Accused of Theft to Hitmakers: 5 Nigerian Artists Who Turned Scandal into Sound!”

In Nigeria’s music scene, the journey from obscurity to stardom often comes with baggage—and sometimes, serious accusations. From internet fraud to copyright infringement and even credit card theft, some of our biggest stars have had brushes with controversy before or at the peak of their fame. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

But what makes these artists even more fascinating? They didn’t run from the drama—they made music about it. Whether as self-defense, reflection, or a loud comeback, these songs turned scandal into streams and wahala into wordplay.

1. 🔥 Naira Marley & Zlatan – “Am I a Yahoo Boy?” & “4 Nights in Ekohtiebo”

In May 2019, Naira Marley and Zlatan Ibile were arrested by the EFCC over alleged links to internet fraud (aka “Yahoo Yahoo”). It was one of the biggest headlines of that year.

Did they shy away? No chance.

Naira Marley responded with the viral track “Am I a Yahoo Boy?”, a cheeky and provocative banger that called out his accusers. Zlatan followed up with “4 Nights in Ekohtiebo”, a gritty reflection on their time in EFCC detention.

🎧 Both songs turned public ridicule into a badge of rebellion—and cemented their street cred.

2. 🎵 Davido – “Gobe” and the Song Theft Saga

In 2013, Davido dropped “Gobe”, a catchy tune that rocked Nigerian airwaves. But drama followed fast—another artist named Password accused him of stealing the song.

Turns out, Davido had purchased the rights, but confusion about the transaction led to public backlash. Instead of hiding, Davido owned the moment, clarified the deal, and Gobe went on to be one of the year’s biggest songs.

🎧 The controversy added buzz, not backlash—and Davido came out stronger.

3. 🎤 Tekno – “Jogodo” and the Danfo Drivers Dust-Up

In 2018, Tekno released “Jogodo”, which heavily sampled the Danfo Drivers’ early-2000s hit. But he did it without permission—and the iconic duo weren’t having it.

Danfo Drivers called him out publicly. To his credit, Tekno didn’t pull the superstar card. He apologized, met them in person, and resolved the matter respectfully—while Jogodo kept trending on the charts.

🎧 No diss track, no drama escalation—just real man behavior and a massive hit.

4. 🎶 2Baba (2Face Idibia) – “African Queen” and Blackface’s Credit Claim

African Queen remains one of Nigeria’s most iconic love songs. But beneath the sweet melody was a bitter feud. Blackface, 2Baba’s former Plantashun Boiz bandmate, claimed he wrote the song and was never credited.

The beef dragged on for years. Eventually, the issue landed in court, and Blackface was officially acknowledged and credited as a co-writer.

🎧 No response track from 2Baba—but the royalty updates and legacy correction did the talking.

5. 🚨 Dammy Krane – “Why” After Credit Card Theft Arrest

In 2017, Dammy Krane was arrested in Miami for attempting to use a stolen credit card to charter a private jet. The arrest shocked fans, especially as photos and court docs went viral.

Once released, Dammy dropped a heartfelt track titled “Why”, in which he reflected on his struggles, fame, and the mistakes he made.

🎧 While his career never fully recovered, “Why” was a sincere attempt to tell his side of the story.

🧠 Quick Recap:

🎤 Final Take: From Accusation to Anthem

What do you do when everyone’s pointing fingers at you? If you’re a Nigerian artist, you hit the studio.

From Naira Marley’s defiant anthems to Tekno’s public apology, these artists proved one thing: music is more than sound—it’s a survival tool.

In a country where gossip flies faster than buses on Third Mainland Bridge, owning your story in your lyrics might just be your best defense.

📢 Which artist handled their scandal best? Drop your thoughts below!