Former Big Brother Naija housemate Maria Chike has addressed allegations about her private relationship, insisting she did not knowingly date a married man.
In a conversation with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Maria responded to claims that she was involved in breaking up a marriage. She said she was unaware of her partner’s marital status when they began dating.
Maria said, “I wasn’t aware that he was married when we started dating.”
She also rejected claims that she destroyed anyone’s home. “I am going to stand by this, and this is the gospel truth, I didn’t destroy any marriage,” she said. “I have never and would never do that. I am also a woman and I know how it feels when a man is having an affair.”
Speaking further, she said she does not feel obligated to share every detail of her personal life with the public. “I don’t owe people my personal life. I am not a saint and I’m nobody’s role model because I’m for me. Whoever loves me can then decide to follow my steps.”
The controversy began in 2021 when nightlife businessman Cubana Chief Priest accused Maria of having an affair with his sister’s husband, identified in reports as Kelvin Anene.
At the time, Cubana Chief Priest alleged that Maria was involved with the married man and claimed she sent threatening messages to his sister. He wrote, “That I won’t let it slide, Kelvin I find you in Dubai. Nothing must happen to my sister.”
Following the public accusations, reports indicated that the estranged wife, Maryanne Obi, filed for divorce from Kelvin after the matter became public.
Kelvin’s brother, known as Energy Bank, later said that Kelvin had left his marriage in 2018 before meeting Maria and that problems in the marriage existed before their relationship.
Maria is now publicly recognised as being married to Kelvin Anene and they have children together. Several recent reports say she welcomed her first child with him in 2023 and their second child in 2024.
