Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has shared her emotional experience of how public opinion turned against her following her divorce from Teebillz in 2018.

In a recent interview on the Receipts podcast on Spotify, Tiwa reflected on the immense love and support she enjoyed from Nigerians when she first rose to fame. She recounted how she was celebrated for seemingly following societal expectations—pursuing higher education, avoiding becoming a single mother, getting married, and having a child in that order.

"When I came out, I was Nigeria's sweetheart. I could do no wrong in their eyes," she said. "I did everything by the book, and everyone loved me. Then, everything changed after the divorce."

Tiwa explained how the public fallout from her highly publicized divorce marked a turning point in her relationship with her fans. After her ex-husband announced their separation online, she faced an onslaught of criticism and blame, despite not being the one who initiated the breakup.

"I started getting hate from blogs and people. My baby was just a few months old; I was dealing with postpartum; my body had changed, and I was really depressed," she revealed. "While some people went to him, only a few came to check on me."

The situation worsened after Tiwa decided to publicly share her side of the story in an interview. Rather than receiving understanding, she was met with more backlash. "People were like, 'How dare you speak out? You're a woman; you’re supposed to keep the home together. It's your fault,'" she said.

She also recalled how influential figures discouraged her from addressing the matter, warning her that speaking out would harm her image. "I remember famous people telling me I’d never win if I told my side. Since then, I’ve decided never to talk about it again because of how heartbreaking the public’s reaction was," Tiwa added.

Her candid revelations highlight the intense scrutiny and societal pressure women often face in the wake of personal challenges, especially in the public eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has raised an alarm about a new scam method used by fraudsters to extort unsuspecting individuals of their hard-earned money.

In a post shared on her Instagram page, Tonto detailed how these criminals execute their scheme. According to her, the fraudsters approach their target in public, crying, wailing, and accusing them of making a fake transfer for an item they allegedly purchased. This act draws the attention of bystanders, creating a tense situation that pressures the target into paying up to avoid public embarrassment or even mob action.

Tonto cautioned the public to remain vigilant and stay safe, emphasizing the risks of falling victim to such schemes. She wrote, “Beware: Someone could approach you in public, crying and wailing, accusing you of making a fake transfer for something you allegedly bought. A crowd gathers, tensions rise, and you’re forced to either pay up or risk facing jungle justice. Now imagine the embarrassment, wasted time, potential property loss, or even harm to yourself before any help arrives. Stay vigilant and stay safe because outside is wild these days.”

Tonto’s warning follows a growing trend of Nigerian celebrities alerting the public to various fraudulent practices. Recently, Yoruba actress Ronke Oshodi Oke shared a similar warning about a highway robbery tactic. In a video she posted, a man narrated his near-robbery experience, prompting Ronke to advise the public to exercise caution when faced with unusual situations on the road.

These warnings serve as reminders for everyone to be cautious and alert, especially in public spaces or unusual circumstances, as fraudsters continue to devise new ways to exploit unsuspecting victims.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Embattled Nigerian pastor Tobi Adegboyega has refuted claims that he is facing deportation from the UK, where his church, SPAC Nation (now known as Nation Family), is under scrutiny over allegations of financial misconduct.

In an interview with the BBC, Pastor Adegboyega stated emphatically, “There is no deportation order. Let me make that clear,” adding that the legal matters involving his church remain “ongoing.”

The pastor, who reportedly arrived at the BBC’s central London office in a Lamborghini alongside a Mercedes G-Wagon for his entourage, explained that he first came to the UK in 2005 at the age of 25 on a visitor’s visa. He said he assumed his family was handling his immigration paperwork, leading to a nearly decade-long delay in regularizing his status. “I lost track of time,” he admitted.

Pastor Adegboyega also dismissed speculation that he could move his church to Nigeria if deported, calling it “impossible.”

Allegations of Financial Misconduct

In December, the UK Charity Commission published findings of “serious misconduct and/or mismanagement” within SPAC Nation. However, Adegboyega rejected the accusations, saying, “It is false. They have been on this thing for the past four years.”

This isn’t the first time the church has been in the spotlight. A 2019 BBC Panorama investigation alleged that SPAC Nation had financially exploited young members of its congregation. Some members claimed they were pressured to take out loans or engage in benefit fraud to donate money to the church. SPAC Nation denied these accusations at the time.

Responding to such allegations, Adegboyega said, “If you have 1,000 people in a place, are you telling me 30 people will not be disgruntled? How on earth do you run an organization without disgruntled people?”

Community Efforts and Criticism of Lifestyle

Founded in 2012 as a UK charity, SPAC Nation initially aimed to help vulnerable individuals, tackle gang violence, and support young offenders. Adegboyega claimed the church had helped remove hundreds of knives from the streets and guided young people away from lives of crime. “We believe in a practical approach to help a community – young people coming out of low socio-economic backgrounds, taking them out of crime,” he explained.

The pastor also addressed criticism of his extravagant lifestyle, marked by designer clothing, expensive jewelry, and luxury watches. Defending his choices, he said, “I put on what is right, what connects to the generation I’m speaking to so they are not attracted to drug dealers.”

Despite ongoing controversies, Pastor Adegboyega remains defiant, continuing to lead Nation Family and challenge allegations against himself and his church.

Former Big Brother Naija winner Phyna has opened up about the reasons behind her decision to drop her family surname, Otabor. In a recent interview with TVC News, Phyna explained that her choice was rooted in long-standing feelings of exclusion and mistreatment by her family.

She emphasized that this decision was not about disowning her family but rather giving them what they had always wanted. "This is me finally accepting how they've been treating me because they've never treated me as one of their own. This is me finally moving out of it because I was tired of begging anyone to be in my life," she said. "So I won't say I disowned them; it's me giving them what they've always wanted."

Phyna also reflected on her childhood, sharing that she had always felt alone and has since worked hard to build her life independently. "For now, I would say I'm by myself. I've always been by myself right from childhood, so I'm not even bothered," she added. "See how I've worked hard for myself, so for me to be at this stage right now, I'm not sure I need anyone to stress me out. If I'm living by myself, then I must be doing the right thing for myself because only I know what I've been through."

Phyna revealed that her family had not reached out to her, which was a continuation of how things had always been, and she expressed that she felt at peace with the situation now.

This revelation follows a deeply emotional post Phyna made on her X account (formerly Twitter) in November 2024, where she shared her frustrations and confusion regarding her family. "I am publicly dropping my family surname, OTABOR... it has been proven that I actually have no family and nobody knows how I came about," she wrote. "I’m still searching for answers though... it’s been rough with me lately... I’m in a place where I can’t even describe how I feel or what to call what I’m going through right now." She also recounted how, as a child, she was tossed around by relatives, something she hadn’t fully understood at the time.

READ ALSO: BBNaija Winner Phyna Drops Surname, Says ‘I Have No Family’