Saturday January, 28, 2012 would have been a very blissful day for top actors Ramsey Nuoah and Mercy Johnson Okojie as they got to the threshold of landing N10million each to endorse,anchor,train and nurture 30 housemates expected to kick-off a new Reality Television Show tagged,The Next Soap Star.
According to the information gathered,Ms. Jessica Oweife Vangestel, Managing Director of Globeceleb and organizer of The Next Soap Star,a reality TV show that will train housemates to become professional actors and actresses basically for sitcoms,series and soap operas,chose actor Ramsey Nuoah and Mercy Johnson to host its first edition.
However,Ms. Vangestel had a middle man between her and these artistes in the person of Mr. Tony who she was said to have revealed everything about the reality show and how much was involved.
After weeks of deliberation with Ms. Vangestel who is based in U.S, Mr. Tony contacted the light skin actor and Mrs. Okojie.First,it was gathered that he informed Ramsey that his pay for the three months job is N6million while the woman allegedly mapped out N10million for him.The gorgeous actor was said to have accepted the money and agreed to finalize and sign the deal with Globeceleb on Saturday,January 28.
On the other hand,he discussed with Mrs.Okojie who agreed to do the job for the sum of N3million.It was alleged by insider sources that dark skin Mr. Tony who lives permanently in hotels at Festac Town area of Lagos State paid himself a whooping sum of N11million from the said money belonging to actor Ramsey Nuoah and actress Mercy Johnson.
From the payment of venue,food,drinks and to bigger compensations made to co-organizers,Mr. Tony allegedly pocketed everything for himself.
Meanwhile,it became a different story for the dark skin man who Nollywood actors have labeled a scam when Ms. Vangestel opened up to Ramsey and Mercy that first phase of the Next Soap Star is worth N30million,while N10million each will be given to them for their jobs,N10million will be used to tidy up other areas to ensure that the reality show will go on air soon.
As gathered from eye witnesses,the N10million a piece payment was quiet new to the actors who revealed to Ms. Vangestel that nobody told them anything about such money.
As gathered,Mr. Tony was summoned and that was how the table turned against him,as themeeting that was supposed to take just 30 minutes stretched to 5 hours.Mercy who stormed the lunch with her husband,Prince Odianose Okojie refused to step an inch till her money is completed,while Ramsey relaxed and waited for Mr. Tony to disclose why he edited his money. It was at this point that it became clear to the MD of Globeceleb that she has been duped and she demanded answers from Mr. Tony.
Every member of Nollywood gathered that evening insisted that this so-called PR consultant must vomit all the money or face the consequences.
Mercy Johnson’s husband who was busy informing his friends through telephone calls that someone is trying to rob his wife,angrily walked away and entered inside his Range Rover Sport and continued waiting for his princess to appear,while the actress joined after she was assured by Ms. Vangestel that she will get all her money.
According to eye witnesses,Ramsey equally followed immediately and left the venue after hours of argument without getting his money.
Crying would have been one of the easiest things for Mr. Tony to do as he started running from pillar to post,and shouting on top of his voice while few Nollywood people who were involved in the deal through one way or the other rained insults on him asking him to provide their money.Minutes ran into hours and it was late in the evening.
Before people could blink,a hand held Mr. Tony’s cloth,gripped his neck and landed a heavy blow on his jaw and a physical tussle ensued.
