December 29, (THEWILL) – 2024 was indeed an eventful year on the social and entertainment scenes in Nigeria. Both those who thrive in scandals and those who fell prey by extension made the front pages of newspapers. Ivory Ukonu takes a look at some of the scandals that rocked 2024
Cletus Ibeto’s entanglement with fraud
Wealthy businessman, Cletus Ibeto, shocked many when he got entangled in a case of fraud involving the sum of N4.8 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had brought a 10-count charge against him and his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Ltd., for conspiracy, fraud, forgery and the fraudulent use of documents.
Ibeto failed to appear in court, despite receiving notices to that effect. His refusal to obey the court order forced the presiding judge to issue an arrest warrant against him.
Early this year, Ibeto through his lawyers, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Uche Obi (SAN) and Bode Olanipekun (SAN) sought the nullification of the arrest warrant. He also sought to settle the matter out of court and to enter a plea bargain arrangement. In addition, he promised to pay back the money he obtained from the complainant, Daniel Chukwudozie, a fellow wealthy businessman.
Chukwudozie, chairman and chief executive officer of Dozzy Group, a conglomerate with interests in oil and gas, plastics, food and beverages, maritime and investments had written a petition against Ibeto to the EFCC who he said defrauded him.
In March, Ibeto returned N1.5 billion to Chukwudozie, part of the N4.8 billion and last week, he also returned some of the money, N3.2 billion. But two issues were still outstanding: An allegation of forgery and the $3 million he denied collecting from Chukwudozie. However, after a lot of back and forth between Ibeto’s counsel and that of Chukwudozie, with the latter’s counsel informing the court that the matter had been settled and the EFCC instructing him to withdraw the case in the spirit of reconciliation, Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja dismissed the fraud charge against Ibeto.
Kabiru Turaki’s paternity rebuttal, acceptance
Kabiru Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs under former President Goodluck Jonathan, got entangled in a paternity suit with one of his side chicks, Hafiza Baffa.
Frustrated by the shoddy manner that she was treated, Hafiza decided to go public with their sour affair when she claimed that Turaki who she has a daughter for, took advantage of her, violated her and harvested eight pregnancies from her for alleged ritual purposes. She alleged that he was after her life.
The ex-minister denied responsibility for Hafiza’s pregnancy, which resulted in the birth of a baby girl. He alleged that Hafiza’s mum, who he has known for a long time as an acquaintance, had reached out to him, seeking his advice on her plans to relocate her daughter, Hafiza, who was then studying at the University of Maiduguri, to Abuja. He said he advised her to secure admission for her daughter at either Bayero University, Kano; Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, or University of Ilorin, Kwara State. But she didn’t take his advice and one day out of the blues, called to tell him that she was coming to Abuja with Hafiza and begged him to arrange accommodation for them. He said that he obliged her.
After she secured admission for her daughter at Baze University, Abuja, he said he supported her with N1 million and also took responsibility for Hafiza’s upkeep, but that Hafiza connived with her mother to change his surname without his knowledge and consent. He claimed that he eventually sent both mother and daughter packing when Hafiza’s criminal acts became quite unbearable. A month after, Hafiza’s mum told him that her daughter was pregnant and that he was responsible. Turaki said he denied the allegation, describing it as a blackmail. But both mother and daughter denied Turaki’s claims.
Hafiza insisted that Turaki persuaded her to adopt his surname and exploited her under the guise of being her guardian. She further alleged that when she informed him about the pregnancy, he took several steps to compel and push her to abort the pregnancy. She said she decided to keep the pregnancy against all odds. And after the baby was born, Turaki attempted to forcefully take the child he initially rejected after a DNA test confirmed him as the father with a 99.99995% probability. The former minister allegedly broke into Hafiza’s residence and forcibly tried to arrest her. Hafiza says she now fears for her life and has called on the authorities to hold Turaki responsible, if anything happened to her or her daughter.
Tunde Ayeni’s paternity mess
The paternity mess that businessman and socialite, Tunde Ayeni, got entangled in, in 2023 with his ex-mistress, Abuja-based lawyer, Adaobi Alagwu, who is the Managing Partner at Airbridge Solicitors and Advisory Services, an Abuja-based law firm, continued in 2024 when he petitioned the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS over the matter. He also wrote her a cease-and-desist letter through his lawyers.
Ayeni had engaged in a romantic affair with Adaobi which resulted in pregnancy, but he denied paternity of the love child after she was born. Subsequently, Adaobi adopted Ayeni’s name for ‘their’ daughter, but not before allegedly vowing to drag Ayeni through the mud until he takes full responsibility for his child, as she claims he was the one who encouraged her to get pregnant with several people as witnesses to this. His denial was quickly followed by his wife, Abiola also lending her voice in support of her husband of 32 years.
Well, early this year, Ayeni wrote to NIS to invalidate any international passport bearing his name presented by Adaobi who was a former contestant in the 2014 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant in 2014, and her child, emphasising that Adaobi’s daughter was not entitled to use his name on her travel document, citing a lack of familial relationships between them. Also, Ayeni who was the chairperson of the defunct Sky Bank in a cease-and-desist legal notice he sent to her titled, ‘Withdrawal of Consent for Use of the Family Name ‘Ayeni’ With Respect To Your Daughter Omarosa.’
The letter referred to an incident in January wherein Adaobi illegally entered into one of Ayeni’s properties in Abuja, which she had surrendered to him six months earlier. Expressing surprise at Adaobi’s persistence in the face of public disclaimers of fatherhood, the letter deemed her actions unacceptable and untruthful. His legal team urged her to pursue a more dignified, peaceful resolution with the Ayeni family.
Siju Iluyomade’s ill-timed 60th birthday party
Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, aka Pastor ID, the former shepherd in charge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, City of David Parish, Region 20, Victoria Island, Lagos and his wife, Pastor Mrs Siji were sent packing in June from their position. Pastor Iluyomade was first suspended for three months by the Governing Council of RCCG and a panel set up to investigate some of the allegations against him and the parish. He was then moved to RCCG Throne of Grace, Ebute Metta, Lagos, which serves as the headquarters of the mission. His removal followed the widespread condemnation that greeted his wife’s very lavish 60th birthday celebration, barely a week after the demise of Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe, who was a frontline member of the church. The party which took place at the convention hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, was the mother of all parties. Months after the party ended, it is still being talked about as one of the grandest celebrations of 2024.
But many expressed mixed feelings about the party. While some believed there was nothing wrong with throwing a party to celebrate a landmark age, others believed there was everything wrong with the timing of the party. And their reason was not farfetched. Wigwe, a very important and influential member of the parish had died a most horrible death alongside his wife and first son. The trio alongside Bimbo Ogunbanjo, the Group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, died in a helicopter crash that caught fire on impact in the United States, meaning they were burnt to death. A week after their death, Pastor Iluyomade was on the pulpit, close to tears as he eulogised the late Wigwe while reeling out how he was a major financier of the church and the crucial roles he played before, during and after the building of the church’s 12 floor Trinity Town which cost billions of naira. He ended his eulogy by saying that Wigwe’s life challenged him as a pastor.
The tears had hardly dried up when a week after, they decided to throw away decency and hold a hedonistic birthday party. Critics believed that if she could wait five weeks to celebrate after clocking the landmark age, surely, she could have waited another month at least, to celebrate rather than portray herself as unfeeling. They are also of the opinion that if she was so pressed to do the party, then she could have had the decency to at least tone down the line up of activities. To them, throwing the party was nothing short of callous, the height of insensitivity. This is also not considering the current state of the nation.
Then there was the choice of musicians. Many didn’t fail to criticise the presence of highlife singer, Chinedu Okoli, aka Flavour n’Abania, wondering why she preferred a raunchy artist over gospel musicians. And Flavour who was bare chested did what he knows how to do best. He invited the celebrant to the dance floor, calling her ‘Siju baby’ while rolling his waist. As the wife of a cleric, many were of the opinion that in exercising her prerogatives she could have been mindful of the position she occupied and the unintended and collateral impacts of her choices. Ordinary church members can get away with such revelry, but the ‘mother’ of a parish as big as City of David and overseeing other parishes cannot. They expected her to have embodied and espoused the best values and not inadvertently become a promoter of youthful adventurousness in an already lascivious Christian community. Some others also quarreled with her choice of dress, accessories and makeup. Although she was fully covered, they were of the opinion that she looked like an overly dressed futuristic mannequin and all that she had on was nothing but sheer vanity.
Ayo and Mabel Makun divorce saga
A few years ago, Mabel, the interior decorator wife of comedian, actor and movie producer, Ayodeji Makun, aka AY Comedian, had moved out of the entertainer’s home after allegedly being battered and cheated on repeatedly. It took a lot of pleading from concerned friends and family members before she returned to her matrimonial home. But earlier this year, January to be precise, Mabel left a cryptic message on her social media page about being mentally abused while also alleging threat to her life. Although she did not mention names, Mabel said should anything happen to her, that there is only one person to be held responsible, implying that it was AY. She also said she was heading to the police station to report the matter. The couple would later unfollow each other on social media. Three months after, AY confirmed that his marriage of 20 years had hit the rocks. This was a year after the couple welcomed their second child after over 15 years of waiting. He admitted that he found himself doing some things that he isn’t proud of, but also claimed that his estranged wife had her own share of blames.
Several months after AY went public with news of the crash of his marriage, he and Mabel got involved in a custody battle over their second child. Mabel refused to let AY have any contact with the child as Mabel deliberately made herself unreachable each time AY wanted to speak with their young daughter on the phone or to spend quality time with her. So, AY devised a means through which he could speak with her and that was through the child’s nanny.
AY resorted to always calling the nanny whenever he wanted to speak with the toddler, particularly when Mabel isn’t at home. Unfortunately, Mabel found out about this arrangement, felt betrayed and sacked the nanny. AY is currently at a loss as to what to do, to have access to his daughter since Mabel would have nothing to do with him. However, the couple seem to have moved on with their individual lives and are allegedly basking in the glow of their respective new relationships.
Shyngle Wigwe enmeshed in late son’s inheritance saga
NINETY-year-old Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, father of late Herbert Wigwe, the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings was in the eye of the storm a few months ago over reports that he was fighting his grandchildren and other members of his family over his late son’s assets.
Wigwe died on February 9, 2024, in a helicopter crash in the United States of America alongside his wife, Chizoba, their son, Chizi and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, a former group chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group.
Pastor Shyngle was alleged to have requested 20 percent of his late son’s estate and also filed a caveat at the probate registry and an affidavit deposed to, by one Christian Chukwuka Wigwe, a cousin to the deceased, all in a bid to prevent the rightful execution of Herbert’s will which was lodged at the Ikeja Probate Court. The will states that his wealth be distributed amongst his children only. But Pastor Wigwe dismissed the allegation, noting that at no point did he make such request or take the alleged action over the estate of his deceased son. Weeks later, Christian lodged a caveat on behalf of Pastor Shyngle, apparently to contest the distribution of the estate as specified in the will of the late banker. But the Lagos State government stepped in and in a document dated 21 October, the Lagos probate registry issued a legal notice giving the caveator, Christian, an eight-day ultimatum upon service to explain his interest in the estate of late Wigwe. Essentially, the notice urged Christian to respond and assert his interests in the estate of his deceased cousin and that if he fails to do so within the stipulated period, he risked losing the opportunity to contest the probate process. The notice was issued at the instance of Uchechukwu Wigwe, the appointed personal representative of the estate of the deceased by virtue of the deceased’s will which was dated 9 July 2013.
Christian had in an affidavit dated 7 October, filed at the Lagos State High Court Probate Registry accused Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, his late cousin’s business partner and co-founder of Access Bank of assuming the role that belonged to the deceased’s father. He accused Aig-Imoukhede of taking an indirect guardianship of Herbert’s children and assets.
Christian said his deceased cousin left behind four children of which three are below the age of 18. He added that Herbert also owned multiple real and personal assets within and outside the country. He also accused Aig-Imoukhuede of exerting his influence through the deceased’s eldest daughter Otutochi and another cousin, Uche Wigwe, as a default representative in the will.
Christian claimed that the late Wigwe’s will was lodged in 2013 at the Probate Registry and executed in the United States. He said there have been concerns about its applicability to the assets within Nigeria’s jurisdiction. Christian also said it is only natural for the deceased’s father to act as the legal guardian for his three grandchildren who are still minors or be consulted to ascertain who assumes the role. He said assuming the role of Herbert’s children’s guardian would provide stability for the children and also would serve as a significant part of the healing process for Pastor Wigwe having suffered an unimaginable loss in one day.
Christian said he was informed by Pastor Wigwe that Aig-Imoukhuede has assumed indirect guardianship and custody of the children thereby excluding their grandfather from their affairs but causing some relatives to gravitate towards him in an effort to secure his favour which is causing tension within the family. Christian said Pastor Wigwe would usually not be bothered but the way Aig-Imoukhuede is handling the assets grossly undermines his role as the head of the family. While Christian acknowledged that Aig-Imoukhuede has continued to support the deceased’s parents and children financially, he has failed to provide any formal update on how the expenses are being met or the financial status of the assets. He further said that the co-founder is not accountable to the dependents or beneficiaries of the deceased’s estate.
Tobi Adegboyega The controversial, flambouyant
Controversial self-acclaimed pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, the General Overseer of the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, SPAC, whose ministry was shut down over £1.87 million fraud got tongues wagging over news of his impending deportation from the United Kingdom.
An immigration tribunal ruled that the 44-year-old who is a cousin to movie star, John Boyega, should be deported to his country, Nigeria after investigations exposed the misuse of funds by his church. But Adegboyega claimed that the attempt to remove him by the Home Office failed to take account of his community work with SPAC. He described himself as a charismatic community leader of a large, well-organised church who had intervened in the lives of many hundreds of young people, predominantly from the black communities in London, to lead them away from trouble adding that his work had been lauded by politicians including former prime minister, Boris Johnson and senior figures within the Metropolitan Police.
He also claimed that without his personal presence in London, projects that he had masterminded would fall apart or reduce in size. However, the tribunal is convinced all is not as it seems because of concerns over his church’s finances and lack of transparency.
The Home Office claimed that former members of the church alleged that it is a cult, in which impoverished young people are encouraged to do anything they can to donate money, including taking out large loans, committing benefit fraud and even selling their own blood. It also alleged that the church leadership lead lavish lifestyles with instances of abuse and wonder at Adegboyega’s real value in the UK especially as the tribunal also found Adegboyega’s evidence to be hyperbolic in many instances while grossly inflating his influence. Adegboyega who has lived in the UK unlawfully since overstaying on a visitor’s visa that allowed him to enter Britain in 2005 maintains that many of the attacks on him and SPAC Nation were politically motivated.
Adegboyega who resides in an over £2.5 million mansion in Surrey, was a pastor with Nigerian based World Evangelism Bible Church, WEBIC founded by Pastor Samson Ayorinde. He allegedly defrauded a member of some money with which he allegedly used to make his way to the UK. During his early days in the UK, he shared a room with his cousin, Boyega. Adegboyega worked as a kitchen porter before setting up his religious organisation.
Wizkid and Davido’s unending beef
It is no longer news that two of the biggest afrobeats artistes, David Adeleke aka Davido and Wizkid have been at logger heads for a few years now. This year, they continued their beef, even though many thought they had buried the hatchet.
A fan of Wizkid had asked him to release his anticipated album titled ‘Morayo’, to which the singer responded with a viral video of Davido on his knees begging a certain lady. Responding, Davido called him a sick man and inferred that his songs were not as popular as they used to be. In the course of his rants on social media, Wizkid also described popular music producer, Don Jazzy, as a social media influencer dancing on TikTok.
Though many reasons were adduced for the latest fight, some industry insiders believed that it was connected to a deal with Puma that Davido recently signed. Wizkid had been on the payroll of the company before, but when it was time to renew his contract, he had requested for higher deals, which the company allegedly turned down and chose to reach out to Davido.
PSquare’s unending feud
When in May, Peter Okoye, one half of the singing duo of the defunct PSquare was conspicuously absent at the traditional wedding of his twin brother, Paul to his girlfriend, Ivy Ifeoma in Abia State, many immediately knew something was amiss.
Paul was previously married to his childhood sweetheart, Anita in 2004. The marriage produced three children before it packed up after eight years. About two years ago, the twin brothers had sheathed their swords after many years of feuding. They held a lot of unity concerts on stages across the world to the delight of their fans who had longed for their getting back together but it turned out that all was indeed not well between the twin brothers and their older brother cum manager, Jude.
In August, Peter called out his twin for constantly discrediting his contributions to P-Square. Paul had claimed that he wrote and sung 99% of their songs. Peter expressed disappointment and hurt over Peter’s constant discrediting of his efforts in the group. In an open letter Peter listed several songs he had written, which Paul failed to acknowledge and wondered why Paul always uses the singular terms, “I” and “me” in interviews, making it seem like he was the sole talent behind P-Square contrary to when he uses “we” and “us” in his (Peter) interviews.
Peter emphasised that fans love P-Square because of their combined effort and uniqueness, not just for one person’s talent. He questioned the rationale behind Paul choosing to team up with their older brother against him rather than looking for opportunities to marginalise and humiliate him. He questioned Peter’s motives for constantly belittling him and trying to turn fans against him. Also, Jude revealed that Peter got the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to arrest his twin brother and himself (Jude) over fraud and money laundering allegations.
Peter however denied petitioning EFCC against his twin brother and dared his older brother to produce the petition that led to their arrest. He explained that Jude his older brother and his wife, Ifeoma were the ones he petitioned EFCC against over PSquare royalty, emphasising that he got information that the management company three of them (Peter, Paul and Jude) owned together, called Northside Entertainment, which was used to manage all of PSquare’s affairs had another sister company Northside Music owned by Jude Okoye and his wife, Ifeoma Okoye which he (Peter) was never aware of. When he found out, he tried to talk to his twin several times asking if he knew anything about the secret company and the whereabouts of some of PSquare’s royalties, but Paul denied knowledge of it and at some point, told him to go do his worse. And so, he had no choice but to petition the EFCC with clear instructions to his legal team not to involve Paul in the petition, but to focus solely on the primary suspects, Jude Okoye and his wife, Ifeoma Okoye since they were the directors of this secret company. Northside Music. Jude was detained after being questioned and he came clean and admitted that he had been diverting millions of dollars of PSquare money to this secret company, His bank accounts were immediately frozen. He was eventually released.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
