‘Wanting marriage with someone you love is not desperation’ -Bella Okagbue speaks on Sheggz breakup

• Bella Okagbue has broken her silence on her breakup with Sheggz, addressing claims about their relationship, marriage plans and the engagement ring.

• The former BBNaija housemate said that wanting to marry out of love is not desperation, as she explained why she chose to walk away from the relationship.

• Bella's statement comes after Sheggz revealed he had bought an engagement ring before their breakup and Phyna alleged that he was abusive towards Bella.

Bella addressed the issue after watching several accounts of the breakup circulate online, saying she had chosen to remain silent because she believed some aspects of their relationship should remain private.

She explained that she genuinely loved Sheggz, defended their relationship because she believed in it at the time and chose to give him another chance because she believed people could change.

However, Bella noted that believing in someone's ability to change does not mean waiting indefinitely for that change.

She also pointed out that the version of a person seen by the public may differ from the person experienced privately.

On the issue of marriage and the engagement ring, Bella made it clear that her desire to marry someone she loved should not be interpreted as desperation.

“On marriage and the ring, let me be clear: wanting marriage with someone you love is not desperation. Knowing when not to marry them is discernment. Sometimes, it takes more courage to walk away than to stay,” she wrote.

Bella also disclosed that she reached a point where promises were no longer enough, as she began to judge the relationship by repeated patterns rather than assurances.

She said several versions of the breakup story circulating online do not reflect her experience, while some parts of what she went through are matters she has chosen to keep private until she decides to share them herself.

The reality star stated that she gave the relationship love, another chance and loyalty, but acknowledged that loyalty cannot survive indefinitely when trust, respect and peace are no longer present.

Bella added that she does not regret trying again but now respects herself enough to recognise when another attempt is no longer the answer.

She said she has chosen herself and is ready to make different decisions regardless of what comes with them.

Her statement comes after fellow BBNaija star, Phyna, weighed in on the former couple's relationship and alleged that Sheggz was abusive towards Bella. Phyna also recounted an experience she claimed to have had when she visited the pair while they were together.

“I remember a fateful day when I slept at Bella’s house, and Sheggz came back around 5am. Bella followed him upstairs, and the next thing I started hearing were noises.

“A few minutes later, Bella came down looking rough. Her packed hair was already scattered, and she was cleaning her eyes. I asked if Sheggz had beaten her, but she said no. However, I heard her shouting, ‘Sheggz, you’ll kill me!’”

Meanwhile, Sheggz had addressed the breakup days earlier and revealed that he had serious plans to marry Bella before their relationship ended.

According to him, he had gone as far as purchasing an engagement ring because he believed they had a future together. He said the relationship ended in January 2026 after attempts to reconcile failed.

Sheggz and Bella met during the 2022 edition of Big Brother Naija, where their relationship became one of the season's major storylines. The pair, popularly known by fans as “Shella”, continued their relationship after leaving the reality show and became one of the most followed BBNaija couples. 

Their relationship had survived previous breakup rumours, but speculation intensified in 2026 after fans noticed changes in their social media activity, including unfollowing each other and removing some pictures. 

Sheggz's disclosure that he had bought an engagement ring came shortly before Bella's statement, adding another layer to the public conversation around their split.