Marriage/Relationship Break-ups

YEAR IN REVIEW: Scandals, break-ups, deaths, blackmails and several other entertainment/society stories that characterised 2022. The year has been an eventful one in the entertainment and society scene and with just a few days before it comes to an end, Ivory Ukonu looks back at some of the events that shaped 2022.

Burna Boy/Stefflon Don

The much-celebrated relationship between Grammy award-winning artist, Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy, and his British rapper girlfriend, Stefflon Don that got people green with envy, unfortunately, collapsed like a pack of badly arranged cards. Rather than the former couple to peacefully go their separate ways, they resorted to shading each other the best possible way they could. While Burna Boy made a whole single about dumping Stefflon, she on her part tagged him a mummy’s boy who can’t function without his mother.

Funke Akindele/Abdulrasheed Bello

Although both Funke Akindele and her estranged director and producer husband, Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz tried to hide the fact that their almost six-year-old marriage had crashed irretrievably, it took Benito, JJC Skillz’s son with one of his baby mamas, revealing the end of their marriage on social media. He also alleged that his stepmother was cheating on his father while his father looked the other way. JJC Skillz was forced to officially announce his separation from his wife and mother of his twin children. The actress cum producer didn’t waste time to yank off her husband’s name from all her social media handles.

Nkechi Blessing/Opeyemi Falegan

Theirs was perhaps the messiest relationship breakup in the history of Nollywood. After months of flaunting upcoming politician, Opeyemi Falegan as her husband, actress Nkechi Blessing made a U-turn and denied they were ever married. She called him unprintable names while also revealing that she dumped him because of his inability to make something of his life. Falegan also made sure to shame and disgrace the actress, calling her out for exactly who she was to him.

Abbey Elias/Shola Dorcas Fapson

While their relationship lasted, singer Abbey Elias aka Skiibii and femcee, Shola Dorcas Fapson aka Ms Dsf flaunted it to the envy of others. But from the moment they broke up, Ms Dsf ensured that everyone knows that she was the one financing their relationship. When Skiibii recently bought a new Maybach, Dsf wasted no time in shading him on social media, calling him a broke dude living a fake life.

Paul And Anita Okoye

The crash of the marriage between Paul Okoye, one half of the singing twins, PSquare and his wife of eight years, Anita, shocked quite a number of their fans who looked up to them. While the marriage crashed quietly in 2021 after Anita relocated to the US on the pretext of returning to school, it wasn’t until this year that it made headlines. Anita filed for divorce citing cheating, separation, being an absentee parent, fraud, and difficult experiences as her reasons. She, therefore, requested a settlement of $20,000 monthly as well as a number of her husband’s posh mansions. The union which produced three children was eventually dissolved by an Abuja High Court.

Roseline Afijie/Emmanuel Umoh

The relationship between these two ex-Big Brother Naija housemates crashed before it even began. While they were in the big brother house, Roseline Afijie aka Liquorose and Emmanuel Umoh were so smitten with each other that many assumed that before long, they would most likely walk down the aisle. But the wishes of their fans dissipated as soon as they conceived that idea after Liquorose revealed that she caught her man with another lady while they were on a group trip in Dubai.

Gideon Okeke/Chidera Udueze

After four years of being married to his wife Chidera Udueze and producing two kids, actor Gideon Okeke revealed that his marriage had ended. The movie star calmly announced on social media that he and his wife decided to go their separate ways. He declared that he put out the statement to clear his conscience and for clarity’s sake because his marriage breaking down was a hard hot pill he had to swallow.

Julius And Ibiere Agwu

The 14-year-old marriage between stand-up comedian, Julius Agwu and his wife, Ibiere ended after the latter reportedly walked out of the marriage. Ibiere allegedly packed her bags and left her matrimonial home, having become overwhelmed by Julius’ illness and allegedly cheating on her. Ibiere remained a dutiful wife who was loyal to her husband and fulfilled her marital obligations since the comedian’s travail started in 2015. Ibiere has since reverted to her maiden name, Maclayton. Julius however claims that despite his failed marriage, he is happy. The couple got married in Port Harcourt in 2008. Their union was blessed with two children, Zahra and Zadok before it packed up.

Sina Adeleke

Sina, one of the sons of governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State did not have enough time to digest his father’s gubernatorial victory before he was put on blast by his wife of less than a year, Korth. She accused her estranged husband and one of his sisters of domestic violence adding that the marriage is over because she refuses to tolerate any form of abuse. She revealed that her husband is indebted to her to the tune of N10,000 and refuses to help out with house chores even after she put to bed via caesarean surgery. She also claimed that the Adelekes wealth is a facade.

Precious Iginla/Blessing Joseph

Controversy does run in the Iginla’s family who are majorly clergymen. Barely three years after Prophet Joshua Iginla, the General Overseer of Champions Royal Assembly, Abuja, confessed to infidelity, divorcing his first wife of ten years and eventually marrying another, Blessing Joseph, the wife of his younger brother, Precious Iginla revealed that the cleric allegedly started abusing her barely a week into their marriage. Blessing and Precious who is a senior pastor at the Prophetic Fire Embassy International Church in Rivers State had two children before the marriage broke up. Blessing revealed that trouble started after her husband forced her to sit among the congregation during a service for an undisclosed reason. From that day, according to her, he started physically attacking her at every slight provocation or even attempting to strangle her. During such times, she claimed to either run out or he pushed her out of the house. Precious however denied her claims.

Kayode And Omotayo Oladotun

Although Omotayo, the wife of on-air-personality Kayode Oladotun popularly known as Do2dtun, filed for divorce over alleged forced abortion of their third child, domestic violence and emotional abuse in late 2021 which she claimed adversely affected her health and general wellbeing, it wasn’t until later this year that the information came to light. Omotayo, a younger sister to singer, Dapo Oyebanjo aka DBanj married Do2dtun in 2013 and both have two children together.

The court granted divided custody of the children which Omotayo did not oppose, pending the final determination of the suit in court. But on December 14, 2022, Do2dtun stormed Omotayo’s Abuja residence with some policemen and forcefully broke into her premises, assaulted her gateman and staff. This prompted Omotayo to go into hiding and her lawyer thereafter petitioned the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja for unlawful entry, malicious damage, criminal trespass and unlawful use of policemen by Do2dtun. Not only did Do2dtun deny all allegations, he accused his brother inlaw, Dbanj of scheming with the press and police to tarnish his image.

Tonto Dikeh/Prince Kpokpogri

The relationship breakup of controversial Nollywood actress and activist cum businessman, Prince Kpokpogri was another messy breakup that rocked the entertainment industry in 2022. The drama that characterised the breakup of the relationship which lasted barely a year, spanned all of five months before the buzz around it began to die down. Tonto accused her ex-lover of fraud, blackmail, invasion of privacy, ulterior motive, seizure of assets etc.

Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele/Nabila Fash

Barely six months after they celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary, Nabila went public with news of her separation from her singer husband, Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele. In February 2021, Nabila had hinted at troubles in their marriage through several subliminal Instagram posts. She accused the singer of having intercourse with an unidentified female on their matrimonial bed. But later this year, while announcing her separation, she revealed she is a victim of domestic, verbal and emotional abuse while also dealing with his cheating nature, having fathered several children during their marriage.

Bright, Elsie Okpocha

Stand-up comedian and actor, Bright Okpocha aka Basketmouth personally announced the end of his marriage with his wife Elsie Okpocha after 12 years of marital sojourn. He said it was an unavoidable situation and after much deliberations, himself and his wife both made the difficult decision to end their marriage. The marriage produced three children before it collapsed. The comedian has a child from a previous relationship.

Sex Tape Scandal

Daniel Benson

Singer, Daniel Benson aka BNXN or Buju had his nudes leaked online by a lady, Filma Jones who claimed he got her pregnant and dumped her. The Headies Next rated winner 2022 however dismissed reports that any woman was pregnant for him. According to him, the lady was blackmailing him and only wanted him to send her money and when he refused, she leaked his nudes on social media. He did reveal that the lady has been locked up in jail.

Alhaja Kafilat Rufai

Early in the year, the sex tape of popular radio presenter, Alhaja Kafilat Rufai, popularly known as Alhaja Kaola, went viral online. The lady who presents the Islamic programme, Albayan with Alhaja Kaola, on Fresh FM in Ibadan, Oyo State was seen giving an unidentified man a blow job.

Kafilat attributed the leakage to being the handiwork of her ex-husband, who she said had threatened to release her nude photos and videos on the allegation that she snatched the husband of her sister, Maryam.

According to her, her ex-husband vowed to smear her image and destroy her blossoming career. She however denied snatching any man from her sister. Unfortunately, she got stripped of her prestigious title as ‘Ummu Li Mumininah’ (mother of the faithful) by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland.

Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman

Singer, Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman aka Oxlade got his sex tape uploaded on social media where he was seen having marathon sex with a lady. Nigerians however found humour in the sex tape with many expressing how impressed they were about the singer’s sexual prowess. The afrobeat singer would later apologise to his fans and the unidentified lady.

Ebun Oloyede

Veteran actor, Ebun Oloyede aka Olaiya Igwe took his loyalty for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, a notch too high that insulted the sensibilities of well-meaning Nigerians. The actor sent tongues wagging after he went unclad at the beach to pray for the presidential victory of Tinubu in a recorded video that lasted over one minute. Instagram deleted his account for violating its nudity and obscenity rules. For his unprofessionalism, the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, TAMPAN, summoned him to a disciplinary panel to explain the reason for his action. He is yet to respond to the summon.

…..And death came knocking

Patrick Fakoya

The death of Patrick Fakoya aka Rico Swavey, a former housemate of Big Brother Naija season 3 was a painful loss to bear for both fans of the reality show and his fellow housemates. Rico who was only 29 died from fatal internal injuries from a ghastly motor accident. At some point Nigerian entertainers launched a fundraiser for him after he was placed on life support but that did nothing to prevent him from passing on.

Ada Ameh

 

Following the death of her only daughter a few years before, Nollywood actress Ada Ameh’s life never remained the same. She became troubled, depressed and almost got sued by a company she was supposed to do a job for but couldn’t due to her inability to get herself together. She succumbed to the cold hands of death on July 17, 2022, while visiting a wealthy oil mogul’s family in Delta state.

Sammie Okposo

Just when gospel singer Sammie Okposo was beginning to get his groove back after his infidelity scandal with an American lady, death came calling. That his death shocked quite a number of people would be simply stating the obvious. Sammie was only 51.

Onayiga Shola

Veteran Nollywood actress, popularly known for her role as Ireti in Fuji House of Commotion drama series died on July 18, 2022. She had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Her demise left many people mourning, especially those she had touched with her acting career.

Laolu Mudashiru

The Lagos social establishment was thrown into deep mourning when news of the death of Laolu Mudashiru, a son to a former military administrator of Lagos State became public. Laolu was a victim of a hit-and-run driver. The happy-go-lucky fella who was the Deputy Managing Director of Vetiva Capital Management, an investment and asset management firm, was riding his bicycle one early morning in Ikoyi, Lagos when the incident occurred.

Demola Seriki

Socialite and Lagos politician, Demola Seriki succumbed to death after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He passed on at the age of 65 in faraway Madrid, Spain where he was based as the Nigerian ambassador to the European country. He was also Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization-UNWTO.

He was Minister of State for the Interior, Minister of State for Defense, the Supervising Minister of Mines and Steel Development as well as the Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources from 2007 to 2008 at various times during his political career. His death occurred just when he recently reconciled with his estranged wife, Wosilat Okoya, the only sister to wealthy industrialist, Chief Razaq Okoya.

Laolu Martins

The circumstances that surrounded the death of Laolu Martins, a co-founder of popular fast-food chain, Bukka Hut is still shrouded in mystery. While some reports claim he fell down at the stairs of a mall and hit his head, other reports claimed he committed suicide. This prompted his family to issue a statement soliciting the support and understanding of everyone as they grieve his loss. Martins was an investment banker who worked at the Nigeria International Security Limited, NISL, an independent financial services firm specialising in investments within the Nigerian space, at the time of his death.

Ifeanyi Adeleke

The entire country mourned the death of Ifeanyi Adeleke, the first son of superstar musician, David Adeleke aka Davido who drowned at his Banana Island home swimming pool. Both Davido and Chioma Rowland, Ifeanyi’s mother, weren’t home at the time of the incident as he was left with his minders who were interrogated by the Nigerian police and eventually left off hook after a thorough investigation.

Adebayo Kassim

News of the death of Otunba Adebayo Kassim sent shockwaves across social circles in Lagos This is because of Kassim’s long standing clout within that circle. Kassim, who ventured into politics briefly, was in his 60s when he died. While he was alive, together with his equally famous sisters Shade and Folake, took over the running of their father’s business, the popular fast-food joint, Kas Chicken which had outlets at Allen Avenue, Ikeja and Surulere, Lagos.

Doyin Ojora-Ayinde

The household of Tayo Ayinde, the Chief Of Staff to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was thrown into mourning in the latter part of the year when he lost his wife, Doyin Ojora-Ayinde to the cold hands of death, just days after she returned from London where she had gone to birth her second child with Ayinde. Details of her death remain sketchy till date. Doyin was Ayinde’s second attempt at marriage after his first marriage ended shortly before Sanwo-Olu’s gubernatorial project kicked off. Doyin wh owas from the Oniru royal family was a niece to boardroom guru, Otunba Adekunle Ojora. She was a popular socialite before her marriage to Ayinde.

Kemi Nelson

Kemi Nelson, a former executive director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund and zonal women leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, passed on throwing the Lagos political circles into deep mourning. Nelson was the only female member of Bola Tinubu’s influential governance advisory council in Lagos, passed on, on Sunday morning. She had reportedly been unwell for a while, treating undisclosed ailments at different hospitals before she finally gave up the ghost. Nelson was appointed to NSITF by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, a position she held until May 2021 when Buhari sacked her alongside other top management of the agency following the recommendations of a Presidential Joint Board and Audit Investigation Panel set up by the President in July 2020 to investigate the infractions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the Financial Regulations (FR) in the NSITF.

Blackmail

Michael Sani Amenesi

Law graduate turned skit maker, Michael Sani Amenesi aka MC Lively was blackmailed by someone whom he was supposedly in a relationship with. Although the incidence happened in late 2021, MC Lively narrated the full details of what transpired early this year. His then girlfriend of six years blackmailed him with tales of pregnancy because of his refusal to accede to her N800,000 demand for payment of her house rent and later money to terminate a false pregnancy. According to him, the lady whom he had known for a few years wanted more than a sexual relationship, which he didn’t want and she decided to blackmail him for that reason.

Yemi Sonde

A few weeks ago, Yemi Sonde, chairman of Yemi Sonde Media Group and owner of the well-known radio station YES FM, cried out to the world that he is being blackmailed over a nude video of him. Sonde said the blackmailer had frequently demanded payments from him ranging from N500,000 to N1,500,000. The broadcaster further claimed the blackmailer also got in touch with a few of his colleagues, asking them to convince him to pay the ransom. Sonde added that the blackmailer threatened to post the tapes on social media in order to humiliate him and his family. The blackmailer said he would delete the video as soon as he pays the ransom. Sonde claims powerful people were behind the blackmails and he has vowed not to give any blackmailer his hard-earned money.

Empress Njamah

Actress, Empress Njamah’s blackmail started off as an engagement announcement after she posted a video of herself on social media with an engagement ring. She would later claim that she made the post under duress as she was being blackmailed by a man who got into her life when she was vulnerable. Empress would later cry out to Nigerians via her business page and calling on the Nigerian police to help in tracking her blackmailer who she claimed has access to her private videos and also made away with her valuables worth millions of naira. But her alleged blackmailer who not only physically assaulted her but went as far as seizing her international passport claims, Empress defrauded him to the tune of $400,000 and had planned to run away to the United States with another man.

Harrison Okiri

Singer, Harrison Okiri aka Harrysong, early this year shared a screenshot of the chat he had with an alleged blackmailer who had threatened to call him out over a sex scandal. In the screenshot, the blackmailer threatened to share the singer’s sex tape to bloggers. His cries came after raising the alarm that he was being framed for a sex scandal story by a prostitute. Harrysong revealed that he had paid the blackmailer several times while appealing to her to temper justice with mercy. Although the incident happened six years ago, long before he got married, he claims he had no idea that the lady recorded him.

…..A few more scandals

Housewife Versus Side Chick

Bunmi Alade-Adekunle, wife of Abuja-based celebrity fashion designer, Seyi Adekunle aka Seyi Vodi took her uncouth nature a bit too far when she not only attacked her husband’s side chick, Moesha, a social media influencer who also doubles as a designer but stripped her naked and made a video of her which went viral on social media.

Bunmi, having found out that her husband was the one bankrolling his mistress’ lavish lifestyle as he bought her a brand-new Mercedez Benz and established a fashion house in her name, reportedly warned Moesha to stay away from her husband.

In the viral video, Bunmi could be seen attacking Moesha and screaming that she had previously warned Moesha to stay away from her husband. Bunmi’s friends also joined in to assault Moesha, who was tying a towel, before stripping her naked. Sey Vodi was said to have fled the scene during the altercation.

While many rebuked Bunmi for violating the rights of Moesha rather than attacking her husband, others however took side with the wife, stressing the popularity of influencers who take to having questionable relationships with married men to fund their expensive lifestyles. As for Seyi, he is back to being a gentle dove, at least for now, until his urges force him out of his hibernation mode.

Arthur Eze’s House of Commotion

Rather than bask in the expansion of his fleet of air carriers with the acquisition of a gulf stream G450 model which set him back by at least $45 million, billionaire businessman, Arthur Eze felt that the next most important thing to do with his time was to evict is nephews, Prince Olisa and Onyeka Eze and his entire family from their house.

The diminutive oil magnate accused his nephews of fraudulently diverting the sum of N1.5 billion (Arthur Eze’s money) for their own personal use. Arthur reportedly ignored the process of appeal pending before the appellate court seeking a stay of execution after he instituted a case in an Abuja High Court in 2020 and went ahead to evict his nephews in September 2022 through an execution order issued by Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on June 30, 2022. He also intimidated them with armed policemen who stormed the residence located at No. 5 Ifeanyi Ararume Street, Mabushi, Abuja in seven hilux vans.

They broke the main gate and threw out all the occupants and their belongings from the duplex. The police turned down all entreaties made by Olisa’s wife, to exercise restraint and not subject her children to trauma with guns. The police in the process shoved her and threatened to throw her in their vehicle for daring to challenge them. Explaining his own side of the story, Olisa accused his uncle of employing illegality despite the fact the matter is still pending before the Court of Appeal.

“This is illegality and it will not stand the test of time. He has been claiming that they stole from him. Who stole from you? How did it happen and where is the record? It is obvious that the sick-looking evil man never wanted anybody from the immediate family to become somebody unless he dies. He questioned how I could have built a house in Abuja for that matter. He vowed that over his dead body should we become somebody,” he had said.

…Trouble in Paradise?

The 25-year-old marriage of Ayodele Oritsejafor, a former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and his wife Helen came under public scrutiny after it was reported that it had crashed due to infidelity and alleged fraud. The was all the more magnified after Nigerians dug up an interview where Helen allegedly accused her husband of making plans to kill her.

Helen eventually debunked any news of her marriage being in trouble calling it the handiwork of the devil. However, Nigerians were not satisfied with her denial and wondered why she has been holed up in the United Kingdom for months and why she wasn’t present during the 50th mega anniversary of her husband’s ordination as a clergy, a programme that some prominent clergies attended.

Instead, she held daily live prayer Facebook sessions tagged ‘Command The Day’. They also wondered why her photograph was not conspicuously displayed on the flier of the church programme as has been the tradition. Oritsejafor who is the founding and senior pastor and the founding senior pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, located in Warri, Delta State, married Helen in 1997, 13 months after the death of his late wife Stella with whom he founded the World of Life Bible Church on November 15, 1987.

Kinsmen Rise up in Arms

In November, a group of women who referred to themselves as Concerned Women of Delta issued a stern warning to Kogi State born politician, Natasha Akpoti, asking her to let go of her husband, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, as he is another woman’s husband whom she allegedly snatched.

The women in a viral video said, that Nigeria as a nation has women of substance everywhere who are capable of representing the interest of women in places of authority, adding that one who has caused pain, mental illness and unthinkable pain to a fellow woman, (by way of snatching) as evidenced by her letter from her solicitors to her husband where she demanded N10 billion as compensation or marry her, was not qualified to represent women in politics.

They disclosed that they have evidence of the torture, fabricated lies and threats issued by Natasha to both Mrs Alero Uduaghan, Chief Uduaghan’s first wife and her father, before she blackmailed Chief Uduaghan into succumbing to marry her. The concerned women urged women and indeed Nigerians not to take anything Natasha says or does seriously, until she proves that she did not instruct a lawyer to write the said letter.

They warned her to retrace her steps from destroying a family foundation built on trust, noting that if their sister and daughter (Alero) cannot fight for herself, they would not fold their hands and watch Natasha poke her finger into the eye of a Delta woman and go scot-free. The group then went on to call on well-meaning women in the country to rise up in defence of Alero Uduaghan and her children, in fasting and prayer until the wrongs are made right.

The group said women representation in politics meant representation by women of virtue, not the likes of Natasha who would go to any length of blackmail to get what did not belong to them, as exposed by the alleged letter from her lawyers.

The Clergyman And His Female ‘Disciples’

The year 2022 was one hell of a year for Pastor Johnson Suleiman, the Shepherd in charge of Omega Fire Ministries. The controversial clergyman who has always been the subject of one sexual scandal or the other got deeper into it in the year.

An online platform had revealed that no fewer than 30 female actresses are alleged to be the cleric’s mistresses. Some of the actresses attempted to exonerate themselves from the accusations including Suleiman himself who maintained that some of the actresses who were romantically linked to him do fellowship regularly at his church.

However, actress Halima Abubakar admitted to having an affair with the cleric in the past because the preacher told her he was divorced with three children. The actress not only accused him of feeding bloggers negative stories about her, she blamed the cleric for her spiritual and physical woes. She accused the cleric of using voodoo on her which has resulted in her being very sick and unable to function properly.

As if that was not enough, Canada-based singer, Stephanie Otobo revisited her matter with the clergy. Stephanie, who some years ago alleged that she had an amorous relationship with Suleman, released his nude photos in a Twitter thread. Sharing screenshots of her video chat with Suleman, she asked him to come forward and debunk her claims.

A photo of the clergyman holding his penis was shared and another showing her breasts while on a video call with him was also shared online. She alleged that the cleric tried everything to stop her from progressing and had almost ended her life.

Clash of The Clergies

It is not often that you see members of the Nigerian gospel community engaging in social media war but that of the trio of Israel Oladele Ogundipe aka Genesis and the Shepherd-in-Charge of Celestial Church of Christ Global Genesis Parish; Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi of Love of Christ Generation Church, Cherubim and Seraphim, Lagos as well as gospel singer, Lanre Teriba aka Atorise makes this list.

Ogundipe slammed Ajayi, who is like a mother to him, for abandoning him while he was in jail for allegedly defrauding a London-based architect who he was in a relationship with and converting her property for personal use in 2021.

He claimed the highly revered cleric removed all his photos from her church’s official social media pages because he was going through a tough phase. Ogundipe recounted how he had served Ajayi meritoriously, even to the extent of abandoning his own ministry. While Ajayi responded by saying she is too busy to lose focus or be distracted in her ministry work, Atorise who had no business in the feud demanded that Ogundipe apologise to Ajayi within 24 hours or incur his wrath. The matter was immediately nipped in the bud after a lawyer cautioned Atorise about his outburst and threats which is a crime and to desist from biting more than he can chew.