Zimbabwean Big Brother celebrity Makosi Musambasi who last week launched a new book on her 33rd birthday in Nigeria is now being accused of stealing someone else’s manuscript and using the material for her book.
Nigerian publicist and writer Joy Bewaji claims that Makosi “published my work without my consent or involvement. She threw a bash with friends and celebrities as she launched “her” book.”
Speaking to Nehanda Radio, Makosi said “my book is an inspirational coffee table book. Its 200 pages of nuggets that help build self-esteem. I am reluctant to say it will change your life because only God can change your life.”
In the book Makosi said she had drawn from her Big Brother journey and other ‘nuggets’ as she called them “on hard work.” The book was launched at a red carpet event but now Bewaji is threatening Makosi with legal action charging the book is hers. Below is Bewaji’s narration of how the deal went sour:
“Makosi Musambasi (Big Brother UK housemate) lives in Nigeria and is dying to be a “star”. So I came on board- we were introduced by a mutual acquaintance. First she wanted PR for her TV show that was to debut on DSTV, but then she got entangled in other activities.
“Four months later and Makosi is back with that itch- to become a superstar! She is unhappy that she is not on billboards, endorsing brands, gracing the red carpet, surrounded by swarm of fans falling all over her; she can’t understand why I can’t get her VVIP tickets, why she is not on the cover of Complete Fashion, why nobody knows her or waves to her when she visits the mall.
“So I try to explain to her that the Nigerian public would only find you worthy of attention and respect if you build a proper brand- away from reality TV sensationalism. I gave her a few suggestions. She chose one of them- to write her a book. I picked a title and theme. She loved it. Then I set out to work.
“But I was obviously running out of (her) time. Four weeks later and Makosi’s itch gets worse- she wants the book out, and she wants it out NOW! But books take time; I needed more time- a few more weeks; but she would have none of that!
“So I put together, in 10 days, an inspirational coffee-table nugget book. We held a photo-shoot; at first Makosi said she hated the pictures, then she said she liked them. It was hard keeping up! When I presented the nugget manuscript, she said she liked it.
“A few days later, she hated it; screaming that I should give it to some other celebrity- shouting and fuming like a chimney for me to pay back her money. What money? I had invested two months of my life in a project she agreed on, if she suffers bipolar issues then that cannot possibly be my fault.
“I believed the best thing was to go back to the original script (the one she was too impatient to wait for) and get it done. We were back to square one! She goes out of circulation. I try to reach her…try to get her to explain her fluctuating disposition. But I couldn’t reach her- for over one month!
“I wake up on Saturday, the 28th of September, to find out Makosi is the newest author in town. She published the manuscript she had tossed out of the window literally, the manuscript she said I should give to someone else; because she had the material at her disposal and continuously believes her money (wherever it is coming from) can shield her from the wrath of the law, she published my work without my consent or involvement.
“She threw a bash with friends and celebrities as she launched “her” book. The only problem is- the book isn’t hers. She had rejected it, tossed it aside and said I should give it to someone else; which I did.
“Makosi will tell you she has connections and can buy her way out of any situation…and in the same breath regale herself on social media with Bible quotes. I do hope she understands that, regardless of what anyone thinks, Nigeria has a legal system that works, and I plan to make the best use of it.”
Nehanda Radio sought comment from Makosi and this is the reply we got from her lawyer.
“I am writing in response to the series of false allegations that are being peddled against my client and close friend, Makosi Musambasi by the person of Joy Isi Bewaji. While I find it offensive that someone who should know better as a Public Relations manager should go all out with these malicious actions, I am forced to accept that humans do differ indeed and are who they are.
On the 23rd of September 2013, my client, Makosi Musambasi, in the course of her 33rd birthday celebration, launched her first ever book which was titled “Self-love: the Ultimate choice”.
A grand-diva- red-carpet style event, which saw a myriad of Nigerian important figures in the entertainment and economic scene in the continent, friends and well-wishers. The event was however a strictly by invitation only style event and it was held at the popular Tulip Bistro in Wuse 2, Abuja, Nigeria.
Self-love; the ultimate choice” is a must read for people from all walks of life; because it is a true reflection of common sense which often seems so complicated to the everyday person. It is broken down in a simplistic manner, written in unambiguous language and an easy to comprehend form.
For Makosi, the African continent needs to get reading, and truthfully, the less complex the book is, the easier it is to digest and comprehend; all it takes is a well-crafted phrase or a real life inspirational story to invoke a powerful feeling within, make us see things from a different perspective, or spur us into action all in an effort to make the world a better place.
Makosi was introduced to Joy Isi Bewaji by an actor friend sometime earlier in the year and they only met physically for the first time during the first week in July, 2013.
During the course of their interactions, Makosi talked about her dreams and aspirations such as her talk-show which was already in works. Joy Bewaji with a little research offered my client some advice on how she intends to help bring her into the Nigerian entertainment industry, while also boldly asserting that she intends to “clean her negative image’ (whatever that meant), and also promising her all sorts of gains from a supposedly business relationship”.
Makosi in her naturally free nature decided to share an idea about writing a book that required intense research to Joy. She offered to assist in the project, citing her writing skills and in fact offered to ghost-write this book because of the in-depth and historic nature of the concept.
My client agreed on and paid the sum of N1 500 000 at one point, 245000 at another and 350000 again ($12,800) to Joy to ghost-write this book. After this payment was made, a few weeks after Joy Bewaji approached my client, apparently she had worn the garb of greed possibly after consulting a few people and the internet on who my client really was. And with Makosi being ‘un-Nigerian’ (permit me to use this word) she decided to test the limits of her new found gold-pot.
Joy requested for an additional N3,000,000,000 ($19,300) to ghost write this book, which would have made it a total of N5,000,000,000 ($32,000).
At that point, my client became uncomfortably with the apparent ease with which the terms of contract was being manipulated and requested that Joy terminated the contract. She wasn’t also comfortable with the tone and insincerity that encapsulated the emails that transpired between both parties and felt she was about to be conned by this overly-ambitious PR agent/Writer.
Joy however refused to refund my client, claiming she had already started the job and invested a lot in the process, and my client ignored the situation and proceeded to focus her energy on compiling her inspirational nugget book (with some influence from her journal) making it her first book.
I would want this to be properly noted that “Self-Love; the ultimate choice” is NOT the book my client initially contracted to Joy Bewaji to ghost-write for her, so clearly, there is either a misunderstanding, jealous rift or a cheap attempt at blackmail and a clearly a fraudulent plot to swindle a non-Nigerian by Joy Bewaji.
On September 21, 2013 my client was contacted about receiving twitter messages from Joy Bewaji, with the spurious allegation that Makosi stole her material for the book and hour’s later blogs in Nigeria had done a story that brought to light the falsity that was Joy’s accusation.
Joy went further to write all sort of negative stories about my client Makosi Musambasi. Although she has since taken down the tweets, she made unsuccessful attempted to contact my client through third parties, asking to negotiate in a bizarre bid to blackmail her.
My client has since been advised not to engage in any form of communication with Joy until the legal, PR and management team had a meeting and decided on how best to tackle this situation that threatens to bring in bad light the Nigerian system as a whole.
What Joy Bewaji fails to comprehend is that she communicated mostly via email messages with my client and we have documented evidence against her and more importantly she was paid to do a job she totally neglected and worse still failed to make a refund.
Lastly, we are working on taking lesson-making legal action against her for defamation of character against my client with the lies she tweeted and has fed blogs around Nigeria.
Sadly, it would appear the desperation of this young woman are unfettered and her greed and lecherous dispositions are without borders as she had through a phony individual made over thirty (30) phone calls to my client today requesting that the matter be settled Quietly. This is clearly what makes her tick. Extortion!
This bone of contention; Self-love; the ultimate choice, is an enjoyable, inspirational book for unconventional readers. It is certain to change your outlook on everyday life and probably make you see handling situations like this current imbroglio in the best possible way.
My client’s only response to the situation was “people are just people, they are going to disappoint you, BUT, God expects me to handle them with care, because no matter how I feel about Joy Bewaji, he still loves her”.
Self-love; the ultimate choice is a must read. Reading is an enjoyable way in which we can continue to learn and open our minds to a world of endless possibility and wonder. This books will inspire, direct and redirect many people and continue to have a positive impact on how we chose to live our lives.
Regards
Rebecca
