(AllHipHop News) Nigerian rapper Wizkid is experiencing unprecedented success, thanks to his hit single “One Dance” with Drake and Kyla.
Wizkid was an award-winning artist in Nigeria before his most recent hit single “One Dance” took off in the United States. He’s been touring around the world because of the breakout success of the single, but back home, his popularity has become a bit of a problem.
According to News Nigeria, a 19-year-old student at Delta State University named Ifeoma Nelly was living the life of luxury, by impersonating Wizkid and scamming the rapper out of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last three years.
The woman sported a short haircut like Wizkid, dressed like a man and favored the rapper in terms of looks.
Police began looking into the matter, after Wizkid, his managers and numerous victims complained that someone was ripping them all off, with phony shows.
An investigation ensued, and the woman was arrested at a hotel, when she attempted to accept part of a $25,000 appearance fee, posing as the rapper.
“When it became serious, we had to refund the money to victims. Some people will just go, write in papers that Wikzid disappointed them,” Wizkid’s manager Sunday Are said. “They would say Wizkid and his manager collected money and didn’t come to perform.”
The student went to great lengths in order to defraud the unsuspecting promoters and other victims.
“Meanwhile, we didn’t know about those shows. The lady, not only used Wizkid’s name to open the Facebook accounts, but also used Wizkid’s name to register the phone she was using,” Sunday Are said.
Wizkid, his manager and local police set up a sting operation. When the target of the investigation arrived, everyone was amazed at how much the female impersonator looked the part, right down to her flashy Rolex.
“It took us three to four hours before we could believe she was a lady. She wore native clothes and spotted low cut,” Wizkid’s manager said.
The woman was taken into custody by Lagos State Police Command and hit with numerous charges.
Fans of the real Wizkid can catch the rapper as a headlining act on the One Africa Music Fest taking place in New York at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on July 22.