Dele Momodu, food vendor disagree over alleged N380,000 debt

Dele Momodu urged the food vendor to approach the court if its allegations are true, adding that the company is only trying to “scandalize” his name.

By Kehinde Okeowo

Veteran journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, has refuted allegations that he contracted one Black Diamond Kitchen in 2022 to supply Small Chops and that he is yet to pay for the food.

He made this known while speaking with DAILY POST, saying he does not owe the outfit the sum of N380,000 as being claimed.

It all started when a staff of Black Diamond Kitchen, identified as Ifeoma Obu, in a video accused Momodu of owing the outfit.

She claimed that the Ovation magazine owner contracted the kitchen during the 2022 presidential campaign to provide small chops and other services worth N380,000.

Obu noted that during that period, Momodu was the Director of Strategic Communications of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Committee.

She added that small chops were needed for a political event and it was supplied alongside waiters who served the food at the Abuja event.

Obu said: “Good evening sir, my name is Ifeoma Obu, a staff of Black Diamond Kitchen and in 2022,r Dele Momodu contacted us for the supply of Small Chops for a political event which was delivered.

“Up till date, there is no sign of payment. My boss just contacted me yesterday that I should make this video and I would be glad if the payment is made.”

Waying into on the matter, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, said small businesses are folding up because of debt from people like Momodu.

He further disclosed that he has paid N200,000 from the debt, while giving the  journalist one week to offset the balance.

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When contacted, the owner of the outfit corroborated what Obu said, adding that all efforts to get the former presidential candidate to offset the debt had failed.

He said: “That is very true, a good Samaritan actually made part payment for the service we provided in 2022 for a political event he had at Legacy in the FCT.”

Reacting to the claims, Momodu said he has never met such a person or visited any Black Diamond Kitchen in Abuja.

He urged the food vendor to approach the court if its allegations are true, adding that the company is only trying to “scandalize” his name.

He said: “If Black Diamond Kitchen claims I’m owing them, the company should go to court. They are just trying to scandalize my name.

“The only Black Diamond I know is owned by Eko Hotels, the Chagourys. The person saying that is having mental issues.

“How can I have staff yet be contracting somebody? I have never done that in my life. The only reason I called you is because you are a colleague. Me owing N380,000 is insulting as the Director of Strategic Communications of the Atiku.”