In a startling turn of events, Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, the representative for Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency in Benue State, has issued a stern threat to pursue an N10 billion lawsuit against reality show contestant Venita Akpofure and the organizers of Big Brother Naija All-Stars.
The legal action is in response to Venita’s comments within the show that were perceived as defamatory towards the Tiv Nation.
Venita Akpofure, a Big Brother Naija contestant, ignited a firestorm of controversy within the latest season of the reality show when she made a contentious statement alleging that “Tiv men give their wives to visitors for entertainment purposes.”
This remark, viewed by many as derogatory and offensive, quickly caught the attention of the Tiv community in North Central Nigeria, leading to an outpouring of demands for legal repercussions against Venita Akpofure.
Subsequently, Hon. Tarkighir has taken a strong stance on the matter, asserting that Venita and the Big Brother Naija brand must be held accountable for providing her with the platform to make such statements and for failing to disassociate themselves from her comments.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Hon. Dickson Tarkighir declared, “Venita Akpofure – Slam a 10BN defamation suit on her, the Big Brother brand, and its promoters; they provided her with the mega platform to defame an entire tribe and are equally liable for not disowning her.”
It is worth noting that Venita Akpofure has a familial connection to the Tiv Nation through her two daughters, whose father is Terna Tarka, a Tiv man hailing from Benue State.
