a member. Director Dimeji Ajibola is on the committee. Writer/director Jude Idada is a member. Director John Njamah is on the committee. Actress/polyglot Meg Otanwa is a member. Producer/director Blessing Effiom Egbe is on the committee. Actress Ijeoma Grace Agu is a member. Journalist/film critic Victor Akande is on the committee.

“Mai Martaba” was filmed in Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria.

The film tells the story of an ancient kingdom that experienced a trade boom through the Trans-Saharan trade exchange, but then faced a fierce internal power struggle among the powerful Agadashawa ruling clan, leading to its downfall.

The film was released theatrically in Nigeria and also selected for the prestigious Septimius Awards in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The NOSC’s 15-member committee unanimously voted “Mai Martaba” as their top choice to represent Nigeria in the IFF category at the 97th Oscars.

The IFF Executive Committee will now determine the next stage for the film’s journey to the prestigious awards ceremony, which will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles, and broadcast live to over 200 territories worldwide.

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MUSIC

Don Jazzy Announces Tega Oghenejobo As The New President Of Mavin Records

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2024

Reporter

Tega Oghenejobo As The New President Of Mavin Records | fab.ng

On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Michael Collins Ajereh, the visionary founder of Mavin (Records) Global, better known by his stage name Don Jazzy, announced a significant expansion within the company. He announced Tega Oghenejobo as the new president of Mavin Records.

Tega has been an integral part of Mavin’s journey. Now, his position as President has elevated his status in the company. In addition, he has been in the existing role of Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Don Jazzy expressed his admiration for Tega’s passion and resilience. He acknowledged his ability to spot these qualities in Tega from the early stages of their professional relationship.

He said,

“I’m proud to announce @TEGAMAVIN expanded role as President and COO of Mavin. I am often praised for being able to spot and raise superstars, but I can proudly say the most genius thing I have done in my life was being able to spot the passion and resilience in Tega.”

I’m proud to announce @TEGAMAVIN expanded role as President and COO of Mavin. I am often praised for being able to spot and raise superstars, but I can proudly say the most genius thing I have done in my life was being able to spot the passion and resilience in Tega. From the… pic.twitter.com/q55TSODQMP

— SUPREMOS 🤍🐘 (@DONJAZZY) October 29, 2024

“From the early days, I’ve watched him be curious about the business, build teams, develop executives, and ensure our talents have sustainable careers from the start. His commitment to growing Mavin and shaping the future of African music has been relentless, and I’m confident that with him in this role, we’ll continue to break new ground and achieve even bigger milestones for our artists and company,” he added.

Accepting the appointment gracefully, Tega Oghenejobo said,

“I’m honored to step into this new role as President & COO of Mavin Records. It means embracing new challenges, setting new goals, and reaching new heights. Thank you, Supreme Leader @donjazzy, for your unwavering belief and trust in me to lead the Mavin team.”

Check here for more updates.

BUSINESS

Moniepoint Reaches African Unicorn Status With $110 Million Funding Boost

Published

2 days ago

October 29, 2024

Reporter

Moniepoint reaches African unicorn status | fab.ng

Moniepoint Inc., a leading fintech company in Africa, has successfully raised $110 million in equity financing. This is to power the dreams of millions of businesses and their customers across the continent and the diaspora.

The Series C investment was led by Development Partners International’s African Development Partners (ADP) III fund. It is a premier fund focused on Africa.

Additionally, new investors joined the funding round. This includes a leading African private equity firm, Google’s Africa Investment Fund and Verod Capital. Existing investor, Lightrock, a global impact firm, also participated.

Tosin Eniolorunda and Felix Ike founded Moniepoint (formerly known as TeamApt) in 2015. Initially, it focused on providing infrastructure and payment solutions for banks and financial institutions. It has since grown into Nigeria’s leading business banking provider, trusted by millions of businesses.

The capital raised will be used to accelerate growth for Moniepoint across Africa.

Further, that entails building an all-in-one, seamlessly integrated platform for African businesses of all sizes. This platform will include services such as digital payments, banking, foreign exchange (FX), credit, and business management tools, making it a one-stop shop for business solutions.

Moniepoint’s exceptional contributions to Nigeria’s financial services sector have been widely acknowledged, along with its enviable track record of serving customers across Africa.

Each month, Moniepoint processes over 800 million transactions, with a monthly total value exceeding $17 billion, all while operating profitably.

Tosin Eniolorunda, Founder and Group CEO of Moniepoint Inc., expressed his excitement about the successful funding round and the company’s plans to expand its offerings and reach across the African continent.

“Our mission is to help our customers solve their challenges by making our platform more innovative, transparent, and secure. The proceeds from this raise will speed up our efforts to drive financial inclusion and support Africa’s entrepreneurial potential. I want to sincerely thank the entire Moniepoint team for making this achievement possible. We’ve been encouraged by the diversity and huge swathe of those who have found value in our platform and the services we provide in helping to create financial happiness. But, we’re just getting started, as it is just day one from here.”

DPI, Google’s Africa Investment Fund, and Verod have participated in Moniepoint’s latest fundraising round, joining the ranks of established investors such as QED Investors, Novastar Ventures, Lightrock, British International Investment, Global Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, and New Voices Fund.

Get more business updates here.