Illbliss

Illbliss did not chase trends. He did not bend easily to industry pressure. He built his brand slowly, deliberately, and strategically. In a Nigerian music industry often dominated by fast rising pop stars and viral sensations, Illbliss carved a different path. He became a voice of Eastern Nigerian hip hop, a respected lyricist, a label executive, and a cultural architect.

But long before the title Oga Boss became synonymous with his name, there was Tobechukwu Melvin Ejiofor, a young boy growing up in Enugu with hunger in his heart and rhythm in his spirit.

The Boy From Enugu With A Sharp Mind

Illbliss was born on December 30, 1979, in Enugu State, Nigeria. Growing up in the eastern part of the country, he experienced a culture deeply rooted in pride, resilience, and enterprise. Igbo culture emphasizes self determination and hard work, and those values shaped him early.

As a child, he was observant and intelligent. He loved words. He enjoyed storytelling. He paid attention to conversations and the way elders expressed themselves. That early fascination with language later became his weapon in rap.

Music entered his life gradually. American hip hop from artists like Jay-Z and Nas influenced his lyrical style. Back home, Nigerian hip hop was evolving, and artists like Mode 9 were pushing lyrical boundaries.

Illbliss studied them all.

Education And Early Rap Dreams

He attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he studied Political Science. University life exposed him to broader intellectual discussions about society, governance, and power.

Those themes later appeared in his lyrics.

He began participating in rap battles and underground performances. The early days were not glamorous. There were no major sponsors. No viral moments. Just passion and a microphone.

He sharpened his craft in small circles.

The Birth Of A Persona

The name Illbliss emerged as his artistic identity. It represented lyrical sharpness mixed with calm confidence.

He was not flashy.

He was calculated.

Unlike artists who focused purely on club anthems, Illbliss leaned toward conscious hip hop. He rapped about politics, social issues, ambition, and survival.

He wanted respect more than hype.

The Eastern Movement

One of Illbliss’s greatest contributions to Nigerian music was helping build a structured hip hop scene in the East.

At a time when Lagos dominated the industry, Eastern Nigerian artists struggled for recognition.

Illbliss believed Enugu and the Southeast deserved a stronger voice.

He co founded Capital Hill Music, a record label and creative hub designed to nurture talent from the region.

This move was revolutionary.

He was not just chasing his own career.

He was building infrastructure.

Dat Ibo Boy And National Recognition

In 2009, Illbliss released his debut album Dat Ibo Boy. The project was both cultural and lyrical.

Certificate Scandal: Enugu Govt Distances Itself as Minister Uche Nnaji Faces Tough Questions Over Alleged Forgery
The Enugu State Government has strongly denied any involvement in the escalating certificate forgery scandal surrounding the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, calling on him to take responsibility and address the allegations personally.

The controversy deepened after Nnaji’s media aide, Robert Ngwu, accused Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah of masterminding a smear campaign against his principal. Ngwu, at a press conference in Abuja, dismissed reports that Nnaji forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and NYSC certificates, describing them as “politically motivated lies.”

“All these sponsored attacks are being coordinated by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State. The governor has given a new name to all his problems — Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji,” Ngwu alleged.



However, Governor Mbah swiftly rebutted the claims through his aides, urging the minister to face his own issues.

“Carry your cross,” Mbah said, stressing that his administration had no hand in the matter.


University Disowns Minister’s Certificate

The scandal stems from a Premium Times investigation revealing that UNN disowned Nnaji’s academic certificate. According to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, though Nnaji was admitted in 1981, there were no records showing that he graduated in 1985 as claimed.

“From our records, we cannot confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985,” Ortuanya said in a Freedom of Information response.



This contradicted an earlier letter from UNN’s Registrar, Celine Nnebedum, who had initially confirmed Nnaji’s graduation but later recanted, stating that his name was missing from the official list.

Legal Battle and Missing Records

Nnaji has since taken legal action against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and UNN, accusing them of withholding his transcript despite a court order.

Ngwu alleged that the minister’s academic file was being “kept under lock and key” in the Vice-Chancellor’s office, suggesting foul play.

He also downplayed concerns about discrepancies in Nnaji’s names, insisting that “Uchenna” and “Uchechukwu” are interchangeable in Igbo culture.

‘Carry Your Cross’

In a strongly worded statement, Enugu’s Director of Information, Chukwuemeka Nebo, dismissed Nnaji’s claims, saying the minister must answer to the allegations directly.

“The honourable minister must carry his own cross and clear his name before Nigerians instead of dragging the Enugu State Government into issues that are entirely personal to him,” Nebo said.


He criticized Nnaji for sending aides to address the media instead of speaking for himself, describing it as an attempt to “run from accountability.”

“Why invite journalists and then fail to show up? If he truly has nothing to hide, he should face the press and explain,” Nebo added.


Nebo went on to list several inconsistencies that demand clarification — including claims that Nnaji failed key university courses, presented questionable NYSC documents, and submitted only his WASC certificate to INEC during the 2023 governorship race.

He also questioned the authenticity of the NYSC discharge certificate, which bore the signature of Col. Animashaun Braimoh, who only became NYSC Director-General two years after Nnaji’s supposed service year.

“If the minister himself swore in an affidavit that UNN never issued him a certificate, Nigerians deserve to know how he obtained the one he presented to the Senate,” Nebo stated.

As calls for transparency grow, both the public and media are urging Minister Nnaji to address the controversy head-on. The Enugu Government maintains it has no hand in the saga, emphasizing that the truth must come directly from the minister himself.

“These are questions Nigerians are asking,” Nebo concluded. “If Chief Nnaji is innocent, let him come forward and prove it.”

TV anchor, Morayo Brown publicly writes Tinubu after controversial video of Peter Obi.

Morayo Afolabi-Brown, the managing director of TVC Entertainment (TVCe), has publicly urged President Bola Tinubu to take a leave of absence and permit Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, to lead the country for six months.

This comes after the former Anambra governor was spotted in Imo state yesterday, July 10, serving food to guests at the event. The viral footage captured the politician carrying several trays with plates of food as he went about serving the meals.

The videos elicited mixed reactions, as many condemned the former presidential candidate for seeking attention, while others noted that what Obi did was a tradition in Igbo culture and had nothing to do with politics.

However, reacting to the development in an Instagram post on Friday, Morayo, who also hosts Your View on TVC, tackled politician Obi for projecting what she described as signs of desperation.

She then urged the sitting president to take a leave of absence and give Obi a chance to govern for six months, adding that she’s curious to see the magic he will perform.