After two years of coronavirus disruption, the Nigerian entertainment industry has witnessed a stellar year.
Celebrity controversies, scandals, deaths and legal disputes dominate the spotlight and consume social media.
Some artists have witnessed tragedies that have shaken the show business world.
One such moment was the death of Ifeanyi Adeleke, son of pop star David Adeleke, better known as Davido.
This year has brought the return of crowded in-person events; Big Brother Naija, for example, welcomed its first live audience after being suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Some celebrities in the industry have also found love and walked the red carpet in 2022.
They are: Kemi Adetiba and Rita Domnic from MI.
Kemi Adetiba married husband Oscar Heman-Ackah in April, rapper Jude Abaga, AkA MI married fiancée Eniola Mafe in September and Rita Dominic married fiancé Fidelos Anosike in November.
As 2022 draws to a close, The Daily Mail takes a look back at some of this year’s biggest moments that defined the entertainment world.
Ifani Adeleke
Ifeanyi Adeleke, son of music star Davido, was confirmed dead on November 6, 2022. When the parents went to Ibadan, Ifeanyi’s body was found in the swimming pool of his father’s residence in the Banana Island area of Lagos State.
The toddler’s death was a huge blow to fans and well-meaning Nigerians.
His nanny and cook were detained for further interrogation about duty of care. Because of the incident, the “Electricity” singer postponed his long-awaited 2022 road trip, originally scheduled for Nov. 18 in Atlanta.
Some of his colleagues rearranged their concerts, project release dates and birthday parties to honor Ifeanyi.
kiz daniel arrested
Nigerian singer Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, also known as “Kizz Daniel”, was arrested on August 9, 2022, for failing to perform at the Summer Zoom show in Tanzania.
Daniel has said he was unable to perform to thousands of expecting fans because his flight did not include one of his bags containing a gold chain he wanted to wear while performing. His actions have disappointed many fans around the world.
However, Kizz Daniel apologized and promised to “make it up” for fans.
Asake concert sprint
Two people have died in a stampede at a concert by Nigerian pop singer Ahmed Ololade, better known as Asake.
Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, and security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, were killed and several injured in a stampede at Asake’s London show at the O2 Brixton Academy.
Expressing condolences to those who lost their lives in the concert stampede, Asake said he was devastated and overwhelmed.
The event hall where Asake’s concert was held was built as a movie theater in the 1920s and could hold fewer than 5,000 guests, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
The Threat of Portable and the Headies Award
In May 2022, popular street pop artist Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, threatens the other entertainers nominated with him in two categories of the Headies Awards – “Rookie of the Year” and “Best Busker”.
Porter said those were his prizes, and if the organizers gave out prizes, he would ask “they” to kill the man.
Shortly after the threat was made, a video of him ordering some boys to beat up his estranged friend, DJ Chicken, surfaced on the internet. In response, the Nigerian Police Force issued the singer an ultimatum to report to any police station in Ogun State.
Additionally, the singer claimed to be the leader of the notorious cult known as Million Boys, known for terrorizing and robbing Nigerians.
As a result, organizers disqualified him from the Headies Award.
Halima Abubakar and Apostle Suleiman
Acclaimed actress Halima Abubakar opened up about her relationship with controversial cleric Apostle Johnson Suleman in June 2022.
The actress said she had an affair with the preacher after he told her he was a divorced man with three children.
She also accused him of breaking his promise to marry her and causing an undisclosed, life-threatening illness that plagued her for years.
Halima also claimed the pastor had sex with several actresses, including Shan George and Iyabo Ojo.
But in September 2022, the clergy who issued the warning notice to the actress denied the allegation.
In the notice signed by Mr. Adzuanaga, the clergy accused Ms. Abubakar of posting malicious, defamatory and disparaging remarks on several microblogging sites, mainly Gistlover.
The letter stated that Halima’s allegations are false, untrue, malicious, defamatory, baseless and a tool for blackmail.
The clergyman, through his lawyer, also gave the actress three days to publish a statement retracting her earlier statement in five national dailies within three days.
They also demanded that she write to the Apostle stating her full assurance and undertaking that she would cease to make previous and further slanderous statements against him, and that she must reimburse him for all expenses incurred in defending and protecting his name.
Failing to do so, Halima Abubakar was dragged into court by Ephesus Lex Attorneys & Solicitors, Suleman’s legal representative.
Father Ijesha jailed
The Ikeja Special Crime Court on July 22 sentenced Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha, to 16 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor.
Baba Ijesha, who was arrested in April 2021, has been embroiled in a chaotic rape trial for allegedly sexually assaulting the princess’ 14-year-old adopted daughter.
Presiding Judge Oluwatoyin Taiwan convicted Baba Ijesha of child molestation, sexual assault and attempted sexual assault in a two-hour sentencing.
He was convicted of four of the six offences; five years on two charges and three years on the remaining two.
His 16-year sentence will run concurrently, meaning the film actor will spend five years behind bars.
Yul Edochie’s Second Marriage
In April 2022, Nigerians were completely shocked when actor Yul Edochie announced that he had married a new wife, Judy Austin.
Yul also announced that they had a son. This led his first wife of 18 years, May, to ask God to judge the couple.
The actor said he took a second wife because he couldn’t put down his co-worker turned wife.
According to him, she had an impact on his life, and a man can love two women.
However, Yul’s family publicly distanced themselves from his decision after the announcement.
Although he has repeatedly apologized to his first wife, May insists she will not be coaxed into polygamy as it goes against her beliefs, values and beliefs.
NDLEA arrest general
In January 2022, agents of the National Drug Enforcement Administration (NDLEA) arrested a popular Instagram comedian, Sunday Joshua, better known as De-General.
According to a statement from NDLEA, his arrest followed a raid on a notorious drug syndicate at Orchid Estate in the Lekki district of Lagos state.
Exhibits of illegal drugs, including marijuana, 225 mg of tramadol and some drug paraphernalia, were found in his home, the statement added.
The NDLEA added that De-General admitted to possession of drugs recovered from his home in his deposition while in custody.
Hushpuppi was jailed
Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, a 40-year-old international fraudster
Sentenced to more than 11 years in prison by US District Judge Otis D. Wright II.
Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in June 2020 and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in April 2021.
He was also ordered to pay $1,732,841 in restitution to two fraud victims.
According to prosecutors, Abbas and a Canadian man laundered money through various cyber crimes, including bank cyber robberies and business emails.
james brown sex tape
Controversial Nigerian cross-dresser James Chukwueze Obialor, better known as James Brown, became a major topic of discussion in October after a sexually intimate video of him with a woman surfaced online.
Explicit video of self-proclaimed African princess leaked on Snapchat.
James Brown is seen on video having sex with an unidentified woman while his face and genitals are on full display.
Reacting to the leaked sex tape, he said he was so sad and frustrated that the incident kept him awake.
While the Nigerian entertainment industry is no stranger to leaked sex tape stories, due to the nature of James Brown’s lifestyle and attire, his tape shocked many who thought he was gay.
