The mother of former BBNaija winner Ilebaye Odiniya, Lami Calista, has reacted to a viral audio recording in which she appeared to disown her daughter, saying the clip was deliberately planned between both of them.
In the audio, Lami was heard saying, “Ilebaye, don’t look for me, because if I die today, you will have contributed to my death. Hold your father that you love so much.”
She also said, “You’re always protecting your father, whom you love so much. I am not your mother. This is the end, even if I die, don’t look for me. I disown you today.”
However, in a separate video that later surfaced online, Lami clarified that the recording was staged as part of an arrangement with her daughter amid ongoing family disputes involving Ilebaye’s father, Emmanuel Odiniya.
“I want to clear something that popped up yesterday about me abandoning her in that video. Yes, I made that video. I have my reasons for making that video,” she said.
“It was a planned work between I and my daughter to put out that video. The father is always saying it is Baye who is taking me out of his house.”
Lami further alleged that Emmanuel forced Ilebaye out of the family house and demanded ₦30 million before accepting her back.
“The father drove her out of the house, too, so that since I left, she should leave the house too. The father told her that before he could accept her back into the house, she had to give him N30 million. I came, and I begged him to allow her in, so that later she would give him the money,” she said.
Appealing to Nigerians not to criticise her daughter, Lami said Ilebaye has been struggling with serious family issues behind the scenes.
“I beg you people Nigerians, you people should not judge her, that girl has been through a lot. I am not coming out here to receive a pity vote from you people. I am here to tell the truth,” she said.
“If you were in her shoes, I don’t think you could take what she is taking. If you see she is not on social media, it is because she is battling with family issues at home.”
She added that the reality star narrowly escaped a dangerous situation after allegedly calling for help during the incident.
“If not that she called for help, she would not have survived it that night. Thank you and God bless you.”
The controversy followed reports that Ilebaye was taken from her Abuja residence to the NNPC hospital after a distress video surfaced online showing her crying and asking for help, with visible swelling on her face.
The Nigeria Police Force later confirmed the arrest of Emmanuel Odiniya over allegations of assault, while investigations continue.
Emmanuel, however, maintained that he acted out of frustration during the family dispute and denied acting out of hatred, blaming the tension on changes in Ilebaye’s behaviour after winning Big Brother Naija.