February was nothing short of dramatic on social media. From celebrity feuds to viral rumours, the internet was buzzing every single day. Fans couldn’t stop talking about custody battles, alleged marital crises, shocking revelations, and even false death reports.
If you missed the chaos, don’t worry… we’ve rounded up the 10 biggest controversies that had everyone talking this month. Grab your popcorn, because it’s about to get juicy.
1. Davido & Sophia Momodu: Child Custody Battle
The custody battle between Davido and Sophia Momodu over their daughter Imade Adeleke became one of February’s most‑talked‑about controversies, stirring intense social media debate and legal drama.
Davido had filed a suit seeking joint custody of Imade, asserting that he wanted to be actively involved in her upbringing. However, after a tense court session in Lagos State High Court, Yaba, the singer announced he was withdrawing the case. He clarified that he never asked for full custody and expressed disappointment over how the proceedings unfolded. He described references to his late son during the hearing as a “lowest blow” and said, “Nobody won, nobody lost but Imade.”
What made the saga even more explosive online was Davido’s social media outbursts following the court hearing, which included criticising Sophia’s lawyer and inadvertently targeting unrelated third parties. At one point, he mistakenly accused gospel artiste Tosinbee of being connected to the lawyer, prompting the singer to respond and clarify his identity. Davido later apologised for the mix‑up.
Meanwhile, Sophia’s legal team condemned attempts to intimidate legal professionals, warning against online harassment that could undermine the justice process.
Behind the scenes, figures like media personality Dele Momodu have said efforts are underway to resolve the dispute privately, amid ongoing public attention.
2. Tonto Dikeh, Churchill & Rosy Meurer Drama
Another major online buzz this February involved Tonto Dikeh, Olakunle Churchill and Rosy Meurer, as netizens reacted to renewed drama around their past and present relationships.
This started after the ex-lovers, Dikeh and Churchill’s reconciled online after about a decade of feud.
The controversy flared after photos and videos from Churchill and Tonto’s son’s 10th birthday celebration went viral. The clips showed the ex‑couple together, prompting speculation that they had reconciled as co‑parents. This sparked huge online reaction, especially when some netizens claimed Rosy Meurer unfollowed her husband on Instagram around the same time, fuelling rumours of marital tension. Meurer quickly denied this, saying the reported unfollowing was a technical glitch and that she remains happily married.
At the heart of the debate was a longstanding online claim that Rosy and Tonto were once close friends before Rosy married Churchill. In a video response, Meurer dismissed this narrative outright, insisting she has never met Tonto in person, never had her phone number, and was not introduced to Churchill through her. She challenged anyone claiming otherwise to produce proof, drawing mixed reactions across social platforms.
Meanwhile, Tonto has responded to the wider drama by emphasising her new life in faith and focusing on positive personal growth amid the online noise, reminding fans she’s moved beyond past conflicts.
3. Mirabel False Rape Allegations: Simi & Adekunle Gold Old Tweets Resurface
One of the most complex controversies this February came from the viral Mirabel saga, where a TikTok user alleged she was sexually assaulted. The online conversation quickly escalated and unexpectedly spilled over into the public careers of Simi and Adekunle Gold.
The situation began when a video by Mirabel alleging she had been raped circulated widely online, drawing public concern and attention from agencies seeking to assist the alleged victim. Authorities stressed the importance of due process and urged the public to allow law enforcement handle the matter while information was being verified.
Amid the heated online discussion about the case, Simi who is known for speaking out against rape culture took to X (formerly Twitter) to demand severe punishment for rapists. She posted strong statements like “STOP raping women,” adding that perpetrators deserve the harshest penalties. Her message quickly became polarising, with some netizens criticising parts of her comments and how she engaged with responses.
As the debate intensified, old tweets from around 2012 and 2013 by both Simi and Adekunle Gold were dug up and shared across social platforms, attracting further backlash. These posts included recollections from Simi’s younger days about kids she helped look after at her mother’s daycare while pursuing her music career. Reacting, critics framed them unfavourably in the context of the broader online conversation.
In response, Simi released a statement clarifying that the resurfaced tweets reflected her everyday life back then and were never intended to be inappropriate. She reiterated that she has long spoken out against sexual violence and argued that her past posts were being misinterpreted or twisted by online critics. Her team also began deleting some of the old tweets out of concern for their family given the intensity of the backlash.
4. Ekene Umenwa Clash with Colleagues
This month, Nollywood was taken by storm as a viral controversy involving Ekene Umenwa sparked widespread online debate and left fans and colleagues alike weighing in on the drama.
The storm began when up‑and‑coming actress Adanma Waller aka Priscawalls posted a video accusing Ekene of badmouthing several colleagues behind their backs while maintaining a positive public image. This claim quickly caught fire across social media platforms. In the video, Priscawalls alleged that Ekene had spread negative comments about fellow Nollywood stars including Destiny Etiko, Fessa, Ruby, Amarachi Pino Pino, Lizzy Gold, Chioma Chijioke, Onyinye okafor, Onny’s Wife, Chinwe Isaac, Alexer Peres, Uche Nancy and her daughters, even Marymic, prompting widespread reactions from fans.
Things escalated further when Destiny Etiko publicly responded, expressing shock and disappointment over the alleged betrayal from someone she once considered a close friend turned sister.
The controversy then took a different turn when another Nollywood colleague, Evan Okoro called out Ekene over an alleged claim that she had been labeled as living with HIV. Okoro publicly denied the rumour and even underwent a test to confirm her negative status amid the online firestorm.
5. Iyabo Ojo vs FAAN Backlash Over Promotional Video
In February, Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo faced online backlash after sharing a promotional-style video about improvements at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. In the clip, she highlighted upgraded facilities and services. Many viewers interpreted this clip as an endorsement of the airport authority’s performance.
The reaction was swift. Some netizens accused her of political partisanship, alleging that the video aligned her with the ruling party or suggested she had been paid to promote the agency.
Ojo pushed back against the claims, stating that she was not paid and had no political motive. According to her, she simply wanted to spotlight visible improvements at the airport. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also addressed the controversy, with its managing director clarifying that she is not an official ambassador and was not contracted in any paid capacity.
6. Teddy A & BamBam and Peggy Ovire & Frederick Leonard: Alleged Marital Crises
February was full of relationship rumours that set Nigerian social media abuzz. Reality TV couple Teddy A & BamBam and Nollywood stars Peggy Ovire & Frederick Leonard both found themselves at the center of speculation about their marriages.
For Teddy A and BamBam, the chatter began when fans noticed a sudden pause in their usual stream of affectionate posts. Deleted couple pictures, unfollowing on social media, unliked posts, and subtle shifts in tone had followers questioning whether something was wrong behind the scenes. As always, speculation spread quickly. Some netizens insisted the couple was on the brink of a breakup, while others urged patience and respect for their privacy. Neither Teddy A nor BamBam confirmed any crisis, but their occasional posts, often without each other tagged only fuelled alleged marital problems.
Similarly, Peggy Ovire and Frederick Leonard’s interactions on social media appeared to change, with posts featuring each other becoming less frequent and cryptic captions sparking online curiosity. The couple reportedly unfollowing each other and not wearing their wedding bands further fuelled the narrative. Both stars continued with their individual projects, leaving followers to interpret silence in different ways.
7. Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo Tattoo Controversy
This February, Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo unexpectedly found himself at the centre of an online debate and no, it wasn’t about a sermon. The controversy started after a video of the well‑known pastor surfaced online showing him with visible tattoos.
To many Nigerians, especially those in conservative and religious circles, tattoos on clergy raise questions about cultural and spiritual appropriateness. Critics quickly took to social media to express their discomfort, arguing that a pastor with tattoos contradicts expectations of religious leaders. Some comments ranged from surprise to disappointment, while others invoked personal or religious interpretations of body art.
Supporters of Pastor Kingsley, on the other hand, defended him, saying tattoos are a personal choiceand shouldn’t determine someone’s spiritual authority or calling. They pointed out that what matters most is his message and ministry, rather than what’s on his skin.
8. Movie Marketing War: Kunle Afolayan vs Toyin Abraham vs Funke Akindele
This February, Nollywood’s movie marketing culture became one of social media’s most heated talking points. This was not because of a traditional feud, but due to a viral debate over how films should be promoted and what box‑office success really means.
The conversation intensified after filmmaker Kunle Afolayan made comments about how movie success is measured in Nigeria. Afolayan pointed out that even when films appear to gross huge sums at the box office, producers often see only a small portion of that money after revenue sharing with cinemas, taxes, marketing costs, and distribution fees. His remarks that a producer might only make a tiny amount from seemingly massive gross figures sparked widespread discussion. Some netizens interpreted this as a dig at fellow filmmakers, while others saw it as a critique of the industry’s sustainability.
At the same time, Funke Akindele, whose film Behind the Scenes has been dominating box office charts and earning billions found herself in the middle of discussions about success and promotion. According to Afolayan, Akindele was offended by his words. The actress also took to social media to rant, defending her ongoing promotional efforts even after her movie crossed major financial milestones.
9. Pete Edochie Death Rumour
One of the most viral and alarming controversies on social media this February was the spread of false rumours claiming that veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie had died. The claim which was shared widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, claimed he had been rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead, with a supposed family confirmation that wasn’t real.
Fans quickly began reacting with shock and sadness, sharing the hoax as though it were fact, which sparked widespread emotional responses online. Within hours, however, family members and close relations stepped in to clarify the situation. Edochie’s son Leo Edochie took to social media to dismiss the reports as baseless and malicious, insisting his father was “alive and hale and hearty.”
In fact, the veteran actor himself addressed the rumours in a phone conversation with journalists, stressing that the death claims were completely false. He pointed out that similar hoaxes have circulated about him multiple times over the years, referring to the repeated false reports as something he’s had to debunk more than once. He also stated plainly: “I’m alive and will die when my maker calls me home.”
Even actor Yul Edochie, Pete’s son, joined the chorus of reassurance, celebrating his father’s health and longevity and encouraging the public to ignore the false posts.
10. Doris Ogala vs Pastors
February also saw Nollywood actress Doris Ogala in the spotlight following a heated online feud with several prominent pastors, including Pastor Chris Okafor. Ogala publicly accused the pastors of making promises that went unfulfilled and questioned their intentions. She claimed that their actions, especially after personal losses in her life, caused her emotional distress.
The controversy first gained attention when Ogala alleged that Pastor Okafor had broken a long-term commitment to marry her, a claim that sparked widespread debate on social media. While the pastor issued a public apology and sought forgiveness during a service, Ogala insisted that some of her allegations remained valid.
In February, Ogala expanded her claims, calling out four pastors in total, accusing them of questionable motives and failing to support her when she needed it most. She also signaled her intention to pursue the matter legally, with her legal team reportedly preparing to take the case to court.
The feud has since divided public opinion. Many admire Ogala for speaking out and standing her ground, while others caution against unverified claims, urging that such matters be handled through proper legal channels. Either way, her confrontation with the pastors has become one of the month’s most-discussed social media controversies.
Conclusion
February proved once again that Nigerian social media is a hotbed of drama, where celebrity lives, rumours, and viral moments can ignite conversations in hours. From custody battles to marital speculation, tattoo controversies, and even death hoaxes, this month reminds us just how powerful social media is in shaping public perception.
As March approaches, netizens are already wondering… which new controversy will dominate the feeds next?
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