Emmanuel Godson Odiniya, father of Big Brother Naija All Stars winner Ilebaye Odiniya, has spoken about the rift between him and his daughter, alleging that she refused to assist him financially during a medical situation.
Mr Odiniya made the claims 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, Ilebaye’s father claimed he played a major role in mobilising support for the reality star during her participation in the Big Brother Naija All Stars edition, which she eventually won.
According to him, he leveraged his political and social connections to encourage people across Kogi State and beyond to vote massively for her during the competition.
He said: “I saw a lot of things going wrong with her when it comes to the issue of appreciating what they did for you when you were in Big Brother. I used my influence seriously to make people of Kogi State and all over vote massively for my daughter. Even governors of some states and my colleagues donated money which was used in buying the IUC.”
Mr Odiniya alleged that after the reality show, he expected his daughter to publicly acknowledge and appreciate those who supported her journey, especially members of the Kogi community, but claimed she refused to do so.
The father of the reality TV star further alleged that despite being one of his most loved children, Ilebaye had repeatedly disrespected and insulted him over the years. He also claimed there were occasions when disagreements between them became physical.
He additionally alleged that the reality star once advised him to divorce her mother and accused her of exposing her younger brother to substance abuse, which he claimed later contributed to behavioural issues at school.
Speaking on what he described as the latest disagreement between them, Mr Odiniya said he approached his daughter for financial assistance ahead of a planned medical trip to Dubai.
According to him, he had asked her to lend him money temporarily because expected funds had not yet arrived, but she allegedly declined.
He said: “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.
“A week before that, come and see how my daughter was spraying bundles of money at the wedding of one of her colleagues whom they call Cross.”
He added: “That is not the problem. I will be happy if my daughter supports her colleagues, but what about your father? If you help your father, is anything wrong?”
The development followed the arrest of Odiniya over the alleged assault of his daughter at their residence in Royal Anchor Estate, Wuye, Abuja.
The incident attracted widespread attention on Saturday 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 an alleged assault.
She said: “On the 9th of May, 2026, at about 12:00 a.m., the FCT Police Command responded to a distress call from Royal Anchor Estate, Wuye, Abuja, reporting an ongoing physical assault on Ms. Ilebaye Odiniya Emmanuel by her father, Honourable Emmanuel Odiniya.”
According to the police spokesperson, officers from the Wuye Division and operatives of the Department of Operations were immediately deployed to the scene.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered that the gate to the residence was locked. After several attempts, access was gained into the compound at about 2:30 a.m. 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 statement added.
Adeh said Odiniya remained in police custody while investigations continued into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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 discussion later degenerated into an argument after the father allegedly accused the reality TV star of being influenced by her mother.
The incident has also renewed public attention on the family’s long-standing domestic dispute following the collapse of the couple’s 32-year marriage.
Mrs Lami reportedly disclosed that a court had previously granted custody of the two boys, aged 11 and 14, to their father.
Ilebaye is yet to respond to the allegations made by her father.
