Nobody wants to spend time in prison, but it happens for a variety of reasons. Sometimes those individuals also happen to be musicians from Nigeria. Today, we’ll count down the top 5 Nigerian celebrities who were detained abroad and explain why. Are you prepared to learn more about them? So let’s go!
1. Sauce Kid
Babalola Falemi, a Nigerian rapper better known by his stage name Sauce Kid, was apprehended in an American jail for stealing $15,388. At the Boise Airport in Idaho, USA, where he was trying to catch a flight, the American police caught up with him. He was charged with eight charges of bank fraud, eight counts of aggravated identity theft, and possession of 15 or more fraudulent bank cards. He was also accused of conspiring to commit bank fraud. According to the police, Sauce Kid was found in possession of a card-encoding equipment and around $6,000 in cash at the time of his arrest. He received a two-year prison term.
2. Naira Marley
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission famously detained Nigerian artist Naira Marley in 2019. (EFCC). The singer of “Soapy” asserts that, nevertheless, it wasn’t his first arrest. Said Naira Marley:
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Lemme tell you, you don’t nothing about me, I have been arrested 124 times in England.
Since that time, Naira Marley has buried his head in his work as a musician. Since then, he has not been detained.
3. Larry Gaaga
Larry Gaaga is a music executive and record producer who was detained abroad as well. While discussing his difficult connection with his father in an interview with music journalist Joey Akan, Larry Gaaga disclosed that he had been detained in Ivory Coast for using a false passport. He stated:
I’m a first child. My dad, when he started making money, he spent a lot on me to go to school. But he was confused too. Today it’s about being a doctor. Tomorrow, it’s the lawyer. You know how parents can be. All my life, I wanted to travel. I even made some moves that got me arrested and jailed. Where’s Ivory Coast again?
They locked me up. Some Ibadan boys sold me a fake EEC passport. I was moving with my friends. We’ve done different things to get out of the country, thinking, if you’re in London or America, you’ve made it. He wanted and expected a lot from me. He was disappointed in me. No matter what I studied, I just wanted to have a certificate. I followed my uncle’s advice but it wasn’t what my father wanted. Today, he’s a happy man.
They locked me up. Some Ibadan boys sold me a fake EEC passport. I was moving with my friends. We’ve done different things to get out of the country, thinking, if you’re in London or America, you’ve made it. He wanted and expected a lot from me. He was disappointed in me. No matter what I studied, I just wanted to have a certificate. I followed my uncle’s advice but it wasn’t what my father wanted. Today, he’s a happy man.
4. Dammy Krane
Dammy Krane, a Nigerian singer, was detained on June 2 in Florida on suspicion of fraud, credit card fraud, and theft. Dammy was accused by an American jet firm, Tapjets, of attempting to book a private jet with them while using five different credit cards that did not belong to him.
He later satisfied the $7,500 bail requirements and was let out of his Miami jail. He entered a not guilty plea and pleaded for a jury trial.
All allegations against Dammy, including credit card fraud, armed conspiracy, and grand theft, were dismissed by the American court in August 2017.
5. Tems
Tems and fellow musician Omah Lay were both detained by Ugandan police in Kampala in December 2020 for breaking COVID-19 regulations. Shortly after their performance on Saturday night at The Big Brunch, a concert held at Speke Resort, Wavamunno Rd, Kampala, they were taken into custody. After two days in police custody and a court appearance, they were freed on Thursday, December 17 and flew back to Nigeria.