Nigerian socialite and influencer Sandra Benede has joined the growing controversy surrounding singers Zinoleesky and Lil Frosh, coming to Zinoleesky's defence after he faced accusations of betrayal over a leaked phone conversation involving his former associate.
Sandra questioned why Nigerians were describing Zinoleesky as a snitch, arguing that the singer had demonstrated loyalty to his former record label boss, Naira Marley, during a period when the Marlian Records camp faced intense public criticism following the death of Mohbad.
In a strongly worded reaction, she suggested that Zinoleesky had put his own career and reputation on the line by standing by someone she described as his helper. She also warned Lil Frosh that the person he was trying to defend might not offer him the same loyalty in return.
“How can you people call Zino a snitch? Zino took a bullet for Naira Marley, how dare you call him a snitch?” Sandra asked, using the expression to describe what she sees as a significant personal and professional sacrifice.
Her comments come amid renewed tension following the circulation of an alleged September 2023 phone conversation between Lil Frosh and Zinoleesky. The recording was released by social media activist VeryDarkMan on November 9, 2026.
According to VeryDarkMan, the conversation captured Lil Frosh telling Zinoleesky that Davido had contacted him and encouraged him to persuade Zinoleesky to leave Marlian Records. The recording subsequently became a subject of debate, with some social media users accusing Zinoleesky of secretly recording a private conversation and sharing it.
Lil Frosh disputed the account surrounding Davido's alleged involvement, while Israel DMW also denied that Davido had attempted to recruit Zinoleesky. The authenticity and full circumstances surrounding the recording have not been independently established.
Sandra's defence goes beyond the leaked audio. In an earlier post, she accused Lil Frosh of turning against someone who had supported him professionally. She claimed Zinoleesky had helped revive his career by giving him verses and supporting his music after the controversy surrounding his past relationship with actress Gift Camille.
She further alleged that Zinoleesky had advised Lil Frosh to remain calm and avoid making public comments while the controversy was unfolding. According to Sandra, Lil Frosh's subsequent actions contributed to the backlash against Zinoleesky.
In another post, she argued that the recording had existed since the period following Mohbad's death, claiming Lil Frosh had continued visiting Zinoleesky, eating with him and making music with him before the audio became public. These are Sandra's claims and have not been independently verified.
Her argument has introduced another dimension to the debate: whether loyalty should be judged by a person's decision to stand beside a friend during a difficult period, or whether recording and disclosing a private conversation can still be considered a breach of trust.
For Sandra, Zinoleesky's history of standing by Naira Marley should count for something. For critics, however, the question is whether that history excuses the decision to record a private conversation with someone he considered a friend.
The controversy also demonstrates how the word snitch has become central to a wider argument about friendship, loyalty, confidentiality and accountability within Nigeria's entertainment industry.
But can someone be considered loyal to one person while being accused of betraying another? Or does loyalty become selective when personal relationships and professional interests collide?
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