THE turbulent wind of discord blew away celebrity marriages, supposedly made in
heaven, in 2014. While one lasted for as long as 23 years, a couple of the broken and
shattered unions couldn’t tarry for just 12 months!
Here is what happened and what went wrong as chronicled by ENCOMIUM Weekly’s
Associate Editor, UCHE OLEHI.
REV. CHRIS & ANITA OYAKHILOME (1991-2014 = 23 years)
Celebrity preacher and founder of Believers Loveworld a.k.a Christ Embassy, Rev.
Christian Oyakhilome and his delectable wife, Anita (who is also a pastor) are now
estranged.
Rev. Anita Odegwa Oyakhilome has since approached a London court in the United
Kingdom (UK) seeking divorce.
In a suit filed on April 9, 2014, at Divorce Section A, Central Family Court, First
Avenue House, High Holborn, London (through her lawyers, Attwaters Jameson Hill
Solicitors), Rev. Anita wants divorce on grounds of “unreasonable behavior and
irreconcilable differences.”
Her estranged husband (Pastor Chris) would surprisingly admit their once peaceful
home is burning. And that they are in court. The embattled billionaire minister,
however, rubbished allegations of adultery which many believe crashed his marriage of
23 years that produced two daughters, Sharon, 21 and Charlyn, 19.
Oyakhilome had earlier accused his wife of being wrongly influenced by friends. He
also alleged she was no longer listening to her leaders.
Their relationship collapsed to the extent she was no longer attending services at
their London, UK branch where she presides.
An online search for Anita was what revealed that the marital bliss the Christian
couple have been enjoying for years has been eclipsed by rancor and bitterness.
Obviously, the most scandalous divorce saga of 2014, the controversy generated by
the crash of Anita/Oyakhilome marriage did shake the foundation of Christendom,
especially the young members of Christ Embassy who are still divided by the
unfortunate development.
But with the warring couple moving on with their lives, pending the determination of
the ongoing divorce case instituted by Anita, the fact still remains that their
marriage is regrettably dead and buried!
Anita and Pastor Chris
met at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State in the 80s. Their relationship
started at the Believers Loveworld campus fellowship which later transformed to
Christ Embassy with branches across the globe. Pastor Chris and Anita got married in 1991.
UCHE IWUJI & JUWON LAWAL (Nov. 16, 2012 -2014 = 1 year plus)
Alleged marital infidelity finally
forced oil tycoon, Juwon Lawal to kick out his pretty actress wife, Uche Iwuji early
this year. Not minding she already had a baby for him, Juwon issued a press
statement notifying the public he’s done with perhaps, one of Nigeria’s most
controversial actresses. Uche Iwuji had allegedly dated former Super Eagles captain,
Joseph Yobo and yet another footballer before she was introduced to Juwon through a
lady friend.
Considering the weight of the allegation of the last affair that implicated Uche, it is
unlikely that she would be forgiven by her estranged husband who says her case is
“once a friend, always a friend.” Uche Iwuji would have wished a once-a-wife,
always-a-wife case.
UCHE OGBODO & UBBY ATO (2013-2014)
Controversial actress Uche Ogbodo’s short-lived marriage to ex-footballer, Ubby Ato
is good for a movie script.
Barely living with her husband for more than four weeks, she left her matrimonial
home pregnant. She explains why: “I realized I had made the greatest mistake of my
life. The foundation of the union was based on lies and deceit. We had been dating
for almost a year and I thought I knew everything, but nothing prepared me for
what unfolded. Yes, I’m the one walking out of the pack of lies. I’m not going to
pretend because I want to be married. I am not desperate and I would rather
swallow my pride and accept I made a mistake than forge ahead in lies.
“On the verge of trying to salvage the situation, I found out I was expecting a child.
I kept quiet to the rumours making the rounds because I was left with the option of
thinking for my child and trying to salvage a dead situation. But now I have finally
made up my mind to break off the engagement and my reasons are irreconcilable
differences.
“I just want to be left alone to take care of my child. I wasn’t married. I was
engaged to be married but as things stand now the engagement is officially broken
due to irreconcilable differences and since I’m having a baby soon, my doctor has
advised me to rest, as my health and that of my baby are the most important right
now.”
Interestingly, Ubby Ato’s dad, a clergy would fault the actress’ claim, insisting they
paid her bride price. Uche elsewhere had also admitted she was married in a sense
though it wasn’t a traditional or white wedding.
“It was a marriage, but we didn’t do any wedding. We didn’t do any court marriage
or church wedding. We did nothing. We didn’t even do traditional marriage but in
my culture, there are many processes to getting married and I did a few of those.
So, you can say I was married. In Igboland, there are rites you adhere to before you
can say this is my wife and I did a couple of them,” she told a national daily on
September 27, 2014.
It was also alleged that the popular actress walked out of her marriage because her
US-based hubby had terminal ailment. It was equally speculated that her husband’s
family wasn’t sure Ubby was responsible for Uche’s pregnancy. A development that
made them suggest a DNA test after her delivery. But Uche was reportedly said to
have opted out of the union while rejecting any test of her baby’s paternity.
The long and short of the story is that actress Uche Ogbodo has called it quits with
her marriage that couldn’t see the next year.
It would be recalled that Uche Ogbodo met her estranged hubby, Ubby Ato at a
friend’s birthday party months back.
INI EDO & PHILIP EHIAGWINA (2008-2014 = 6 years)
Star actress, Ini Edo took to her Twitter handle @ini4phil on October 5, 2014, to
announce the break-up of her marriage to US-based Philip Ehiagwina.
Unperturbed by rumours of adultery encircling them (the estranged couple), Ini Edo
vehemently denied sleeping around, while in marriage.
“I asked for a divorce from my ex-husband because of irreconcilable differences. I
never cheated on my husband. There’s a conscious and malicious attempt at
tarnishing my image. This whole saga is familiar. Let’s not forget the past. Thank
you and God bless.”
Now as free as air, Ini is really having a swell time even as her foes and friends are
revealing the real reasons her marriage crumbled.
In a widely circulated piece released to the media, a US-based showbiz journalist,
who’s also Ini’s kinsman, Ekerete Udo made a serious effort to clean up the battered
image of the embattled actress. The writer claimed Ini Edo never slept around. We
were also made to believe she did everything to keep her home. Her estranged
hubby, Philip was, however, portrayed as a gold digger who was only after his wife’s
‘wealth.’
Philip was specifically accused of insisting on being a co-owner of Ini Edo’s N70 million
Lekki house. Accoding to the story, Philip had to move out of Ini’s Lekki (Lagos)
home and moved in with another lady for three months. The Texas, US-based
businessman is yet to defend himself.
No matter who is right or wrong, one thing is sure and certain, the six year big
budget wedding of Ini Edo and erstwhile heartthrob, Philip Ehiagwina has finally hit
the rocks after months of speculations that all is not well with their union.
It would be noted that Ini actually spent more time in Nigeria than in her matrimonial
home in Houston, Texas, USA, all through the marriage.
Not having a baby after six years couldn’t also have saved her marriage.
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