Since the story of the sex video involving former
Miss Anambra, Chidinma Okeke, broke a few weeks ago, several groups and
individuals have come forward with different versions of what transpired
between the embattled 20-year-old beauty queen and the organisers of the
pageant.
The former beauty queen was seen in a shocking
x-rated video with a lesbian partner. Surprisingly, the video was released on
October 11, 2016, a few days before the expiration of her tenure originally
billed for October 28, 2016.Every day across the state since the video hit the
streets, different versions of what led to the scandal are churned out by the
actors, leaving the people confused and unsure of what to believe.
Since the scandal broke, Miss Chidinma Okeke, who
won the Miss Anambra beauty pageant, organised by the Anambra Broadcasting
Service (ABS), has remained incommunicado, choosing to go into hiding over
alleged threats to her life. She has also remained silent, leaving her lawyer
to do most of the talking.
While the father, Sir Jeremiah Okeke, had claimed in
recent reports that his daughter had been handed over to a relation for safety,
some others claimed that the ex-beauty queen had relocated abroad.But after
weeks of keeping quiet, Miss Okeke has finally broken her silence. In an
exclusive interview with The Nation, she debunked claims that she threatened to
commit suicide, adding that there was never a time such thought came to her
mind.
She also said her life might no longer be in danger,
adding that her traducers were no longer threatening her life, and maintaining
that those who were after her life had stopped contacting her.She also said the
faces behind her agonizing period in Anambra would be revealed soon, adding
that with God, all things are possible.
Narrating her own side of the story, she said:
“Early last year, the ABS advertised for the Miss
Anambra beauty pageant. I heard of it and went to make enquiry.“My roommate was
also interested, but one of the organisers told me to apply. I told them I was
not interested but the man insisted that I might win the competition. He also
promised to give me the form for free if I indicated interest, and he did when
I agreed to contest.
“But one Jane told me that before a winner would be
declared, there were certain things to be done, including the (sex) video. I
consented after some persuasion from the organisers. I later went for the
contest at the Marble Arch Hotels in Awka, and I was declared winner with a Kia
Rio vehicle as star prize.
“When I went for my car after the contest, the
organisers brought out a contract form for me to sign, but I told them I wanted
to contact my lawyer to see it. I was not given the opportunity to do so.“What
they kept telling me was that if I insisted on not signing the contract or
wanted to contact my lawyer, they would release the video.
“At that point, I became uncomfortable and signed
the contract to avoid such embarrassment, and the car was released to me from
where it was packed within the premises of ABS.“From that moment, I became a
slave to them. On October 11, 2016, they called me to come and make
presentations inside the office of one the organisers. After that, the man
excused some people in that room and showed me the video again.
“They told me to drop my car and removed my crown
from me. I told them I would take the car as stipulated in the contract. They
insisted I should pack it in the premises of (ABS).
“I told my uncle in Abuja about the situation. My
uncle called them and asked them to release my car to me. Instead, they
forwarded the video to him as part of the blackmail. That was what happened,”
Chidinma said, crying.She also said the scandal had weighed her down. Amidst
sobs, she denied being a lesbian, saying she had never been involved in the act.
For her parents, Sir Jeremiah and his wife, Lady
Nora Okeke, the incident remains a shock. According to Sir Okeke, the
management and organisers of the pageant capitalised on his daughter’s “age and
naivety to deny her whatever monetary gains she made while serving as Miss
Anambra.”
He added: “How can a beauty queen borrow money to
pay her driver, even when she is supposed to be receiving a monthly salary?“I
cannot say all that I heard or saw. Why was she not paid her winning prize of
one million naira fully? Rather, they paid her on installmental basis. And up
until today, the money has not been completely paid.
“They have rubbished her and rubbed the family’s
name in the mud. But we have united as a family, praying seriously for my
daughter and for the people behind this wicked act to be exposed.“My family at
first agreed not to tell me about the whole thing, because I am hypertensive.
But they decided otherwise when things got out of hand. I told them this issue
will not kill me because I have had worse experiences while in business years
back.
“My God, as always, will answer me and expose the
truth in no distant time. I won’t say much because the damage has already been
done.“Chidinma is a small girl who does not know anything, hence, she fell into
a trap that was too heavy for her to shoulder. But I thank God she is
recovering.”
All through the interview, Chidinma’s mother, who
was advised by the husband to remain silent, continued to hiss, and motioning
her hands towards the heavens in supplication to God.Two of the chiefs in
Ogboji community in Orumba South Local Government Area, where Chidinma hails
from, Chief Obi Okoli (Idejimba) and Chief Julius Nwankwo (Nwabulu-Omee), told
The Nation that the incident had left them in shock.Okoli, who described
Chidinma as a nice and well-trained girl from a Christian home, saw the entire
thing as a set up, but argued that such issues would only happen if somebody
presents oneself.
According to him, “she is a well brought up girl
from a good family background and Christian home. There could be more to this
than meets the eyes.”Asked if the community was not going to say anything on
the sex scandal involving their daughter, Okoli laughed and said: “There are
ways of handling such issues, and I don’t think the community will be
involved.”
Also speaking, Chief Julius Nwankwo, described the
situation as a pity, adding that today’s children behave as they like.However,
he said that the people of Ogboji community were seeing it as blackmail, adding
that none of them was happy with what happened to their daughter.
He said: “As an Ogboji man, I am pained that such a
thing happened to one of our own, and that is why we want the authorities
concerned to look into the saga appropriately, with a view to arresting those
involved.“When our daughter won the award, we were happy. For anybody or group
of persons to rubbish her and our community is what we will not condone.”
Nwankwo said they heard some people had been
apprehended over the sex scandal, adding that the authorities should look well
in making sure that wrong people were not punished.The Managing Director of
ABS, the organisers, Uche Nworah did not comment on the queen’s allegations
when we contacted him. He instead referred us to the organisation’s earlier
statement.
In the earlier statement, the organisers had
dissociated themselves from the scandal. Part of the statement read: “The
attention of the management of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, organisers of
the Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant, has been drawn to a video with lurid contents
purportedly showing former Miss Anambra, Miss Chidinma Okeke (Miss Anambra
2015).
“The said Miss Chidinma Okeke, who is allegedly
linked to the lurid content in circulation, has served out her term as Miss
Anambra 2015 and handed over the crown in line with the terms and conditions of
The Miss Anambra pageant.
“We condemn in clear terms any amoral
behaviour/conduct as suggested by the alleged lurid content in circulation and
do not condone such.“It is on record that The Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant has
been a platform to empower Anambra women and celebrate our rich culture and
heritage. Winners of the pageant are bound to contracts to be of good conduct
and moral behaviour and to uphold/maintain the honour in their position as
queen.
“Winners of the pageant also contract to refrain
from any personal relationship that could appear to hinder their ability to
perform the duties of their office as queen and role model, and we do not
expect any less.
“We, therefore, wish to dissociate The Miss Anambra
pageant from any discussions on the said allegations.“We feel sufficiently
perturbed by the mere reference already made to the pageant and hereby state
that we are in no way connected to the controversy.“We apologise to the
government and good people of Anambra State, our sponsors, supporters, friends
and all those associated with the Miss Anambra project for the embarrassment
the mere reference to the pageant in the controversy may have caused whilst
reassuring of the good intentions of the Miss Anambra pageant franchise.”
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