Popular comedian Desmond Onaibe, known professionally as Destalker, has revealed that he once attempted to venture into internet fraud, commonly called “Yahoo Yahoo,” before discovering his true calling in comedy.

Speaking on the In-house Gist podcast, Destalker admitted that he couldn’t go through with the fraudulent activities due to his kind nature, explaining that he didn’t have the heart to cheat or deceive others.

He recounted how a friend, who would later become a pastor, used to pay for his night sessions at a cyber café. His conscience, he said, eventually stopped him from pursuing a life of fraud.

“Before I left Enugu, I tried internet fraud with one of my friends who is now a pastor, but I wasn’t successful at it. Then we would book night sessions at the cyber café for N250. I couldn’t afford it then, so my friend always paid for me. He is now a big pastor,” Destalker said.

He added, “However, while he was scouting for victims online to scam, I was busy chatting with my family, friends, and old schoolmates from Ughelli on Facebook. After that, I would fall asleep. There is no need for overspeeding when you are in the wrong lane.”

Reflecting on his journey, Destalker expressed gratitude for not succeeding in internet fraud, crediting his kind heart for keeping him on the right path.

“But today, it is a changed story. Because it [internet fraud] was not my destiny. I can’t defraud a person because I am kind-hearted. Because of all that I went through, I have grown so confident that no one can stop me from achieving my goal,” he said.

He further highlighted his independence in the comedy industry, noting that early doubts from peers did not deter him. “There were some comedians who said without them I would not perform at certain shows, and I told them that I would blow even without performing there. And I did. Some of the shows have gone extinct, and some of the comedians are also no longer relevant,” Destalker reflected.