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Tag: Monalisa Chinda

  • Nollywood actress Monalisa Chinda loses mom

    Nollywood actress Monalisa Chinda loses mom

    Popular Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda has taken to social media to announce the death of her mother, Comfort Chinda.

    The 50-year-old actress via the Instagram on Sunday, announced the sad news,  expressing her grief over the occurrence.

    Sharing an image of a lit candle, Monalisa wrote, “Rest in peace, Mom – Dame Comfort Franca Chinda. You will forever be in our hearts.

    “I’m thankful for the time we shared, for your selfless devotion to our family, for your unwavering love, and for the principles you instilled in us.”

  • Monalisa Chinda slams Lala Akindoju over condemning AGN’s visit to Regina Daniels husband

    Monalisa Chinda slams Lala Akindoju over condemning AGN’s visit to Regina Daniels husband

    Outspoken actress, Kemi Lala Akindoju recently called out the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) for paying a courtesy visit to the home of Regina Daniels and Ned Nwoko, her husband.

     

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the actress and her politician husband recently welcomed their first child — a baby boy — together.

     

    Days after the couple welcomed their baby, Emeka Rollas, AGN president, alongside some executives of guild visited them.

     

    Reacting to the visit in a post on Monday, Akindoju said the visit was indicative of the AGN’s lack of leadership.

     

    She wrote :“This is actually shameful. In these times where the actor’s guild should show leadership on pressing issues like navigating the industry with COVID-19, like creating structures to stop sexual harassment in the industry,” she wrote.

    “This is their priority. Even if you visit your member must you film and post? The videos we need to see about the future and safety of practitioners. Yet, they abuse us and insist that we join. Sigh!”

     

    Reacting to Akindoju’s statement, Monalisa Chinda, the publicity secretary of the guild wrote:” Our attention has been drawn to an unsavoury statement by An Actress though not an AGN Member. Kemi Lala Akindoju on social media about the visit of the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria to Mrs Regina Daniel Nwoko, one of our members who recently gave birth to a baby.

     

    Ordinarily, the AGN would not dignify such repugnant, uninformed comment with any response. In this case however, it is important to correct a few impressions without joining issues with a non-member of the guild. And we also advise you crosscheck your facts before making allusions.

     

    The simple intent is to establish our position and intimate the public on our policy direction and efforts of the present leadership to extend genuine care for every member of the guild.

     

    1.An actor’s registration as a member instantly confers on him or her the privileges due to members which includes protection in their professional quests, welfare packages in their moments of need, celebration of their triumphs and many more.

     

    1. Since assuming office, the current leadership of the Guild has prioritised courtesy visits to majority of her indisposed members across the country, offering moral and financial support since assuming office.

     

    1. AGN has established a dedicated line and email for reports of sexual harassment and abuse cases in line of duty. AGN is also in strategic partnership with relevant agencies to counsel and persecute violations against any of our members.

     

    1. AGN has introduced a highly credible Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) to take good care of their health issues of all registered members.

     

    1. AGN recently participated actively in two funeral rites of our dearly beloved members that passed on, Patience Oseni in Calabar and Ukwuak Asuquo, in Abuja. We remain completely committed to catering for all members irrespective of status or religion”.

     

     

    This isn’t the first time the association will come under such intense criticism.Hilda Dokubo and Kate Henshaw had in March also berated the guild over the appointment of Elisha Abbo, senator representing Adamawa north, as patron of the body.

  • I met the wrong person at the right time- Monalisa Chinda opens up on failed marriage

    I met the wrong person at the right time- Monalisa Chinda opens up on failed marriage

    Talented role interpreter, Monalisa Chinda has opened up on her failed marriage to Segun Dejo Richards.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Monalisa’s first marriage to Segun Dejo Richards hit the rocks after five years.

    In a chat, the light skinned actress noted that she got married to the wrong person at the right time.

    Asked if she sees her previous marriage as a mistake, she said:” No, I don’t see it as a mistake. I was just young and naive. I met the wrong person at the right time. The person was wrong for me, so what I did was to dust the dirt off my body and move on.Every individual has his or her way of dealing with emotions. It is very difficult I must confess, but when you keep speaking positivity into your life, that helped me a lot. I looked at myself in the mirror and told myself that I am better than before. I had a child who was 16 months old at that time. I told myself, I must move forward. I must look after my child”, she told The Sun.

    Speaking further, the ‘Lagos Cougar’ stated that everything that happened in the past built her and made her a better person.

    “Everything that has happened to me in the past has been a blessing that has built me to be a better person. It’s an eye-opener, which has made me wiser. I didn’t kill anybody neither did I steal, it’s just flesh. Sometimes you think you are taking the right decision for yourself, not knowing it is a grievous mistake. Don’t stew in your juice, if you have made a mistake in life, move on, don’t try to carry out revenge or get angry over what you couldn’t control. My advice is, let your hurt go so that you can be a better person. Let love lead and find you again”. as getting married.

     

  • Nollywood diva Monalisa Chinda harps on actors’ welfare

    Veteran Nollywood actress, producer and TV personality, Monalisa Chinda, has called for improved welfare and better working environment for Nigerian actors.

    She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    According to the thespian, Nollywood has contributed tremendously to Nigeria’s economy and placed the nation in an enviable position on the global stage, adding that its key players need support and enabling environment to strive.

    She stressed the need for a comprehensive health insurance cover for actors and the provision of welfare package for them.
    Chinda added that piracy should be effectively curbed by relevant authorities for industry players to reap the reward of their works.

    The actress disclosed that she was set to run for the position of Public Relations Officer of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) at the guild’s 2019 election slated for Oct. 31 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    She explained further that her decision to seek election into the AGN leadership team was for her to champion the call for an enabling environment and welfare for actors.

    “I want to see how I can work hand-in-hand with the president to get a better health Insurance scheme for actors.

    “This issue of coming on social media and begging for money, it works me up, and I am not the type of person that likes to just sit down and keep quiet.

    “We expose our respectable actors that they need N5,000 to treat cough is quite embarrassing, and we need to do something.

    “I will use my voice in a subtle way not to attack anybody but to sound my displeasure on some of these things,” she said.

    The actress who was once embroiled in alleged tax evasion saga, said as a law-abiding citizen, it was her civic obligation to pay tax and had resolved everything.

    She, however, called on industry stakeholders to always fulfill their civic responsibilities to government even as they call for support and enabling environment.

    “There are no excuses when it comes to your obligation to the state, anywhere you live and work there are the laws that are binding on you in the state, we must pay our taxes.”

    NAN reports that Monalisa, known for the 1996 acclaimed movie ‘Pregnant Virgin’, became very popular in the industry in 2007 when she started appearing in the television soap “Heaven’s Gate”.

    She debuted in 2011 as Executive Producer in the Royal Arts Academy movie, ‘Kiss & Tell’, which Emem Isong co-produced with her and was directed by Desmond Elliot.

    In 2012, she became one of the first of four Nollywood actors to be featured on the cover of Hollywood Weekly Magazine and began the acclaimed “You & I with Monalisa” TV show in 2014.

  • Monalisa Chinda’s ‘tax evasion’ hearing begins October 10

    An Igbosere high court in Lagos has scheduled October 10, for the trial of Monalisa Chinda-Coker, Nollywood actress, over alleged tax evasion

    Though Monalisa was scheduled to resume her trial on July 5, the judge adjourned the proceeding till Monday due to the eid-el-fitr holiday.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Adedayo Akintoye, the court justice, had in April renewed the order for the arrest of Chinda having failed to honour its initial arrest warrant.

    The actress who runs Monalisa Code Productions, a film-making firm , is facing a two-count charge for failure to file annual tax returns for a period of six years.

    “Failure to furnish and file annual tax returns for the purpose of personal income taxation with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) contrary to Section 94(1) of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 (as amended),” the charges read in part.

    ” …Monalisa Code Productions, being a taxable person in Nigeria and carrying on business…failed to furnish and file tax returns on your personal income for the years 2011 to 2016.”

    “Failure to pay income tax contrary to Section 56 of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law of 2006.”

    The light skinned role interpreter had earlier issued a statement through Emeka Odikpo and associates, her lawyer, discrediting the allegations levelled against her.

    In the statement, Chinda said that the profit-oriented enterprises are situated in Port-Harcourt and not Lagos, hence her tax obligations are primarily remitted to the Rivers state government.

    Monalisa stated that she remitted N100,000 to the Lagos state inland revenue service following a visit by its officials in 2016.

     

  • Trouble looms as court orders arrest of Monalisa Chinda over alleged tax evasion

    Trouble looms as court orders arrest of Monalisa Chinda over alleged tax evasion

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos State on Monday reintroduced a bench warrant for the arrest of Nollywood actress and producer, Monalisa Chinda-Coker, over alleged tax evasion.

    For her refusal to appear in court since 2017, a bench arrest has reportedly been approved in order to force Monalisa Chinda, to show up in court

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye renewed the order for the arrest following the failure of the actress to appear in court for trial.

    The Lagos State had charged her with failure to file annual tax returns and failure to pay income tax in respect of her company, Monalisa Code Productions.

    On Monday when the case came up, the defendant and her lawyer were not in court.

    The Lagos State Counsel, Mr Babatunde Sumonu, told the court that the bench warrant it earlier issued had yet to be effected.

    The judge consequently held that the bench warrant should subsist.

    The case has been adjourned until June 5 for further hearing.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the court had, on Jan. 21, given the order for the actress’s arrest following an application made by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

    The state submitted that the defendant repeatedly failed to honour court summons since 2017 when the charge was filed.

    The prosecution said that the defendant failed to file annual tax returns and pay income tax in respect of her company, to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, for six years.

    According to the state, Monalisa Code Productions carries out its business from Lekki in Lagos State.

    The alleged violations contravene Section 94(1) of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 (as amended) and Section 56 of the Lagos State Revenue Administrative Law of 2006.

     

     

  • EXCLUSIVE: Monalisa Chinda declines allegation of tax evasion [Shares proof]

    Popular Nigerian actress and producer, Monalisa Chinda Coker, has refuted allegations of tax evasion as widely reported in the media.

    The actress who made the rebuttal in a statement released by her lawyers and made available to TheNewsGuru, TNG, described the report of a 6-year tax evasion case against her person as libellous publication.

    Read the full statement:

    “Emeka Odikpo & Associates are the Solicitors to Mrs. Monalisa Chinda and on her instructions do hereby issue the following statement:

    “That Mrs. Monalisa Chinda Coker received with rude shock the libellous publication against her of a 6-year tax evasion case. It is unfortunate that this tendentious and wholly false information has been spread through Social Media and even the formal media against the person and reputation of Monalisa Coker. Mrs. Coker hereby states that she has never received any summons whatsoever from Lagos State Internal Revenue Service or from any Court. Mrs. Monalisa Coker hereby formally states that all businesses from which she earns income are based in Portharcourt, Rivers State and that her personal income tax status should be the exclusive preserve of Rivers State Government.

    “Mrs. Coker further states that it is only her foundation known as Arise Monalisa Foundation that is based in Lekki, Lagos. The said body is a non-profit organization and thus do not pay tax by law. Mrs. Coker states that sometime in 2016, when Lagos Inland Revenue Service, LIRS officials were dropping tax assessments around the premises of Arise Monalisa Foundation at Lekki, Lagos, they visited the premises and were told by the staff that only a non-profit organization was operational there.

    “They advised that even though the business is non-profit, the head of the outfit should pay some tax based on self-assessment. Based on the advice, she approached a bank and on self-assessment basis paid N100,000.00 for two years to the LIRS. She has also issued a tax card. (Photocopies of receipts and card attached for ease of reference)

    “Mrs. Monalisa Coker hereby restates for emphasis that Rivers State Government is the appropriate body that she is compelled by law to make income tax returns to. She has therefore instructed her Lawyers and Tax Consultants to approach Lagos State Inland Revenue Service with this information for necessary clearance.

    EMEKA ODIKPO ESQ
    SOLICITOR

  • Trouble looms as Court orders police to arrest star Nollywood actress Monalisa Chinda

    Trouble looms as Court orders police to arrest star Nollywood actress Monalisa Chinda

    A Lagos High Lagos in Igbosere has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of popular actress and producer, Monalisa Chinda Coker, over a tax evasion charge.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye made the order on January 21, following an application by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, alleging that Coker had repeatedly failed to honor a court summons.

    The application flowed from a two-count charge accusing Coker of a six-year failure to file annual tax returns and failure to pay income tax in respect of her company, Monalisa Code Productions.

    Monalisa Code Productions carries on its business from Lekki in Lagos.

    Prosecution counsel, Y. A. Pitan told Justice Akintoye that Coker had not appeared in court since 2017, when the charge was filed against her.

    “The defendant has been served with hearing notice. The proof of service is in the court’s file,” Pitan said, while making an application for the bench warrant.

    Granting the application, Justice Akintoye adjourned further proceedings till February 2.

    But on February 2, the court heard that the bench warrant had yet to be effected.

    It ordered that the warrant should continue and adjourned till April 1.

    Count one of the charge, marked LD/5712c/2017, reads in part:

    “Failure to furnish and file annual tax returns for the purpose of personal income taxation with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) contrary to Section 94(1) of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 (as amended).”

    The particulars of the count stated that Coker “of Monalisa Code Productions, being a taxable person in Nigeria and carrying on business at… Lekki… failed to furnish and file tax returns on your personal income for the years 2011 to 2016.”

    Count two reads: “Failure to pay income tax contrary to Section 56 of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law of 2006.”

     

  • I wish the world would judge celebrities less- Monalisa Chinda

    Talented actress, Monalisa Chinda has revealed the part of being a celebrity that she doesn’t like.
    The light skinned role interpreter noted that the public forget that celebrities are human.
    Chinda made this known in a chat with GlamSquad magazine.
     
    “Celebrities are human. We are allowed to make one or two mistakes; I would wish the public will judge us less,” she said when asked about the part of celebrity life that she thought was overrated.
    “That you are sometimes given preferential treatment at certain places, like the bank, the restaurants, at airports, social gatherings, being able to put zillion of smiles on people’s faces “.
     
    Speaking about the part of celebrity life that she found challenging, the actress said: “The fact that every word you utter in the public domain, you will be held accountable.
    “That you cannot act or behave ‘anyhow’ in the public domain, you must be in control of yourself and your emotions. Whilst it’s ok to be yourself, be conscious of yourself and what you ‘put’ out there.”
    Monalisa’s first major movie was Pregnant Virgin,which she did in 1996 and subsequently, after she graduated in 2000, she did Above the Law and has done many others since then.
    In 2007 her road to stardom kicked off when she started appearing in the television soap Heaven’s Gate.
     

  • Domestic violence: Half of the time, women are the ones at fault- Monalisa Chinda

     

    While domestic violence is a global problem, it has literally taken residence in Africa with endless stories of pains and sorrow behind it. Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda said that half of the time, women are the ones at fault when it comes to issues of violence against women.

     

    The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) had recently stated its determination to put an end to all forms of sexual harassment in Nollywood.

     

    Monalisa noted that actresses are often discreet about their experiences of sexual harassmen for the fear of being victimized and stigmatized. She made this known as a guest on The Other News, a show hosted by comic-actor Okey Bakassi .

     

     

    According to her:”It’s a bit uncomfortable for someone to come out and say I was cornered to sleep with a producer because of a role. They keep quiet about it because of their careers. Apart from that, the society stigmatizes these women. So you just swallow your pride.When you are outside the shores of Africa, women are heroes for coming out to speak about sexual abuse, but here.”

     

    Speaking further, Chinda articulated her stance on domestic abuse .She said: “As much as I detest all forms of violence against women and men, women should quit provoking their man by beating punches and slaps. I’m a domestic violence [enthusiast]. I always research when I hear fresh stories about domestic violence. Half the time, it is the women.God just gave us this running Okra mouth. Women, don’t fight with people who are stronger than you.”

     

    Also Read:Is Monalisa Chinda pregnant?

    Read:THEY SAID MONALISA CHINDA IS PREGNANT, AND SHE RESPONDED