Phyna BBNaija prize money dispute deepens as the reality TV star says organisers have yet to pay her winnings
Nigerian reality television star Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has accused the organisers of Big Brother Naija of failing to pay the full monetary prize promised to her after winning the show in 2022.
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Phyna made the allegation during a livestream, where she expressed frustration over what she described as a prolonged delay in receiving her winnings. She said she has been raising the issue publicly since 2024 without resolution.
The reality TV star said the unpaid prize money has had a damaging impact on both her personal life and professional career, describing the situation as emotionally draining.
She added that fear of public backlash and bullying has made it difficult for her to consistently speak out.
“First of all, them no give me N100 million. When I dey cry online, una talk say I dey lie,” Phyna said during the livestream, speaking partly in pidgin English. “When I dey cry say dem dey owe me, una talk anything?”
Phyna won the seventh season of Big Brother Naija in 2022, emerging as one of the most prominent alumni of the reality show.
Winners of the programme are typically awarded a combination of cash prizes and other rewards, often announced during the grand finale.
Her comments have reignited online debate among fans and former housemates, with many calling on the organisers of the show to address the claim transparently.
As of the time of filing this report, the organisers of Big Brother Naija have not issued any public response to Phyna’s allegations.
Also read: Phyna explains rift with Iyabo Ojo over social media ties
The Phyna BBNaija prize money claim adds to growing scrutiny around post show obligations to reality TV winners, particularly concerning the timing and structure of prize disbursements.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
