Weeks after being publicly brushed aside during streamer, IShowSpeed’s high-profile visit to Lagos, fast-rising Nigerian streamer Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, announced a multi-state tour.
He revealed his plans to visit 19 states in multiple cities. The cities included Benin, Port Harcourt, Warri, Asaba, Abuja, Kaduna, Uyo, Calabar, Owerri, Enugu, Ibadan, Lagos and more.
It seemed as though the creator was determined to prove he didn’t need validation from global stars to command attention at home.
By early March 2026, the tour was underway, kicking off in Benin City with the kind of viral energy that has come to define Peller’s rise. But somewhere between the cheering crowds and the constant livestreams, the narrative began to shift.
Who Is Peller?
To understand the controversy trailing the tour, you have to understand Peller.
Born in 2005 in Ibadan, before moving to Ikorodu, Lagos, Habeeb Hamzat rose to fame not through livestreaming. He started posting content in 2021, but his breakthrough came between 2023 and 2024, when his unpredictable, often chaotic streams began pulling massive audiences. His zero filter style worked for him. Peller has been able to build a large following and recorded one of the highest-viewed livestreams in Africa, with over 250,000 concurrent viewers at one point.
He also gained attention through collaborations and influence from global streamers, while earning recognition locally, including a major content creation award in 2024. But his rise has come with controversy.
From a reckless driving arrest in Lagos to multiple viral incidents that blurred the line between content and reality, Peller built a reputation as both entertaining and unpredictable.
By 2026, he was no longer just a content creator, he became a spectacle.
Early Stops: Momentum Builds
Peller’s first stop on his multi-state tour was Benin City, and it saw immediate turnout. It even looked like a success, especially after his visit to the Oba of Benin’s Palace.
In a viral video detailing his visit to the Palace on March 6, 2026, the Queen reportedly welcomed him warmly and allegedly asked Peller to “follow her back” on Instagram and TikTok. She then presented him with gifts.
The visit seemed like a success, until it didn’t.
On Day 2, Peller moved to Port Harcourt, where he held a meet-up at the “Plaza” and received a portrait gift from a fan. On Day 3, he was in Abuja, where a video of him putting a python snake on his neck went viral.
On Day 4, he touched down Kaduna, with Calabar being his next stop.
The ₦395 Million Bill Incident
Shortly after, came the incident that changed everything. Peller was slammed with a lawsuit.
The ₦395 million lawsuit traces back to a confrontation on January 6, 2026, at Folixxx Lounge in Lekki, Lagos, involving TikToker Peller and Osarobo Osarenoma Odigie, who has accused him of verbal abuse and invasion of privacy.
According to a pre-action letter from her lawyers, Odigie was buying food when she was startled by what she described as a loud outburst from Peller. When she asked him to lower his voice, the situation reportedly escalated. He allegedly responded with insults and Yoruba slurs such as “Oloriburuku,” “Omo Ale,” and “Ashawo.” The letter also claims he recorded the exchange without her consent and later posted the video on TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, where he labeled her a “hater.” The clip went viral, and she says it exposed her to online harassment and threats.
Odigie is demanding ₦395 million in damages, including compensation for defamation, emotional distress, reputational harm, and the impact of the alleged cyberbullying, along with legal costs. She is also asking for a public apology to be published in The Punch and The Guardian, as well as the removal of the video from all platforms.
Addressing the situation on March 18, 2026, Peller said he cannot afford such a payment and appealed for forgiveness. He described himself as a “small child” who needs guidance. In his words:
“I don’t have the money to give to the woman suing me. It feels like everyone wants me to go broke just so I can be on Lucky Udu’s show. I’m begging, I’m just a small child in this, and a child cannot function without direction. I have even apologised to her before.”
In a separate development, he is also facing another potential lawsuit from Nkese Eyo, who is reportedly seeking ₦500 million over alleged human rights violations linked to a filmed “job interview” content piece.
These incidents took place prior his tour, however, their impacts only came during the tour, leading to Peller’s thoughts of cutting the trip short.
The Royal Ban
If the lawsuit brought legal pressure, the next issue brought cultural weight. It involved Peller’s very first stop at the palace of the Oba of Benin. According to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), the streamer had an unauthorised visit to the Benin Palace on March 6, 2026, during his nationwide tour.
During the visit, Peller recorded content featuring a queen without official approval, an act the BTC has since condemned as a serious breach of protocol and a “desecration” of the sacred seat of the Benin Kingdom.
On March 17, 2026, the BTC publicly addressed the incident, denouncing the recording and outlining immediate consequences. A queen who appeared in the video is facing possible removal from the palace in line with Benin customs, while a chief linked to the incident has been suspended indefinitely. A palace staff member, Mr. Omuemu, was arrested, detained, and charged by the Nigeria Police for facilitating the unauthorised access.
The Council has also summoned Peller to appear before a committee of chiefs to explain his actions and issue an unreserved written apology, warning that failure to comply could lead to legal action and further involvement of law enforcement.
Addressing the palace incident directly during a livestream, Peller maintained that he was not responsible for any breach of protocol. He explained that he acted on instructions and was unaware of any wrongdoing at the time. He said, “My manager instructed me to go to the Oba of Benin’s palace. I was unaware until he informed me that they wanted me there. Any consequences should be handled by him. I did nothing wrong; my hands are clean. When I arrived, I greeted everyone, including children, with respect. Everything now seems orchestrated,” he explained.
Hours after news broke that the queen involved could be removed, Peller reacted publicly, expressing frustration over the growing controversies surrounding him. He said, “I think I will end this tour o problem just Dey come left and right..all my good I do in the tour never count. The Benin boy I helped, those ones are not out there, am tired jor make I go my Yoruba states way I no say if Problem come I go know how to handle it. It is getting boring with different problem everyday. This is not what I planned.”
Closing
In the end, Peller’s tour did exactly what it set out to do—it got attention.
Everywhere he went, people watched. Online, he stayed relevant. His name never left the conversation. However, the attention did not come with consequences and baggage. It has sparked a ₦395 million lawsuit, a royal backlash and more.
It’s obvious that going viral is one thing, running a nationwide movement is another.
And for Peller, this tour may be remembered not just for how big it was, but for how quickly things got complicated.
