Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab arraigned in court

The Nigerian at the centre of the Christmas Day bomb plot made his first appearance in a US federal court yesterday to be charged with the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, for which he could face up to 90 years in jail.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was due to appear in court in Detroit as conservatives stepped up criticism of the decision to try him in a civilian court rather than before a military tribunal.

Abdulmutallab’s father, who has been hailed as a hero in the US for reporting concerns about his son to the American Embassy in Nigeria, was not expected at yesterday’s hearing even though he may never see his son at liberty again.
The charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction — in this case the explosives sewn into his underpants — has been added to the case against him since officials first filed a criminal complaint on Christmas Day. It raises Mr. Abdulmutallab’s potential jail term from 20 to 90 years.

Two Nigerian lawyers, led by Maryam Uwais, the wife of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, came to observe the proceedings. The other lawyer was Mahmud Kazuare from Maryland. They were accompanied by diplomatic officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC. The court reserved a front row for the observer lawyers and diplomats.

The courtroom was packed with accredited officials, lawyers and the media. Security was tight inside and outside of the courtroom. President Obama’s chief counter-terrorism adviser, John Brennan, has hinted that a plea bargain could be offered to persuade Mr Abdulmutallab to reveal details of al-Qaeda networks and conspiracies that he may have learnt about in Yemen.

Farouk Abdulmutallab was represented at taxpayers’ expense by a team of lawyers led by Miriam Siefer, a highly regarded public defender with long experience of ensuring that unpopular clients receive due process.

She represented James Nichols when he was a suspect along with his brother, Terry Nichols, in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and has worked on several previous cases involving disturbances on Northwest Airlines flights landing in Detroit.

The charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction — in this case the explosives sewn into his underpants — has been added to the case against him since officials first filed a criminal complaint on Christmas Day. It raises Mr. Abdulmutallab’s potential jail term from 20 to 90 years.

Umar Farouk’s lawyers from the Public Defender’s office guided him in taking a no-guilty plea. Farouk spoke in measured low tones, spelling out his names and explaining that he understood the charges and that his lawyers had told him he would be remanded in prison custody until the next court date.

He pleaded “Not Guilty?” asked a Nigerian observer outside the courthouse in surprise, “I thought he would seize the last chance of personal dignity by pleading guilty and suggesting that he be executed publicly.”

CHANGE IS: BUILDING OUR DREAMS

Dear All,

HOW DO WE GET STARTED?

God has given us our country as a cradle and Humanity as mother; we cannot rightly appreciate the cradle without embracing humanity its mother. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, German Poet and Novelist said and I quote: “Everything has been thought of before, but the problem is to think it again…”

I think we can get started by the insight from Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe. It is a beginning point. Somebody somewhere and sometime had that thought you now carry but perhaps due to one reason or the other couldn’t take the seed beyond conception. What need be done is more than conceptualizing it. We put a limit to what we will do, when we put a limit to what we can do.

Let us embrace CHANGE; and Swap Criticisms for an ERA of “WHAT WE CAN DO”. We all have put on HOLD what we can do. We have been carried away with “If I was… Had I known…..I WOULD HAVE….

Permit me to humbly inspire all to start something now? Every great accomplishment is the story of a flaming heart. Every new idea is impossibility until it is born. You have to hatch IDEAS; Hitch them; and transform these into REALITIES. Thoughts stems out of our thoughts and these thoughts are the organizing factors in man.

You are what you think; you are what you go for and you are what you do. If you consider this TRUE, then it is time to have a turning point from those things that portrays you in a different light other than what you are. Winning starts from beginning.

We are called to rise above our Human circumstances, not allowing our environment to suppress our irrepressible Human Spirit, our dignity and our sense of worth. We owe ourselves the duty first to cause CHANGE; the duty to uphold DIGNITY; and not to accept poverty as given, as a permanent feature of life.

Emotions do not determine what we can achieve but our NATURAL ENDOWMENTS and our determination to explore these. We can spend our time in the TASKS before us trusting that the right performance of these hours and moments are the beginning of a better tomorrow; a best preparation for the years that follow it.

Like the German proverbs that says:
“Grow where you are planted; begin to weave and God will give the Thread”.
Impliedly, Providence has a part! We are Purposeful. We have our parts. We will do our parts; and God will bless our efforts.

Let us begin from where we are now and ignite CHANGE. Inspire CHANGE. It is attainable and we can do it!

God bless you all.

Adedoyin Olatunji.
Publisher
OPAL MAGAZINE

Interview with the MIDNIGHT CREW by the Publisher, OPAL MAGAZINE

Interview with MIDNIGHT CREW
By the Publisher of OPAL

I have listened to a few Nigerian praise and worship songs but there is an exceptional style with the midnight Crew. Their latest music album is best described as exciting, uncontrived and uniquely inspiring. I personally sought an interview with the band and a member, Pat - Uwaje King spoke on behalf of the band; she and Mike Abdul composed IGWE and the track is a hit track. She was great, throwing lights on all about the Midnight Crew. I was too fascinated at them and was not too surprised that this lady did the jingle on one of our local Televisions. Available at the time of the interview was Ojuola, another sweet toned singer that gave me some great expectations from the Band very soon. Pat also spoke on the behind the scene scoop. Pat is a lady in her late 20s, married, well mannered, spoke eloquent and I consider her focused and set for the mission embarked upon; cultured, gifted and there is this apparent leadership quality in her; that is humility and team spirit. She carries along her team members along this interview. She spoke acknowledging every member’s skill and talent. I admire her for this. I miss other members but I promise to get them at a future time. From the way their music is composed and recorded the sound of the music isn’t exclusive to youths alone. What amazes me most is the fact that they are on a mission and not just singing to make money; the mission that must be accomplished in ten years time. I truly wish them an accomplished Mission.

Excerpts:

Tell me about the MIDNIGHT CREW members.

“I am Patricia Uwaje King and we have also in the band other members namely Gbenga Oyebola, Michael Abdul, Ojuola Ayo-Oamide”

OPAL: How did you come about the name of the Band ‘MIDNIGHT CREW?’

“It’s like a concept. It’s metaphoric. It’s just like an idea… [Cuts in]

What idea please?

“We are fashioned after the operational style of Gideon set to tear down the altars of Baal; he gathered men at Night. It was from here that we concluded that there is something peculiar about the Night. Strange things happen at nights and that form the basis of our band name ‘MIDNIGHT CREW’. The name was derived from our activities from school; it was while we were on the campus at Yaba College of Technology. That was when we all met. we were like these very young people passionate about our vision and goals; we just wanted to express our vision and passion even when exams are taking place next day. We were invited here and there then and also readily available. Then we had the MASSCHOIR and it comprised then of about 80-100 members. At any given point we realised that about 10 -11 members must just be present. We believe that we are instrument of change and Music is our tool of reaching out”.

You have used the native language from the eastern part of Nigeria to describe your album. You title it IGWE. Why is that?

We are excited about IGWE. We really wanted to lift the name of God; we wanted to praise the majesty! We just wanted to express how BIG He is! By the time we begin to talk about our style of music, you will see the reasons why we chose that title IGWE and its effects on individual says PAT.

Tell me all about it.

“In MIDNIGHT CREW what we do is, while this person is leading, we have three others backing up; and while this person leads these other three forms the backup singers. We have about three four styles of music because of the individual members and difference in talents”.

Great! Does that mean you fashioned the title IGWE as an acknowledgement of these talents… [Cuts in]

“Exactly! We are praising God for bring us together amidst our differences and still we’re able to unite and form a band. We represent UNITY and TOGETHERNESS. When we unite great things happen.

And what impact has IGWE on people?

I think everywhere God just wants to be praised; God Himself love praise! His best meal is Praise You would have heard also in the song OMALICHA which means beauty. God is beautiful and he deserves our praise all the time… [Cuts in]

Genuine praise...

Oh yes ma!

I agree with you entirely Pat

Thank you ma

What motivated the combination of three languages in IGWE?

First, it is because we want it to be a National song and secondly, it’s a praise song. Like I said earlier on we are a group divinely formed; we have different dialects and Ojuola can even speak French. Our next song will comprise of French and Hausa languages. I am convinced we are on assignment to make it a wholly Nigerian song. Also we were motivated to do it that way because we want true understanding of the songs. For the purpose of true inspiration, we chose to sing in Yoruba, Igbo and English now.

Is this your first album?

That was the second album. The first album was FUSION (YIN BABA). It came out long time ago, 2002/2003.

What mode is your kind of Music?

Ours is a combination of any music can ever think of, Apala, Fuji, Jazz, Blues etc

May I ask what extent this music has taken you?

It wasn’t IGWE that took us to UK. Yin Baba took us to UK. Perhaps because in that part of the world are conservative by nature, they love FUSION; but Nigerians want IGWE because we are happy people. Right now we don’t know how they got the materials both in the UK and USA. I guess perhaps people who bought it here took it down to relatives and families over there. The response has been great. It encourages us and makes us feel real good.

Any challenges?

Just as it’s common to most projects but some people were just exceptional in their supports to us; they were good mentors. It was not easy but we thank God for we are.

I understand you perfectly Pat. What do you think that Nigerians need to move forward?

As far as MIDNIGHT CREW band is concerned, we want to move out and reach out to the needy. We are trying. We have visited the KOMMA HILLS. We need to support one another. The privileged should help and aid the needy. We need more charitable gestures etc.

That is true; we have singers like BEYONCE taking bold charitable steps, OPRAH too etc... I love OPRAH for her godly virtues.

Oh yea ma! She is good! We have a project at hand now that we are working on. It is an outfit titled and called ZERA. ZERA is the seed of time. ZERA is a Greek word and it means “the seed of our time”. We want young people in music to come out together, so we can help improve upon lives of the needy people. Whatever our talents it’s time to use it to edify God. We want to encourage and inspire ourselves. We want to help ourselves out of the challenges of setting up projects etc, to meet people’s desired projects and to sow seed into people’s lives. We will accomplish this by the grace of God.....................

OPAL MAGAZINE

Femi Soloye studied Bio-chemistry and graduated from the University of Ibadan. Thereafter she proceeded for the National Youth service, a National orientation and community service for fresh graduates in Nigeria. She has since built on her Passion for the ART of Make-Ova, setting up a business in it on the trade name BOUDOIR. Femi remains on this PATH growing in leaps and styles…..She is

In an interview with her….Femi bares it all on how she got into the Make-Ova business. She asserts that hers is more of flair and passion as she merely attended the Lagos resource centre to get certified before practising the Art.

Excerpts:

OPAL: You are sharp wit?

Femi: ……. (Smiles) I have to clarify and express decisively

OPAL: So how far with the Art of Make-Ova?

Femi: Intersting. I have an outfit that is registered and its name is BOUDOIR………..

OPAL: What is Boudoir and how did you come about the name?

Femi: [Laughs]…Boudoir really is a French word. It means a secret place for women….like the private room so to speak. I fashioned my trade name after that as laldies are known to come out of their private places looking beautifully made up. Mostly my idea stemmed from the fact that ladies apply their cosmetics in private. It is most decent to have it so. Like every art you need focus and full attention when applying cosmetics. So that is how the name BOUDOIR came up. It stemmed from my personal bias against making up in the open. So in my context, it is a place to get one’s beauty more enhanced and beautifully come out your best……

THE A-Z ON KALU IKEAGWU AND THE BUSINESS OF ACTING

THE A – Z on Kalu Igwe and the business of Acting.

Kalu Egbui Ikeagwu, a fine and gentleman of the tube can be said to be rightly in his element when it comes to acting, on stage or on the silver screen. He’s found to describe the art as one very few vocations he was “born to do”. To Kalu Ikeagwu, who was born in Liverpool, England, the door to acting was unwittingly introduced to him by his very traditional father, Dr E. K. Ikeagwu his father, for fear of kalu loosing touch with his Igbo root having been born in England. He introduced Kalu to the world of Literature and make believe at the age of four; a world he took as a pig to mire. In secondary school, science subjects forced on him by his father who had dreams of his Okpara (meaning first son in English Language) becoming a doctor only hardened his resolve to do only what he enjoyed doing, prompting him to apply to study English Literature at the university.

It was an instinct that paid off beautifully for it was then he had the opportunity to appear on his first stage play by Esiaba Ironsi ( Put Out The Houselights). He has since then not looked back; instead he went ahead to act in some of Nigeria's memorable classics: as Major Lejoka Brown in Ola Rotimi's, "Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again," as RIP in Esiaba Irobi's "Hangmen Also Die" and many others.

Kalu maintaining focus went on to perform in various plays at the Edinburgh Festivals of 95 and 97. His first movie was as David Salako in Emem Isong's "For Real." on completion of this movie; he exclaimed that if a danfo (Lagos metro bus) were to hit him, he would die with a blissful smile on his face. A statement credited to fulfillment. He went on to feature in the movies 30 Days, The Wrong Woman, Distance Between, Between Two Worlds and the just concluded Irish film production Rapt In Eire. His popular TV series include AIT's Domino, 168 and MNET's classic Doctors' Quarters to mention but a few.

Kalu takes his vision to the NEXT LEVEL planning to give back to the public through his NGO which is to take-off later in the year. Kalu is one of the very few actors going selfless, planning to set up an organization to care and help the society. His on-going projects and plans include writing his own film and possibly be a producer someday.

It is amazing and rare to discover a fine young gentleman, with such intellect and intelligence as Kalu’s to remain disciplined and controlled, especially being in the movie industry; the well read, well informed and calm actor’s discipline may perhaps be traced to his faith affiliation with Christianity as he exhibit this in answer to one of OPAL’S question posed at him; he says “Funny enough, “Belief is everything” happens to be my personal motto. I strongly believe that with God and with immense focus, nothing is impossible”.

EXCERPTS FROM INTERVIEW:

OPAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR KALU IKEAGWU

Please give us a brief introduction of yourself, what colleges you attend etc.

My name is Kalu Ikeagwu, I was born in Liverpool England. I am the third of seven children. I got my Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. I’m an actor and I love my job – I feel really blessed to be able to do what I love for a living.

What prompted you into acting?

The literature books I read as a child helped me discover an imaginative world where I could create anything that I wanted. I see acting as a vehicle that I can use to carry out the different characters I’ve created in my imaginative world.


What was life like before your rise to stardom?

Life was pretty ordinary; I was in England working a regular job as a computer programmer, hanging out with friends, taking long walks… You know nothing spectacular.

What exactly did you study and when did the journey to stardom commence?

I studied English Literature and I also got a diploma in Business Administration and Computer Programming. My journey to stardom began with my first movie, “For Real,” but my performance as Jerry in the popular TV series, Domino, shot me into the limelight.

What has it been like since then?

It’s been an exciting journey with its ups and downs; I am still getting used to the loss of privacy but I love the fact that I get a chance to connect with so many of my fans. They are amazing and very supportive. I get a chance to actually live out my dream so I have no complaints- I just thank God for making this possible.

Apart from the Television Soap DOMINO where you featured as Jerry, which other role would you consider most challenging and why?

I’d say my performance in the movie, “The Triangle,” would be one of my most challenging roles. I played the role of three different characters- A young man in the 1960’s, the protagonist’s son at age 21, and the protagonist’s son at age 50.

I had to research the various eras, understand my characters, and rehearse in a very short period of time. Things worked out well and I am very proud of the work I put into the movie.

When was your first break and what was was it like?

Hmmm, my first break would be the first production to get me into the limelight. The best word to describe what it was like would be, “caught unawares” because I thought this character was a normal person who just happened to care about his family. But I was caught off guard by the audience reaction to my character, Jerry. They absolutely loved him, especially married women.

Of all your Roles so far which ones do you regard as the most interesting and most challenging?

Again, I would say the characters I played in the movie “The Triangle.” Seconded by, “Stranger’s Arms” to be released in the summer of 2009, where I play an assassin alongside Desmond Elliot. In Stranger’s Arms my character was villain, and it wasn’t so much his evil but his duplicity that I found challenging. I had to find a way to understand the motives behind his actions and be able to communicate those feelings to the audience.

OPAL: Hmmmm

What drives Kalu Ikeagwu?

My quest to finish my God given work... I believe I have a job to do on this earth and that drives me to do only the stuff I believe in, stay focused on the job at hand, and do it to best of my ability.

What would life outside acting be for you?

Hmmm, if I weren’t acting… I’d definitely be writing and or lecturing.

May I ask what else Kalu would divert his energy into outside acting?

Writing, lecturing, researching, and mentoring

What are your plans for acting? So to ask where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I intend to broaden my horizons and not limit myself. I will be directing a couple radio plays (should be out this summer), I plan on picking up more acting work outside the country, starting my own production company, writing screenplays, and possibly directing.

Do you see yourself quitting acting fully in later years?

Me quit? Never! Even if I am 90 and all I have to do in the role I’m playing is shake my walking stick in anger at passersby.. I’ll do it!
Acting is my first love- It’s what I was born to do; I can’t just walk away from it.

What can you say to inspire the budding actors and actresses?

Spend considerable time finding out if this is what you’re really cut out for. If it is, keep working at it and never look back. Make sure you get your education first, it’s paramount; that way you stay informed in a profession that’s intellectually demanding.

What do you feel about the Movie Industry presently?

I think the movie industry is going through a rebirth... I believe there’s an increasing pressure on the industry to begin to build structure and quality material if it plans on surviving in the next 5 years.

Find out more...............in OPAL Magazine.

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OPAL MAGAZINE

OPAL MAGAZINE interviewed Mrs Eme Akenzua, the pretty lady behind John 3v3 hats Ltd. she spoke at lenght on her other side. She is known for her beautiful Hats but this lady is also the Managing Trustee of the 'HERITAGE HOMES ORPHANAGE' in Lagos Nigeria...........

DIAMONDS ARE FORVER

To own a diamond takes an exercise in phases
for it lasts forever
Put in enough consistent manners
And you will have no regret ever
Just as an explorer experiences, discovery is only by the tough
Not to be put off on its discovery
For by appearance it is rough!

But rejoice and be glad for the discovery. Though it appears rough
With patience and endurance you carefully polish and beauty appears
Lo and behold like a star in the sky your diamond starts to glitter
So expensive it becomes for your efforts that never must it litter
Look round the world in reflection, its filled with all races
What distinguish you are your qualities
Not all could keep with the pace with which you have set the pace.

In all ways no barrier your attributes sells it over, black or white.
You have won to yourself an asset, whether in the morning or at night
that diamond you discovered rough now turns an attractive diamond.
So precious it becomes that it can never be taken like an almond

Like a star in the sky adorn by all, it never stop to twinkle.
So is the beauty of it but only the bearer enjoys it as it sparkle
Who gets a diamond wins all, for he wins a precious thing ever.
Like a plough to the earth till it crops, dare to explore like an explorer.
May you win diamond as you explore, for it last and shines forever.

Adedoyin Olatunji © 2005

Insight into OPAL MAGAZINE

The thought of publishing a magazine was conceived a few years back. Writing is a delight and a passion but there was a reservation. The thought that there were too many magazines in existence held back publishing but the drive grew stronger and it therefore became clear that publishing was ripe.

Looking around and with the sense that so much in life, particularly in our environment hinges on the grace of God, planning a model of MAGAZINE stemmed in 2006 having observed with admiration that the advantage of Magazines with FOCUS is that it compel readers to read from leaf to leaf. This should not be understood as saying that the magazine is based on the foundation of other magazines or that it adequately replaces any magazine in existence. It is simply one of PASSION & GRACE.

OPAL MAGAZINE birth in 2008 and has till date been breathing happy dreams & changes.

OPAL Magazine..........inspiring unto excellence!

Dig in!