By Ishaya Ibrahim
Ace singer Teniola Apata, famously known as Teni Makanaki, has posted what appears to be an apology after backlash over a video where she prostrated to a businessman, Ibrahim Egungbohun popularly known as IBD Dende.
Nigerians were angry that Teni prostrated to IBD Dende who has been the subject of a series of expose by FIJ, an online news platform which accused him of links with smuggling.
Early in the year, ace journalist, Fisayo Soyombo published his investigative work on the Customs, alleging that the leadership was responsible for the smuggling of banned items into Nigeria by allegedly using IBD Dende as a front.
In one video published to corroborate the claim, at least six AK47-bearing Customs officers were seen begging IBD Dende who seemed determined to assault an ‘overzealous’ customs officer who intercepted his alleged smuggled consignment.
While Customs has not reacted to the allegation, the police have been clamping down on FIJ.
In March, the police invited the board chairman of FIJ, Bukky Shonibare for questioning.
Last Thursday, one of FIJ reporters, Daniel Ojukwu was reportedly arrested by the police. It is not clear if his arrest is in connection with the report linking Customs with IBD Dende.
Hence, the video of Teni prostrating to IBD Dende during a flight, stirred angry reactions from netizens.
Teni initially deflected the criticism of her obeisance to IBD Dende by advertising her many charitable deeds, including paying the school fees of 20 children in different schools. But the post only served to infuriate netizens the more.
The next post fromTeni appears to be damage control.
She said: “MET IBD IN 2014 AND HE WAS SO GOOD TO ME, EVEN BEFORE I BLEW UP, SO WHEN I SEE HIM, ITS ALWAYS LOVE. I HONESTLY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH HIM. I DO NOT SUPPORT CRIMINALS, SO LET THE LAW TAKE ITS COURSE.”