Father of former Big Brother Naija All Stars winner, Ilebaye Odiniya, Emmanuel Odiniya, has spoken publicly for the first time following the viral altercation involving his daughter, claiming he was provoked before allegedly reacting during a heated family dispute.
In a voice note reportedly shared on Facebook by Kogi-based journalist, Jeremiah Promise Enemona Ocheme, Emmanuel denied allegations that he acted out of hatred toward his daughter, insisting that frustration over her alleged change in attitude after winning the reality TV show contributed to the confrontation.
“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 stated.
According to him, he played a significant role in supporting Ilebaye during her stay in the Big Brother Naija house, claiming he mobilised influential individuals and resources to secure votes for her eventual victory in the BBNaija All Stars edition.
He alleged that their relationship began to deteriorate after her rise to fame, accusing the reality TV star of becoming 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 claimed.
Emmanuel also criticised what he described as her lifestyle choices, including alleged cosmetic procedures, saying he had advised her against undergoing surgeries such as fillers and BBL.
The father 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,” he alleged.
Speaking on the most recent incident, Emmanuel claimed the confrontation escalated after Ilebaye allegedly 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 said.
He also accused the reality TV personality of refusing to support him financially despite his reported 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.
Emmanuel additionally claimed 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 alleged.
Despite the accusations, Emmanuel maintained that he still loves his daughter and hopes 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 added.
The incident gained widespread attention after Ilebaye shared an emotional livestream video in which she appeared distressed and cried out for help, raising concern among fans on social media.
Earlier reports revealed that Ilebaye and several members of her family, including her father and younger brothers, were hospitalised following the altercation at their Abuja residence.
Confirming the development, spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, disclosed that all parties involved 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 stated.
She also confirmed that the siblings involved were placed under police protective custody while investigations into the incident continued.
