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Edition #NNF-ENT-2026-079 · Nigeria Entertainment News · Celebrity Gist · Nollywood TODAY’S ENT ROUND-UP
Davido faces ₦1 BILLION lawsuit — Sophia Momodu’s lawyer sues for cyberbullying, harassment and defamation over custody battle Portable fires at Mavin Records, questions Rema’s chart dominance — “Call Don Jazzy make we collab” 2Face confesses: “I am lagging behind as a father” — admits personal failings to 8 children Ijoba Lande accuses Area J police of assault, phone confiscation — officers arrested by Lagos police Tonto Dikeh: “I’m keeping my tattoos” — explains faith walk does not require removing body art Tiwa Savage attends Tinubu’s Windsor Castle state banquet — King Charles closes in Pidgin “Naija No Dey Carry Last!” Omah Lay’s second album “Clarity of Mind” arrives April 3, 2026 — pre-save frenzy begins Omotola Jalade opens up on movie marketers’ 2005 ban: “It was brutal but we survived” Davido faces ₦1 BILLION lawsuit — Sophia Momodu’s lawyer sues for cyberbullying, harassment and defamation over custody battle
⚖️ Legal Drama · Music
NNF-ENT-079-01DAVIDO — THE ₦1 BILLION LAWSUIT
⚖️ Legal · ₦1 Billion Davido · Custody Drama 🔥 Most Viral Story 01
Nigeria’s biggest music custody drama just got a whole lot more expensive — Davido’s outburst in and outside the Lagos High Court has now spawned a billion-naira legal nuclear bomb.
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke (Davido) is facing a staggering ₦1 billion ($650,000) lawsuit filed by Ebelechukwu Egeonu Enedah, the lawyer representing Sophia Momodu in the ongoing and intensely public custody battle over their daughter, Imade. The suit, filed through Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors on 24 February 2026, charges Davido with cyberbullying, defamation, harassment, and threats to life. The drama stems from the heated February 12 hearing at the Lagos High Court (Suit No. LD/1587PMC/2024), where Davido allegedly became verbally aggressive and abusive towards Enedah during cross-examination — to the extent that physical restraint was required and the court ordered Davido to apologise. He refused.
After the hearing, Davido took to social media and shared Enedah’s photo, publicly calling her the “worst lawyer ever” — triggering a tidal wave of online harassment against her from his 32 million followers, including threats to her safety and family. The pre-action notice demands: a public retraction of all defamatory posts on X and Instagram, a formal public apology, an immediate stop to all online commentary and proxy harassment, and ₦1 billion in damages for emotional distress, reputational harm, loss of professional dignity, and fear for personal safety. Davido has yet to publicly respond to the suit. He had earlier withdrawn his custody bid, prompting speculation about the trajectory of the case.
“The campaign of harassment has caused serious harm to her professional reputation, emotional wellbeing, and personal safety. Failure to comply within seven days will prompt commencement of legal action at the High Court of Lagos.”
— Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors, Pre-Action Notice, 24 February 2026
🔥 X Reactions “Davido should have kept quiet” — majority view “Imade is caught in the middle of all this” “₦1bn is no joke — lawyers don’t play” “Social media fame can become a weapon” — legal analysts
🎤 Music · Industry Drama
NNF-ENT-079-02PORTABLE FIRES AT MAVIN — QUESTIONS REMA, WANTS DON JAZZY
🎤 Portable · Mavin Records Don Jazzy · Rema 02
Portable “Zeh Nation” is at it again — and this time, his target is one of Nigeria’s most successful music empires.
Controversial street-pop sensation Portable (Habeeb Okikiola) has stirred fresh industry debate after a video went viral in which he questioned the career trajectories of artistes who leave Mavin Records. The Zazu crooner suggested that some former Mavin signees had lost their dominant form after departing the label, specifically naming Rema as someone who had “lost prominence” — while notably acknowledging that Tiwa Savage remains a force despite leaving Mavin. In what was part provocation and part admiration, Portable then directly called on Don Jazzy to collaborate with him, suggesting that proper guidance from the industry mogul could “boost his career to another level.” The video has divided entertainment Twitter — with some agreeing that Mavin’s infrastructure has a special Midas touch, while others have pushed back strongly in defence of Rema, who recently ranked among Africa’s most-streamed artists globally.
💬 Reactions “Rema ‘Calm Down’ is a global record. Lost? Where?” — fans clap back “Don Jazzy and Portable? That would actually be interesting” — industry watchers “Portable just wants attention as usual” — cynics
🎵 Music · Personal
NNF-ENT-079-032FACE IDIBIA CONFESSES: “I AM LAGGING AS A FATHER”
🎵 2Baba · Personal Confession Fatherhood · 8 Children 03
One of Nigeria’s greatest musical voices has chosen the Eid public holiday season to reflect and open up about his most personal regret — the kind of father he has been to his eight children.
Innocent Ujah Idibia, the legendary Afrobeats pioneer better known as 2Face or 2Baba, has made a rare and emotional public confession — admitting that despite his towering musical legacy and years of public life, he has fallen short as a father to his eight children by multiple women. The admission, which resonated deeply with fans and industry peers across social media, sees the “African Queen” singer take personal accountability in a way that is uncommon in Nigerian celebrity culture. 2Face, who is preparing for a landmark 25th anniversary concert “The 2Baba Experience” on March 29, 2026 in Lagos, has been on a reflective trajectory in recent months following the very public and messy end of his marriage to Annie Macaulay-Idibia and his subsequent relationship with Natasha Osawaru, now a serving Edo State lawmaker.
Fans and commentators have responded with a mix of empathy and encouragement, with many praising the honesty while others noted the complexity of co-parenting across multiple relationships in the spotlight. The admission adds a personal dimension to anticipation for his landmark anniversary show — which promises to be one of the biggest Nigerian concert events of the year.
🚨 Crime · Entertainment
NNF-ENT-079-04IJOBA LANDE: POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT
🚨 Police Assault · Lagos Ijoba Lande · Area J Division 04
The comedian known for making Nigeria laugh is not laughing this Eid — after a shocking encounter with Lagos police officers that has ignited a national conversation about celebrity harassment by security forces.
Popular Nigerian comedian and skit maker Ganiyu Morufu, widely known as Ijoba Lande, has accused operatives attached to the Area “J” Division of the Lagos State Police Command of assaulting him and confiscating his phone without lawful justification. The comedian detailed the incident on social media, generating massive public outrage. In a swift response — likely accelerated by the viral nature of the story — Lagos State Police Command confirmed that the officers implicated in the alleged assault have been taken into custody pending an investigation. The case has reopened a broader debate about the conduct of Nigerian security forces toward entertainment industry figures and ordinary citizens, particularly in Lagos.
💬 Street Reaction “Even a public figure is not safe” — Nollywood colleagues express solidarity “Police arresting police? That’s progress” — optimistic commenters “Many Nigerians face worse and nobody hears them” — human rights advocates
🎭 Celebrity · Faith & Life
NNF-ENT-079-05TONTO DIKEH: “I AM KEEPING MY TATTOOS”
🎭 Tonto Dikeh · Faith Christianity · Personal 05
Nigeria’s most theatrical celebrity is once again rewriting her narrative — and this time she’s doing it with ink, scripture, and zero apologies.
Nollywood actress, politician and eternal trending topic Tonto Dikeh has addressed one of the questions her fans have been asking since her very public return to Christian devotion: will she be removing her tattoos? Her answer, shared publicly, is a firm no. Tonto explained that her faith walk does not require the removal of her body art, affirming that her recommitment to Christianity is a deeply personal journey that cannot be reduced to external appearances. This follows a period in which the actress has been vocal about her renewed spiritual life — a transformation that coincided with her quiet marriage to surgeon Yinka Adeokun in December 2025. Social media has been divided, with some fans applauding her confidence and independence, while others continue to debate theology. Tonto, characteristically, is unbothered.
💬 Fans Say “Christianity is about the heart, not the skin” — many agree “Tonto never disappoints for content” — the internet in unison “We love a woman who stands her ground” — supporters
👑 Music · Diplomatic Glam
NNF-ENT-079-06TIWA SAVAGE AT WINDSOR — AFROBEATS MEETS ROYALTY
👑 Tiwa Savage · Windsor Castle King Charles · State Banquet 06
Nigerian entertainment did not just travel to London — it sat at the King’s table. And the world paid attention.
Tiwa Savage — Nigeria’s reigning Afrobeats queen, recently named Best Female Artiste of the Year at the West Africa On Point Awards and who has also launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation in March 2026 — was among the star-studded 160-guest list at Wednesday night’s State Banquet in St George’s Hall, Windsor Castle, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla in honour of President Tinubu. Tiwa sat alongside England rugby captain Maro Itoje, Olympic 400m gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu, broadcaster Ade Adepitan, and UK’s first Black female Michelin-starred chef Adejoke Bakare — a lineup that made the banquet table feel like a celebration of the Nigerian-British creative and athletic tapestry. King Charles memorably told the gathering that “From Afrobeats filling our concert halls and Nollywood captivating our screens” — Nigeria has profoundly enriched British culture, before closing with the Pidgin toast: “Naija No Dey Carry Last.”
The evening was made even more special for music fans by the design of the bespoke royal mocktail — the Crimson Bloom — which was inspired by Nigeria’s iconic Chapman cocktail, made with hibiscus syrup, ginger, and English Rose soda. The drink’s creation was a subtle nod to Nigeria’s cultural footprint at the very heart of Windsor Castle.
🎶 Music · New Release
NNF-ENT-079-07OMAH LAY “CLARITY OF MIND” — APRIL 3 INCOMING
🎶 Omah Lay · New Album April 3 · 2026 07
One of the most eagerly awaited albums in Nigerian music this year is now officially scheduled — and Omah Lay’s fans are counting down the days.
Port Harcourt-born alt-Afrobeats sensation Stanley Omah Didia, better known as Omah Lay, has confirmed that his sophomore studio album “Clarity of Mind” will be released on April 3, 2026. The announcement has supercharged anticipation among his fanbase, with pre-save links going viral across Spotify, Apple Music, and Boomplay. The album is expected to build on the atmospheric, emotionally raw sound that powered his debut “Boy Alone” — but with the kind of artistic growth and global reach that his collaborations and years of touring have cultivated. Omah Lay has been on one of Nigerian music’s most consistent upward trajectories, collaborating with Justin Bieber on “Attention” and carving a distinct niche that blends Alt-R&B, Afrofusion, and soul. With “Clarity of Mind,” he is expected to deliver what many are calling his definitive artistic statement. His first Grammy nomination for the project has also been signalled by industry insiders, adding to the fever pitch ahead of the drop.
🎶 Pre-Release Buzz “April 3 cannot come fast enough” — fan consensus “Omah Lay is in his prime right now” — music critics “Grammy contender incoming” — industry whispers
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★ More Entertainment Headlines — Thursday 19 March 2026
| NOLLYWOOD | Omotola Jalade Ekeinde opens up on the 2005 movie marketers’ ban that forced some of Nigeria’s biggest stars off cinema — including herself. Speaking candidly, the veteran actress said the experience was “brutal” but ultimately shaped her resilience. Omotola also recently had former President Olusegun Obasanjo attend the premiere of her latest film, with his appearance generating significant buzz. [Daily Post] |
| MUSIC | 2Baba’s “The 2Baba Experience” concert is confirmed for March 29, 2026 — a landmark Lagos show celebrating 25 years in music. The event promises a career-spanning set and a lineup of special guests from across his decades of collaborative work, including industry veterans and newer generation Afrobeats acts. “African Queen” is expected to close the night. [Guardian] |
| MUSIC | Portable vs the world: Beyond the Mavin video, Portable has also stirred controversy by questioning the career trajectories of artistes who have left various major labels. His commentary has been characteristically unfiltered, prompting responses from fans of Rema, Davido, and others — making him once again the most chaotic energy in Nigerian music Twitter this week. [Naija News] |
| NOLLYWOOD | Sadio Mané speaks out on CAF’s AFCON title shock — the Senegal captain, who famously called his teammates back onto the pitch during the chaotic January final, has condemned CAF’s decision to strip Senegal of the AFCON 2025 title awarded to Morocco. Mané said the ruling was unjust, calling into question the process. His statement has been widely circulated in Nigeria’s entertainment and sports circles. [Naija News] |
| CELEBRITY | Papa Ajasco controversy: Wale Adenuga Productions CEO Wale Adenuga has denied allegations from veteran actor Abiodun Ayoyinka (Papa Ajasco), who claimed he was broke despite his long-running role in the beloved TV series. Adenuga clarified that the actor does not have the right to use the Papa Ajasco brand without the production company’s permission, a statement that has sparked debate about intellectual property rights and the treatment of veteran Nollywood talent. [Naija News] |
| NOLLYWOOD | Omotola on Afrobeats vs Nollywood global reach: The actress reignited a perennial debate this week, arguing that Afrobeats reached global audiences faster than Nollywood and identifying the reasons — including an underdeveloped intellectual property regime. She called for urgent IP reform to give Nigeria’s film industry the international distribution infrastructure to match its music counterpart. [Daily Post] |
| FILM | Nollywood film “Behind The Scenes” becomes the highest-grossing Nigerian release in Ireland and the UK — banking £159,000 at the box office. The milestone signals a growing appetite for Nigerian cinema among the diaspora and mainstream UK audiences, validating calls for more investment in Nollywood’s international distribution pipeline. [Vanguard] |
| MUSIC | Central Cee converts to Islam — the British rapper of Nigerian descent has revealed that he has embraced the Islamic faith, saying “I converted. It’s official.” The announcement comes as Nigeria’s entertainment world observes Eid-el-Fitr, and has generated wide discussion about faith journeys in the Nigerian diaspora music community. [Daily Post] |
| IN MEMORIAM | Nollywood remembers Okemesi — the comic actor Bamidele Oluwatope Saint, popularly known as “Okemesi,” passed away on February 24, 2026 after a prolonged illness. Known for blending English, Yoruba, and his native Ekiti dialect in his comedy skits, he had recently been discharged from hospital and moved into a new apartment secured through fan donations. He died after slipping into a coma. The industry continues to mourn his loss. [Premium Times] |
