Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican reggae artiste who was very popular in Nigeria in the 1970s and '80s recently died at the age of 81.
Mr Cliff came to Nigeria many times in the 1970s (particularly in 1974 and 1976) and he often said that his 1976 visit was bitter-sweet.
The sweet part was that there were many fans at the airport and they lined the streets from the airport to his hotel.
The bitter part was that a man claimed that he had a deal with Jimmy Cliff (which he claimed was signed in London) that he would bring him to Nigeria, but Jimmy Cliff broke the deal. Jimmy Cliff was detained for three days, but he was released when the case got to court because the accuser had no evidence.
The famous Jamaican journalist, Lindsay Barrett, who lived and worked in Nigeria in the 1970s and '80s was one of the people that actually convinced Jimmy Cliff to come to Nigeria.
REWIND: In 1976 song ‘The News’, Reggae icon Jimmy Cliff recalled being detained in Nigeria over contract dispute
By Muhibat Sulaimon November 24, 2025
The recent passing of Jimmy Cliff has brought renewed attention to the life and stories of the Jamaican Reggae veteran: one of which was his “bitter-sweet experience” during his first visit to Nigeria decades ago.
In a July 2012 interview with The Arts Desk, the 81-year-old recalled the sweet part of his trip, narrating how upon his arrival in Nigeria, thousands of fans were at the airport to welcome him, lining the streets all the way to his hotel.
“My first trip to Africa was Nigeria. It was a bitter-sweet experience. Sweet because of the thousands of people at the airport awaiting me,” he said.
“I’d never had that adulation, I only saw it for The Beatles, so to have it for myself was really great. They lined the street from the airport to the hotel. It was amazing.”
The singer revealed that the bitter part of the experience began when a show promoter claimed he had failed to honour a previous performance agreement in London.
Cliff said due to allegation, the promoter filed a civil suit against him while he was in Nigeria.
The allegation, according to the singer, led to him being arrested and “thrown in jail,” where he spent three nights in detention.
He added that when the case finally went to court, the promoter’s claim collapsed due to a complete lack of evidence, and the suit was promptly thrown out.
“The bitter part of it was I got thrown in jail for no reason at all. A man came and said, ‘I was the one who was supposed to bring Jimmy Cliff to Africa. I had a contract with him in London and he didn’t turn up so now he’s here I’m taking out a civil suit against him,'” he said.
“They put me in jail for three nights. When I went to court, where’s the evidence? Nothing! So they threw it out. Nigeria was a pretty rough place but I didn’t mind – I liked the energy.”
The incident was significant enough in his life that he had previously referenced it in his 1976 single ‘The News‘.
“Have you heard the news/ Have you heard the news/ Have you heard the news/ Have you heard the news,” the lyrics read.
“I was in Africa down in Nigeria/ Oh they threw me in jail/ I had one hell getting bail.”
In the song, Cliff also dismissed the promoter’s claim as a “lie and propaganda” designed to “scandalise my name”.
They scandalizng my name/ They want to make me look shame/ Because I got little fame/ They want to make me look shame/ Have you heard the news Everybody/ Have you heard the news /Have you heard the news/ Have you heard the news/ It started by some liar/ Spreading like wild fire/ Propaganda all around/ News believed in every town/ In London ‘Merica then in Jamaica/ All over Trinidad/ Oh Lord I felt so bad eeh eeh,” the lyrics continued.
Cliff passed away on Monday after suffering a seizure linked to the pneumonia he had been battling.
The veteran reggae singer is survived by his wife, Latifa, and their children, daughter Lilty and son Aken.
Trump’s rhetoric may have escalated insecurity in Nigeria, Omojuwa tells US senator
by Claire Mom November 24, 2025
Japheth Omojuwa, an author and political commentator, says US President Donald Trump’s remarks on Nigeria may have led to an upsurge in insecurity in the country.
He added that he did not share the notion that Nigerian Christians feel reassured by Trump’s offer of protection from “persecution”.
Omojuwa offered his perspective while posing a question to Kevin Cramer, US senator, at the three-day Halifax International Security Forum in Canada.
Omojuwa is a member of the Halifax Forum board.
Before the influencer’s comments, Cramer said Christians in Nigeria today are probably feeling “pretty good” about Trump’s position.
Trump had threatened to send US troops “guns-a-blazing” into Nigeria, a country he called “disgraced”, to wipe out the “Islamist terrorists” he said were killing Christians.
In a clip of his response to Cramer shared on X on Monday, Omojuwa said he offered a different view because he speaks as a Christian living in Nigeria.
“I do not feel good about Donald Trump. He called Nigeria a disgraced country. Frankly speaking, that’s not so bad, because he used to call us a shit hole country. So it’s a kind of improvement,” Omojuwa said.
He followed by asking if powerful nations could offer assistance more respectfully, and without doing so in a way that leaves others worse off.
“For instance, America went to Libya. Libya has a causative effect on the terrorism challenges Nigeria and the Sahel are facing. I don’t want to talk about the other places America went to. Let’s just take it to Nigeria,” he added.
“Since Donald Trump said what he said for Nigerian Christians, Christians have been abducted in the church in the north-west of Nigeria.
“Muslim students have been abducted. I do not speak to the causation but there’s a correlation from the point Donald Trump spoke about Nigeria’s challenges and the escalation of terrorism.
“So decency apart, there are rules of engagement, there’s a rules based global order. Is there a way to speak about Nigeria, first of all, in a respectful, decent way, not even just as president of America, but as a human being?”
Omojuwa also pointed to the failed arms deal between the US and Nigeria as playing a role in the weakened fight against terrorism.
“Is there a way to decently help Nigeria without making things worse and without disrespecting Nigerian Christians and Muslims?” he asked.
The US senator replied in the affirmative.
“The right words help. A more delicate way of saying something is obviously better than a more brutal way,” Cramer said.
“A lot of people will say the right thing and do the wrong thing. Other people will maybe say the wrong thing and mean to do the right thing. Is there a better way to say? Certainly.”
However, the senator said he believed that foreign aid assistance would be more effective in stemming terrorism, noting that he had publicly disagreed with Trump multiple times on the aid cuts.
“I think, globally speaking, aid to friends, and would-be friends, and possible friends is a bargain compared to munitions,” he said.
Cramer also posited that assistance would need to suit local contexts.
The Halifax International Security Forum (also known as HISF or Halifax Forum) is an annual summit for international government and military officials, academic experts, authors and entrepreneurs, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is organized by HFX, an organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. that describes itself and has been quoted as an "independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization". HFX addresses global security issues through various programs, with the Halifax International Security Forum serving as its flagship event.
When I heard Senator Kevin Cramer say, "The Christians in Nigeria today are probably feeling pretty good about Donald Trump's position", I decided I had to let him understand a few things.
The Halifax International Security Forum's audience certainly enjoyed this one.
When I heard Senator Kevin Cramer say, "The Christians in Nigeria today are probably feeling pretty good about Donald Trump's position", I decided I had to let him understand a few things.
The Halifax International Security Forum's audience certainly enjoyed this one. pic.twitter.com/pLys3sRFZz
Senator Kevin Cramer is a Republican who is the junior senator for North Dakota. Japhet Joshua Omojuwa is a member of the board of the Halifax International Security Forum. This exchange took place at the Halifax International Security Forum.
Senator Kevin Cramer: with that and I think the Christians in Nigeria today are probably feeling pretty good about Donald Trump's position.
Japhet Joshua Omojuwa: Thank you very much. Senator, you said the Christians in Nigeria today are probably feeling good about Donald Trump. So I'm a Christian from Nigeria. One out of 100 million Christians very small sample size.
I do not feel good about Donald Trump. He call Nigeria a disgraced country. Frankly speaking that's not so bad because he called us. . . used to call us a shithole country. So it's a kind of improvement on. . .disgraced country is an improvement.
Is there a better way, for instance to. . . a decent way to offer help to someone? So if I said if I look at all the shoes on this panel and you guys are wearing nice suits, everybody is wearing nice suits but there's a differentiation of shoes. The senator's shoe is different. So if I was your friend after this panel, I'll buy you a gift a nice shoe to match up with your suit. I wouldn't have to say anything about the state of your shoes that made me buy those shoes.
Is there a way that powerful countries can help less powerful countries, poor countries without doing it in a way that leaves the worse off?
For instance, America went to Libya. Libya has a causative effect on the terrorism challenges that Nigeria and the Sahel is facing. I won't talk about the other places America went to. Let's just stick it to Nigeria.
Since Donald Trump said what he said for Nigerian Christians, Christians have been abducted in a church in the north-west of Nigeria, Muslim students have been abducted. I will not speak to the causation but there's a correlation between Donald Trump. . .from the point Donald Trump spoke about Nigeria's challenges and the escalation of terrorism.
So decency apart, there are rules of engagement, there's a global rules based order, is there a way, first of all, to speak about Nigeria in a respectful and decent way not just as president of America, but as a human being and much more so as the president of the United States of America, that I would always respect as a person and frankly speaking, Nigerians continue to respect generally.
Also, is there a way to help Nigeria, because for instance, one of the reasons we failed woefully at fighting terrorism was because desite having the money, despite having the intention and motivation to buy weapons from America for so many years we were denied. Eventually we got them and for some of those weapons they they also told them where not to use those weapons. So I'm just going to ask and sit down, is there a way to decently help Nigeria without making things worse and wihhout disrespecting Nigerian Christians and Muslims.
Senator Kevin Cramer: Thank you very much. I think great question. No doubt the answer to your question is certainly and I I want to address both things. First of all, the words do matter. They do. You were kind in suggesting is there a way to do some things and not needing you know to make things worse by the wrong words. The right words help. You know, if a more delicate way of saying something is obviously better than a more brutal way.
That said, at the end of the day, a lot of people have promised a lot of things to Nigerian and several African countries. And by the way, you're talk you're once again I point to my colleagues who are two of the biggest advocates for our relationship with Africa.
And I won't go into all the ways that they do that or that we do it together, but but the actions do matter. A lot of people will say the right thing and do the wrong thing. Other people will maybe say the wrong thing and and mean to do the right thing. Is there a better way? Certainly. But one thing your your example is very specific and it's appropriate in your case.
But you also touched on the larger issue of it's not just one country. It's not just one on one. We did. There was an earlier panel I I forget which one that that got to the point of and it might have even been Senator King I don't remember but one of the senators spoke to America's retreat. I think it might have been Tom Tillis now I think of it. America's retreat from several areas which has left them vulnerable to to the predators if you will to China especially and their predatory financing and behavior.
There there are lots of ways and I think for example one of the areas where President Trump and I have disagreed quite openly is in the use the effective use of US AID. Those things need to be conformed for sure. But when we talk about democracy and I talk about the difference in the United States as being more self-governed, he is a reflection of the country.
All of our democracies, democratically elected leaders are a reflection of their country and that's the pastoral role they should play at the higher level but at the governing level I think globally speaking aid to friends and would be friends and possible friends is a bargain compared to to munitions and I just think we need to be more directly engaged in
This is very apt Sir. We are compounding problems to ourselves if the only thing we rush to do after a crime is to identify the region or religion of the criminals. It is hypocrisy if that's what will determine our reaction.
It's my duty to use my platform and amplify theirs now since they're good at profiling ours instead of looking at the collective failure of our system.
Ezra Olubi claims Paystack fired him unfairly amid sexual misconduct allegations
By Muktar Oladunmade
Paystack co-founder Ezra Olubi has claimed that the company terminated his employment before completing an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate, describing the process as unfair and contrary to Paystack’s internal policies that he helped create.
In a blog post published on Sunday, 23 November, Olubi said he was suspended a week before as Paystack initiated what it described as an “independent” investigation into allegations circulating online. He now says he was dismissed “before the supposed investigation was concluded, and without any meeting, hearing, or opportunity to respond to the issues raised.”
Olubi said this approach breached the company’s policies. “My legal team is now reviewing the process that led to my purported termination, including its consistency with internal policies,” he wrote, adding that he would not be commenting further.
The allegations first surfaced in mid-November when an online post accused Olubi of inappropriate conduct with a junior employee. The post prompted users to resurface several of Olubi’s decade-old tweets, including one encouraging inappropriate workplace touching.
“The posts being circulated do not reflect my conduct or the way I have lived my life,” Olubi said, but he did not address the specific tweets directly.
Paystack confirmed at the time that it had suspended Olubi and initiated a formal investigation, saying it intended to appoint an independent reviewer.
Paystack has not yet issued a statement in response to Olubi’s claims. It is unclear whether the investigation had formally begun or how far it had progressed before his termination. TechCabal has contacted the company for clarification on whether the investigation was concluded and whether Olubi was allowed to respond to the allegations before the decision was made. The company had not replied at the time of publication.
Olubi’s statement focuses on how the process was handled rather than offering a detailed rebuttal of the allegations themselves. While he maintains that the tweets circulating online misrepresent his conduct, he did not respond to the substance of the claims.
For much of the past decade, Paystack has been held up as one of Africa’s most admired companies: a case study in culture, discipline, and operational excellence. This dispute now places unusual scrutiny on those foundations. How Paystack navigates the next steps will shape its internal culture and the ecosystem’s expectations around accountability when allegations involve senior leadership.
Over the past few days, my name and reputation, built over years as co-founder and technical leader at Paystack, have been called into question because of information circulating online. In response, the Board of Directors of Paystack placed me on suspension and initiated what was described as an “independent” investigation.
Once that process began, I chose not to make any public statements. I did this to avoid interfering with the investigation and because I expected a fair, thorough and unbiased review of the allegations being discussed online. This created a vacuum that allowed assumptions and misrepresentations to spread without challenge.
Those who know me personally or professionally understand that the posts being circulated do not reflect my conduct or the way I have lived my life. I have always, to the best of my ability, conducted myself in a manner that respects everyone’s dignity and safety.
On Saturday, 22 November 2025, I was informed that my employment had been terminated. This decision was taken before the supposed investigation was concluded, and without any meeting, hearing, or opportunity for me to respond to the issues raised, in clear contravention of the terms of the suspension and Paystack’s own internal policies.
As co-founder, technical leader and long-serving Board member, I have been part of instituting the systems and processes that underpin Paystack’s internal operations. I engaged with this investigation in good faith and cooperated fully with the Board’s directives on that basis.
My legal team is now reviewing the process that led to my purported termination, including its consistency with internal policies. They will take the steps they consider appropriate, and I will not be commenting further on this matter at this time.
Fintech Company Paystack Fires Co-Founder Ezra Olubi Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Nigeria’s leading fintech company, Paystack, has terminated the appointment of its Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, over sexual misconduct allegations.
Olubi confirmed the sacking in a personal blog post at the weekend, stating that the company dismissed him before concluding its internal investigation into the matter.
He insisted he was not given a hearing or the opportunity to respond to the allegations prior to termination.
He noted that the decision was communicated without a meeting and appears inconsistent with the terms of his suspension and the company’s policies.
“On Saturday, 22 November 2025, I was informed that my employment had been terminated. This decision was taken before the supposed investigation was concluded, and without any meeting, hearing, or opportunity for me to respond to the issues raised, in clear contravention of the terms of the suspension and Paystack’s own internal policies,” he said.
“As co-founder, technical leader and long-serving Board member, I have been part of instituting the systems and processes that underpin Paystack’s internal operations. I engaged with this investigation in good faith and cooperated fully with the Board’s directives on that basis.”
“My legal team is now reviewing the process that led to my purported termination, including its consistency with internal policies. They will take the steps they consider appropriate, and I will not be commenting further on this matter at this time,” he added.
The scandal erupted in mid-November after a social media user accused the Paystack executive of abusive behaviour.
The post went viral instantly, prompting thousands to resurface a trove of explicit and controversial tweets authored by Olubi between 2009 and 2013.
One tweet from May 23, 2011, stated: “Monday will be more fun with an ‘a’ in it. Touch a coworker today. Inappropriately.”
The old posts, made years before he co-founded Paystack, recently resurfaced and rapidly spread across X, triggering renewed outrage.
Paystack, in its earlier response, confirmed that Olubi had been suspended and that a formal investigation had commenced.
The company said it had established a review process and intended to appoint an independent investigator to assess the allegations.
But Olubi’s claim that he was fired before that process concluded has raised fresh questions about internal governance, accountability procedures, and whether external pressure influenced Paystack’s decision.
Acquired in 2020 by global payments giant Stripe, in one of Africa’s most celebrated tech exits, Paystack now faces intense scrutiny as critics demand transparency.
Neither Paystack nor Stripe has issued any fresh public statement following Olubi’s post.
Salihu Tanko Yakasai (Peacock @dawisu) was the special adviser on new media to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano. Like his father Tanko Yakasai (who was Shagari's presidential liaison to the National Assembly), he is very outspoken. He doesn't hesitate to speak his mind. This has often gotten him into trouble (just like his father often got into trouble).
He annoyed some Kanawa because he defended his boss, Abdullahi Ganduje during the dollargate scandal.
He also annoyed some Kanawa because of his criticism and mocking of the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, when the Emir had problems with Governor Ganduje.
However, he was sacked in February 2021 and detained by the DSS for criticising President Buhari again and asking him to resign after some school children were kidnapped by bandits. Ganduje Sacks Salihu Tanko Yakasai Over "Unguarded Comments"
His father said that his son was just beginning his journey and he stated that he was arrested 10 times. Salihu Tanko Yakasai then joked that he had 9 more arrests to go.
And in August 2023 he returned to the APC. He said that the national chairman of the APC, Dr Ganduje, had invited him back to the APC to consolidate on the gains that he has made.
JUNGLE JUSTICE: THE HYPOCRISY OF THE SOUTHERN NIGERIANS!
By Salihu Tanko Yakasai.
Everywhere you look in this country, you can see rot in the system. The complicity of those who should know better is evident, and the vices that have become normalized persist across different parts of Nigeria. From chronic underdevelopment in all six geopolitical zones, including the oil producing states and the so-called economic hubs, to the regions that pride themselves on their religiosity, there’s no shortage of poor leadership.
However, one thing I find both amusing and troubling is how quickly the South amplifies the problems of the North, often presenting them as unique or exclusive to us, totally oblivious to theirs.
For clarity, I am not excusing the North. I have addressed our issues many times, particularly regarding insecurity. In fact, some readers may recall that I was arrested by the DSS in 2021 during the administration of late President Buhari after I criticized the handling of the Tegina schoolgirls’ abduction. I have also written openly about the failures of northern leaders, including my 2012 article, "19 Northern Governors: The Certified Parasites." I have consistently urged young. northerners to build capacity and equip themselves to add value to Arewa and the country as a whole. Yes, we have been vocal in our criticisms and have held our leaders accountable.
What I rarely see happen, is that same objectivity from many in the South. Whenever something occurs in the North, they swiftly condemn all northerners collectively, presenting it as if the entire region is guilty or that such acts are widespread and culturally accepted.
Take jungle justice as an example. The killing of Deborah in Sokoto is often cited as a favorite reference point by Nigerians from the South. For the record, my position has always been clear: Deborah should have been handed over to the authorities if she committed any crime. No one has the right to pass judgment outside the law. Her killing was jungle justice, plain and simple. Does that mean blasphemy is condoned? Absolutely not. But it should be the courts, not a mob, that decides.
However, here’s the hypocrisy: that same jungle justice is also widespread in the South. Burning people alive with tires, stoning them, or using cutlass to unailve them is rampant all over the South.
Many high-profile killings of northerners have occurred there in recent years. Harira Jubril and her four daughters were murdered in Anambra in 2022 by suspected ESN operatives. Sixteen northerners were lynched and burned in Uromi, Edo State, in 2025. The violence at Sasa market in Ibadan in 2021 left many Hausa residents dead and displaced. In the same year, armed separatists shot dead northern traders in Orlu and Umuaka, Imo State. These are not rumors; these are facts.
Yet, somehow, these incidents are downplayed or ignored. When you mention them, some people respond by saying Deborah was killed “in the name of Islam,” as if that magically makes the killing of northerners acceptable merely because it wasn’t done “in the name of Christianity,” even though the perpetrators were Christians.
Even in the Southwest, where many present themselves as morally superior, the jungle justice carried out by the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) is conveniently forgotten. OPC began as a rights group but quickly morphed into a vigilante outfit linked to violent clashes across Lagos in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Human Rights Watch documented killings ranging from beheadings, torture, arson, and ethnic attacks in areas such as Ketu, Mile 12, Ajegunle, Idi-Araba, Ojo, and Isolo. Northern traders, civilians, and even police officers were victims, with official estimates of the death toll nearing 500. Yet this history rarely makes its way into their moral lectures. Curiously, their memory seems to begin and end with Deborah or similar acts in the North.
The[b] common denominator in all these examples is clear: jungle justice. It is neither northern nor southern; it is a Nigerian problem. This selective outrage is not only hypocritical; it is dangerous. If we genuinely want a better country, we must condemn evil wherever it arises, not just when it suits our regional ego. [/b] Jungle justice thrives on emotion, ignorance, and collective cowardice. It destroys trust, erodes justice, and turns ordinary people into executioners. Until we confront this truth honestly, without hypocrisy or selective morality, we will continue to dance in circles, pretending that one part of Nigeria is holier than the other.
The reality is that jungle justice thrives everywhere in Nigeria for the same reason: people no longer trust the justice system to protect them or punish offenders. And as the saying goes, once you allow the mob to decide who lives or dies, no one is safe, not even the mob!
Celebrities › Re: Jimmy Cliff Sang And Talked About His Time In Nigeria by naptu2(op): 5:50am On Nov 25, 2025
