When BBNaija Lockdown housemate Kiddwaya boasted that he had a fatter bank account than any of his colleagues on the ongoing reality TV show, he probably wasn’t bluffing.
He is the son of incurable socialite and Tiv billionaire, Terry Waya, who is notable for partying all over the world in elite company. Over the years, Kiddwaya’s father has been spotted at social gatherings with governors, senators, and business moguls.
A fashionista, the older Waya is fittingly known as “Mr. Versace”, painting the town red in flashy clothing and fast cars way before Hushpuppi made his first dollar.
Known for enjoying the good life, Terry Waya once reportedly boasted that he only drank bottled water from Paris, reputed to be the global center for gastronomy and culture.
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A man of many friends, the Benue State-born billionaire once offered £500,000 to bail out a former Governor of oil-rich Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was detained in London at the time over corruption-related charges.
Terry Waya himself has had legal troubles of his own.
In November 2008, he was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged impersonation and extortion.
He allegedly extorted money from some of his former-governor friends who had cases with the EFCC with a promise to help them appease then Chairman of the anti-graft commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri.
Just a little over a year before then, the socialite was allegedly convicted of money laundering by a UK court.
Popular online medium, Sahara Reporters reported that Terry Waya was also fined £145,000 after being found guilty by a jury for money laundering in July 2007.