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SPANISH COURT ORDERS SHAKIRA TO STAND TRIAL IN TAX FRAUD CASE

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Colombian Music Superstar and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Shakira

A Spanish court has ordered Colombian music superstar Shakira to stand trial on charges of fraudulently failing to pay 14 million euros in tax, filings showed Tuesday.

Prosecutors in Barcelona said in July they would seek a prison sentence of more than eight years against the singer and a fine of nearly 24 million euros ($24 million) after she rejected a plea deal over accusations of tax evasion.

They accuse the 45-year-old “Hips don’t Lie” songstress of defrauding the Spanish tax office of 14.5 million euros ($14.7 million) on income earned between 2012 and 2014.

Barcelona and Spanish Footballer, Gerald Pique and Shakira

Prosecutors say Shakira moved to Spain in 2011 when her relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique became public, but maintained official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015.

The couple, who have two children, announced their separation in June.

Shakira, Pique and their two kids

On September 19, a Barcelona court ordered the singer to stand trial for six alleged tax crimes, according to a court ruling made public on Tuesday.

Shakira has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and claims she owes nothing to the Spanish tax office.

“I’m confident that I have enough proof to support my case and that justice will prevail in my favour,” she said in an interview published in Elle magazine last week.

“While Gerard and I were dating, I was on a world tour. I spent more than 240 days outside Spain, so there was no way I qualified as a resident,” she added.

“The Spanish tax authorities saw that I was dating a Spanish citizen and started to salivate. It’s clear they wanted to go after that money no matter what.”

The case centres on where Shakira lived during 2012-14.

Shakira’s lawyers have said that until 2014 she earned most of her money from international tours, moved to Spain full time only in 2015 and has met all her tax obligations.

The singer says she has paid 17.2 million euros to Spanish tax authorities and has no outstanding debts.

She argues Spanish prosecutors are trying to claim money she earned during her international tour and from her participation on the show “The Voice”.

She was a judge on the show in the United States, when she says she was not yet resident in Spain.

– ‘Darkest hours’ –

A Barcelona court in May dismissed an appeal from the singer to drop the charges.

Shakira told Elle that the combination of her looming tax fraud trial, separation from Pique and custody battle for their children and the illness of her father meant this was “probably one of the most difficult, darkest hours of my life”.

The singer was named in one of the largest ever leaks of financial documents in October 2021, known as the “Pandora Papers”, among public figures linked to offshore assets.

With her mix of Latin and Arabic rhythms and rock influence, three-time Grammy winner Shakira has scored major global hits with songs such as “Hips don’t Lie”, “Whenever, Wherever” and “Waka Waka”, the official song of the 2010 World Cup.

Spain has in recent years cracked down on football stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for not paying their full due in taxes.

Both players were found guilty of evasion and received prison sentences that were waived for first-time offenders.

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Entertainment

LOVE CAN’T SAVE A MARRIAGE —ACTRESS IJEOMA THOMAS

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The idea that love is all that is needed to make a marriage work has been knocked down by Nollywood actress, Ijeoma Thomas, who believes that love is not enough to make a marriage work.

According to the actress, who was spotted in a movie role proposing marriage to Yul Edochie, love is not the foundation of marriage, adding that there are other components that makeup marriage and the family unit.

She explains further, “There are so many divorces and separations today because love doesn’t keep couples together, love can’t save the marriage. All those that have divorced or are separated were once in love with each other.

In fact, many that are divorced or separated now still love each other, but they can’t stay together again as couples because the other factors are not there, or were never there from the beginning of the relationship. They were both blinded by the love of the flesh and self-centred. What we call love today is self-centeredness.”

Speaking further in the one-on-one session with Potpourri, Ijeoma, who started production of her own movies in 2009 highlights other factors to be considered in making a marriage work.

“A successful marriage hinges on knowledge, understanding, wisdom, respect, values, love and trust. Now, when you, as a lady, know the value of your man, you will give him that high honour and respect by proposing to him before you lose him to another.

Also in the same order, when a man knows the value of his lady, he will give her that joy and happiness by proposing to her before he loses her to another man, therefore, before you take that step to propose to your lovely lady as a man, ask yourself what’s her value. Not in material or monetary terms, but values in terms of godliness, cleanliness, transparency, respect and honour. These are some of the values the man should look for in the woman he wants to marry,” she states.

The actress concluded that either the man or the woman can make the move to propose marriage.

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RIHANNA IS 35 TODAY

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Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, popularly known as just Rihanna, is thirty-five years old today. She was born on February 20, 1988.

She has sold over 250 million records worldwide. This makes her the second-best-selling female music artist of all time. Her accolades include nine Grammy Awards, 13 American Music Awards (including the Icon Award).

As of 2022, she is the wealthiest female musician, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion.

Congratulations.

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MY LOVER BROKE MY HEART ON VAL’S DAY –CHANTEL IGWE

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Nollywood actress, Chantel Igwe

Nollywood actress, Chantel Igwe has recalled her most embarrassing Valentine’s Day and how her lover broke her heart.

According to the leggy, light skinned actress, the memory of what transpired that day will remain evergreen in her memory.

She told Saturday Sun: “When I was in my third year in school, I had a boyfriend but who was in a different school. So, on Valentine’s Day, he invited me over to his place. His friends and family members knew we were dating. He sent money and everything I needed to come around and I went. I was in his house chilling when a lady walked in and asked to see him in private. He went outside with her to have a conversation. Later, he came back and told me he’s helping to write exam for the lady’s brother.”

Igwe continued, “That same evening, we decided to hang out only to meet the same lady when we got back home. Again, they both stepped aside to have a discussion, and he gave the same excuse. Well, I stayed for a few days in his house and decided to go back to school.

“On my way back home, I discovered I forgot something and had to head back to his house. Right there, I met him with the same lady in a very compromising position. I confronted him and he said the lady has been throwing herself at him. Things get me easily irritated, so I just dumped him despite his pleas. I can’t forget that day.”

Chantel Igwe, who last week lost her dear mother, listed what she would be remembered for. “I feel sad, so sad that she left so soon. There are lots of things I would remember my mother for. She’s so strong, stronger than most men. She’s hard working, she engaged in different types of businesses to make sure her family survived.”

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