Nigeria is a country that is known for producing some of the most talented and influential celebrities in Africa. From the entertainment industry to politics, Nigerian celebrities have dominated the headlines for decades.
However, with fame and fortune comes scrutiny, and many Nigerian celebrities have found themselves embroiled in scandals that have shocked the nation. In this article, we will take a look at the top ten most shocking celebrity scandals in Nigeria. From feuds to infidelity, we will delve into the scandals that rocked the Nigerian entertainment industry and left fans and critics alike stunned. Get ready to be shocked as we uncover the most scandalous celebrity tales in Nigeria!
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The Top 10 Most Shocking Nigerian Celebrity Scandals
1. The Tonto Dikeh and Prince Kpokpogri Saga
Tonto Dikeh, a Nigerian actress, and Prince Kpokpogri, a politician, were in a romantic relationship that ended in controversy. After their breakup, an audio recording surfaced on social media allegedly containing a conversation between Kpokpogri and an unknown person discussing his infidelity. Dikeh also accused Kpokpogri of cheating and blackmailing her with private information. Kpokpogri denied the accusations and filed a lawsuit against Dikeh for defamation. The saga generated widespread media attention and sparked debates about privacy and the consequences of sharing personal information online.
2. Skiibi’s Tasteless Death Stunt
Skiibi, a Nigerian singer, pulled a fake death stunt in 2015, which caused a stir on social media. He had claimed that he had died from a health condition while receiving treatment in a hospital in Lagos, but it later turned out to be a publicity stunt to promote his new single. The incident sparked controversy, with many fans and industry players criticizing the singer for using a sensitive topic like death to gain publicity. Despite the backlash, Skiibi went ahead to release his new single titled “Daz How Star Do,” which became a hit.
3. Annie Idibia and Tuface 2021 Marriage Crisis
The Annie Idibia and Tuface marriage crisis of 2021 began when Annie took to her Instagram story in that year on September 2, to accuse Tuface of infidelity and other marital issues. In a series of posts, she expressed her frustration and disappointment with Tuface, saying that he spent time with his ex-girlfriend, Pero Adeniyi, and fathered two children with her while they were together. Annie also claimed that Tuface had physically assaulted her and accused his family of not supporting her.
The social media frenzy that followed Annie’s posts saw fans and followers taking sides and expressing their opinions on the matter. Some supported Annie and called for Tuface to be held accountable, while others criticized her for airing their private issues in public. Tuface initially remained silent on the matter, but he later released a statement asking for privacy and expressing his commitment to his marriage.
The power-house Nigerian celebrity couple eventually reconciled, and Annie deleted her posts from social media. They celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary on March 23, 2022, with both of them sharing loving messages on their respective social media platforms.
4. Jane Emena’s 2020 Controversies
In 2020, Jane Emena, a popular Nigerian comedienne, was involved in an online incident that caused controversy on social media. The incident began when Emena posted a video on Instagram in which she made a comment that some people perceived as tribalistic and insensitive.
In the video, Emena imitated a popular Nigerian actress and used a derogatory term commonly used to refer to people from a particular ethnic group in Nigeria. The video quickly went viral, and many people criticized Emena for her comments, calling her out for promoting hate speech and tribalism. Some people also called for her to be banned from social media platforms, while others defended her, saying that she was just trying to make people laugh and that her comments were not meant to be taken seriously.
In response to the controversy, Emena apologized for her comments and said that she did not intend to offend anyone. She also deleted the video and took a break from social media for a while.
The Nigerian celebrity was also caught up in a sex tape scandal in that same year. The video leaked online, and she received a lot of criticism and ridicule from the public.
5. Tiwa Savage’s Alleged Sex Tape
Another sex tape scandal worth mentioning that rocked the entertainment industry. This time it involved Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage. The leaked adult video caused quite a stir amongst fans and critics alike. She was said to have lost a lot of brand endorsements and was even called an ‘irresponsible’ mother online. She did clap back at her haters in her viral song with Asake, loaded, claiming that her past wouldn’t bring down her success.
6. Toke Makinwa’s Ex-Husband’s Tell-All Book
Toke Makinwa is a Nigerian media personality who was married to Maje Ayida, a fitness expert. In 2015, it was revealed that Maje had impregnated his ex-girlfriend, Anita Solomon, while still married to Toke. Toke filed for divorce, citing adultery as the reason.
In 2017, Maje released a tell-all book titled “On Becoming” where he recounted his version of events that led to the breakdown of their marriage. In the book, Maje admitted to cheating on Toke with Anita and also revealed that Toke had undergone plastic surgery, which he claimed was one of the reasons for their marital problems.
It was a scandal that left Toke feeling betrayed and exposed. The book caused a stir on social media, with many people criticizing Maje for airing their dirty laundry in public. Toke, on the other hand, received widespread support from fans and celebrities alike for her bravery in speaking out about her experiences.
Despite the controversy surrounding the book, Toke continued to rise in her career and became an even more successful media personality. She also wrote her own book, “On Becoming: The Chronicles of a Lagos Girl”, where she shared her own side of the story and talked about her journey to healing and self-discovery.
7. Burna Boy’s Involvement in Mr 2Kay’s Attack
In 2017, Nigerian musician Mr 2Kay was allegedly attacked and robbed at gunpoint in his hotel room in Lagos. During the investigation, Burna Boy was implicated in the incident, with the police accusing him of being the mastermind behind the attack.
According to reports, Mr 2Kay had previously had a disagreement with Burna Boy over the latter’s claim that he had helped Mr 2Kay to secure a deal. Burna Boy allegedly ordered his associates to carry out the attack on Mr 2Kay in retaliation for the dispute.
Burna Boy was subsequently arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and accessory to robbery, but he denied any involvement in the incident. He was later released on bail and the case was eventually dropped due to a lack of evidence.
However, in 2020, one of Burna Boy’s associates, Joel Kantiock, was found guilty and sentenced to 21 years in prison for his role in the attack on Mr 2Kay. The case was seen as a major victory for the Nigerian police, who had been criticized for their handling of the investigation.
Overall, while Burna Boy was never convicted of any crime related to Mr 2Kay’s attack, he was implicated in the incident and the controversy surrounding it has had an impact on his reputation.
8. Mercy Aigbe’s Domestic Violence Allegations
Mercy Aigbe is a Nigerian actress and entrepreneur who has been involved in several domestic violence allegations. In 2017, the celebrity accused her now-ex-husband, Lanre Gentry, of physical abuse, sharing photos of the injuries she sustained on social media. She also claimed that Gentry had been unfaithful throughout their marriage.
Following the allegations, Aigbe left her marriage and obtained a restraining order against Gentry. He was later arrested and charged with assault, but the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Aigbe has since become an advocate for victims of domestic violence, sharing her story and encouraging others to speak out against abuse.
In 2021, Aigbe again made headlines after accusing a Lagos-based businessman of assaulting her during a photoshoot. She shared photos of the injuries she sustained and called for the man to be held accountable for his actions. The case is currently ongoing, and Aigbe has continued to use her platform to raise awareness about domestic violence in Nigeria.
9. Seyi Shay’s Clapback at Tiwa Savage
In June 2021, Nigerian singer Seyi Shay and Tiwa Savage had a confrontation at a salon in Lagos, Nigeria. According to reports, Seyi Shay approached Tiwa Savage to say hello, but Tiwa Savage allegedly confronted her about comments Seyi Shay made in an interview several years ago.
Shortly after the incident, a video clip surfaced online, showing Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay exchanging words at the salon. In the video, Tiwa Savage accused Seyi Shay of disrespecting her and her family, while Seyi Shay denied making any negative comments about Tiwa Savage.
Seyi Shay later took to social media to share her side of the story, claiming that Tiwa Savage had been spreading false rumors about her for years. She also released a 2019 video clip in which Tiwa Savage appeared to be criticizing her singing abilities.
The incident sparked a social media debate, with some fans supporting Tiwa Savage and others supporting Seyi Shay. Some criticized the two singers for not setting a better example for young women in Nigeria’s music industry.
Since the incident, there have been no further updates or developments, and both Seyi Shay and Tiwa Savage have not publicly commented on the matter.
10. Linda Ikeji’s Baby Daddy Drama
In 2018, Nigerian blogger and media entrepreneur Linda Ikeji made headlines when she announced that she was pregnant and expecting a child. The news was met with excitement from her fans and followers, but it also led to a controversy over the identity of the baby’s father.
At the time of the pregnancy announcement, Ikeji did not reveal the identity of the father. However, rumors began to circulate that the father was Sholaye Jeremi, a Nigerian oil magnate whom Ikeji had reportedly been in a relationship with.
In a blog post, Ikeji confirmed that Jeremi was the father of her child but also revealed that the relationship had ended shortly after she became pregnant. She wrote about the challenges of being a single mother and the joy she felt at becoming a parent.
Jeremi did not publicly comment on the situation and has largely remained out of the spotlight since the controversy. Ikeji has continued to focus on her career as a blogger and media personality while also sharing updates and photos of her son on social media.
The controversy over Ikeji’s baby daddy drama sparked debates about single motherhood and the importance of disclosing the identity of a child’s father. While some criticized Ikeji for not revealing the father’s identity earlier, others applauded her for being a strong and independent woman who was not defined by her relationship status.
Conclusion
Although these are our top ten shocking Nigerian celebrity scandals, we can’t just end it here without some honorable mentions. They include:
- The infamous Wizkid vs. Linda Ikeji feud. Back in 2016, the superstar musician and the famous blogger got into a heated online war after Linda published a story claiming that Wizkid was evicted from his home. Wizkid didn’t take kindly to this and went on a Twitter rampage, calling Linda all sorts of names and even threatening to send his “little cousin” to beat her up. Yikes.
- Next up, we have the legendary Mercy Johnson and Tonto Dikeh beef. These two actresses were once besties, but their friendship went sour when Tonto accused Mercy of being fake and envious of her success. Mercy fired back with a scathing Instagram post, and the rest is history.
- Remember when D’banj and Don Jazzy broke up? That was a dark day for Nigerian music fans. The two superstars used to be the dynamic duo behind Mo’Hits Records, but they had a falling out in 2012 over creative differences. Fans were devastated, and the music industry was never quite the same.
- We can’t also leave out the time Caroline Danjuma accused Davido of being involved in the death of her boyfriend, Tagbo. The actress claimed that Davido and his crew were responsible for Tagbo’s demise, but the singer vehemently denied any involvement. The case eventually died down, but it left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.