BBNaija winner Phyna has spoken for the first time since the burial of her younger sister, Ruth Otabor, who died weeks after being struck by a Dangote truck in Auchi, Edo State. In a livestream, the reality star recounted the events surrounding the accident and accused the Dangote Group of negligence, manipulation and insensitivity.
Phyna said the company moved quickly to secure the release of the truck and driver. “You see that girl, I really wanted her to have the best. If accidents can happen, it could have been anyhow, it could have been any other way, but it is what happened and how it’s been handled. My sister’s accident was August 11. August 13, Dangote Group went to Sabo Police Station, bailed the 19-year-old license-less driver and the truck. That was my only problem, because what are you trying to do?”
She described compensation offers as insulting and inadequate given her sister’s life and potential, and rejected the N20 million figure reportedly on the table. “Five billionaires… house, car, and a personal nurse for life. Then I now said a vagina reconstruction surgery for Ruth — you know there was no vagina anymore. If I calculate wetin my sister don chop from baby class to Auchi Poly where she finished, wetin be 20 million naira? Why would I be asking? Who made that negotiation? When I found out 20 million, I was so pissed.”
Phyna also questioned aspects of Ruth’s medical treatment, suggesting delays and decisions may have been deliberate. “Do you think if we don’t pay, they will let my sister live? With the way this thing is doing, my mind is telling me that something happened. My mind is telling me Dangote Groups and Company told Lagoon to inject my sister, because they know how much they will spend if they fly that girl out. Help me explain that six days.”
Describing the financial strain on her family, Phyna said she faced hefty mortuary fees and felt compelled to demand the company act. “Removing my sister from the mortuary, I had to now pay hundreds of thousands. Before I paid, I was stubborn. I said, ‘Shey Dangote don send money? Make una send money from Dangote, make we comot the girl.’ Dangote now started whining me that day. They sent my mother a chat, they sent my father a letter — my father wey no go school. This is where they take person for a fool.”
Phyna accused the Dangote Group of prioritising public relations over justice and vowed to keep fighting. “We realized Dangote groups are spending heavily on PR. The truth about me is, I’m so small, but you can’t fight me. You get money o, but you will feel it. As long as I have a pure heart, as long as I’ve not done nothing to you, and as long as whatever you do pain me, bro, you will feel am.” She ended the livestream with a warning that she will not be silenced. “Before they burn like 15 of your trailers, you go carry me. You will carry me. Because all of them are blind now, they’re not seeing what’s happening — not until my sister died.”
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