Why I Dumped Tonto Dikeh – Estranged Associate

MICHAEL AKINOLA

This may not be the best of times for star actress Tonto Dikeh and her estranged associate, Bunmi Fagbuyiro.

Fagbuyiro, an actor, model and former board member of the Tonto Dikeh Foundation, popularly known as Befine, recently cried out on social media that Tonto Dikeh should be held responsible if anything should happen to him or any member of his family.

Following the outburst and different views in the media, P.M.EXPRESS spoke with the actor on the matter.

In the chat with our correspondent, Befine reiterated that he left the star actress because he could not continue to tolerate her.

He explained that they used to work together but that she is not exactly a good woman.

“I tried to tolerate her but it got to a point when I felt I deserved some respect and left the foundation. When I told her I was leaving, she became bitter towards me and called me unprintable names. But I didn’t mind as long as I didn’t steal from her. She is the type of person who doesn’t like to pay salaries; she doesn’t want to be responsible for anything” he said.

According to Befine, he has known Tonto for 10 years but both worked together fully for six years.

“It was hell working with her. Everyone who had worked with her didn’t leave on good terms, but I thought I could coexist with her. I took my time to study her and I observed her temperament. I even tried to help her psychologically,” Befine said.

He added that the controversial actress got him arrested for no reason after she had sent him a message that once she paid him, he should return all the company’s properties with him and he didn’t object to that.

His words; “A week after she sent me the message, she came with some SARS officers to arrest me. They were supposed to beat me but they were gentle with me after I told them what transpired between us. She collected all her things from me and told the SARS officers that she would pay me the next day. Meanwhile, she didn’t pay until four months later.

Befine said he had asked to be removed as a signatory to Tonto’s NGO’s bank account twice but his name was spelt wrongly and the documents were rejected by the bank. “When she called me that my money was ready but I needed to sign a document, I obliged. Unfortunately, the two times I signed, they didn’t spell my name correctly on the documents. This has made them unable to withdraw money from the foundation’s account,” he added.

He explained that since he was arrested, he had not heard from Tonto Dikeh directly but through her management.

“When her manager, Chris Odeh, called me that I needed to sign again, I was furious because I wasn’t in town. She talks to me through her management. Odeh was also the one who showed me the threat message she sent to me. I also have a recording of how they planned to destroy me,” he stated.

Befine noted that he was ready to settle the issue amicably but the actress wasn’t ready to take the blame.

“When I was invited by the police for a meeting, she was there too. After the policeman went through all the signed papers I presented, he asked her to apologise to me. She said she could not say sorry and walked out,” he stated.

When Befine was prodded further as to other reasons he decided to leave Tonto, he simply declared that he will not go into anything about her personal life but will maintain focus on the major reason he left.

The model was also asked about the issue of funds raised by Tonto Dikeh for an ailing boy paid into the NGO’s account and he said that they never had issues about that.

He said that the actress was only mad about his decision to quit which prompted her negative reactions.

He maintained that he does not have anything against her other than the fact that he had decided to face other things and have more time for himself.