Veteran Nollywood actor Kalu Ikeagwu has taken his wife to court for allegedly deserting their matrimonial home as well as denying him sxx after welcoming their child.
The hearing of the petition seeking the termination of Kalu Ikeagwu’s six-year marriage to his estranged wife, Ijeoma, commenced yesterday, 30th May 2022.
Ikeagwu informed the court that his spouse moved out of their marital home and wrote him a mail saying she was on her way to her father’s house in Enugu while being questioned by the respondent’s counsel, Mrs S.I. Amedu.
“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.”
Kalu Ikeagwu also demanded custody of his kids while refuting claims that he had kicked them out of his house and failed to care for them.
He added that his wife had denied him sxx and had poured him water while he was sleeping
He told the court:
“After the birth of our son, she has refused to have sxx 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.”
The actor also stated that he had stopped sending money for the kids upkeep because his estranged wife had refused him being dad to his step daughter and this was after the wife had accused him of trying to sleep with the step daughter.
He said:
“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,”
When questioned why he wants the custody of the step daughter whom he had initially looked for revocation of guardianship, the thespian stated he had information that his estranged spouse wanted to move the kids.
“I want custody of the two children. The reason I sought for revocation was because my wife had turned my step-daughter 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 on 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, the sitting judge, had initially ordered the kids to play with their dad in court and the respondent to submit receipts for the kid’s tuition payments.
“According to the Child’s Right Act, you can not 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 case was adjourned by the sitting judge to 23rd June.
