A Nigerian celebrity popularly known as Ruggedman faced a lot of backlash six years ago, after his friend and singer, Abolore Akande also known as 9ice released a song on his tradition album "Once Bitten Twice Shy". The song was later attributed by music fans and bloggers that 9ice was referring to his ex-wife, Toni Payne, and that the duo of Ruggedman and Toni Payne had coitus, and was caught by 9ice.
All the effort by Ruggedman to convince 9ice to clear the rumour from the song to his fans that he was not having coitus with his now ex-wife proved abortive, an issue that led to the separation of the couple.
Fast forward six years later, 9ice who seems to be struggling in the Nigerian music industry came out to say that Ruggedman was never had sex with ex-wife, Toni Payne, and he has since been forgiven by Toni Payne.
Also Ruggedman also decided to pen an open letter accepting the apology of Ruggedman in 2016. Read below :
“In 2010 9ice released a song that made a lot of people wrongfully drag me into a terrible situation. People who miscontrued the song and it created a rumour .
A terrible false rumour that was fueled by journalists and bloggers who were only after hits on their sites.Bloggers and journalists who did not care to investigate and confirm a rumour,but chose to print and post it anyways not caring who got hurt in the process.
I remember pleading my innocence and that of Toni Paynes but social media people being who and how they are,chose not to listen.
I remember calling 9ice on the phone CIA style to talk to him about it and he was clearly heard admitting the song was not about myself or Toni Payne,but social media people being who and how they are,chose not to listen.
I remember asking 9ice to publicly clear the air on the terrible rumour,but was shocked when my friend said he would not because he was busy and didnt have time for such. Again nobody wondered why.
Fast forward 2016. six years later and I was surprised when i heard that 9ice has finally come out to say i never slept with his wife and the song was not about me and even apologised on top.That he has finally come out to say the truth about the issue that cast a negative shadow over my head and that of his ex wife for six years.
All i can do is smile because I know me better than anybody out there who insulted me over the matter. I said it then and i say it now, Michael Ugochukwu Stephens will never sleep with his friends wife.
Families and husbands you can now relax. Your daughters and wives are safe around me hahahahaha!!
To 9ice, bro you left it a bit too late. You had your chance to clear this matter up 6 years ago when it really mattered but you did not take it. I do not know why and exactly what it was that made you keep quiet all that while. I did my best to clear my name without you and moved have moved on since.
Anyways I accept your apology and thank God we are all alive.
To bloggers and journalists: You will be who and how you are,but the best and most successful ones amongst you will be the ones who actually get professional about with their work and try to investigate stories before putting it out there. I really hope you all realise its not all about the hits. Do not lose your humanity all because you want to be the first to break news.On a lighter note,if you want to break news,kindly break the news that my new song ft Olamide titled Seyi Shay will drop on cloud 9music and mtn plus tomorrow 5th February 2016.
I wish you all the best and I appreciate everybody who has been there for me.God bless us all”
Listen to the song that stirred the controversy