The premiere of Eniola Ajao's highly anticipated movie Owambe Thieves was supposed to be a night of glamour, celebration, and Nollywood excitement — and it delivered all of that. But the moment that has truly taken over social media had nothing to do with the film itself. Comedian Cute Abiola and singer Small Doctor were caught on camera clearly ignoring each other at the event, and the viral clip has since sparked a wave of speculation about what went wrong between two men who were once considered close friends.
The Owambe Thieves Premiere — A Star-Studded Night in Lekki
Held on April 13 2025 at Circle Mall in Lekki, the premiere of Owambe Thieves was everything fans had hoped for. The night drew an impressive lineup of Nigerian entertainment royalty including K1 De Ultimate, Jigan Baba Oja, Skales, Muyiwa Ademola, Kazeem Adeoti, and many other notable figures from across the industry.
The film itself is already generating enormous buzz ahead of its nationwide cinema release on April 18 2025 — and the premiere only added to that excitement. But as is often the case at high-profile Nigerian events, it was the off-screen drama that ended up stealing the headlines.
The Moment Everyone Is Talking About
In a video that has since gone viral across Instagram and X, Cute Abiola and Small Doctor were captured in what can only be described as a deliberately awkward non-interaction. The two stars were in close proximity to each other at the event — close enough that a greeting would have been natural and expected. Instead what followed was a moment of visible tension that left everyone watching with questions.
What Cute Abiola Did
Cute Abiola was seen approaching the area where Small Doctor was seated, moving in to greet K1 De Ultimate who was sitting right next to the singer. Rather than acknowledging Small Doctor in any way, Cute Abiola greeted K1 De Ultimate warmly and then walked straight past Small Doctor without so much as a glance — a move that was impossible to miss and even harder to explain away as accidental.
What Small Doctor Did
Small Doctor, for his part, appeared to be on his phone during the moment — seemingly disengaged from the atmosphere around him. Whether that was a genuine distraction or a deliberate choice to avoid having to acknowledge Cute Abiola first is something only he knows. Either way the body language between the two told a very clear story to everyone watching.
The Kamo State Incident — More Drama on the Night
As if the tension between Cute Abiola and Small Doctor was not enough, the premiere had another dramatic moment involving up and coming act Kamo State. He approached Small Doctor to exchange pleasantries — a perfectly normal thing to do at such an event — but was swiftly and firmly intercepted by one of Small Doctor's bouncers before he could get close enough to greet the singer.
The intervention created a brief but tense moment that drew attention from those nearby. Fortunately Small Doctor himself noticed what was happening and stepped in to calm the situation, signalling to his security to stand down and allowing Kamo State to approach. The situation was diffused before it could escalate — but not before it added another layer of drama to what was already an eventful evening.
How Fans Reacted Online
As the video of the Cute Abiola and Small Doctor encounter spread across social media, reactions poured in from fans who had plenty of opinions about what they saw:
@boypshany questioned humorously whether Small Doctor actually expected Cute Abiola to be the one to greet him first — suggesting that perhaps both men were waiting on the other and neither was willing to make the first move.
@sa.i.nt took a different angle entirely, pointing out the reactions of two girls seated beside K1 De Ultimate whose expressions during the awkward moment were apparently priceless.
@special_tochyy was less amused, criticising Small Doctor for being too absorbed in his phone during the event and seemingly unbothered by the lively and celebratory atmosphere happening all around him.
Other commenters focused on the bouncer incident with Kamo State, with many questioning why security would block someone from simply greeting an artist at a public premiere.
Why Did Cute Abiola and Small Doctor Fall Out?
The burning question on everyone's lips is simple — what happened between these two? Cute Abiola and Small Doctor have historically been associated with the same Lagos street and entertainment circles, making their apparent falling out all the more surprising to fans who had come to see them as friendly faces in each other's worlds.
As of now neither party has made any public statement addressing the tension or explaining what may have caused it. The cause of their apparent rift remains unknown — and the silence from both sides is only fuelling more speculation online.
Whether this is a temporary misunderstanding that will blow over quietly or something deeper and more serious that has permanently damaged their friendship is something only time will reveal. But one thing is already certain — their body language at the Owambe Thieves premiere has told a story that words have so far refused to tell.
Stay Updated
Will Cute Abiola and Small Doctor reconcile or continue to go their separate ways? Follow Mercy Buzz Hub for the latest updates on this story and all the Nigerian celebrity news and Nollywood drama you will not want to miss.
