Lagos, Nigeria — Nigerian music star Skales, whose real name is Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, don share wetin happen when e spend night for police cell after hin manager arrest. Dis shocking experience, wey occur just two days ago, involve wetin he describe as emotional encounter, as he perform im hit song ‘Shake Body’ to earn mat for sleep.
Skales recount how the wahala start when hin manager meet problem with powerful Nigerian billionaire. Instead of leaving when dem ask am, Skales stay back to support hin manager. Dis loyalty land am for same cell as im manager. ‘Dem tell me say I supposed go, but I no fit leave my manager behind,’ Skales talk.
Once dem put Skales inside the overcrowded cell, e no take long before one inmate recognize am. Dem react as if na celebrity dey among them. ‘He thought I’d committed murder,’ Skales share. ‘He even offer to help me deal with the billionaire, which was crazy.’
As word spread say celebrity dey inside, the internal power structure inside the cell request make Skales pay respect to the cell ‘boss.’ Na so dem tell am say if e no perform, e go experience wahala. Di boss sabi im music and demand make Skales sing for dem.
‘Dem tell me to go greet the boss or I go collect beating. The boss turn out to be fan. E know di lyrics to ‘Emergency’ and ask me to perform. In return, dem give me mat to sleep on—normal na everybody dey sleep for bare floor,’ Skales explain. E say di performance humbles am, ‘I sing everything shamelessly. Dem clap and even show me pity.’
Di singer also shed light on wetin dey happen for detention facilities inside Nigeria. ‘If person no send you money, you no fit chop,’ he reveal. ‘When I come out, I make sure say I buy food for di guys wey dey that cell. Dem treat me well.’
Skales revelations don spark plenty discussion about abuse of power, di kind conditions wey dey for Nigerian detention facilities, and how even celebrity no fit hide from di broken justice system wey dey the country.
