Eniola Badmus

By Nehru Odeh

Eniola Badmus, a Nollywood actress, shot to limelight via two spectacular movies, Jenifa and Omo Ghetto. However, there is a controversy going on between her and one Pius Omoyele who is based in the United States.

According to Omoyele, he had asked Badmus to use her platform on instalgram to help dispense the sum of N5, 000 naira to 100 Nigerians each (N500,000 in total) as giveaways  to alleviate the suffering occasioned by the lockdown; which Badmus agreed to do. But Omoyele later alleged the actress later tried asking for an extra N150, 000 for her to be able to dispense the cash gifts.

However, the Nollywood actress has come out to defend herself. In a telephone interview with THENEWS, she said Omoyele is being economical with the truth, adding that she never tried to defraud him.  Badmus insisted that she only asked for a fee to pay for the bank charges that would be incurred by her, since Omoyele had asked her to pay the money via different bank accounts. “If you send money to different banks from your account, does your bank charge you?.” she asked

“How can you come to somebody’s DM that I want you to help me send 5, 000 naira each to 100 people and you think my bank will do it for free? They will charge me,” she averred

“That was exactly what happened. He said I should send N5, 000 to different bank accounts. He said I should do it on my platform.  In the process who is going to be in charge of all these charges, if I may ask?”

Badmus howver said before Omoyele contacted her via Instalgram, she hadn’t met him, and doesn’t know how he looks. “I don’t even know how he looks like. I don’t even know him. He tried to spoil my name, which I have cleared the air,” she maintained.

The Nollywood actress also released a statement to clear the air.

“I woke up to this and I thought it will be nice to give clarity and clear the air on it. This incident has nothing to do with taking advantage of people or discouraging the need to give out especially using my platform.

“This particular person indicated interest to do a 500( hundred0 thousand  Naira giveaway and I felt there will be extra cost for bank charges and stamp duty, which I wasn’t going to bare(sic) the transfer charges  for that, so I asked he bares(sic) it.

“But in scenarios where people engage you as an influencer  to drive giveaways from a business point of view, then business conversations need to happen.

“Meanwhile I posted the giveaway already on my page and he has been enjoying the fame because he insisted I put his handle.

“We all know sending money to 100 people is quite tasking. Is just funny the way people are quick to judge.

“I am and have always been a fan of adding value to lives and my yearly #eniolabadmusfeedstheneedy speaks volumes in this regard. We can’t be discouraged.”

However, critics and her fans are raising questions about her charging the US donor N150,000. In other words, they consider that amount outrageous for sending N5,000 to 1000 people.

Some of the reactions are presented below:

So someone sent Eniola Badmus to share 500k among her fans and Nigerians who are in need at this period and after receiving the 500k , she charged the person 150k ? I have never seen this level of heartlessness in my life 😯pic.twitter.com/2KG6GOXgId

— Award Winning Wife (@bimbo_cash) April 29, 2020

That Eniola Badmus gist is hilarious asf😂😂!! You dey charge 150k to share giveaway wey person sponsor…If not madness, I don’t know what

— IYA ONI WEAVES (@Auntyfeyi) April 29, 2020

This Eniola Badmus gist weak me. She should have just asked the philanthropist to do giveaway for her too abi?

— The talk girl. (@dearolaa) April 29, 2020

Everything is set for Eniola Badmus. Let’s give her a 150k drag. pic.twitter.com/CJLIW8QBFq

— Mr Bob ✌💛⚓ (@bob_ozed) April 29, 2020

When Bukolaremi Ladigbolu put the issue on her Facebook timeline, it generated reactions. See the thread below:

Wale Olayanju

“If you tell the man you will charge him before he transfer the money, one would have understood. Now, you make the man transfer the money, you now said you will charge him. The man now told her not to worry again that she should send back the money. The next thing is to block the man. When she was asked what the 150k was for, she said it was for bank charges and stamp duties. Imagine. There was nowhere she mention that the 150k was for her stress.”

Akintola Sterlyn Rasheed:

“Bukoladeremi Ladigbolu if you are conversant with how giveaways are done on twitter, you won’t  be saying this my sister, the giver should have shared it on his/ her own timeline but he needed an influencer to make him popular, it is never a giveaway done in good faith, it’s a business deal and must be treated as such. 

The Man should have shared the money by himself, why selecting Eniola, why not someone else? It is business and he must pay. 

Now is the guy not popular from the controversy?”

Bukolaremi Ladigbolu

“Taiwo Dimeji-Jojolola , a man abroad needed someone to sort out palliative for him in Naija. He had 500k to spare. After sending 500k Eniola said her fee was 150k.

Now that the story is all over she started talking of bank charges and other silly stuff”

Gbenga Demola-Ojo

“She even blocked the guy when that one said he was no longer interested!”