2026: Nigerian celebrities celebrate, share New Year resolutions

American hip-hop star Wiz Khalifa has been handed a nine-month prison sentence by a court in Romania over a drug-related offence connected to a stage performance in the country last year.

The conviction was delivered in absentia after prosecutors overturned an earlier judgment that had imposed only a monetary penalty.

Khalifa, born Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was arrested in July 2024 after allegedly smoking cannabis during a live performance at a music festival in Costinești, a resort town along Romania’s Black Sea coast.

He was briefly held by authorities before being released, and later issued a public apology, saying his actions were not intended as a sign of disrespect to Romanian laws or culture.

Initially, the Constanța Tribunal fined the rapper 3,000 lei, roughly $690. Dissatisfied with the outcome, prosecutors from the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, DIICOT, filed an appeal, arguing that the offence warranted a custodial sentence.

The appellate court agreed, replacing the fine with a nine-month jail term for illegal possession of a high-risk drug for personal use. Reports indicate the decision is final under Romanian law.

Wiz Khalifa is currently based in the United States, and it is yet to be determined whether Romanian authorities will seek his extradition.

There has been no confirmation that the sentence will be enforced.

Romania enforces stringent anti-drug legislation, with cannabis prohibited for both recreational and medical purposes.

US rapper Wiz Khalifa sentenced to jail in Romania

Controversial Nigerian entertainer, Uche Maduagwu, has tendered a public apology to singer Davido and his wife, Chioma Adeleke for trolling them on the Internet.

He made the apology in a video shared on his Instagram page on Thursday.

Expressing regret for constantly making deliberate posts against the couple, Uche Maduagwu confessed that he was paid N2.5 million to troll the singer and his family on social media.

While disclosing that he was paid along with four other Nigerian influencers to ridicule Davido online, Uche noted that the singer hasn’t done anything wrong.

“I was paid to ridicule your wife and your family. I’m not the only one, we’re like five different influencers in Nigeria that were paid. And I’m urging other people that were paid to ridicule Davido to please come out, return the money they said you should use to criticise this guy.

“He has not done anything wrong. I want to apologise to Davido, please forgive me. I collected over N2 million to ridicule you and I’m sorry. Others please return the money they paid you please”, he stated.

Captioning the video he wrote; “God I’m in TEARS now, I just want @davido to Forgive me, we are 5 influencers paid to criticize Davido. Every criticism you constantly see about Davido and him IYAWO online was paid for. Can you people help me beg 001 to forgive me?”

Watch him speak

‘I was paid to ridicule Davido, Chioma’ – Uche Maduagwu tenders public apology [VIDEO]

Record producer, Samklef has accused singer, Davido of spearheading toxicity and rivalry in the Nigerian music industry.

He made the claim while reacting to a tweet by fellow producer-turned-singer Pheelz, expressing concern over the toxicity and comparisons in the Nigerian music industry.

“Music was meant to be enjoyed, not to be compared. This comparison game is hurting the sound and culture more than we can ever know,” Pheelz wrote.

Reacting, Samklef claimed that there was mutual respect in the Nigerian music industry when Wizkid and Olamide held sway as the young stars until Davido joined them.

He claimed that with Davido’s entry came toxicity, “cultist mindset,” threats and streaming fraud.

Samklef said that the music industry wasn’t supposed to be competitive or a rivalry ground.

He wrote, “Music was fun when we started. When Wizkid came, there was no comparison—everything was pure love.

“Olamide came too, same thing. No pressure, no hatred, just music.

“Then one Scorpio boy who moves like diddy..Davido entered, and since then the industry turned toxic.

“Cultist mindset, threats, fake streams, dirty moves everywhere.”

His submission sparked mixed reactions, with many berating him for singling Davido for blame for the decadence in the music industry.

Meanwhile, Davido is yet to react to Samklef’s allegations.

Davido brought toxicity, rivalry to Nigerian music industry – Samklef claims