Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk, Nigerian singer, popularly known as Iyanya, has reacted to viral reports claiming that talent manager Ubi Franklin was involved in a case of alleged theft of a luxury watch belonging to a popular jeweler, Benny the Jeweler.
The reports, which spread across several social media platforms, alleged that Ubi Franklin approached Benny to buy a wristwatch. According to the claims, after taking the watch, he allegedly failed to return it immediately and later gave conflicting accounts of what happened.
Social media posts alleged that when Ubi was first asked about the watch, he reportedly said he had already returned it to Benny’s assistant. However, Benny allegedly stated that the watch could not be found.
The jeweler was said to have threatened to involve the police and immigration authorities over the matter. The reports further claimed that Ubi later said he found the watch in his pocket but did not know how it got there.
One of the most circulated versions of the story came from a social media user identified as Bisibalo. In the lengthy post, Bisibalo repeated the allegations and added that efforts were being made to manage the situation before it became a bigger scandal online.
Part of the post read, “UBI FRANKLIN reportedly stole a watch from Benny the Jeweler. They kept asking him and he said he had no idea about it. He reportedly asked to buy a watch from Benny. When he was asked about the watch, he said he had given it to Benny’s assistant. They couldn’t find the watch anywhere. Benny threatened to involve police and immigration. All of a sudden, he said he found it in his pocket and didn’t know how it got there. Now they are doing damage control…”
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Iyanya, who co-founded the record label Made Men Music Group (MMMG) with Ubi Franklin in 2011, has now publicly addressed the matter. In a statement posted online, the Kukere crooner dismissed the viral story, insisting that Ubi Franklin did not steal any watch.
Iyanya described the allegations as false and urged the public not to spread unverified information that could damage reputations. He further stated that the issue had been blown out of proportion on social media and that people should focus on confirmed facts.
His words, “This is a Big lie.
“The jeweler has come out to deny this, it was a gist fabricated to tarnish Ubi’s name by those who don’t like him with that circle.
“I will not let my brother be dragged for nothing.”
