Igho ‘Tiny’ Ubiribo, the British-Nigerian influencer and close associate of Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who died following complications from a penis enlargement procedure in Thailand, had previously been declared wanted in Nigeria over alleged drug trafficking.
Ubiribo, who died in Bangkok on March 6, 2026, had been declared wanted alongside his wife, Danielle Simba Allen, an Anglo-Zimbabwean fashion entrepreneur, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in connection with an alleged international drug trafficking syndicate.
The couple was among individuals the anti-narcotics agency listed in 2023 as “celebrity couple wanted over seized illicit drugs.” 
According to the NDLEA, Ubiribo, also known as Tiny, and Allen, known as Dani, were allegedly involved in recruiting teenage girls into the illicit drug trade while operating as alleged leaders of an international syndicate said to have links to Los Angeles, United States.
The agency had also declared Port Harcourt-based prophetess and founder of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, Faith Ugochi, wanted over the alleged activities.
The NDLEA said investigations linked Ubiribo and his wife to the alleged drug trafficking operation and that repeated attempts to secure their appearance for questioning had failed.
The agency alleged that two teenage girls, identified as Favour and Shalom, were recruited as sales representatives in the illicit drug trade by Ugochi, who allegedly used her church platform to recruit teenagers brought to her for assistance.
The girls were allegedly recruited on behalf of Ubiribo and Allen, whom the agency described as the owners of the operation.
The NDLEA further identified Edward Omatseye, also known as Montana, as the alleged coordinator of the syndicate’s activities in Nigeria, while Nnochiri Chidinma Promise was identified as a representative of Ben Cargo Ltd, which the agency said was responsible for shipping illicit consignments into Nigeria.
“Several attempts to get Prophetess Faith Ugochi, Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen to submit themselves for questioning have proved abortive,” the agency said at the time.
Ubiribo and his wife remained at large for about three years, with the drug trafficking investigation unresolved.
His death was announced in London on March 6, prompting an outpouring of tributes from friends and associates, including Davido.
In an emotional tribute, Davido described Ubiribo as a man of “light, energy, courage, resilience” and a trusted ally, saying he could not bring himself to speak about him in the past tense.
However, details surrounding Ubiribo’s death emerged months later during a UK coroner’s inquest.
On September 5, coroner Jean Harkin ruled that the 43-year-old died from a pulmonary embolism caused by complications from a penis enlargement procedure he underwent while on holiday in Thailand.
Evidence presented at the inquest showed that Ubiribo had been injected with about 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine at a Thai clinic in March.
UK pathologist John du Parcq said in his report that cellular material found in Ubiribo’s lungs matched the hyaluronic acid used in the penis filler injection.
According to the pathologist, the finding was consistent with a pulmonary embolism and also matched the results of the Thai autopsy.
Ubiribo’s death has therefore brought renewed attention to a man whose public profile was marked not only by his close association with one of Africa’s biggest music stars but also by an unresolved drug trafficking investigation in Nigeria.
At the time of his death, there was no indication that the NDLEA case against him had been concluded.
