A Romanian court sentenced American hip-hop artist Wiz Khalifa to nine months in prison for a drug-related offense relating to a stage performance in Romania last year.
Prosecutors overruled a previous ruling that had simply imposed a monetary penalty, leading to the conviction being handed down in absentia.
Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was detained in July 2024 for allegedly consuming marijuana while performing live at a music festival in Costineň, a resort town on the Black Sea coast of Romania.
After being detained by the police for a short while before being freed, he publicly apologised and stated that his acts were not meant to be disrespectful of Romanian law or culture.
Initially, the Constanța Tribunal fined the rapper 3,000 lei, roughly $690. Dissatisfied with the outcome, prosecutors from the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism, DIICOT, filed an appeal, arguing that the offence warranted a custodial sentence.
The appellate court agreed, replacing the fine with a nine-month jail term for illegal possession of a high-risk drug for personal use. Reports indicate the decision is final under Romanian law.
ALSO READ: Juma Jux Says He Didn’t Know Priscilla Ojo Was A Celebrity
Wiz Khalifa is currently based in the United States, and it is yet to be determined whether Romanian authorities will seek his extradition.
There has been no confirmation that the sentence will be enforced.
Romania enforces stringent anti-drug legislation, with cannabis prohibited for both recreational and medical purposes.
Tanzanian artist Juma Jux has told the love-at-first-sight story of how he met his Nigerian wife, Priscilla Ojo.
Juma Jux disclosed that he met Priscilla in Rwanda in a recent interview with Yanga FM Lagos, adding that he was unaware of her celebrity status at the time.
Jux claimed that although he first fell in love with Priscilla due to her appearance, he ultimately chose to wed her after learning about her exceptional communication skills and other attributes
He said: “I met Priscilla in Rwanda. I didn’t know she was a celebrity. When I saw her, it was love-at-first-sight. I was like, ‘Wow! This girl is beautiful, I like her.’
“And after we had conversations, I figured out that she is the one I would marry. It was love-at-first-sight to be honest. Even after many meetings, I still didn’t know she was a celebrity until I hosted her in Zanzibar and blogs carried it.”
The singer admitted that marrying Priscilla has positively impacted his career, particularly by increasing his fanbase in Nigeria and West Africa.
