Emeka Ike is a popular Nollywood actor. A few months ago, his wife (Suzanne Rero Ike) of twelve years filed a petition for a dissolution of marriage (divorce) in a Lagos Island customary court. The court scheduled a hearing date to hear the case. At the scheduled hearing, Suzanne and her attorney were present. Emeka, however, was absent but his attorney was present. His attorney sought a six month continuance of the case because he informed the Court that his client Emeka believed that him and his wife could reconcile their differences.
His wife, however, objected to the continuance. She said Emeka had two years to reconcile but he didn’t. The court granted only a two week hearing and extended the case to August 12, 2015. We are yet to hear of the updated status of the new hearing. However, what is significant is that in her divorce papers filed with the court, Suzanne Ike cited years of emotional abuse and domestic violence as a basis for her divorce. Emeka has now issued a statement regarding the divorce and the accusation of domestic violence which you can read at the end of this post.
A few thoughts I have about Emeka’s statement:
- At times I wonder what our Nigerian celebrities are thinking when they issue press statements/statements to the public. Maybe they are not thinking at all.
- In his statement, Emeka Ike blames his wife’s Pastor and the lawyer he says his wife’s Pastor helped her hire to divorce him. I have never heard of a pastor interfering to that extent in a married couple’s marital problems. Further, especially in a country like Nigeria, even when a woman is a victim of domestic violence, it is not unusual for pastors to encourage her to stay and work things out i.e. just pray. So, when your own wife’s pastor has to hire a lawyer for your wife so she can divorce you, then you know it is really a bad situation. It is my understanding that Emeka Ike, even among peers, is known for having an anger management issue. There may or may not be truth to this alleged reputation. What I do know is that he has played roles in Nollywood films where he is seen battering women. Does Nollywood translate to real life? You hope not but his wife clearly says it is.
- His statement “I’ve never beaten this woman in my life” sounds off. Why is she referred to as “this woman”? Use her name or call her your wife.
- I think it is interesting that when a woman says I no longer want you, a man like Emeka Ike calls her confused. Why can’t an adult woman make a decision that she no longer wants to be married to you, just like she made a decision to marry you? Why is that swept under the category of “confused.”
- Emeka Ike has done everything but accept fault for any part he may have played in the break down of his marriage. He has blamed his wife, her pastor, his wife’s lawyer and asked the public to judge all of them. However, he is yet to even admit his role in getting to where they are. It takes two to tango, not so? He is more worried about his name being messed up and ego than a true repentance. I think his wife may be hearing the same thing and it is no wonder she is no longer interested in reconciling with him.
- True repentance is not blaming everyone for your marriage breakup. It is looking within, especially as a leader in your home, and seeing what you did to create or be part of the mess, and then making a commitment through your actions to change. Change is tough and painfully slow especially when you are set in your ways as most of us are. However, if you are committed, you can do it. I wish him best of luck. We will wait to see what happens with the divorce case.
Read his statement:
‘The lawyer Chris Okotie hired for my wife is also frustrating every attempt I make to resolve the matter peacefully’
“I want people to look into this issue critically. I’ve never beaten this woman in my life. When she ran out of home, I called my pastor and they took us for counselling. For one week, I was begging her every day; I would go home alone and she would go home alone as well.
“At a point, pastor asked us to write five things we like and dislike about each other. The pastor said that maybe we could work it out. I wrote mine, she wrote hers and she never said there that I used to beat her. I still have that document with me. She gave me what she wrote and I gave her what I wrote. If I used to beat her, she could not have left it out from that then. Any man that beats a woman is a coward. I know that someone somewhere must have done something to her. How can I beat a woman I adore so much? I love my family and this is very unfortunate. Her children have been begging her to come home, and she has refused.
“I am pretty sure my wife is acting confused; she is acting as if she is under a spell, which is psychological and then she is acting under blackmail.
“There was a time I accused her of bringing men to my house. I mean, which woman will wake her husband up in the middle of the night and said to him, share your property I want to get my share now from what you have? Tell me, which woman will do that if not acting under a spell?
“There was a time I travelled and she closed down my school and sent all the students away. So, there is a lot to it, other than the allegation of battery against me and I want the whole world to know. My name is precious to me and I don’t want anything to drag it in the mud.
“Pastor Chris Okotie just absolved my wife into his church without making any effort to get in touch with me. If as a pastor, your church member is having issue with her husband, and you failed to do anything to resolve it, what kind of pastor are you? When I called him, he refused to pick my call. He also failed to react to a text message I sent to him. Is that a man of God? Even, if you have a police case, they will make effort to hear from you before taking a position, not to talk of the church.
“When we went to court, I told my wife that I’m interested in amicable settlement of the matter, and that I still want her back. But she refused. Even, if you don’t want me, what of your children, I asked her and she still would not listen to me. I want the whole world to know because there is a lot of misinformation out there. The lawyer which Okotie hired for my wife is also frustrating every attempt I make to resolve the matter peacefully.”