The Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo Sisters and the Femi Otedola Extortion Scandal

In September 2025, a cryptic post on social media by Nigerian doctor and influencer @the_beardedsina reignited interest in a scandal that had nearly faded into history.

The post warned against “spreading falsehoods about Sir Femi Otedola and his family” and urged readers to “Google Femi Otedola vs the Matharoo sisters” before making assumptions.

The timing was no coincidence—Otedola’s daughter, Temi Otedola (now Temi Ajibade), had just celebrated a lavish, multi-continent wedding to singer Mr. Eazi, sparking online debates about wealth, family influence, and submission in marriage.

The implication was clear: Otedola, one of Africa’s wealthiest men, has a track record of swiftly protecting his reputation, and the Matharoo saga remains a cautionary tale.

The Matharoo sisters—Jyoti Matharoo and Kiran Matharoo—were born and raised in Toronto to Indian immigrant parents and came to be known in the media as the “Canadian Kardashians.”

With striking looks, an eye for fashion, and a knack for cultivating luxury, they built a social media empire flaunting private jets, designer outfits, and exclusive parties. By the late 2000s, they had found their way into Nigeria’s elite circles, dating wealthy men and positioning themselves as glamorous companions.

But behind the glitz, Nigerian authorities alleged the sisters were running NaijaGistLive, a gossip blog that went far beyond harmless rumours. According to police, the site became a powerful extortion machine, threatening to expose affairs, scandals, and financial secrets of high-profile figures unless huge sums were paid.

Reports suggested over 274 individuals were targeted, with some politicians handing over hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect their reputations.

Femi Otedola entered their orbit around this time. The billionaire oil magnate, known for his business empire and philanthropy, allegedly became one of their targets.

The sisters were accused of attempting to blackmail him with claims of infidelity, demanding millions in exchange for silence. But Otedola refused to bow.

Instead, he reported them to authorities, setting in motion a dramatic downfall. In December 2016, while in Lagos, the sisters were arrested. Laptops, phones, and other devices seized during the raid linked them to NaijaGistLive. Evidence, including chat logs and witness statements, pointed to a wide-reaching extortion scheme.

Their arrest made global headlines. The “Sextortion Sisters,” as they were dubbed, faced charges of blackmail, cyberstalking, and conspiracy. They were detained in a Lagos jail under grim conditions, later describing their ordeal as terrifying.

Eventually, a deal was struck: the sisters were ordered to shut down their blog, issue a public apology, pay compensation, and leave Nigeria. A video surfaced online showing them apologizing and admitting their role in the extortion attempt. Soon after, they secured emergency travel documents from the Canadian government and fled back home.

Once in Toronto, the sisters began to change the narrative. They claimed their apology had been coerced and that they were victims of intimidation. They gave interviews, pursued lawsuits, and attempted to rebrand themselves as survivors rather than perpetrators.

While their lawsuits gained little traction, they successfully repositioned their story in Western media as one of female empowerment. They faded somewhat from the spotlight, though their occasional posts still hinted at a taste for luxury.

Nearly a decade later, the scandal resurfaced in 2025, just as Otedola’s family commanded global attention with Temi’s star-studded wedding to Mr. Eazi. The ceremony spanned destinations like Iceland and Dubai, with Otedola gifting houses and spending millions in the process.

His wedding speech, where he advised Temi to “succumb to the whims and caprices of your husband” as “he’s your boss,” went viral, fueling heated debates on patriarchy and marriage roles.

The renewed mention of the Matharoo case was a sharp reminder to critics: Otedola does not take reputational threats lightly. While no fresh scandal has emerged against him or his family in 2025, whispers and rumors around the wedding festivities stirred online speculation.