Entertainment journalist Murindahabi Iréné, popularly known as M.Iréné, rejected claims by Ouedraogo that he had abducted him and forced him to attend his wedding.
Ouedraogo, who was married to Ishimwe Vestine, an artiste previously managed by Iréné, recently told several YouTube journalists that he had been trying to contact Iréné but had received no response.
He made the allegations as court proceedings involving him and Vestine resumed behind closed doors. While speaking to journalists, Ouedraogo asked them not to record him with microphones or cameras.
Ouedraogo claimed that Iréné had abducted him and that another person forced him into a vehicle before he was taken to Iréné’s wedding against his will. He said he had not been invited to the ceremony.
He also said he had repeatedly sent messages to Iréné but had received no reply.
Iréné responded to the allegations during an appearance on Isibo TV’s The Choice Live, questioning how an abduction could have taken place before taking someone to a public event.
“How could I abduct you and then take you to a public place? How could I abduct you and take you to a wedding where cameras were broadcasting live? Who are you anyway? Secondly, what would I need you there for? Were you the bride?” Iréné said.
He further rejected any suggestion that he had been involved in abducting Ouedraogo.
“They should leave that out of my life because it has nothing to do with me. Who am I to abduct someone in Rwanda? The only thing is that I am not even completely sure whether he is the one who said it,” Iréné said.
Phil Peter, who appeared on the same programme and had attended Iréné’s wedding, said he remembered seeing Ouedraogo at the ceremony and that he appeared not to be in a good state.
Iréné was also asked what Ouedraogo does for a living in Rwanda. He said he did not know, adding that he had previously tried to find out but received different answers.
Iréné married Nishimwe Liliane at a ceremony in Gisozi, Kigali. The wedding was attended by several well-known figures, including Chriss Eazy, Rocky Kimomo, Edouard Bamporiki, Mariya Yohana and Inkindi Aisha.