Nigerian striker seeks divorce, demands N1bn damages from UK-based pastor

Nigerian striker, Olarenwaju Kayode, has filed a divorce suit against his wife, Ezinne, demanding N1 billion as damages from a United Kingdom-based pastor, Tobi Adegboyega.

Kayode in a cross-petition urged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja to dissolve his marriage to his estranged wife because it has broken down irretrievably.

The Turkey-based footballer is also seeking custody of the three children from his union with his former agent and wife.

Kayode has also accused Pastor Adegboyega of causing him emotional trauma, financial loss and loss of goodwill through his “adulterous affair” with Ezinne.

The former Manchester City striker has been locked in a marital battle with his wife over allegations of infidelity, among other issues.

Kayode also accused his estranged wife of planning to take over all his landed properties but Ezinne didn’t take the accusations lightly and decided to take legal action against the footballer.

Ezinne in the suit dated March 20, 2024, accused her estranged husband of making baseless allegations of infidelity and witchcraft against her and her mother.

She also said that Kayode damaged her phone in the process and, in one of her videos on Instagram, alleged that the striker threatened her with a knife during one of their fights.

“Upon arriving from Turkey personally and without prior notice to his wife or children, the Respondent rained abuses on the Petitioner and her mother, making baseless accusations of infidelity and witchcraft and trying to force the Petitioner out of her matrimonial home. In the process, the Respondent smashed the Petitioner’s iPhone 15 pro-Max beyond repair.”

However, in a cross-petition marked PET/304/2024 filed on July 1, 2024, with a copy seen by The Punch on Monday, Kayode accused Ezinne of repeatedly committing adultery with Pastor Adegboyega and other men since they got married in 2013.

Also, according to the Super Eagles striker in his cross-petition, Ezinne kidnapped their children, who were later rescued by the Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.

“Whilst the Cross Petitioner was still trying to get his facts right and phantom a means to have all the lingering issues resolved, the Respondent, under the guise of going to church on March 24, 2024, abducted the children of the marriage and absconded to an unknown location in Abuja.

“The Respondent then informed his lawyer to write a petition to the DSS regarding the abduction of the children of the marriage.

“Pursuant to the aforesaid petition, the DSS was able to track the location of the Respondent and got her arrested with the children of the marriage in her hideout somewhere in Brains and Hammers Estate, Abuja. The Respondent was subsequently granted bail.”

Kayode in his cross-petition also accused Ezinne of undermining their joint business ventures in a bid to wreck him.

“The Cross Petitioner in his bid to have a lifetime investment in Nigeria decided sometime in 2019 to incorporate a company and indeed incorporated DE- J-S Concept Ltd. as a vehicle for his investments in Nigeria and also made the Respondent a shareholder and a director,” it read.

“The Cross Petitioner thereafter purchased many properties from one realtor, Ugochukwu Igboanugo of Ziloc Constructions Limited, who was initially introduced to the Cross Petitioner by the Respondent and it was later discovered that the said Ugochukwu Igboanugo was an ex-lover of the Respondent.

“Unknown to the Cross Petitioner, the Respondent has connived with the said Ugochukwu Igboanugo and collected all the property documents and has been solely and personally collecting rent proceeds from the properties, expending same on her amorous relationship with the Co-Respondent to the Cross Petition.”

On his request for the custody of the children, Olarenwaju said, “The Respondent is not bothered with the educational and mental well-being and stability of the children of the marriage as the same is evident in her actions by having romantic and sex-related discussions with the Co-Respondent and other men in the presence of the children. Indeed, her absconding with the children whilst school is in session without regard to academics leaves much to be desired.”

His reliefs read, “An order for a decree of dissolution of the marriage between the Cross-Petitioner and Respondent/Petitioner on the grounds that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

“An order granting custody of the children of the marriage to the Cross-Petitioner with right of access to the Respondent.

“An order against the Co-Respondent for the payment of the sum of N1,000,000,000 to the Cross Petitioner for the emotional trauma, financial loss and loss of goodwill occasioned by the adulterous relationship between the Co-Respondent and the Respondent.” The court thereafter adjourned hearing until September 24, 2024.