Nollywood actor, Kalu
Ikeagwu, has on Monday told Ikeja High Court that his estranged wife
abandoned their matrimonial home and ignored her bedroom duties after the birth
of their son.
The actor, therefore, sought
the dissolution of the marriage in a suit marked LD/8939HD/2021. He is also
seeking full custody of his ten-year-old step-daughter and three-year-old son.
Ikeagwu told the court that
his wife packed out of their home of her own free will, noting that he never
sent her out. He explained further that after leaving their home she sent him
an email that she was on her way to her father’s house in Enugu.
He, however, said contrary to
her claim that he later saw her at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport
with the children after some days.
He said: “I got back home from
a trip on August 4, 2021 to find out that my wife had left our matrimonial home
with the children to an undisclosed location. I tried to contact her when I got
to the house and found it empty. I sent her an email on that same day and she
replied that she had gone to her father’s house in Enugu.
“She told me she was at her
father’s place in Enugu and four days later, I saw her at the airport in Lagos,
heading to God knows where. In the mail she sent, she said she was in Enugu. I
did not send her out of the house. Someone has to tell me why it takes four
days to get to Enugu from Lagos.
“If you say ‘you are on your
way’ it means it is a continuous sentence. It was a stated fact that she was on
her way.”
He explained further that he
was not aware his wife lost a pregnancy due to a Sexually Transmitted Infection
while they were together.
He added: “After the birth of
our son, she has refused to have sex with me. I was not aware she lost the
pregnancy due to an infection as I did not give her any infection. Till date, I
have not seen any report attached to a document that she lost a baby through
STD. Though I did not ask her why she lost the baby.”
He revealed that he stopped
sending money for their upkeep because his wife denied him being the father of
his stepdaughter.
“The last time I sent money to
them was in November 2021. I stopped sending money because my wife denied me
being a father to my step-daughter and she also accused me of wanting to sleep
with her,” the actor said.
When he was asked the reason
for wanting custody of his step-daughter whom he had earlier sought for
revocation of guardianship, he explained that he had information that his wife
was planning on relocating with the children.
He said, “I want custody of
the two children. The reason I sought revocation was that my wife had turned
my stepdaughter against me and at that point, I got a hint that she wanted to
fly the children abroad.
“I have never been married to
any woman before I got married to my wife. I married her after she had her
daughter. I earlier said the issue of revocation was because I felt she wanted
to use me. My Lord, look at the precedence of how I have treated the girl from
the very beginning.
“I am an actor by profession
and I travel to locations within and outside Nigeria in which I can spend five
days to one month. At the moment, it may be difficult but I am thinking about
the future when I remarry and get a stable wife.”
Justice Christopher Balogun
had earlier ordered the children to play with their father in court and ordered
the respondent to present the receipts of the tuition fees for the children in
court.
Balogun said: “According to
the Child’s Right Act, you cannot deny the children the best education even if
you’re quarreling with your wife.
“If I should as a judgment
grant you a divorce, and if your wife is in Enugu and you stay in Lagos, why
should I give the custody of a 10-year-old girl to you while her mother is
alive?
“The Supreme Court ruled that
it is not the wealth of a father that the children of that age need, they need
the care and attention of their biological mother. The only reason the girl
child should not be in the custody of the mother is if the mother is mentally
derailed or the issue of infidelity is involved.
“Assuming the girl starts her
monthly period, you as a father do not know what to do. You will be scared of
the blood. A female girl is delicate. Your own case is worse because an
accusation has been leveled against you.”
The judge adjourned the case
until June 23 for the continuation of hearing.
