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 because 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 of the children in court.
Balogun said, “According to the Child’s Right Act, you can not deny the children the best education even if you’re quarrelling 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 levelled against you.”
The judge adjourned the case until June 23 for the continuation of the hearing.
