Nigerian singer Teniola Apata, popularly known as Teni, has finally addressed the controversy surrounding her recent gesture of prostrating to greet businessman and socialite, Ibrahim Egungbohun Dende, also known as IBD Dende, on a plane.
Teni faced backlash after sharing a video of the encounter on her social media handle, with many criticizing her for associating with IBD Dende due to allegations of smuggling against him.
In a statement released on Sunday morning, Teni clarified that she was unaware of any criminal activities linked to IBD Dende and that her gesture was a sign of respect and gratitude. She revealed that IBD Dende had shown her kindness in 2014, before she gained fame, and she has held him in high esteem since then.
Teni emphasized that she does not support criminals and believes in letting the law take its course. She wrote, “I met IBD Dende in 2014, and he was so good to me, even before I blew up. So whenever I see him, it’s always love. I honestly had no knowledge of any criminal activities associated with him. I do not support criminals, so let the law take its course.”