Nigeria loses two record label execs in one week – How Obehi Omokegbe and Emmanuel Okoi died

By Victor Enengedi

In the last one-week, we have had the misfortune of witnessing the demise of two young music label execs; Obehi Omokegbe and Emmanuel Okoi. And the entire music industry in Nigeria is mourning.

Obehi popularly known as ‘Biggie Smallz’ was a photographer and the CEO of Benin based entertainment outfit, Chup Knuckle Entertainment. Emmanuel Okoi a.k.a. Emibrian, on the other hand, doubled as an artiste and artiste manager for Lagos based Edlyne Records. He also worked part-time with Grafton Records, supporting the label’s act Mr 2Kay.

Sources tell NET Obehi complained of a stomach pain followed by heavy vomiting and died after he was rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State.

On the other hand, NET gathered that Emibrian had been battling an illness speculated to have resulted from food poisoning until he finally gave up the ghost. It is believed Emibrian had been silently battling Leukemia disease. Those close to him told us during the week that it’s possible there was an earlier mis-diagnosis

It is always a sad moment when the cruel hands of death, whether preventable or unpreventable, strikes down young men with potential. Only a few months ago, Obehi was part of an entertainment stakeholders’ visit to the Oba of Benin in the capacity of a spokesman.

Emibrian was an experienced industry hand that has handled management for fuji-pop artiste, LKT and Port Harcourt based act, Mr 2Kay. The artiste manager only got married almost a month ago at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Lagos and was planning for a wedding before he passed away.