M.I. Abaga: I was asked to leave the 2008 Headies red carpet so Omotola could have her photo taken.

M.I. Abaga

Rapper M.I. Abaga (real name Jude Abaga) shared a story about being asked to leave the red carpet at the 2008 Headies Awards so Nollywood star Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde could have space.

Speaking recently on the Vbyz TV Cartel show, the 44-year-old explained that the months before the event were full of hard work but he wasn't well known yet.

Even though he was nominated for ‘Best Rap Single’, Abaga said the staff at the event didn't recognise him when he turned up. He and his manager struggled to get any attention.

He recalled how, just before the ceremony started, they were repeatedly told to move out of the way to make room for the actress, as the photographers were all trying to take her picture.

“The people on the red carpet did not even know I was nominated, so they were just like ‘Common get out of here’. So we went to stand at one other corner and because Omotola was moving from side to side to take her picture, they kept chasing us from place to place.

“I was just looking at stardom and two hours later, I had an award in my hand, a gold plaque from Ayo Animashaun and after that plaque, everybody was like ‘MI is in the game’. After that it was ‘Safe’, ‘Talk About It’ and ‘Incredible Music’.”