Father of former Big Brother Naija All Stars winner, Ilebaye Odiniya, Emmanuel Odiniya, has broken his silence over the viral family altercation involving his daughter, claiming he was provoked before the confrontation escalated into violence.
In a voice note purportedly released by Odiniya and shared on Facebook on Sunday by Kogi-based journalist Jeremiah Promise Enemona Ocheme, the reality star’s father said the incident was not borne out of hatred for his daughter but frustration over what he described as her changed attitude after winning the BBNaija All Stars edition.
“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 played a major role in supporting Ilebaye during her time on the reality show, including mobilising influential contacts to help secure votes for her eventual victory.
“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 deteriorated after her victory, alleging that the reality TV star became distant and disrespectful.
“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.
He also criticised 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 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 incident, he alleged that Ilebaye attacked him first before the confrontation spiralled out of control.
“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.
The father also accused his daughter 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 alleged.
He further accused her of negatively influencing her younger brother and interfering 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 allegations, Odiniya said he still loved his daughter and hoped for 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 Telegraph had earlier reported that Ilebaye and members of her family, including her father and younger brothers, were hospitalised following the altercation at their Abuja residence.
The incident gained public attention after the reality TV star shared an emotional livestream video in tears, pleading for help and sparking concern among fans on social media.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said all parties involved sustained injuries and were receiving medical attention.
“The man is in the hospital; he is sick. All of them were badly injured and are all in the hospital,” Adeh said.
She also disclosed that the siblings had been placed under police protective custody while investigations into the incident continue.
