Ilebaye Odiniya’s father, Emmanuel Godson Odiniya, has opened up on the reported rift between him and his daughter, alleging that the reality TV star refused to assist him financially during a medical situation.
Mr Odiniya made the allegations in an audio recording shared on social media by journalist Jeremiah Promise Enemona Ocheme on Sunday. He is reportedly receiving treatment at a hospital in Abuja.
Speaking in the recording, Odiniya claimed he played a significant role in mobilising support for his daughter during her participation in the Big Brother Naija All Stars competition, which she eventually won.
According to him, he used his political and social connections to encourage people across Kogi State and beyond to vote massively for her.
“I saw a lot of things going wrong with her when it comes to appreciating what people did for her while she was in Big Brother.
I used my influence seriously to make people of Kogi State and all over vote massively for my daughter,” he said.
He further alleged that after the reality show, he expected her to publicly acknowledge those who supported her journey, especially members of the Kogi community, but claimed she failed to do so.
Odiniya also alleged that despite being one of his most loved children, Ilebaye had repeatedly insulted and disrespected him over the years.
He further claimed that disagreements between them sometimes became physical.
The father additionally accused the reality star of once advising him to divorce her mother and alleged that she exposed her younger brother to substance abuse, which he claimed later affected the boy’s behaviour at school.
Speaking on what he described as the latest disagreement between them, Odiniya said he approached his daughter for financial assistance ahead of a planned medical trip to Dubai.
According to him, he requested temporary financial support because expected funds had not arrived, but she allegedly declined.
“The most recent one that I was not happy about was when I was supposed to go for medical check-up in Dubai.
I told my daughter, ‘I’m lacking resources, please borrow me a certain amount of money, the money I’m expecting hasn’t come.’ My daughter told me she doesn’t have money,” he alleged.
He added that shortly before then, he saw her spraying bundles of cash at the wedding of a colleague identified as Cross.
“That is not the problem. I will be happy if my daughter supports her colleagues, but what about your father?” he said.
The development comes after Odiniya was arrested over the alleged assault of his daughter at their residence in Royal Anchor Estate, Wuye, Abuja.
The incident drew widespread attention after a viral video surfaced online showing Ilebaye in tears with visible facial swelling while calling for help during the altercation.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said the police received a distress call in the early hours of Friday regarding the alleged assault.
According to Adeh, officers from the Wuye Division and operatives of the Department of Operations were deployed to the residence after reports that Ilebaye was allegedly being assaulted by her father.
“Ms. Ilebaye Odiniya, who was found with visible bruises, was rescued alongside her brothers and rushed to NNPC Hospital Abuja, where she received medical attention,” the police spokesperson said.
Adeh added that Odiniya remained in police custody while investigations continued.
Meanwhile, the children’s mother, Mrs Lami, who is reportedly estranged from her husband, said the confrontation started when Ilebaye visited the family house to see her younger brothers and discuss plans for her 24th birthday celebration.
According to her, the argument escalated after the father allegedly accused the reality star of being influenced by her mother.
The incident has reignited public attention on the family’s long-standing domestic dispute following the reported collapse of the couple’s 32-year marriage.
Mrs Lami also disclosed that a court had previously granted custody of the two boys, aged 11 and 14, to their father.
Ilebaye is yet to publicly respond to the allegations made by her father.