Some words remain long after the moment in which they were spoken. And sometimes, the passage of time does little to quiet the questions they leave behind.
For some public figures, the challenge is not only moving on from a difficult chapter but also facing the memories and reactions that continue to follow them. In the public eye, even an attempt to make peace can reopen conversations many would rather leave in the past.
Blessing CEO Breaks Down In Tearful Apology, Speaks About Late Son Bryan
On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Nigerian relationship influencer Blessing CEO shared an emotional video on Instagram in which she apologised for her past words and actions. The video was recorded inside a car. Blessing explained that she had left the house because she did not want her mother to see her in that condition. She described herself as confused, numb and exhausted, saying that everything around her felt dark.
In the video, she admitted that she had spoken about painful experiences she had never personally gone through. She said:
“I’m sorry for speaking about the pain I know nothing about. I’m sorry for speaking about the pain I’ve never felt. I’m sorry for speaking about it carelessly.”
She also acknowledged that an apology alone might not be enough to repair the hurt caused by her words. She said:
“Talk is cheap. Talk is cheap. Action speaks louder than voice.”
Blessing went on to say that she could now understand the kind of pain she had once made light of. “Now I can feel every bit of your pain that I once mocked,” she said, adding that she was sorry to both those who continued to support her and those who had turned away because of her actions. She continued:
“To those who used to love me, despite everything, I’m sorry. To those who no longer love me because of my actions, I’m sorry.”
The influencer described herself as broken and said she was struggling to find her way again. She also asked people to pray for her, explaining that she was tired of praying alone.
A deeply personal part of the video was dedicated to her late son, Bryan, whom she affectionately called “Doom Doom”.
Bryan reportedly died on June 8, 2026, at a hospital while Blessing was in custody at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos over separate fraud allegations. He was nine years old. Blessing was released on bail in late October, and she has since spoken publicly about the pain of losing him while she was unable to be by his side.
In the November 3 video, she told her son how much she missed him and promised to make amends. She said:
“To my son who passed, whom I call Doom Doom, I miss you. I miss you, Bryan. I miss you so much, and I promise to correct every wrong. I’m ready to correct every wrong to keep making you proud in heaven.”
She also spoke about how his death had affected the rest of the family, mentioning his brother, father, grandmother and best friend, Amara. According to her, she and her mother sometimes hid from each other to cry because the grief was difficult to bear.
Blessing recalled wanting to collect her son’s school bag, uniform, lunch bag and books. The simple mention of his belongings showed how much she continued to miss the everyday parts of having him around. She also apologised for not being there when he died, saying, “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I’m sorry I came late.”
Towards the end of the video, Blessing spoke about wanting to return to the people and relationships she felt she had lost. “I’m not ashamed to be lost. I just want to find my way back,” she said.
She compared herself to the prodigal son in the Bible, describing her return home as a decision to make a U-turn rather than continue in the wrong direction. She concluded:
“I’m back home like the prodigal son in the Bible. Instead of eating crumbs on the table, this is me making a U-turn.”
She ended the appeal by saying she was ready to correct her mistakes and start again.
IVD Seeks Forgiveness After Five Years Of “Endless Battles”
Blessing’s apology was followed by a separate message from her partner, businessman Ikechukwu Ogbonna, popularly known as IVD.
In a post addressed to his family, friends and business partners, IVD also asked for forgiveness from anyone he might have hurt.
He described the past five years as a period of “endless battle” and said he had been trying to make amends for his mistakes. He wrote:
“It’s been five years of endless battle, also trying to retract all my mistakes. I pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness. In any way I have hurt anyone, I pray for forgiveness.”
He added that he was human and not perfect, saying he had prayed for God’s mercy and forgiveness.
IVD ended the message by reflecting on the need for time to think and focus, describing himself as “that man who God showed mercy”.
Like Blessing, he did not mention Bimbo Ogbonna by name in the message. His apology was directed generally at people he felt he had hurt. The timing of the two posts, however, brought renewed attention to the controversy surrounding IVD’s late wife and Blessing’s involvement in the matter.
Revisiting The Controversy Surrounding IVD, Blessing CEO And Bimbo Ogbonna
Bimbo Ogbonna, the former wife of IVD, died in October 2022 following a fire incident at their residence in Lekki, Lagos. She suffered severe burns and later died from her injuries. Her death sparked public outrage and questions about what had happened in the couple’s home.
In the aftermath, members of Bimbo’s family made allegations of domestic violence against IVD. Her sister and other relatives spoke publicly about what they described as a troubled marriage and alleged that Bimbo had experienced abuse before her death. IVD denied the allegations, and the claims became part of the criminal case that followed.
The Lagos State Government subsequently brought charges against IVD, including involuntary manslaughter, in connection with Bimbo’s death. He pleaded not guilty.
However, on December 15, 2025, an Ikeja High Court discharged and acquitted him of all the criminal charges. The court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The charges included involuntary manslaughter, causing death by threats and intimidation, and domestic violence.
The allegations made by Bimbo’s family were part of the public controversy, but IVD was acquitted of the criminal charges brought against him.
Blessing’s involvement in the matter also attracted public attention. She became a vocal defender of IVD, and her relationship with him drew criticism from people who questioned her position in the controversy surrounding his late wife.
In November 2023, Blessing publicly denied being romantically involved with IVD, describing him as a client and friend whom she had supported during a difficult period. She said she had met him while he was dealing with emotional challenges following Bimbo’s death.
However, by January 2025, Blessing was openly discussing their romantic relationship online and in interviews. She explained that their connection had developed from their earlier relationship as client and therapist, and defended her decision to date him. While some netizens refused to believe IVD was not guilty despite the court’s verdict, Blessing defended him.
Also, some netizens previously accused Blessing CEO of making mocking or insensitive statements about May Edochie, the estranged wife of actor Yul Edochie, following the tragic loss of the former couple’s son, Kambilichukwu.
Against this background, Blessing’s November 3 apology was received by some as an opportunity to reflect on the way she had spoken about other people’s pain. But for actresses Sarah Martins and Iheme Nancy, a general apology was not enough to address the hurt they believed had been caused to Bimbo and her family.
Iheme Nancy Mocks Blessing’s Apology And Demands Accountability
One of the strongest reactions came from Nollywood actress Iheme Nancy, who shared a video response captioned “A letter to Blessing CEO”.
Nancy recorded her video inside a car, just as Blessing had done. She began by mimicking the emotional tone of Blessing’s video before criticising the apology. “Karma, karma is so sweet o, it comes so fast,” she said.
Nancy argued that Blessing needed to be more specific about the people she was apologising to, rather than making a general appeal. “Mention their names. You know them. Are you scared?” she asked.
She accused Blessing of insulting IVD’s late wife, Bimbo while she was alive and continuing to speak about her in a disrespectful way after her death. Nancy also claimed that Blessing had “spat on her grave”.
The actress said Blessing should visit Bimbo’s grave and ask for forgiveness from the late woman’s family, specifically mentioning her sister, Mama Jazz.
Nancy also criticised Blessing’s relationship with IVD, accusing her of taking over Bimbo’s husband and behaving insensitively after Bimbo’s death. These were Nancy’s accusations in her response, rather than the court’s ruling.
She also brought up actor Yul’s ex-wife, May Edochie, alleging that Blessing had made comments following the death of May’s first son.
Nancy connected her reaction to her own experience of losing her mother, explaining that she understood how deeply the death of a loved one could affect a family.
She further said she could bring out videos of Blessing’s past comments and warned the influencer not to come for her.
Her central message was that Blessing should not expect a general apology to settle the matter without acknowledging the people she had hurt and the specific actions that caused the offence.
Sarah Martins Tells Blessing To Seek Forgiveness From Bimbo
Actress Sarah Martins also reacted to Blessing’s apology, sharing an open letter in which she said the influencer’s first step should be to visit Bimbo’s grave. Sarah wrote:
“Dear Blessing CEO, your apology should begin with a visit to Bimbo’s grave, where you should sincerely seek her forgiveness.”
She argued that people who were still alive might eventually find it in their hearts to forgive Blessing, but believed that the way she had allegedly mocked Bimbo and later flaunted her husband was deeply insensitive.
Sarah also urged Blessing to seek God’s forgiveness and allow herself to undergo genuine change. She acknowledged that the pain Blessing was currently experiencing might be difficult for outsiders to understand, but said public sympathy could not replace personal healing and accountability.
One of the strongest points in her letter was her description of what genuine remorse should involve. She wrote:
“True remorse is not just about saying sorry, it is about acknowledging the depth of the hurt you caused, taking responsibility and demonstrating genuine transformation.”
Sarah ended by wishing Blessing genuine repentance.
Beyond The Apologies: Can Public Remorse Repair An Old Controversy?
Blessing CEO and IVD’s messages came at a time when both were facing difficult personal chapters. Blessing spoke about the loss of her son and her desire to correct past mistakes, while IVD reflected on five years of personal battles and asked for forgiveness from people he may have hurt.
But the reactions from Sarah Martins and Iheme Nancy showed that the public conversation was not limited to the two apologies.
For the actresses, Bimbo’s memory and the pain her family experienced should remain part of the discussion. They want Blessing to address the controversy directly, rather than leave her apology at a general expression of regret.
Neither Blessing nor IVD specifically named Bimbo in their November 3 messages. That omission is part of why the actresses’ reactions focused on her and her family.
Whether the apologies will lead to a change in how the two are viewed remains to be seen. Public forgiveness cannot be demanded, and personal grief cannot be settled by a social media post.
For now, the reactions have brought Bimbo Ogbonna’s name back into a conversation that has followed her death for years. Beyond the apologies and the online arguments, her life and the loss suffered by her family remain at the centre of the controversy.
