The year 2025 has proven to be one of reckoning in Nigeria’s entertainment and public influence spaces. From arrests rooted in financial crimes to charges of drug trafficking and public misconduct, the law took decisive steps against several prominent figures whose fame once seemed untouchable. This year has made one thing clear: in the face of justice, celebrity status offers no immunity.
Below is a detailed account of the notable Nigerian personalities whose arrests captured national attention in 2025:
1.VeryDarkMan Arrested in Abuja Following Allegations Against GTBank
On May 2, 2025, Nigerian social media personality and activist Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, was arrested by officers of the Nigerian police at a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) branch in Abuja. The arrest followed his public condemnation of the bank over alleged unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account.
According to his legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, Mr. Otse had accompanied his mother to the bank to seek clarification regarding repeated debits, purportedly for loan repayments she claims never to have authorized. During the visit, law enforcement officials took him into custody, alongside a companion. His mother was not detained.
Mr. Adeyanju described the arrest as unjust and an apparent attempt to silence a citizen for raising concerns about questionable banking practices. He announced that legal action would be initiated against both the bank and the authorities for what he termed “inhumane treatment” and a violation of his client’s rights. The activist was released on May 7, 2025.
2. Alhaja Feyisara Elediye (Iya Ruka): From Socialite to Drug Trafficking Suspect
Alhaja Feyisara Elediye, popularly known as Iya Ruka, was widely regarded as a Lagos socialite and philanthropist. However, investigations by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) revealed a far more complex identity. On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, she was arrested following the seizure of over 1,500kg of cannabis allegedly linked to a trafficking syndicate she led.
The arrest was carried out during a raid on her luxury home in Lekki, where illicit substances were found cleverly concealed in furniture shipments. Her case underscores the disturbing nexus between high society and organized crime.
3. Portable: Repeated Incidents of Public Misconduct
In a year already marked by increasing scrutiny of public figures, the arrest of Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, professionally known as Portable, has reignited national conversations around celebrity conduct, legal boundaries, and the limits of artistic license in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
The incident that led to Portable’s legal troubles unfolded on February 5, 2025, when officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development visited a property reportedly linked to the artist—Odogwu Bar, located in the Sango-Ota axis. According to official statements, the team was carrying out a lawful enforcement operation when they were allegedly assaulted by Portable and his associates, resulting in injuries to some of the officers.
In response to the incident, the Ogun State Police Command declared Portable wanted, launching a public manhunt that placed the controversial singer back in national headlines for all the wrong reasons. The development marked yet another chapter in Portable’s tumultuous relationship with law enforcement, following earlier confrontations in previous years.
By February 19, facing mounting pressure, the artist surrendered himself to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, from where he was subsequently transferred to Ogun State Police Headquarters in Abeokuta. On February 20, he appeared before the Isabo Magistrate Court, facing a five-count charge: conspiracy, assault, obstruction of government officials, unlawful possession of dangerous weapons, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. He entered a not guilty plea.
The presiding magistrate, O.L. Oke, granted Portable bail in the sum of ₦2 million, with one surety in like sum. The court, however, placed strict conditions on the bail, explicitly prohibiting the defendant from making any statements—either directly or indirectly—regarding the case on social media or through public channels. This condition is seen as a direct response to the singer’s history of provocative online conduct.
4) E-Money Arrested in 2025: A Controversial Enforcement of Currency Law
In a development that has captivated national attention, prominent Nigerian businessman and entertainment mogul, Emeka Okonkwo—popularly known as E-Money—was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April 2025. The arrest, which took place at his residence in Omole, Lagos, was linked to allegations of currency abuse, following a viral incident in which he was seen spraying both Naira and U.S. dollars at a public event.
The EFCC, citing a violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s currency regulations and the Foreign Exchange Act, transported Mr. Okonkwo to its Abuja headquarters for questioning. He was released the following day after several hours of interrogation. However, the Commission stated that investigations remain ongoing and that formal charges may be filed pending the outcome of their inquiries.
5) Lil Smart Arrested Over False Accusations Against Naira Marley
In a dramatic twist early in 2025, popular Nigerian dancer and social media sensation, Idowu Emmanuel—better known as Lil Smart—was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force after a formal complaint from singer Naira Marley. The arrest followed a string of explosive claims made by Lil Smart on Instagram, where he alleged that he had been kidnapped, assaulted, and robbed of $300 by Naira Marley and his crew. He didn’t stop there—he went further to accuse the artist of bribing Lagos police officers and engaging in credit card fraud.
However, investigations by the authorities revealed that the accusations had no merit. Under pressure, Lil Smart eventually confessed in a written statement that the allegations were fabricated. On January 28, 2025, he was arrested at his home in Megamound Estate, Ajah, Lagos, and charged with criminal defamation, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and spreading false information online.
The incident sent social media into overdrive. While some fans condemned Lil Smart for peddling lies, others questioned the power dynamics in the entertainment industry and how influential celebrities might sway justice. The case has sparked renewed debate about the limits of freedom of expression online and the dangers of making unverified accusations in public.
6) EFCC Nabs Aisha Achimugu Over Multi-Billion Naira Fraud, Money Laundering Links
In April 2025, high-profile Nigerian businesswoman and socialite Aisha Achimugu was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) upon her arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Her arrest was part of an ongoing probe into a massive financial crime scandal tied to alleged money laundering and her suspected involvement in a Ponzi scheme linked to Maxwell Odum, the founder of the defunct MBA Trading and Capital Investment Limited.
According to EFCC investigations, Aisha allegedly managed 136 bank accounts across ten different financial institutions, both in her name and through 21 companies under her control. Most of the firms were reportedly headquartered in Maitama, Abuja, and were allegedly set up to mask the flow of illicit funds. Among the suspicious transactions uncovered was a staggering ₦4 billion transferred from MBA Trading to Felak Concept Group Limited, one of Aisha’s companies. Several other transfers were traced to affiliated accounts, deepening the suspicions. In a partial move to clear her name, Aisha refunded ₦58 million identified as tainted funds.
Before her arrest, Aisha had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to secure a restraining order against EFCC from arresting her, citing concerns over her rights. However, the court ruled that she must present herself before the agency. Following her arrest, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the EFCC to release her within 24 hours, honoring the terms of an administrative bail she had previously secured.
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