Fuji music veteran Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has come under heavy public criticism after a video surfaced online showing him praising Abidemi Rufai.

DAILY VOICE reports that Rufai was a former aide to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun who was convicted of fraud in the United States.

Rufai was sentenced on September 26, 2022, by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma after being found guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Court documents showed that he used stolen personal details to try to defraud the U.S. government of close to $2.4 million, which included around $500,000 linked to COVID-19 unemployment benefits.

U.S. authorities also revealed that Rufai operated with a false identity while carrying out the crimes.

Under an alias, he was said to have illegally collected more than $350,000 from the Washington State Employment Security Department, along with other related offences tied to identity theft.

After completing his jail term, Rufai was released from a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on November 15, 2024. He later returned to Nigeria.

The controversy began when KWAM1 was seen at a public event speaking positively about Rufai despite his criminal record.

The video quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing sharp reactions from many Nigerians who expressed disappointment over the musician’s actions.

Read comments below:

Tundebayo: “This is really shameful. How do we expect the country to move forward when people with influence praise someone convicted abroad for fraud?”

Funkewale: “This is why Nigeria is not taken seriously. Money covers everything, even crime.”

Sola Ogun: “See who dem wan make Awujale. This is embarrassing on every level.”

Aisha Bello: “I used to respect KWAM1, but this is very disappointing. Wrong is wrong, no matter who is involved.”

Kenny Ade: “Celebrating criminal behaviour openly is dangerous. Young people are watching and learning the wrong lessons.”

Musa Lawal: “This shows how badly our values have dropped. Anyone with money is treated like a hero.”

Blessing Okorie: “Today it’s praise, tomorrow they will push him into politics. Nigeria never learns.”

Nigerian singer Daniel Benson, popularly known as BNXN, has revealed that finding love in Lagos has been a challenge for him.

Daily voice reports that the Finesse hitmaker said navigating relationships in the city is proving difficult.

He wrote: “To find love for Eko too hard for me o”

The singer has stayed out of the public eye romantically since his controversial involvement with a Swedish woman, Filma Jones, in 2022.

Their relationship drew attention after Jones accused him of impregnating her and abandoning her, and she shared private photos of the singer online.

BNXN admitted that the incident left him heartbroken and opened up about another difficult experience, saying he was blackmailed by a woman who falsely claimed to be pregnant following a brief encounter.

These experiences appear to have affected his approach to love and relationships in recent years.

In other news, former Big Brother Naija Housemate, Queen Mercy, has dismissed accusations of ruining her marriage during a heated exchange with a follower.

Daily voice reports that the follower had dropped a comment on Queen’s Instagram page, accusing her of failing to protect her marriage, stressing that fans in the United States (US) were calling her a prostitute, and she could never stay in a man’s house.

The follower said that they were tired of defending the reality TV star, heartbroken over the end of her marriage, and now being mocked by people they had argued with in Queen’s defense.

Davido’s logistics manager, Israel Afeare, popularly known as Israel DMW, has revealed a new partner, marking a fresh chapter in his personal life.

Daily voice reports that he made this known through an Instagram post on Wednesday, where he shared photos taken at the 88th birthday celebration of retired General Theophilus Danjuma, a former Chief of Army Staff.

The post also featured the woman he is now seen with, giving the public a first look at his new relationship.

The update comes two years after Israel announced the end of his marriage to Sheila Courage David.

The marriage, held in October 2022 in Edo State, gained wide attention at the time.

However, the relationship collapsed in 2023, with both sides going their separate ways amid claims of infidelity and domestic issues.

In a related development, BBNaija star Josephina Otabor, known as Phyna,  stirred reactions online after she openly called out  Isreal DMW.

Daily voice reports that the video, which surfaced online, showed Phyna accusing Isreal of constantly disturbing his ex-wife, Shelia, even after their marriage ended.

She claimed that he has been trying to frustrate Shelia by contacting people she works with to discredit her.

Phyna said Shelia started a real estate business on her own, but Israel allegedly posted online as if he was part of it.

She added that he later called the business number to run Shelia down, only to meet Shelia’s friend on the line.

Phyna also addressed why her friend left the marriage.

She alleged that Israel could not father a child and was impotent.