Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, has slammed the convener of Bring Back Our Girls Movement, Aisha Yesufu, over her advocacy for women’s liberation.

Kuti blasted the activist while recounting how he disagreed with her stance on women’s freedom during a TV show.

Condemning Yesufu for advocating for the liberation of Nigerian women while putting on Hijab, the musician argued that embracing Islamic or Christian practices leads to abandoning African identity.

Seun in a post on his official page said
“It’s the Africanness in us that is helping your European behaviour. That is why Aisha Yesufu and I engaged in an argument on TV, she wan dey talk anyhow, and I told her father off.

“Once you are a Christian or Muslim, you have abandoned Africanness. That one tied hijab saying she wanted to liberate Nigerian women. Mherfker liberates yourself from your Hijab first.”

Nigerian gospel artiste Damilare ‘Dare Melody’ Odunuga’s wife, Adedoyin Odunuga, has died.

She was reported dead on Thursday.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the transition to eternal rest of our beloved mother, wife, sister, and friend,” Dare Melody said on Instagram.

Dare Melody had often publicly celebrated his wife’s unwavering support and shared life.

In February 2023, the singer gifted his wife a new house as a birthday present.

Dare Melody is considered a prominent figure in Nigerian gospel music. His praise and worship songs, including hits like ‘Damilare’ and ‘Alade Ogo’ have resonated with many people.

Dare Melody has often sung about faith in times of trial.

In one of his songs, ‘Eleti Gbaroye’, he reflected on God’s listening ear and ability to comfort in moments of pain.

Nigerian singer and activist, Folarin Falana, professionally known as Falz, has warned popular social media critic, VeryDarkMan, that he will get the trouble he is looking for.

Falz said this while speaking for the first time about the ongoing legal battle between him and VeryDarkMan.

The legal battle followed a leaked voice recording of crossdresser Bobrisky narrating how Falz and his father, Femi Falana, who is a human rights lawyer, allegedly contacted him over a N10 million presidential pardon during his six-month jail term for naira abuse.

The audio which was leaked on social media by VeryDarkMan generated diverse reactions from netizens.

Reacting to the backlash, Falz in a lawsuit explained that Bobrisky was the one who reached out to him to seek financial assistance.

However, speaking in a now trending interview on the Afro Beats podcast, Falz on Wednesday noted that VeryDarkMan lacks proof for his allegations.

While frowning at VeryDarkMan’s failure to tender a public apology, the singer threatened that he will give him the trouble that he is looking for.

“When I reached out to him over the audio, this guy was instantly defensive from the beginning; I’m like bro, try and listen. What are you instantly fighting about?

“And he said without mincing words, ‘shebi you are a lawyer, you can go to court’.

“I will have him know that there is a criminal angle to defamation, but I chose not to go that way. He could have been arrested because what you posted is absolutely false and I need you to take it down and tender an apology within a certain amount of time and what did he do? Nothing.

“I don’t know if it portrays him as a hero. He didn’t apologise, and people are trying to peddle me as an oppressor. So if you say you want to find trouble, that is my work. If you insist that’s what you are looking for, let’s go.”

Afrobeats singer, Ayra Starr, has lamented about the effects of her busy schedule as an artist on her looks.

The songstress said despite being born in 2002, she already feels “old.”

She revealed that she had met people born in the 90s who were younger and more vibrant than her.

Starr spoke to Rode in Nairobi, Kenya.

“I have met people who were born in the 90s and they’re so vibrant and so young. I’m old and I was just born in 2002,” she lamented.

“I want to stay home, I want to sleep.”

On what inspires her creative process, the singer said, “I feel like the more I make music, the more I recognise what my path is and what I’m trying to do.”

A Deputy Comptroller of the Nigerian Correctional Services, NCoS, Emby Anukwara, has disclosed that crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, was kept in a ‘privilege cell’ during his jail term in Kirikiri Prison.

He explained that Bobrisky was sent to the privilege cell because he was examined and found to have both male and female sex organs.

The deputy comptroller disclosed this at the correctional centre while addressing members of the House of Representatives investigative committee.

The committee had visited the facility as part of their investigative hearing into the allegations against Bobrisky.

A Lagos Court had sentenced Bobrisky to six months in prison for naira mutilation.

But recordings of a conversation leaked by social media sensation, Martins Ortse aka VeryDarkMan, suggested that Bobrisky never served his jail term at Kirikiri prison as ordered by the court.

In the audio, the crossdresser said he served his jail term in a lodge due to the influence of his ‘godfather’.

However, an investigative panel has said there was no evidence that Bobrisky slept outside the prison during his six-month jail term.

However, the officer while addressing the House of Representatives committee, said: “I am Emby Anukwara, Deputy Comptroller of Corrections and officer in charge of Medium when Bobrisky was brought in here.

“On the April 12, 2024, Bobrisky was brought here at about 10:30 pm and at about that time, we could not do the necessary documentation.

“So knowing his history as to if he’s a male or female, we decided to take a proactive action; so I directed that he should be given a single cell in the privilege ward – privilege cell.

“He was taken to P-ward room 2 where we are. The next day when we did the admission, he was taken to medicals where the doctor and matron examined him and said he had a male and female organ.”

Controversial crossdresser, Okuneye Idris, otherwise known as Bobrisky, is currently in detention at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos State, where he spent the night in a cell at the police facility.

A source, who confirmed the development to our correspondent, said further directives were being awaited regarding Okuneye’s case, adding that he was taken to the FCID for safekeeping following his arrest by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service during his attempt to exit the country through the Seme border.

The source said, “Bobrisky was brought to the FCID, Alagbon, around 10 p.m. on Monday. Immigration arrested him at Seme Boarder and brought him for safekeeping.

“He is in detention at the FCID, Alagbon. He was arrested on Sunday, detained overnight, and taken to the FCID, Alagbon, around 10 pm on Monday. He is still at the FCID.”

Confirming Okuneye’s detention, the spokesperson for the FCID, Lagos, Mayegun Aminat, during a conversation with our correspondent on Tuesday, said, “He is detained at FCID Alagbon. He is with us and we are to get a remand to keep him in custody today.”

It was reported that the spokesperson for the NIS, Kenneth Udo, in a statement on Monday evening, described Okuneye as a person of interest over recent issues of public concern.

“In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, Nigeria Immigration Service intercepted Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, otherwise known as Bobrisky at the Seme Border over an attempt to exit the country.

“He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action. The Service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its statutory responsibility of manning the country’s borders,” Udo said.

Sean ‘P Diddy‘ Combs, the hip-hop mogul, is seeing a rise in streaming numbers despite facing growing s*x trafficking allegations and being dropped from several radio station playlists.

Mr Combs is grappling with more than a dozen allegations bordering on sx trafficking, sxual abuse, assaults and racketeering conspiracy.

Despite the gravity of these charges and his growing alienation from the entertainment world, his music has experienced an unexpected rise in streaming numbers.

Mr Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, was indicted last month and is currently appealing his detention in a Brooklyn jail.

His songs have been removed from major radio playlists, and his reputation in the music world has taken a nosedive, which is evident in his exclusion at the Grammy Awards, where he once reigned supreme.

Nevertheless, platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have seen a notable rise in streaming his songs. In the past year, his Spotify following has grown by about 15 per cent, from 1.5 million to 1.8 million, according to Chartmetric.

Mr Combs’ hit song ‘I’ll Be Missing You’ has now garnered 622,297,503 streams on Spotify, solidifying its place as one of his most successful tracks on the platform.

In the week leading up to his September 16 arrest, his music catalogue garnered 3.2 million streams in the U.S. Following his arrest, that figure surged by 50 per cent, rising to 4.8 million, according to data from Luminate, which tracks music streaming statistics.

This jump in streams occurred despite the mounting legal challenges surrounding him.

While support for the artiste has fluctuated across social media platforms, TikTok users have rallied in his defence, using the hashtag #FreeDiddy over 12,000 times.

Similar support has emerged on Instagram, with the hashtag being used over 5,000 times.

This loyalty contrasts with the damning media reports, including a leaked video of Mr Combs allegedly assaulting Cassie in 2016 and federal raids on his homes earlier this year.

Popular producer and singer Michael Ajereh, also known as Don Jazzy, has called on Nigerian content creator and singer Olamide Ogunleye, known as Oluwadolarz, to reveal the identity of the music executive who allegedly demanded se*ual favours in exchange for promoting his music.

Oluwadolarz revealed in an Instagram story on Sunday night that a supposedly influential entertainer offered to promote his music only if he engaged in a s*xual act.

According to Oluwadolarz, the entertainer insisted he must have s*x with him before endorsing his music or helping him climb the charts.

Though Oluwadolarz refrained from naming the individual, he expressed his discomfort and refusal to comply with the request.

Reacting to the allegations, Don Jazzy urged Oluwadolarz to publicly name the person involved to avoid casting a shadow of doubt over others in the industry.

“Tag the person, or it’s a lie,” Don Jazzy commented under Oluwadolarz’s post, challenging him to provide more details about the incident.

Big Brother Naija Season 9 winner Kellyrae has lamented the numerous requests for financial assistance from family and friends.

The reality star revealed that since he stated online that he gave his wife Kassia N55 million from the prize money, he has been receiving requests for financial assistance nonstop.

He disclosed this in a recent interview with media personality, Hero Daniels.

Kellyrae pleaded with those asking him for financial favours to allow him settle.

“I was receiving calls people close to us after I said I gave Kassia N55 million and they were asking for their own share of my prize money,” he said.

“I will like to say to everyone, I’m not a rich man yet please. The money is big but things are expensive. Even if it’s egg I want to buy, how many crates of eggs will I buy? Please allow a brother to settle.”

Kellyrae walked home with a cash prize of N60 million and a brand new car worth N40 million after winning the ninth edition of the Big Brother Naija reality show.

Former Big Brother Naija reality star and skit maker, DeeOne, has said singer Davido makes supporting him difficult because of his controversial nature.

DeeOne, who was reacting to Davido’s recent encounter with Wizkid at a London nightclub, slammed the DMW boss for showing up at the same club where Wizkid was despite not being on good terms with him.

Expressing his disappointment, the reality star stated that he thought marriage would change Davido, but that isn’t the reality.

He said he was among those who faulted Wizkid for touting Davido online, but the DMW boss’ actions were making supporting him difficult.

Speaking in a video message shared via his Instagram page, DeeOne said: “Davido, you make it very difficult for someone to support you. A few weeks ago, everyone was blaming Wizkid for touting you online. Now, you’re entering the same club as Wizkid in London. Why can’t you ignore him if not that you’re a fan?

“I was among those who blamed Wizkid for touting you online. Okay, you didn’t record Wizkid at the club, but your boys were recording him. He didn’t even notice you guys.

“The both of you are talented, but Wizkid is more charismatic. Was Wizkid supposed to fight you after spotting you at the club? Someone will support you today; tomorrow you will go back to your default. I thought marriage would change you, but that is not the reality.”

Singer, Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid, has broken the record for the biggest streaming day on Spotify Nigeria.

This is as his new single, ‘Piece of My Heart’ featuring American R&B star, Brent Faiyaz, becomes the first song to hit the 1 million stream mark on Spotify Nigeria.

The song recorded 1.016 million streams on Spotify Nigeria in a day.

Consequently, Nigeria became the 22nd country to see a song receive over 1 million streams on its Spotify Chart in a single day.

‘Piece of My Heart’ debuted at 90 on the Global Spotify Chart with 1.7 million streams.

The song recorded 2.27 million streams globally on its first day of release.

It earns the biggest streaming debut for a song by an African artist in Spotify history.

Rapper, CDQ has wadded into the beef between singers Wizkid and Davido.

Wizkid and Davido, who renewed their beef on social media earlier this year, caused a stir at a London nightclub at the weekend after they snubbed each other.

Reacting to their reoccurring controversy, CDQ said it’s unwise to take side in the beef, stressing that the duo are like husband and wife.

He urged fans and pundits to let the duo “play.”

On his Instagram story, CDQ wrote; “Woss Dem no dey put mouth for Wiz n David fight. Ori e lon ma fi for igo gbeyin….

“Just let them play. 2 of dem be like husband n wife till thy kingdom come.”

Popular media personality and critic, Solomon Buchi, has blasted celebrity UK pastor, Tobi Adegboyega for going clubbing with Davido.

Pastor Tobi made headlines on Saturday after a clip of Davido and Wizkid being in the same club amid their rift went viral on social media.

In the trending video, the clergyman was seen sitting beside Davido in the club.

Reacting to the video on his X handle, Solomon Buchi called Adegboyega a shame to the office of a pastor.

Buchi urged the celebrity pastor to leave pastoral calling and focus on driving his luxury cars and clubbing.

“Tobi Adegboyega is definitely not a pastor. Such a shame to the office of a pastor. You can’t be a pastor and be like that. He should just drive his luxury cars, club and enjoy his Gucci. Stop mixing it with Jesus.”

Nigerian actor and comedian Oluwaseyitan Aletile, also known as Seyi Law, has praised President Bola Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy.

Although the removal has caused hardship for many, Seyi Law insisted that it is ultimately beneficial for Nigerians.

He emphasized that the fuel subsidy should have been eliminated much earlier. He noted that if it had been removed in 2012, during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan—when the former opposition party, led by Tinubu, protested against it—Nigerians would have already been free from that burden.

“Fuel subsidy should have been long gone. If it had gone in 2012 we would have gone through the pain process and by now we would have been healing,” he said.

“In 2012, I was the only celebrity that went on stage to kick against the anti-fuel subsidy movement. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala came out to say that the nation could not afford to pay salaries. “We were borrowing to pay salaries.”

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid, has posted about his star power after an incident that happened between him and his colleague, Davido, at a club in London.

Wizkid sauntered past Davido’s table while clubbing at the same facility with the DMW boss amid their beef, on Friday night.

Davido was partying with members of his 30 Billion Gang, while Wizkid reportedly showed up to support his official disc jokey, DJ Tunez who was playing at the club.

Following the snub, Wizkid went online to brag, insinuating that Davido was the one looking for his validation.

On his X handle on Saturday morning, Wizkid wrote, “Everybody Dey find Big Wizzy.”

This isn’t the first time Davido and Wizkid have been spotted clubbing together. Last year, the singers partied together and hugged at a Lagos club.

However, Wizkid claimed during one of his recent social media rants that it was Davido who initiated the reunion.

He claimed that Davido runs after him “like a fanboy” anywhere he goes.

Actress Halima Abubakar has been suspended by Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, over what it described as professional misconduct.

The AGN said Abubakar’s “involvement in slandering Nollywood” was uncovered after two years of secret investigation.

Announcing her suspension in a statement on Friday, the Guild stated that other female members on the watch-list, especially over the recent release of names of persons purported to have had dealings with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, are being investigated by the secret panel.

The Guild said it found the actress “guilty of spreading false information about fellow colleagues, associates, and patrons, including allegations of extramarital affairs with highly placed individuals”.

“Following the thorough investigative report by the Special Secret Investigation Panel set up to conduct an underground investigation into the activities of some blogs/bloggers since 2022.

“After two years of the investigations, the Panel found out that Miss Halima Abubakar was behind all the slandering information.

“Therefore, Halima Abubakar is hereby placed on indefinite suspension. She will face the National Disciplinary Committee to determine full punishment. And she’s not permitted to participate in any AGN and filming activities.

“However, some female members on the watch-list are being investigated by the secret panel, especially in the release of names purported to have had dealings with the Senate President.”

Gospel artiste, Yinka Ayefele and his wife, have welcomed a baby girl.

The singer shared the good news on his Instagram page last night, as he shared a lovely photo of his baby girl with her name.

This would be the fourth child of the couple. The Ayefeles welcomed a set of triplets in July 2019 after 22 years of waiting.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Ayobami Olabiyi is dead.

Olabiyi, a respected figure in the Yoruba movie industry, reportedly died on Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He passed on after a battle with illness that required his admission to the University College Hospital, UCH.

Before his death, Olabiyi was said to have been unable to move or speak.

The chairman of the Oyo State Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, TAMPAN, Bose Akinola made the announcement in a statement late Wednesday.

“We announce the death of our TAMPAN National General Secretary, Chief Alhaji Musadshir Ayobami Olabiyi ‘Bobo B.’

“May God give entire TAMPAN members globally and his family the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.

Controversial crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, has reacted to the 12-hour ultimatum by human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, singer Falz.

DAILY POST reports that Femi Falana and Falz, in a cease-and-desist letter on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, gave a 12-hour ultimatum to Bobrisky to retract his defamatory claim against them in an audio leaked by popular social media critic, VeryDarkMan.

In response to the ultimatum, Bobrisky, on Wednesday night, in a series of posts on his Instagram story, denied defaming Falana and Falz and also rejected their demand for retraction and public apology.

“In reply to the two letters in circulation from the law firm of the Falanas’, I like to state for the record and pending the official reply from my counsel, state for the avoidance of doubt that I, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, aka Bobrisky, did not publish any defamatory statements concerning the learned SAN, Falana and his son Falz.

“And that it is in the public domain pursuant to my solicitor’s letter dated 27th of September 2024 that I have denied any knowledge of what VeryDarkMan published.

“I stand by my express denial and advise whoever has been defamed to hold the publisher of the defamatory content. My fundamental rights to privacy of communications should be respected and protected.” [sic].

This comes a few days after the Lagos State High Court ordered VeryDarkMan to delete defamatory videos and comments targeting Falana and Falz within 21 days.

The matter has generated widespread controversy since VDM leaked the audio recordings of Bobrisky’s prison conversations in September 2024.

Human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, and his son, Folarin, popularly known as Falz, have demanded a public apology and retraction of defamatory statements made by the popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, in audio recordings circulating online.

In one of the audios shared by controversial media critic Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky claimed that he had spoken with Falz, requesting his assistance in persuading his father (Falana) to help secure a presidential pardon, which allegedly cost N10 million.

The crossdresser also alleged that he asked Falz for N3 million to secure special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

In another audio shared by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky claimed to have paid N5 million upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in an attempt to secure a Federal Government pardon over charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

However, in a letter dated 14 October 2024, issued by Falana’s legal representatives, Olorunfemi Akinyemi and Taiwo E. Olawanle, and seen by our correspondent on Wednesday, Bobrisky was accused of making false and defamatory statements about Falana and his son’s involvement in the alleged bribery and pardon.

The legal team described Bobrisky’s claims as entirely unfounded and damaging to Falana’s reputation. They demanded a full retraction and apology, to be published on all platforms where the statements were shared.

The letter read, “We are Counsel to Mr. Femi Falana SAN and Mr. Folarin Falana aka Falz (hereinafter referred to as ‘our clients’), on whose behalf we write this letter regarding your slanderous statements against them.

“We have confirmed that you took advantage of your recent imprisonment to extort money from a group of artists and other members of the public.

You will recall that on 4 May 2024, you called Mr. Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, and requested N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) to secure special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

“Although Falz refused your request, you falsely claimed in a video that he told you his father, our client, had agreed to write a letter of pardon for you. You also stated that our client had spoken with you and that N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) was required to bribe officials to process your pardon.”

The letter continued, “In another video, you claimed to have paid N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to secure a Federal Government pardon over charges filed against you by the EFCC. You further alleged that the Senior Advocate initially requested N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) for his legal services but, due to your frozen account, you could not raise the full amount.”

Falana’s legal team clarified that no such conversation had ever taken place and that Bobrisky’s allegations were aimed at extorting money from the public while tarnishing Falana’s professional reputation.

“In fact, you have published a list of individuals who believed your fabricated story and contributed millions of naira, supposedly to pay our client to write a letter of pardon and bribe public officers on your behalf.
“Your decision to involve our client in your criminal activities was purely a figment of your imagination.

“Contrary to your baseless claims, you never instructed our client to write a letter of pardon for you,” the letter further stated.

Additionally, the legal team emphasised that Bobrisky had never spoken with Falana nor instructed him to write a letter of pardon. The claim of a N5 million payment was also dismissed as groundless.

“It is clear that you made these defamatory statements recklessly, knowing full well that you did not call our client to request a letter of pardon. Our client has NEVER spoken to you regarding your pardon or any other matter,” the lawyers asserted.

“Given that our client has secured pardons for over 300 Nigerians convicted by military and civilian courts in Nigeria, Libya, Thailand, and The Gambia on a pro bono basis, your defamatory statements have severely damaged his reputation, both locally and internationally.

“We, therefore, demand an immediate retraction of your defamatory and derogatory statements, along with a prominently aired or published apology on all platforms where your false statements have been shared.

“If we do not receive your formal retraction and apology within 12 (twelve) hours of your receipt of this letter, we will proceed with our client’s instructions to pursue legal remedies, including seeking monetary damages, for your malicious defamatory statements.

“We hope you will urgently address the issues raised herein in your own best interest,” the legal team concluded.