1: KIZZ DANIEL
Kizz Daniel, better known as Daniel Anidugbe, had his first taste of prison life after he didn’t turn up to for his concert in Tanzania. He failed to perform at Warehouse, Old Next. Unfortunately, the ‘Twe Twe’ crooner misplaced his costume and a gold chain to evil men in Tanzania.
2: BURNA BOY
In 2010, Afrobeat singer, Ebunoluwa Damini Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy was arrested for a gang-related stabbing in the UK. He pled not guilty, but he went to jail, he was released after 11 months on parole for his good behaviour while in prison.
The self-acclaimed African Giant fled the UK and came back to Nigeria to start his music career before his parole was over in the UK.
The singer tasted prison life as a minor.
3: PORTABLE
On Friday, March 31, 2023, Portable was arrested by the operatives of the Ogun Police Command after failing to surrender himself despite being given an ultimatum.
The artist was caught on camera using abusive language at police officers who visited his bar in the Sanga Ota district of Ogun State to detain him. He declined to cooperate with the officers, stating that he was a baboon and could not be apprehended.
4: SEUN KUTI
Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend, Fella Kuti became a prisoner for assaulting a police officer. The singer’s video where he was allegedly slapping a police officer went viral first, and the Inspector general of police ordered his arrest. The incident happened on the third mainland bridge as Seun was heard shouting “You dey mad, you dey craze” at the police man, who maintained his cool.
5:NAIRA MARLEY
Naira Marley, along with other individuals, was arrested by the EFCC on May 10, 2019, in relation to suspected online scamming and money laundering activities. Although the other detainees were freed five days later, Naira Marley was kept in detention due to suspicious materials discovered on his computer. He faced 11 accusations and was confined to Ikoyi Prison for several days before being granted bail. The bail terms required him to provide two sureties, who each had to guarantee a sum of 2 million naira.
He was also recently arrested on the allegations that he was involved in the death of late former signee, MohBad.
6: OMAH LAY
Omah Lay was also arrested in Uganda In December 2020, when he and Tems went to Uganda to perform at a concert. This was anticipated to be a night of entertainment and music for their fans. Regrettably, the situation turned into a nightmare when the Ugandan authorities arrested both performers for allegedly violating the COVID-19 regulations.
Omah Lay took to social media to express his displeasure with the turn of events. He revealed that he was treated “like an ordinary thief.” The artist stated that the preceding few days had been among the most arduous of his life. The Nigerian administration played a part in securing the release of both Omah Lay and Tems, who were detained for two days in police custody before being freed and returning to Nigeria.
- D’BANJ
Popular Nigerian musician, D’Banj in December 2022, was arrested and detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC).
The music star was detained after ICPC operatives closed in on him, forcing him to surrender himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, over charges of fraud.
D’Banj was accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of millions of naira earmarked by the Nigerian government for the N-Power project, an empowerment programme set up by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.
Reports said that D’banj was a Brand Ambassador for the ministry. It was alleged that the singer colluded with some government officials to introduce ghost beneficiaries into the payroll of the scheme. The stipend paid to those beneficiaries was then paid to accounts that have now allegedly been linked to the pop star.
- HUSH PUPPI
Ramon Olorunwá Abbas, commonly known as Hushpuppi, Hush, or Ray Hushpuppi is a Dubai-based Nigerian Instagram influencer, self-acclaimed real estate mogul, and convicted felon. He was sentenced in the United States to 11 years for conspiracy to launder money obtained from business email compromise frauds and other scams, including schemes that defrauded a US law firm out of approximately $40 million, illegally transferred $14.7 million from a foreign financial institution, and targeted to steal $124 million from an English Premier League club.
