By Eberechi Obinagwam
The year 2022 recorded a large number of celebrity marriages that crashed – some as quickly as five months old, others longer than 19 years.
Here are some of the high profile marriage breakups of 2022.
Paul (P-Square) and Anita
The union between Paul Okoye, known as Rudeboy of P-Square and Anita Okoye, was officially dissolved at a High Court in Abuja in 2022.
Recall that Anita filed a divorce proceeding against her husband last year, citing infidelity as a major cause of action among others.
According to the letter served to the singer by Anita’s lawyer, the mother of three accused her estranged husband to be an alleged affair with their housekeeper, Florence. She also released addresses of hotels and apartments the musician used as his love nest as part of evidence to strengthen her case.
The court dissolved the union and gave joint custody of the children to both parties.
Steve Thompson and Sandra Iheuwa
In January 2022, businessman, Steve Thompson, caused a stir on social media after announcing that he kicked out Sandra Iheuwa from their matrimonial home barely five months into the marriage he spent N45 million to organize.
The wedding of the duo was a social media topic especially because Sandra Iheuwa is the baby mama to music artist manager, Ubi Franklin, plus the huge amount of money involved in planning the event.
Steve Thompson had said: “Sandra married for social media and not for the home. Leaves the whole place dirty, bedroom pillows on the floor most times.
“She did not move out. I moved her before her wahala kills me. This is my second marriage right now. I will focus on business. No man can marry this babe. I wasted N45m marrying someone I don’t even know. Everyday I will not hear word, ‘I’m an American, I’m an American. I know you married me for green card bla bla bla.’ Do you need green card to live in Lekki?”
Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz
Popular actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele, also known as Jenifa, married director Abdulrasheed Bello, also known as JJC Skillz, in May 2016. She is currently running for the position of Deputy Governor of Lagos State in the upcoming general election.
JJC Skillz said their marriage was beyond repair, and he is seeking ways for them to co-parent and manage their joint business.
He wrote: “Dear friends and family I need to let you know that Funke and I have separated. While it lasted we shared a lot of things together and have created 2 beautiful children. The last two years have been extremely difficult for us. I know I have tried my best to fix things but I believe it is beyond repair now. 3 months ago and at Funkes insistence.
“I moved out of the house and apart from AMVCA have not been able to get Funke to sit down in an amicable matter to discuss the future of our relationship. I’m making this announcement so that the public is clear that we both are pursuing separate lives. We still have issues that need to be addressed such as custody and wellbeing of our children which is paramount as well as business interest which need to be disentangled but I have no doubt that these will be resolved one way or the other.”
On her part, Funke said her marriage to JJC Skillz crashed because they both have different orientation of what marriage should be.
Hear her: “Well, the truth is our dreams and vision of what our marriage should be just no longer aligned. And efforts to make it work all fell on deaf ears, so why hang around.”
Gideon Okeke and Udueze
Nollywood actor Gideon Okeke, who wedded his longtime partner Chidera Uduezue in 2018, announced his separation from the union in October 2022, four years into the affair. The union birthed two sons.
In an Instagram post confirming the separation, Okeke said: “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you that I’m separated from my marriage right? It is in the interest of clarity and clear conscience that this becomes imperative.”
Kunle Afod and Desola
Filmmaker, Kunle Afod and his civil servant cum entrepreneur wife, Desola, parted ways in October 2022, after being married for 19 years.
Dasola made a post on Instagram to confirm the separation on October 25, 2022. She said: “The good news you wanna hear. I left Kunle Afod.”
In 2003, the well-known Yoruba actor and his wife, Desola, married in a white ceremony.
Yewande Adekoya and Abiodun Ishola Thomas
Actress Yewande Adeokoya says she ended her eight-year-old marriage to her husband Abiodun Ishola Thomas because he emotionally abused her.
The 39-year-old confirmed the break-up in a now-deleted Instagram post.
“For 14 years, I have been emotionally abused by him, he talks to me anyhow, I used to cry almost every day when we were together, begging him to show me love, begging him to treat me right, to act responsibly, I was our financial backbone all through the years, but I never for once complained, I just wanted him to grow up and act responsibly, honor our marriage. He just wants to keep enjoying life and leave the serious part to me to handle.
“He has different girls, at the beginning of our relationship, I was convinced he was faithful and then imagine my shock when I started seeing things that can drive an emotional woman mad, I almost went mad o, thank God for God, therapy and my family, he broke me to pieces…it hurts cos I was 100% loyal to him, he took my virginity….he was my first,” Yewande said in a chat with Instagram blogger, Gist lover.
Chacha Eke and Austin Faani
Popular movie star Chacha Eke Faani has been on and off her marriage to her movie producer husband, Austin Faani.
In June 2022 for the second time in two years, Chacha announced the end of her nine-year-old marriage to the father of her four kids.
“For the 2nd time in 2 years, I am here again on social media boldly declaring that I am done with my marriage. My long overdue/relentless stance on this is of course no news to Austin Faani, the doctors, and my parents,” she said.
Citing reasons for her decision, the actress stated the need to stay alive rather than leave as a corpse because of alleged domestic violence.
She apologised to the public for misleading them by depicting she had a blissful life while being married.
Korra Obidi and Justin Dean
An American doctor, Justin Dean who married US based Nigerian dancer, Korra Obidi have ended their celebrated six-year-old union.
Many initially believed the divorce tales were a publicity stunt to promote Mrs Obidi’s new books “Korra and the Last Seed of Odinani” and “My Active Pregnancy: A memoir of my trimesters,” but they have turned out to be true after all.
Dean, a Chiropractor (a healthcare professional that cares for a patient’s neuromusculoskeletal system) narrated his plight in the marriage, which he said he has been trying to salvage since 2018 on Instagram.
The couple met in China on a popular dating app, Tinder.
Among other reasons, the 34-year-old doctor said he is leaving the marriage for his mental health.
Julius Agwu and Ibiere
Nigerian comedian Julius Agwu confirmed the crash of his marriage to his wife, Ibiere in December 2022.
The 49-year-old comedian said that his wife has had enough of their marriage and had to leave.
Julius Agwu says despite his failed marriage, he is happy. He said: “My wife said she is not marrying me again; she said she is tired of the marriage. That’s why I thank God I am alive. Satan works in mysterious ways, but God works in miraculous ways.”
Sina Rambo and Korth
The marriage between singer Davido’s cousin, Adesina Adeleke, popularly known as Sina Rambo, and his wife, Korth, crashed in December 2022. Kourth accused her husband of violence.
On her Instagram stories on Monday, December 12, 2022 Korth accused Sina Rambo and his sister of violence, as she shared videos, chats, and pictures to prove her claims.
She added that the marriage was over as she refused to succumb to abuse.
Korth also called out her husband, who is the son of the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for debt, as she asked him to pay back the money he owed her.
The couple had earlier welcomed a baby, Lola in May 2022.
Basketmouth and Elsie Okpocha
Popular Nigerian stand-up comedian and actor, Bright Okpocha, better known as Basketmouth, on Thursday, December 22, announced he has separated from his wife, Elsie Okpocha.
The comic actor, who has been married to his wife of 12 years, took to social media to disclose the news of the break-up, saying the decision was “unavoidable” and “painful” for him and his wife.
Basketmouth wrote: “As much as it pains me to bring my personal life to the public space, this is an unavoidable situation.
He said: “After much deliberations, my wife and I have made the difficult decision to end our marriage. As we move forward separately, we will continue to work together to give our beautiful children all the care, love, guidance and support they need.
“We humbly ask that you respect our privacy as we navigate through these times. Thank you,” he said.
Basketmouth’s announcement came after he celebrated Elsie’s 44th birthday anniversary in September but failed to mention their wedding anniversary in November.