Mischief makers are at their worst again. Like predatory locusts
swarming on a bean farm, they have gathered to pierce at the jugular of
Linda Ikeji, the celebrity blogger. No sooner did the Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS) swoop on Linda’s Banana Island home than her
traducers march to town chanting victory songs. Too many of her readers
are ecstatic about her recent ordeal in the hands of the FIRS.
According to a source in the FIRS, the celebrity blogger had been
evading tax payment, which has amounted to the whooping sum of N75
Million. However, when asked about the purchase of the house, it was
disclosed that Linda blatantly denied ownership of the N500 Million
luxurious mansion which she allegedly purchased in 2015.
Linda’s denial of ownership of the edifice resonated as sweet melody
to her detractors, many of whom she had consciously or unconsciously
angered by persistent news of her professional and financial success.
Foes of Linda are hauling invectives at her like lances claiming she is a
big fraud who gloried in misleading the public about the ownership of
the building and her actual financial status. Many of them are of the
opinion that Linda should have simply come clean and make everyone
understand that she is just a tenant in the building.
Linda’s critics are not ready to soft-pedal on her; they are
vigorously attacking Linda every minute and condemning her for the way
she openly bragged about the purchase of the building in 2015.
They keep referencing the fact that Linda took to her blog to post
the exterior and interior pictures of the luxury apartment calling
herself a ‘self-made woman’ and bragging afterwards: “I bought a
two-storey luxury house in the exclusive Banana Island area of Ikoyi…and
to be honest, I still can’t believe it. It’s everything I prayed my
house would be. That’s me standing in front of my house.
#ProudSelfMadeWoman.”
But while Linda’s detractors take her to the cleaners over her
perceived fraudulence, close friends and associates of the celebrity
blogger have risen to her defence. According to them, Linda’s detractors
should let her be.
“Instead of attacking a career girl who worked her ass off to attain
the greatest height in her chosen career, they should learn to
appreciate her fortitude and grace. And if they can’t, let them go and
bite a bullet,” said a very close friend of Linda. Indeed, Linda worked
very hard to put herself and Nigeria on the world map; rabble rousers
should go easy on her.
As you read, the FIRS has slammed Linda with a N75 million fine and
the agency has initiated measures to prosecute her in a court of law.
These are certainly not the best of times for Linda Ikeji but like they
always say, behind every dark pall shines a silver lining.