Former Big Brother Naija housemate Natacha Akide, popularly known as Tacha, has broken her silence following her recent arrest over an alleged N5 million fraud, insisting that the accusation against her is false.
Tacha was arrested at her residence in Lagos on Sunday, August 30, after reportedly failing to honour invitations from the police concerning the allegation.
The case reportedly stemmed from an accusation made online by a social media user, Olajide, known as @joph007_, who alleged that the reality television star collected N5 million from a woman seeking financial assistance for her husband’s kidney transplant.
Tacha has denied having any dealings with the woman at the centre of the allegation.
She explained that she had never spoken to or interacted with the woman before the accusation surfaced online, describing the allegation as completely untrue. “I have never spoken to the woman in question before,” Tacha said.
“Somebody just came online and accused me of collecting N5 million from a woman who is seeking financial assistance for her sick husband. Meanwhile I have never spoken to the woman before.”
The reality star also shared screenshots of some of the posts made by Olajide, describing the comments directed at her as derogatory.
According to Tacha, some of the online remarks included the use of insulting language against her, including the word “Ashawo” and other statements concerning her character.
She said the situation became more serious after the allegation gained widespread attention online, eventually leading to police involvement.
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The development reportedly followed efforts to address the matter through legal channels, with Tacha stating that her legal team initially approached the issue as a civil matter before it subsequently moved into a criminal investigation.
Tacha maintained that she did not commit the alleged fraud and rejected the claim that she collected N5 million from the woman mentioned in the online posts.
She said she is cooperating with the relevant authorities as the matter is being investigated and expressed confidence that the process would help establish the facts surrounding the allegation.
The former BBNaija star’s comments come days after her arrest generated reactions among fans and social media users.
The controversy has drawn attention because of the serious nature of the allegation and the circumstances surrounding the police involvement.
Tacha, however, has continued to maintain her innocence, stressing that she had no prior communication with the woman who was allegedly seeking financial assistance for her husband’s medical treatment.
She also criticised the manner in which the allegation was brought into the public domain, particularly the personal remarks and insults contained in some of the social media posts.
The case remains subject to investigation, and the allegation against Tacha has not been established as fact.
As the legal process continues, Tacha said she remains focused on clearing her name and allowing the relevant authorities to determine what transpired.
The development has once again highlighted the potential consequences of allegations made on social media, particularly when claims involving public figures attract widespread attention before the facts have been fully established.
For now, Tacha’s position is that the N5 million fraud allegation is false and that she is prepared to cooperate with the authorities while the matter is being addressed through the appropriate legal process.
Vanguard
