The Silverbird Group, organisers of the Mr Nigeria pageant, have announced an investigation into the controversy surrounding Mr Nigeria Supranational, Ugochukwu Nwokolo.
The decision follows recent discussions on The Honest Bunch podcast, where Nwokolo’s character and integrity were questioned. The podcast hosts urged the organisation to scrutinise him further.
During an interview with media personality Lucky Udu, Nwokolo alleged that former Honest Bunch host Nedu Wazobia pressured him into making controversial statements.
He claimed he was also coerced into mentioning social media personality VeryDarkMan to boost the visibility of the episode.
However, the podcast organisers refuted Nwokolo’s claims, describing them as “concerning.” In a statement on Thursday, they insisted he had complete freedom to choose his discussion topics.
“Mr Ugo Nwokolo appeared on our platform for a paid appearance, during which he had the freedom to select a topic of his choice—which he did.
“At no point did we suggest a specific topic to him, nor was he instructed on what to say, either as a team or individually. Furthermore, he was never pressured to discuss any particular issue. He arrived with a notepad outlining his points.”
They further expressed disappointment, questioning Nwokolo’s credibility as a representative of Nigeria on the international stage.
“We are truly shocked that someone who lacks integrity and dignity, and is willing to spread falsehoods for fame, has been crowned by the prestigious Mr World Nigeria.
“It is concerning to think that this individual is now set to represent us on the global stage.”
Following the backlash, Silverbird Group released a statement on Instagram on Friday, announcing a formal investigation into the matter.
“In light of recent discussions surrounding the selection process of Mr Supranational Nigeria and its titleholder, Ugochukwu Nwokolo, we find it necessary to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to transparency, integrity, and excellence in our pageant system,” the statement read.
“While we respect freedom of expression, we encourage responsible journalism and fact-based discourse to ensure that public narratives remain fair and accurate. We stand firmly against any misrepresentation of our organisation, our processes, or our winners.”
The statement further assured the public that a thorough review was underway to establish the facts.
“Our team is gathering evidence and reviewing all available information to fully understand what transpired. Updates on this investigation will be shared accordingly.”
The organisers encouraged the public to focus on the positive impact of the pageant, which they said provides opportunities and global recognition for young men in Nigeria.
The Instagram post accompanying the statement was captioned, “We’re actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the recent discussion of Ugochukwu Nwokolo.”
