by Alexander O. Onukwue

Tonto Dikeh has accused Azuka Ogujiuba of collecting money from her estranged husband, Olakunle Churchill, in order to tell a different story of how their marriage ended.

The super star actress did not hold back in an Instagram post in which she expressed her displeasure at the journalist’s apparent misrepresentation of her side of the story. According to Tonto, Azuka had “lured” her into the interview leveraging on the influence of persons close to her.

The story around Tonto’s separation from her husband has featured for a long time on news media. While celebrities are usually averse to talking to the public about their personal squabble, Tonto has projected the image of one who would not let the circumstances of her divorce to take her voice away. She assumed something of an advocate for women particularly against domestic violence. This was a particular point in her grievance with Azuka whom she says did not permit her to show the gash on her leg inflicted on her by Churchill, apparently because she had been paid to not represent the whole story.

In a way, Tonto could be the victim of her romance with the media but this episode, if there is any substance in it, also calls into question the duty of journalists in choosing what aspects of a story to share and elaborate on. Rather than telling Churchill’s own side, it would have made more sense to get the Nollywood’s actress’s former husband on video telling his own side directly.

Op-ed Editor