The love triangles in MMMG; Among Iyanya, Ubi Franklin, Lillian Esoro and Emma Nyra

Former business partners, Ubi Franklin and Iyanya

Two days ago, Nigerian singer, Iyanya, who co-owned his former label MMMG with his partner of many years, Ubi Franklin, made a decision to quit and sign a new record deal with the Don Jazzy-led Mavin Records.
While there have been rumours that one of the reasons why he left his former label was because he wasn’t too cool with his then partner’s wife, Lilian Esoro.
Financial management issues were reportedly also a huge part of the disagreement.


Things got worse during and after Ubi’s celebrity wedding to the Nollywood actress in November 2015. It is believed that Iyanya was not in favour of the union and the effect it had on the business.

Lilian Esoro and Iyanya. Photo: MichaelSope Johnson

‘Iyanya does not like the wife, and does not support the union’, a source revealed.
While Ubi Franklin declined to comment on the issue when contacted by our correspondent then, Iyanya, who was in the United States at the time, took to social media to clear the air.
His words, ‘All these are lies. I’m not fighting Ubi. His wife is the best woman in the world for him, she is a good woman, she’s a good cook too. You guys please chill.’

Ubi Franklin and wife, Lilian Esoro alongside Iyanya.

Then in 2015, MMMG had to let go two artistes, Emma Nyra and Baci, which according to sources, did not go down well with Iyanya. Baci most especially had a special bond with Iyanya, a friendship that had been kept over several years.

Ubi vs Emma Nyra

Word on the street had it then that Ubi Franklin was allegedly dating Emma Nyra at the time.

Emma Nyra was the former first lady of MMMG

New chapters kept opening on the series of rants between the female singer and her former boss.
They were both in the news for all the wrong reasons. First, she relocated back to the United States, then news of her break-up with her record label, and the romance tales about her then label boss, Ubi.
Although Ubi Franklin responded by revealing that he and Emma Nyra were actually an item. ‘I was dating Emma Nyra and the relationship didn’t go as I thought it should have gone,’ he candidly revealed in an interview with The Cable.

Emma Nyra also granted an interview with Vanguard newspaper in May 2015 where she revealed how she was physically and verbally terrorised by Ubi Franklin while she was a member of the Triple MG record label.
According to her; ‘Ubi and I never dated. Rather he terrorised me for years. He abused me and other members of the label with physical and verbal force. This is why I left Triple MG the first time.’
They both exchanged subliminal tweets and interviews, and Emma Nyra insinuated that Ubi assaulted her.

I always wonder in a relationship who to blame when your guy cheats on you. Not so much the other woman. I would definitely Blame the guy

— Emma Nyra (@EmmaNyra) April 26, 2016

She didn’t drop names though, but she hinted in her tweet and then subsequently re-tweeted an article on ‘Domestic Violence’ by Genevieve Magazine.

Now, Emma Nyra is an independent artiste, Iyanya has joined Mavin Records, while word is making the rounds that all is not well in Lilian and Ubi’s marriage.