Renowned journalist and publisher of Ovation International Magazine, Dele Momodu, has denied allegations that he owes N380,000 to Black Diamond Kitchen for catering services rendered during the 2022 presidential campaign season.
The allegation was made public by Ifeoma Obu, a staff member of Black Diamond Kitchen, in a viral video. In the video, Obu claimed that Momodu contacted the outfit to supply small chops for a political event in 2022, but failed to make payment.
She said; “My name is Ifeoma Obu, a staff of Black Diamond Kitchen. In 2022, Dele Momodu contacted us for the supply of small chops for a political event, which was delivered. Up till date, there has been no payment. My boss asked me to make this video to appeal for the payment.”
In response, Momodu, who served as the Director of Strategic Communications for the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissed the claims as defamatory and baseless.
He said; “If Black Diamond Kitchen claims I’m owing them, they should go to court,” Momodu said. “They are just trying to scandalize my name. The only Black Diamond I know is the one owned by Eko Hotels. The person making this claim is clearly mentally unstable.”
“How can I have staff and still be contracting somebody? I’ve never done that in my life. Me owing N380,000 is insulting, especially considering my position during the campaign.”
Adding weight to Obu’s claim, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, confirmed the debt.
“In 2022, during the presidential election campaign, Egbon Dele Momodu contracted Black Diamond Kitchen to supply small chops and other services worth N380,000,” Olayinka said. “Because of unpaid debts like this, that small business has now collapsed. Ifeoma Obu, who handled the transaction, has relocated to the village.”
Olayinka added that he personally paid N200,000 of the alleged debt in good faith and urged Momodu to settle the remaining N180,000. “If he doesn’t pay within the week, I’ll pay the balance myself just to clear his name.”
The owner of Black Diamond Kitchen also spoke out, confirming the unpaid bill. “The service was rendered in 2022 for a political event in Abuja,” he said. “We received no payment despite several follow-ups. A good Samaritan recently made a part payment, and I’m very grateful for that.”
