Entertainment
Burna Boy’s police escort shoots two at Cubana Lagos club
The Lagos State Police Commissioner’s Special Squad has detained five policemen attached to singer Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy for attempted murder after they shot two fun seekers, Irebami Lawrence and another identified simply as Tolu, at Club Cubana in Lagos on Wednesday.
The development comes just a few years after the Lagos State police command declared Burna Boy wanted for allegedly sending armed thugs to assault and rob fellow musician, Abiye Jumbo, aka Mr. 2Kay.
According to a preliminary police report by the Bar Beach Police Division in Lagos State, trouble started around 4am on June 8, 2022 when the musician and five police escorts visited Club Cubana in Victoria Island.
About four policemen waited outside while one of the policemen identified as Inspector Ibrahim, who was in mufti, accompanied the Grammy- winning artiste into the club.
According to multiple witness statements, the singer was in the VIP section with three women when he spotted another woman.
He was reported to have told Ibrahim to invite the woman to come join him.
However, the lady’s husband was said to have lambasted Burna Boy, insisting that it was disrespectful for any man to make advances at his wife.
After some minutes, Burna Boy was reported to have made fresh advances towards the woman.
This infuriated her husband further and his friends who had gathered at the club and the matter soon degenerated.
“As things were getting heated, Ibrahim brought out his service pistol and shot multiple times while Burna Boy was laughing,” said a senior policeman.
In the process, 27 year-old Lawrence was shot in the thigh while his friend, Tolu, was hit in the head by a bullet.
This caused commotion in the club.
Some people brought out their phones to record what was happening but the policemen began snatching and smashing phones.
“They eventually made their way out of the club and also shot into the air in order to escape. While all this happened, the Cubana management did nothing about it. In the first place, they ought not to have allowed anyone to bring in a gun into the club,” said a senior policeman.
It was learnt that Burna Boy and his crew drove off to one of his properties in the Elegushi end of the Lekk-Epe Expressway and later Lekki Phase 1.
“Aware of what he had done, Burna Boy took the next flight out without even informing his policemen. He only called them on video later to inform them that he had travelled to Spain. All his police escorts have been arrested and are currently at the command headquarters,” said a top source at the office of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
Sources close to the victims said the police were already making attempts to protect Burna Boy because of his status while the victims were treating their wounds at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
“They want to focus all attention on the policemen and absolve Burna Boy of blame. It is obvious that the police will not do anything about the matter just like in the case of Mr 2Kay,” said a friend of the victims.
In a chat a brother to the victim, who identified himself only as Jide, said his brother had undergone a surgery to remove the bullet from his thigh on Friday.
Jide further stated Irebami, who is based in the United States, had only arrived in Nigeria a week ago for a wedding when the unfortunate incident happened.
He also berated the management of Club Cubana for not doing enough to forestall the situation, adding that the club management had not even reached out to the family since the incident occurred.
Jide added, “My brother and his friends came in from the US for a wedding when this thing happened. The annoying part was that Burna Boy was even laughing when this shooting was taking place. He approved of what they did.
“One of the bullets grazed my brother’s friend in the head while my brother was shot in the thigh. He underwent a surgery on Friday.
“The Cubana people are even denying that anything happened. They have not even reached out to us. It was only the morning of the shooting that a manager at the club, White Lion, interacted with us.”
Attempts to get a response from Burna Boy’s manager, Mrs. Bose Ogulu, who is also his mother, proved abortive as she neither responded to calls nor a text message on Saturday.
Similarly, Chioma Nwachukwu, a media consultant for Cubana, did not respond to calls on Saturday.
But the Spokesman for the Lagos State Police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the focus of the investigation were the policemen.
Hundeyin also claimed that the police had not received any complaint from any victim.
He said, “It was the policemen attached to him that shot and it is an internal disciplinary matter. They will explain why they had to shoot into the air and the outcome of their explanation during the investigation will determine what steps to take next.
“So, it is an internal thing with the police officers that were with him. Except you have news that Burna Boy was the one shooting; then we will have to investigate how he got the gun and all that. But what we have for now is that the policemen were the ones that shot.
“We are treating the policemen internally for disciplinary matters. We didn’t get a report of somebody being hit by a bullet. If somebody was hit by a bullet, anybody treating the person is supposed to have reported but we didn’t get any report of such. The investigation is ongoing.”
In 2017, the Lagos State police command declared Burna Boy wanted for allegedly sending thugs to attack and rob fellow artiste, Mr 2kay, in his room at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island after performing in the 2face’s ‘Buckwyld N Breathless’ concert held in the hotel.
They were reported to have beaten him up and dispossessed him of a wristwatch, gold jewellery, phones, among other valuables estimated at millions of naira, at gunpoint.
The matter was later settled amicably between Burna Boy and Mr 2Kay and the Ye crooner escaped criminal prosecution.
PUNCH
By Chinedu Adonu
ENUGU — Nollywood movie, Ikenga: The Last Festival, has grossed more than N100 million in cinema revenue within one month of its release, its Executive Producer, Anita Odiakaose, has disclosed.
Odiakaose made the disclosure on Tuesday in Enugu at a media briefing organised to celebrate the film’s commercial success and highlight its role in promoting Igbo language, culture and heritage.
According to her, Ikenga opened in cinemas nationwide on August 21 and crossed the N100 million mark while still running in cinemas.
She said the movie was, as of Saturday, recognised as the highest-grossing Igbo film in West Africa, describing the feat as a major milestone for culturally driven Nigerian cinema.
Odiakaose said the movie was deliberately produced to promote Igbo identity, language, traditions and cultural heritage through entertainment.
She explained that the filmmakers blended fiction and non-fiction with an Igbo cultural festival and a love story to create a production capable of attracting both local and international audiences.
“About 90 per cent of the language in the movie is Igbo, with subtitles, while about 90 per cent of the cast and crew are Igbo,” she said.
The film features veteran and contemporary Nollywood actors, including Pete Edochie, Patience Ozokwor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Zubby Michael, Jidekene, Beverly Osu and others.
The producer said the film’s performance had demonstrated that audiences were interested in stories that reflected their culture and identity.
She, however, expressed concern over the declining use of the Igbo language, noting that even she could not speak Igbo fluently despite being an Igbo woman.
Odiakaose challenged filmmakers to become more deliberate in promoting indigenous languages and cultural values through their productions.
She said, “We need to do more as filmmakers. We need to be deliberate about using Igbo names, Igbo language and Igbo cultural elements in our films.”
According to her, culturally rooted films could also help Nigerians in the diaspora reconnect with their heritage and expose younger generations to their language, traditions and cultural practices.
Odiakaose disclosed that Ikenga was not her first production, saying she had produced about 70 films for YouTube and other platforms, but that the movie marked her first cinema production.
She said the success of the film had encouraged the production team to take it beyond Nigeria, revealing that international screenings were being planned for the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
She disclosed that the United States premiere was scheduled for October 30, while screenings in the UK and Canada were planned for November and December respectively.
Odiakaose said the commercial performance of Ikenga had shown that films built around indigenous culture could attract large audiences while also generating substantial revenue in the cinema market.
Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced his death in an Instagram post on Wednesday, describing him as “The Lion of Lufodo.”
Olusoji said the family was grateful to God for the life their father lived and appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect the family’s privacy.
Olu Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s most respected veteran actors, with a career spanning theatre, television and film.
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He began his acting career in British television before featuring in international productions and later returning to Nigeria, where he established himself as a major figure in the country’s film industry.
He appeared in numerous Nigerian films and was recognised with several industry honours, including the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa International Film Festival.
Jacobs was also involved in film production and the development of the performing arts in Nigeria. Alongside his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, he was associated with the Lufodo Group.
His death marks the loss of one of the most recognisable figures in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Nigerian dancer and entertainer Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, has been granted bail in the United Kingdom ahead of his scheduled appearance at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
According to court information, Odinaka was granted bail on September 11, with a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for September 15.
“The Defendant has been granted bail on the 11th September 2026,” the court stated, adding that “There is a plea and trial preparation hearing on the 15th September 2026.”
The bail decision clarifies the entertainer’s current custody status following earlier reports about his release.
However, the granting of bail does not mean the criminal proceedings have been discontinued or that the allegations against him have been resolved.
The Crown Prosecution Service had previously confirmed that the case remained active and that Odinaka was due to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Odinaka is facing five sexual offence charges, including attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration.
He has denied the allegations and maintained his innocence. The charges remain before the court and have not been determined.
In a video shared on Instagram by social commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, Poco Lee said he remained confident because he knew he had not committed the alleged offences.
He said: “If I were inside there and I did what I was accused of, I would have felt I was paying for my sins, but since I knew I didn’t do what I was accused of, my mind is pure.”
The case followed Poco Lee’s visit to the UK for the Davido and Friends concert at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on August 14, 2026.
Poco Lee has not been convicted of any offence. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed a long-standing relationship between his family and Nigerian billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote.
Speaking in a recent interview, Davido said Dangote personally drove his mother home from the hospital after she gave birth to him.
“Aliko Dangote drove my mom home from the hospital when she gave birth to me.”
Davido explained that Dangote has maintained a close relationship with his family for decades, particularly with his father, businessman Adedeji Adeleke.
According to the singer, Dangote has also offered him financial advice since he was a child, repeatedly encouraging him to save and manage his money wisely.
“Anytime I see him, he still tells me, ‘David, save your money.’ He’s been saying that since I was a baby.”
The singer said the billionaire’s advice has remained valuable throughout his career in the entertainment industry.
Davido also spoke about his perception of wealthy people, saying billionaires are ordinary people despite the enormous wealth they possess and that their private lifestyles are often different from how the public imagines them.
He described his relationship with Dangote as one that dates back to his childhood and continues to this day.
AGULU CHIMEZIE Releases New Single Titled “NNE AGULU BIA”
Artist: Agulu Chimezie
Real Name: Chimezie Ibezim
Song Title: Nne Agulu Bia
Producer: Mr Wanga
Location: Nigeria
Native: Agulu, Anambra State, Nigeria
Nigerian recording artist Agulu Chimezie, born Chimezie Ibezim, has released his latest song titled “Nne Agulu Bia.” The new release adds to the growing catalogue of the talented artist, who has previously released several songs and continues to make his voice heard through music.
Nne Agulu Bia is a song that proudly reflects the artist’s connection to Agulu in Anambra State, celebrating his roots, identity, culture and the spirit of his people.
The song which storyline reflects to how our Ancestor traveled from Agulu to foreign land and later came back home peacefully
The song was produced by talented music producer Mr Wanga, bringing together a distinctive sound and musical production that complements Agulu Chimezie’s artistic style.
With several songs already to his name, Agulu Chimezie is steadily building his presence in the Nigerian music scene, using his music to connect with listeners both at home and beyond.
“Nne Agulu Bia” is now available on various digital music platforms, giving fans and music lovers the opportunity to stream and enjoy the latest release.
About Agulu Chimezie
Agulu Chimezie, whose real name is Chimezie Ibezim, is a Nigerian artist and a native of Agulu, Anambra State. Through his music, he continues to showcase his creativity while representing his roots and contributing to the growth of Nigerian music.
Listen, Stream & Support
Music lovers are encouraged to search for Agulu Chimezie – “Nne Agulu Bia” on major digital music platforms, stream the song, share it with friends and family, and support the artist by following his musical journey.
Agulu Chimezie — “Nne Agulu Bia”
Produced by Mr Wanga
Out Now on Digital Platforms.
DOWNLOAD AND ENJOY BELOW 👇
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