The Nigerian music industry is one of the biggest contributors to the Nigerian economy, but it’s surely not without its negative sides.
Over the past few years, some musicians have been involved in cases of alleged sexual molestation which posed as threats to their career.
Here’s three that stand out, for obvious reasons.
Obesere vs Olanike Olaiya: In March 2014, Fuji musician, Abass Akande Obesere was the subject of a messy rape scandal involving a 29 year old business woman named Olanike Olaiya.
With officers of the Nigerian Police Force getting involved, Obesere was arrested and interrogated before the case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba.
According to Olanike, she met Obesere through a mutual friend who introduced them so the music star could help with her business.
She disclosed in an interview: ‘When I met him, I introduced my business to him and he promised to connect me to some of his friends in Dubai, who would sell goods to me on credit. After the discussion, he started demanding for sex and I refused and when I wanted to leave, he insisted I should sleep over in his house because it was late and he claimed that it was dangerous to go out late in the night in the area.
‘I thought he was a responsible man and I decided to sleep over but at the dead of the night, he came into the room where I slept and pounced on me. He raped me. Afterwards, he inserted a ring he wore into my private part and I started bleeding. He hurriedly left me in the room, saying he had an appointment to fulfill. I could not bear the trauma and the bleeding and I reported the matter to the police,’ she revealed.
The music act, also known as Papa Tosibe, however denied raping the lady, insisting they were lovers and had been dating for some time.
The matter was eventually dismissed due to the lack of evidence against Obesere after the conclusion of investigation. But not before he lost shows and money, with his image badly soiled.
African China: In 2006, Nigerian dance-hall act, Chinagorom Onuoha better known as African China, was also engrossed in a rape scandal involving a lady in London.
The incident which happened on the night of a Basketmouth concert, landed the ‘Mr President’ singer in detention for many days. African China was eventually discharged and acquitted after the case was thoroughly investigated. He was also paid unspecified compensation by the London Council.
But he had spent several months in England, when he returned home, his battered image was a heavy cross.
Timaya Vs Shella B: When Dem Mama Records boss, Timaya performed in the US last year, he was in the news a lot. But it wasn’t for his work. He was the subject of numerous news and opinion pieces following a rape from a lady with whom he had intercourse.
Timaya, according to Shella B, forcefully had sex with her in his hotel room when they were making out just moments before his performance in Atlanta on July 18, 2015.
Timaya denied the allegations and appeared to be saying the truth when he flew out of the US to Barbados and later Nigeria, without any arrests. It’s likely his accused never officially reported to the Police.
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