Emmanuel Odiniya, father of former Big Brother Naija All Stars winner Ilebaye Odiniya, has broken his silence over the viral family altercation involving his daughter, claiming he was provoked before allegedly assaulting her during a confrontation at their Abuja residence.
In a voice note purportedly from Odiniya and shared on Facebook by Kogi-based journalist Jeremiah Promise Enemona Ocheme, the father denied harbouring hatred toward his daughter, insisting that she remains one of his favourite children.
“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.
Odiniya claimed he made significant sacrifices and mobilised support to help Ilebaye emerge 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.
According to him, their relationship allegedly deteriorated after her victory, as he accused the reality TV star of becoming disrespectful and distant.
“After she came out and won, she changed. Ilebaye stopped listening to me. I would book her appointments five to six times in a week and she wouldn’t give me audience. She stopped regarding me as her father,” he alleged.
The father also criticised what he described as her lifestyle choices, particularly alleged cosmetic procedures.
“I warned her against getting cosmetic surgery — face reconstruction with fillers and BBL. She’s too young for that,” he said.
Odiniya further alleged that his daughter had physically assaulted him in the past.
“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 incident, he alleged that the confrontation escalated after Ilebaye physically attacked him first.
“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 alleged.
The father also accused the reality TV star of neglecting him financially despite his health condition.
“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 said.
He additionally alleged that she 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 claimed.
Despite the accusations, Odiniya said he still loves his daughter and desires 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.
The incident gained public attention after Ilebaye shared an emotional livestream video online, crying for help and sparking concern among fans and followers.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed that Ilebaye, her father, and other family members involved in the altercation sustained injuries and were receiving treatment.
“The man is in the hospital; he is sick. All of them were badly injured and are all in the hospital,” Adeh had said.
She also disclosed that the siblings involved were placed under police protective custody while investigations continued.
