Exclusive details on why showbiz personality was recently ‘arrested’ for fraud
– Police reportedly arrest foremost Nigerian talent manager Osagie Osarenkhoe over allegations of fraud
– Following the arrest, the Baseline Records artiste manager and publicist took to Twitter to vent about the situation today May 31, 2016
– Osagie eventually stated that she was not in detention even though insiders say she was made to write a report of sorts
– Reports say Baseline Records, home to Skales and Aramide, quizzed the artiste manager over allegations of fraud and whatnot
– NAIJ.com sources give inside information on the entire situation and Osagie’s roles at the music label in the last one year
Nigerian talent manager and publicist Osagie Osarenkhoe was quizzed by the police earlier today May 31, 2016 in connection with alleged fraud and related offences. She is the manager of Skales, a Baseline Records hip hop artiste.
Osagie also manages Afro soul and R&B singer Aramide, another Baseline Records act.
Shortly after she was taken in, she took to Twitter to vent about the development expressing surprise that the label would accuse her of fraud after she helped cover their mess for over a year.
Baseline Records talent manager Osagie Osarenkhoe.
The moment of truth…
— Osagie O. #Shifted (@thismetalchic) May 31, 2016
I’ve just been accused of fraud by Baseline Records. Interesting times…
— Osagie O. #Shifted (@thismetalchic) May 31, 2016
Sitting the middle of 2 police officers
— Osagie O. #Shifted (@thismetalchic) May 31, 2016
Over a year of covering their shit and dealing with bullshit here’s what I get — Osagie O. #Shifted (@thismetalchic) May 31, 2016
FYI I’m not detained oh
— Osagie O. #Shifted (@thismetalchic) May 31, 2016
As the situation continues to generate buzz and various forms of reactions on social media, NAIJ.com reached out to Osagie for actual details on the entire situation but her calls were unanswered.
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Eventually, an insider at Baseline spoke to us on the condition of anonymity explaining that the music label had stopped being responsible for the management and promotion of the artistes for a while, leaving her to manage the entire situation with inadequate funds, which is why her arrest comes off as untoward.
The source spoke further:
“You see, the truth is Baseline Records has gone through a lot of changes in the last one year and Osagie has done an excellent job keeping things functional all along.
“The guys at the top changed the process, changed the guys managing the label and all including Howie T and then everything just started falling apart. They haven’t shot any videos for any of the artistes in one year, no form of concern at all and it was really getting out of hand and all she did was support the artiste despite the bulls**t only to be quizzed by the police for questioning. It is really disappointing that it had to result in her writing a police statement.”
As revealing as this was, we sought to find out more on the actual state of things financially in the label and how the artistes managed to remain sustained, given the lack of attention and resources from the top and our source explained that the artistes had access to some funding from one means or the other during the time.
Baseline Records hip hop star Skales
If this is really the case, are you saying Osagie didn’t get any budget for promotion in the last one year?
“I’m telling you. [Osagie] has been shrewd about a lot of things and it’s even amazing how far she has gotten [the artistes] independently without funding from the guys on top.”
How about returns from call-back tunes and artiste performances?
“Well, the artistes kind of have direct access to earnings from call back tunes and a few other ventures but those weren’t really enough to cover all the expenses incurred. Overall, the label had internal issues and it’s been a problem for some time.”
Do you think Osagie in any way misappropriated company funds during this period?
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“Oh well, to the best of my knowledge I don’t know. I can’t say anything in that light, all I know is she was the one pushing for the artistes all along, and every success she recorded she still kept pushing the Baseline brand name by crediting them even when they didn’t deserve it.”
Baseline Records Afro soul/ R&B singer Aramide
How do you mean they didn’t deserve it?
“They didn’t. Because the truth is people close to her kept telling her all along to reach out to the media and make them understand the true nature of things, to make them realize that the management at Baseline Records wasn’t responsible for the artiste’s welfare, management or even funding of their projects but she never did for reasons best known to her. I honestly wish she did all along.”
How about the recent MTN Pulse endorsement deal, did the label get anything from Skales’ part of the money?
“I really don’t know who got that, whether it was the label that got that in full because they had access to the guys from MTN or not, I can’t say. All I know is it’s been a very funny episode, to be honest.”
In the past, Osagie has been successful with managing the likes of Banky W, Niyola and pop star Wizkid.
Osagie and her partner at their pre-wedding shoot. Credit: Instagram
In March, 2016, she became engaged to her lover Osa 7, an artiste and fashion executive, and the news was made public by Skales on social media.
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