Five Things You Didn’t Know About Obi Cubana

Published

4 years ago

November 3, 2021

Editor

Popular Nigerian socialite and businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu, aka Obi Cubana, has once again made headlines in the news as he is in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Since Monday, he has been interrogated by officials of the EFCC over alleged money laundering and tax fraud.

The Anambra-born club owner got into the spotlight in July when he hosted an ostentatious burial for his late mother in Oba, Anambra State. It was gathered that over 200 cows were killed.

The lavish display of wealth set tongues wagging with many Nigerians wondering about his source of wealth.

However, here are some facts you didn’t know about Obi Cubana as compiled by The PUNCH.

Full name Obinna Iyiegbu, he was born on April 12, 1975. The businessman is the Chief Executive Officer of Cubana Group. Popular among his businesses are the night club and luxurious hotels he runs.
The political science graduate from the University of Nsukka made his first million during his National Youth Service Corps days with his Place of Primary Assignment at the National Assembly in Abuja. In Abuja, he was introduced to real estate business where he met a client who wanted to furnish a house. After furnishing the house for the client, Obi was gifted N500,000 as he also made over N600,000 in profit for the job. “That was the first N1.1m I made before I joined contract work in Abuja,” he said in an interview.
His sojourn into the business world began in 2006 when he established his first night club, Ibiza, in Abuja. Later on, he built another club, Cubana, in Owerri, Imo State. From there his business empire grew.
In October, he clinched the award for the Man of the Year, defeating the likes of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Chairman, UBA Group, Mr Tony Elumelu; and Chairman and founder of BUA Group, Mr Abdul Rabiu. The businessman was voted by Nigerians at home and in the diaspora via online platforms in a 14-day Leadership Excellence Awards. The Cubana Group boss emerged winner with 2,667,845 votes, while Makinde, Elumelu and Rabiu had 1,015,224, 848,652 and 819,562 votes respectively.
Obi Cubana, in several interviews, has always hinted that he is a religious person as he tags himself, God’s favourite son. In 2008 he got married to Ebele Iyiegbu, who is a lawyer. Their union is blessed with four sons.

Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

Headline

US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.

Headline

US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.

The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.

US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.

“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.

However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.

It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.

“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”