Entertainment
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death

Story by: Zik Zulu Okafor
His social life was blunted. Perhaps by his reticent disposition.His persona, two dimensional. To a distant public, he was upscale and cool. His manly bearing spoke loud. His onscreen image ironically amplified some idiosyncrasies; heroics, romantic adventures and traits that did not gel with the mortal privacy that eerily define his quiet and lonely life.
Saint Obi, real name, Obinna Nwafor, was shy, almost bordering on timidity and insecurity. He cherished the pleasantly tranquil interractions among a few friends. He would vanish at any outburst that could upset the poise of such small meetings. As he repeatedly told me, he just wanted to live a cool, quiet and fulfilled life.
But, has he lived this cool and fulfilled life he envisioned ? I have my doubts.
I tell Saint’s story here with painful tears in my eyes; because he was a star, a super star whose life turned out a gleam of irony .
Yet, it was this stardom that fetched him his much professed financially strong and powerful wife . And their wedding, that solemn ritual of love, would drastically alter the cause of his life and tragically yank him off the creative community that threw him up for the wife to capture and indeed conquer.
Their marriage was at best a dramatisation of love. It was quick. He barely told us that he found a wife. Then, the marriage happened. It was something of a mystique, only those involved understood the histrionics that played out . None of us who were his closest pals, who walked with him through the crucible to the crest of his career in Nollywood, was invited. The distance between us and the guy I admirably called Saint of the Storm had begun. This gulf would widen with each year. We saw him perhaps once in a year after this marriage.
And life actually seemed to have given him a fair shake of the dice. He dressed well, drove big cars and even his skin, in literal lingo, spelt wellness.
The Saint would be blessed with three beautiful children. But not one occasion were his friends in Nollywood invited for christening or birthday. We were told that his wife was of the topmost hierachy in telecom giant, MTN . But even if their celebrations were designed to be a rendezvous of the elites of the technocracies that his wife chiefly belonged, you expected that Saint would reach out to a few of his fellow creatives, for even if they would herald his small beginnings, there could be no tinge of shame to it because we all have our journeys and our stories. And even at that, the actor or cineaste in Nollywood is by no means poor.
But more tragic is the fact that his marriage did not only take away Obinna from his friends, it took him away from Nollywood. Saint stopped acting, absconded from his career and perhaps his calling.
It would seem prognostic now. Yes, because I recall leaving my house in Lagos Mainland for his massive office in Lekki, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was about six years ago. There, I demanded to know why my friend abandoned our industry. He told me with his usual shy expressions that he wanted to focus on some other businesses and also to work behind the camera. Because his visage was unconvincing to me, I told him in stark terms, that whatever his new vision and pursuits, he must not abandon the trade that made him who he was.
It took another three years for Saint to return to his homies. But when he did, some of the deeply disappointed ones sniggered behind him. This was because the simmering rumours of cracks in his marriage had hit home. And though secretive in his ways, he knew it was time to open up. And he did. “I do not know why my wife’s sibblings see me as a gold digger. They confront me, harass and fight me in my own matrimony. And my wife did nothing to stop them. I work hard, I earn my money. I have never depended on my wife”, he lamented, eyes blurred with tears. You could tell he was in deep pain. By the next visit, the Saint returned with a deep cut from knife on his left eye. His wife’s brothers, he said, scaled the wall fence of their house to attack him. They were captured by hidden closed-circuit television, CCTV, installed for surveillance and security, he revealed.
He reported them at the police station and subsequently acquired a gun to defend himself. This effectively marked the beginning of the end of his marriage and perhaps Saint Obi’s long walk to a sad end. He moved out of his marital home to a new house to begin the reconstruction of his destiny, alone without his wife and worse still without his three beautiful children.
Meanwhile, his wife went to the police to defend her sibblings using her financial power to manipulate the cause of justice, Saint stated unequivocally. The wife also sued for divorce, not in Lagos, but in Ogun state. As Saint put it, “It was to make the journey difficult for me. But I will not bend neither will I break. I will fight with my last blood to take custody of my children. They love me and they know it will be hard for me to live without them.The divorce is not an issue. My marriage has long been over”, he said with a mix of courage and a quaky heart that betrayed his distress.
About mid last year, however, Obinna took ill. But he told no one. He simply became scarce. He was in and out of hospital, we would later learn. He sold two of his three big SUVs to take proper care of his health and to acquire six camry cars he’d use for Uber. But his vanishing health continued unabated. He seemed to have a premonition of his own passing as he wept repeatedly about not seeing his children. He emaciated. Life took a grim picture. When I saw him by chance in January 2023, the dude called Saint looked 15 years older than his age. His macho cut had shrunk. His fat wallet was gone. What was left was only his fat will. His eyes seemed lost in their socket. This would be the last time I would see him.
Saint snuck out of Lagos to hang in with his sister in Jos. He told no one.
But a month ago, in April precisely, the once delightful actor who brought joy to many a home broke his icy silence. He called our mutual friend in US to give him a devastating message. He was on a deathbed, he said and wanted our friend to pray for him. “It’s not looking good, pray, pray for me”, he appealed passionately.
His next call came on May 1, 2023. This time to his mentor, the man who made him a star with his productions, Zeb Ejiro, OON. He told him with a wavering voice that he had had three surgeries but was still in hospital in Jos. He averred again that his situation was not looking good, that he is also in a deep pain, distressed that he could not see his children. But still he begged him not to tell anyone about his ailment. Such was the life of this creative hermit, a lonely trouper.
I was the first to hear the news of his death late on Sunday, May 7. Having confirmed it, I called Zeb Ejiro. “I have a very bad news my brother, Zeb”, I began.
“What is it, what is it, Zik Zulu?”, he asked anxiously. “A big star has fallen in Nollywood”. Zeb broke down in tears. I hadn’t said who it was. But sobbing helplessly now, he said, “Don’t tell me it is Saint Obi”.
Sadly, Zeb was right.
May his soul find peace.
*Zik Zulu Okafor is a veteran journalist, a film producer and a former President of Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP).
This piece also serves as a tribute to the late movie star, Obinna Nwafor, popularly known as Saint Obi, who was a bossom friend of the house.
Credit: Zik Zulu Okafor
Entertainment
Today’s 2Baba and Natasha Traditional Wedding
Earlier, on April 9, 2025, Hon. Natasha officially adopted the Idibia surname during a plenary session of the Edo State House of Assembly, where she represents the Egor State Constituency.

Music legend 2Baba, formerly known as 2Face Idibia, and Hon. Natasha Irobosa Osawaru, are set to hold their traditional marriage ceremony today ( Friday) in Benin City, the capital of Edo State.
Earlier, on April 9, 2025, Hon. Natasha officially adopted the Idibia surname during a plenary session of the Edo State House of Assembly, where she represents the Egor State Constituency.
Following this, and in line with Idoma cultural tradition, 2Baba formally introduced his wife, Hon. Natasha Osawaru, to the paramount ruler of the Idoma Kingdom.
The introduction took place on Monday, April 21, during the Idoma Security and Unity Symposium at the Och’Idoma Palace in Otukpo, located in Benue South Senatorial District.
2Baba also introduced Natasha to the Governor of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
During the meeting, Governor Alia appointed the music icon as his Technical Advisor on Entertainment.
Entertainment
All Eyes on Tuface as Gov Alia’s Special Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach
Governor Alia praised Tuface for his outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry and his positive representation of Benue State

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has appointed renowned music icon, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface, as his Special Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by Tuface and his wife, Natasha, to the Benue State Government House in Makurdi.
Welcoming the couple and their delegation, Governor Alia praised Tuface for his outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry and his positive representation of Benue State.
“Let me thank you sincerely for supporting my administration and for helping project it as we look ahead to the future,” the Governor said.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that when people hear the name Tuface, they start dancing—even before the music plays.”
Governor Alia continued, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and the good people of our state, we are happy to entrust you with even greater responsibility.
You have the capacity to do more, and we believe your wisdom and influence will help improve lives across our communities.”
“I am pleased to officially announce your appointment as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach,” he concluded.
Crime
Police detain popular singer, ‘portable’ for alleged criminal defamation

Kwara State police command has arrested a popular singer, Habeb Okikiola Badmus, aka ‘portable’ for alleged criminal defamation and other related offences.
The arrest was carried out in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, by operatives of the command, acting on a petition by one Okunola Saheed, popularly known as ‘Osupa’.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the spokesperson of the command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi in Ilorin, the state capital.
The statement read in part, “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that following a petition received from one Mr. Okunola Saheed, popularly known as ‘Osupa,’ against Mr. Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, also known in the entertainment industry as ‘Portable’…“Police detectives of Kwara Command have taken lawful steps in line with due process to investigate the allegations.
“The petition borders on serious allegations which includes criminal defamation, threat to life, incitement, character assassination, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and the use of abusive and insulting words.
“In view of the weight of these allegations and the supporting evidence presented, the Command secured a valid arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin.“
Acting on this warrant, operatives from the Command proceeded to Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, 13th April 2025, where the suspect was apprehended at about 19:25hrs.
He was immediately brought to Ilorin for further investigations.
“Upon his arrival, the suspect’s statement was taken in the presence of legal representatives from both parties.
He is currently in custody and arrangements are being made to charge him to court without delay.”
The state police command reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served in a fair and transparent manner, urging members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information.
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