Love, lies and blackmail: Inside affluent affairs of scandal and extortion

Former Konga and d.light Africa Chief Executive Officer Nick Imudia appeared to have it all, a thriving career in tech and finance, executive leadership roles with global firms and a lifestyle many would admire from the outside.

Yet on June 25, 2024, the 45-year-old Nigerian technocrat died after jumping from the balcony of his Lekki, Lagos apartment – an incident that shocked colleagues, family, and the wider African tech community.

Now, the focus has shifted to his alleged entanglement with a Kenyan woman identified as Diana Kavetsa, who reportedly served as  his personal assistant and is described in some accounts as a “side chick,” amid claims that she blackmailed and pressurised him before the tragedy.

Imudia began his career in technology and consumer electronics, rising to regional director at TCL/Alcatel and later serving as general manager and managing director for Microsoft Device and Services in West and Central Africa. His profile made him an attractive recruit for Nigeria’s e-commerce sector, and in 2018 he was eventually appointed CEO of Konga, a leading online marketplace often compared to Jumia.

He held the position until 2022, overseeing strategy, partnerships and day to day operations during a period of rapid growth in Nigeria’s digital economy.

After leaving Konga, he transitioned into the renewable energy sector, becoming CEO of d.light Africa, a company focused on residential solar power solutions and off-grid energy products for low-income households.

By 2024, he was widely regarded as a pioneer in integrating technology, finance and inclusive energy access, with a professional network that spanning Silicon Valley, Lagos and Nairobi.

His untimely death not only cut short a promising career but also left a huge hole in Africa’s corporate leadership landscape.  

Terrified of disclosure

Following Imudia’s death, reports have linked the case to an alleged private relationship involving Kavetsa, his personal assistant at d.light.

The two are said to have met at the workplace, where her role brought her into frequent, close contact with the CEO. Over time, their relationship reportedly evolved beyond professional boundaries, despite Imudia’s 20-year marriage.

Investigations suggest that during their alleged affair, Kavetsa became pregnant, an outcome that is said to have intensified tensions, shifting the relationship from a discreet romance into one marked by emotional strain and financial pressure.

According to accounts citing WhatsApp chats and statements from Imudia’s associates, he initially attempted to manage the situation by offering financial support and pleading that the pregnancy and affair remain confidential.

Several sources say he feared exposure to his wife and to the company’s board, aware that such revelations could cost him his marriage, family, position and reputation.

What reportedly began as a request for responsibility is said to have escalated into alleged blackmail, according to media reports.

Kavetsa is accused of issuing repeated threats to disclose the affair to Imudia’s wife and to the d.light board, allegedly warning that she would damage his family life and career.

Some reports also claim she allegedly suggested she could fabricate workplace misconduct allegations, including sexual assault, which could have triggered disciplinary or legal consequences.

The situation is said to have escalated further when Kavetsa reportedly told Imudia that she had recorded private moments between them.

According to WhatsApp messages cited by some Kenyan outlets, she is alleged to have shared clips or screenshots while warning of what could be released if her demands were not met, including financial compensation.

One Kenya-based account of the case indicates that she was allegedly seeking about Sh21 million, an amount considered substantial even for a high-earning executive.

For Imudia, the combined fear of family breakdown, professional disgrace and the alleged existence of digital recordings appears to have created an intense psychological strain.

Further messages and interview excerpts aired by some Kenyan television stations and online platforms indicate that he told Kavetsa the repeated threats were taking a heavy emotional toll, leaving him feeling trapped between his marriage commitments and the pressure from the relationship.

By the time of his death, reports suggest he was allegedly engaging Kavetsa through intermediaries, including lawyers, in discussions around Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and financial settlement.

According to Nigerian and Kenyan media reports, an initial lump-sum agreement of about Sh8.5 million was reportedly reached, but Kavetsa is said to have later demanded more, further heightening tensions.

Under intense pressure and mounting allegations of blackmail, the married executive is said to have felt trapped in a situation described by some sources as a no-win dilemma, ultimately leading to a tragic outcome.

On the night of June 25, 2024, neighbours and police accounts indicate that Imudia was seen on the balcony of his seventh-floor apartment in Lekki before climbing over the railing and falling to the ground below. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses told local media they had not observed any prior signs of disturbance.

Family and close associates later described him as outwardly calm and focused on the future, a contrast that has deepened questions around the circumstances of his death.

Kavetsa later came into public focus after Kenyan media and investigative programmes began publishing her photos, examining her background and referring to her as the “side chick” allegedly linked to the blackmail claims.

As his personal assistant, she occupied a position of trust and proximity, making the alleged use of private material and intimate exchanges more legally and ethically sensitive.

Imudia’s case has since been cited among examples of high-profile individuals whose private relationships spiral into damaging personal and professional consequences.

Extortion controversy

For instance, in 2021, former Cabinet Secretary and Meru Senator Mithika Linturi was at the centre of an extortion-related controversy after a woman accused him of sexual assault, allegations he later countered with claims of attempted blackmail.

Another high-profile case involves former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, who is facing trial in connection with the murder of Sharon Otieno.

The case remains one of Kenya’s most closely watched criminal proceedings. Obado has been charged alongside his former aide and a county official over the killing of the Rongo University student, who was found dead in 2018 while pregnant.

Reports have linked the matter to an alleged extramarital affair involving the governor, which reportedly led to pregnancy and subsequent threats of exposure of the relationship.

The prosecution has argued that Sharon was abducted and murdered to conceal her relationship with Obado and to prevent political and personal fallout.

In another incident, then Kirinyaga Deputy Governor Peter Ndambiri featured in a viral video showing him in a hotel room with a woman alleged not to be his wife.

He later dismissed the claims, alleging an extortion attempt by individuals demanding money. Ndambiri denied the affair allegations and insisted he had been abducted, maintaining that he was the victim of a setup.

Separately, the political rivalry between former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Nairobi Woman Rep Esther Passaris escalated in June 2019, after Sonko alleged that Passaris attempted to extort Sh300 million from him.

Passaris denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated.

She accused Sonko of a pattern of harassment and intimidation and later filed a complaint with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged verbal abuse and gender-based discrimination. Sonko later appeared at the EACC to record a statement but firmly declined to apologise.

In another widely discussed incident, DJ Mo (Samuel Muraya) was at the centre of a cheating scandal in October 2020 after online allegations surfaced, including a video linking him to an alleged extramarital affair with a woman identified as Margaret Wanyama.

The story became a major entertainment talking point in Kenya, with Size 8 addressing the matter publicly and emphasising their decision to handle the issue privately.

In July 2021, former P-Unit member Frasha (Francis Hamisi) also made headlines when an aspiring artist, Phieso, accused him of infidelity and physical assault. She alleged that he assaulted her at a hotel after she declined to engage in unprotected sex.

The allegations spread widely across Kenyan media, with Phieso sharing details on social platforms.

Frasha denied the assault claims and the matter eventually faded from public attention.

Child support

In February 2026, Kasarani MP and SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri was drawn into controversy after a man claiming to be a former partner went public, alleging a secret same-sex relationship.

The man also shared screenshots and videos, claiming he had been threatened by Karauri. The MP strongly denied the allegations, describing them as false and defamatory.

Last year, Karauri also faced separate infidelity claims involving Tanzanian socialite Nana Dollz. Photos circulated online showing her at his matrimonial home, including in his bedroom while his wife, Captain Ruth Karauri, was reportedly away.

Videos also showed Nana Dollz addressing him playfully as “husband,” fuelling speculation of an affair.

Reports further suggested that marital strain stemmed from alleged repeated infidelity and claims of abusive behaviour, though these allegations have not been formally verified.

Nana Dollz responded openly to the controversy, showing little concern about the backlash. Karauri, however, has not issued a detailed public statement specifically addressing those allegations.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr was drawn into controversy over an alleged paternity dispute involving a woman, Victoria Ndunge Musyoki, who claimed he fathered her child. The governor denied the claim, accusing her of extortion and falsehoods.

The matter later escalated into a legal battle, with DNA results eventually showing that Mutula was not the biological father.

In 2018, former Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter also alleged that he was targeted by an extortion ring using his identity and alleged private material linked to an affair. He accused the group of blackmailing him while threatening to expose supposed extramarital relationships.

The case attracted public attention and prompted investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to identify those behind the alleged identity theft and extortion network.

“Extortion and blackmail in any form is a crime,” notes sociologist Kiemo Karatu of the University of Nairobi.

“Before rushing into any hasty decision under intense pressure, it is important to seek support from trusted family members or friends, and where possible, professional help as a first step toward easing the burden,” he adds.

According to Kiemo, fear of public scrutiny, litigation, family rejection and legal consequences can push some individuals into extreme distress when faced with blackmail or extortion.

“By the time someone is suicidal, they are often already experiencing severe depression and may not be thinking clearly. In such moments, others may need to step in and help guide decision-making,” says Josephine Waithiru, a psychological counsellor at the Kenya Institute of Professional Counselling.

In Kenya, extortion and blackmail are treated as criminal offences under the Penal Code.

The law criminalises the use of threats, accusations or coercion to obtain money, property, favours or other benefits from another person.

Section 300 of the Penal Code is commonly cited in extortion-related cases. It provides that a person who, with intent to extort or gain advantage, accuses or threatens to accuse another of committing a felony or misdemeanour commits a felony and may face imprisonment of up to 14 years.