Somto Bisina
Chinenyenwa ‘Chichi’ Desire Okoebor, a popular contestant from the Big Brother Naija reality show, has filed a lawsuit against Josephina ‘Phyna’ Otabor, alleging defamation of character.
The lawsuit comes in response to statements made by Phyna during the recent BBNaija ‘Level Up’ reunion, which Chichi claims were highly defamatory.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelDuring a tense argument on the show, Phyna accused Chichi of abandoning her ‘husband and children’ in Benin City, insinuating that her actions resulted in the death of one of her children.
Phyna further took to her Snapchat to reiterate these claims and accused Chichi of poisoning her friend in Cyprus before departing.
However, both of these allegations have been strongly refuted by Chichi and her legal team. Her lawyers have outlined their demands, which include a retraction of the statements across all of Phyna’s social media platforms, publication of the retraction in three reputable newspapers, and payment of ₦100,000,000 as compensation for damages caused.
The genesis of these allegations can be traced back to photographs that circulated in January 2023. These pictures showed Chichi with a man and a toddler, leading many to assume that they were her husband and child.
Yet, during the June reunion show, Chichi clarified that she was neither married nor a mother. She explained that the man in the pictures was her father’s youngest brother, not her spouse.
READ ALSO:BBNaija ‘Level Up’ Reunion: Deji , Chichi’s Relationship Unravelled Outside The House
Chichi’s legal team asserts that the defamatory statements made by Phyna have had grave consequences for the reality TV star, resulting in the loss of multiple endorsement deals and partnerships.
The impact on Chichi’s reputation and professional opportunities cannot be underestimated. As of now, Phyna has not publicly responded to the lawsuit. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold and whether the two parties can reach a resolution outside the courtroom.
