Veteran Nigerian singer Uche Ibeto, famously known as the Jigida Queen, has found herself at the center of a messy family scandal that has now spilled into the streets of Lagos. On August 15, 2025, the celebrated music star was forcefully evicted from her longtime Surulere residence in a scene that many neighbors say felt like a movie, with policemen, court sheriffs, and even thugs storming the building.
The property, a one-storey house at No. 36 Ibezim Obiajulu Street, Off Marsha Road, Surulere, was where Uche had lived with her late mother for over 50 years. But the house is now in the hands of businessman Cecil Ezem Osakwe, who claims to have legally purchased it from the estate administrators led by Uche’s elder sister, Laura Okoh.
What has stunned many fans and Lagos residents is that Uche, her tenants, and even close relatives insist they were never part of the court case that stripped her of her home. A judgment delivered on July 10, 2025, quietly handed ownership to Osakwe. Barely a month later, the order was enforced, leaving the singer’s belongings worth over ₦500 million allegedly stolen or destroyed. Tenants say their own possessions were sealed inside the house, while thugs reportedly remained on the property after the eviction.
The scandal deepens as Uche and her lawyer, Onwubualili Sylvester, accuse her sister of colluding with a judicial officer to carry out what they describe as a fraudulent takeover. In their petition to the Lagos State Chief Judge and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, they point to fake and suspicious documents, including an undated sale agreement, a questionable Deed of Assignment, and even references to an entirely different property in Alimosho that had nothing to do with the Surulere house.
Observers are now asking how such a case could move so quickly through court without the rightful occupants being served. Gossip around Surulere circles suggests this may be another example of how money and influence in Lagos property battles can displace even well-known figures. Some neighbors whispered that the eviction felt less like legal enforcement and more like a planned hijack.
The Jigida Queen herself, who rose to fame in the Nigerian highlife and dance music scene, is said to be devastated. Friends describe her as heartbroken, not only by the loss of her family home but also by the betrayal she feels from her own blood. For fans, it’s a shocking twist — seeing one of Nigeria’s music veterans, who entertained crowds with her “jigida” dance style, reduced to battling for a roof over her head.
For now, Uche is fighting back, seeking a full investigation into what she calls a fraudulent judgment. Whether the courts will reverse the ruling or she will ever reclaim her mother’s house remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: this scandal has all the elements of a Lagos drama - family betrayal, legal intrigue, property wars, and a fallen star struggling to hold on to her legacy.
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I am the Lawyer to Ms. Uche Ibeto, veteran singer. You can contact me for further updates and clarification