The father of former Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) All Stars winner, Ilebaye Odiniya, Emmanuel Odiniya, has explained why he assaulted the reality TV star in a viral video that surfaced on social media.
In a Facebook post on Sunday by Kogi-based journalist, Jeremiah Promise Enemona Ocheme, Ilebaye’s father claimed he was provoked before allegedly assaulting her during a family confrontation.
The father said the incident was not driven by hatred for his daughter but by frustration over what he described as her changed behaviour after winning the reality TV show.
“I want to put the records straight that what led to that incident was not that I don’t love my daughter. She is one of my best children,” he said.
He claimed he made a lot of sacrifices and mobilised support for her emergence as the winner of the BBNaija All Stars edition.
“During her time in the Big Brother Naija house, I contributed a lot. I stood by my daughter and made sure people voted for her massively.
I used my influence and connections, including governors and other people, to support her until she won,” he stated.
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According to him, their relationship allegedly deteriorated after her victory, accusing the reality star of becoming disrespectful and physically aggressive towards him.
“After she came out and won, she changed. Ilebaye stopped listening to me. I would book her appointments five to six times a week, and she wouldn’t give me an audience. She stopped regarding me as her father,” he alleged.
The father further criticised her lifestyle, particularly her alleged cosmetic procedures.
“I warned her against getting cosmetic surgery — face reconstruction with fillers and BBL. She’s too young for that,” he said.
Emmanuel also alleged that his daughter had physically attacked him on previous occasions.
“She has hit me twice, and I didn’t do anything to her. One day she took an AC hanger and hit me with it till blood started gushing out of my body,” he claimed.
Speaking on the latest confrontation, he alleged that the reality TV star assaulted him first before the situation escalated.
“In this recent incident, she insulted me, hit me first with a sea hanger, causing bleeding, pushed me, and then broke an electric lantern on my head,” he said.
He also accused her of neglecting him financially despite his health challenges.
“I am very sick and needed to go for medical treatment in Dubai. I called Ilebaye to help me with some money and promised to refund her. She said she didn’t have money. But I saw her video spraying bundles of naira at a colleague’s wedding,” he alleged.
The father further alleged that his daughter negatively influenced her younger brother and interfered in his marriage.
“She has also influenced her younger brother with drugs, and he was expelled from school because of it. She once advised me to divorce her mother,” he added.
Despite the accusations, Emmanuel maintained that he still loved his daughter and wanted reconciliation.
“I still love my daughter deeply. I want her to change and do better. I ask for prayers from Nigerians. The police have already intervened and settled the matter,” he said.
