By Kehinde Okeowo
Popular comedian and actor, Chinedu Ani, popularly known as Nedu, has debunked the rumour making rounds that he used the police to intimidate his ex-wife Uzoamaka Oziri and forcefully collected their two kids.
The talented actor posted a statement made by his wife at State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID), Panti and receipt of the air ticket he got her to travel from Owerri to Lagos, as evidence of her willingness to give the kids to him.
According to the police statement , Uzoamaka stated, among other things, that she was handing the children over because she had challenges with rent and that the kids were with her mother in Owerri, before bringing them to their father.
She also said she would be given full access to the children while they remain in her ex-husband’s custody, until the court grants any one of them custody of their two daughtere.
In addition to posting the police statement made and the air ticket, Nedu went further to correct the impression that his wife gave the two girls to him under duress via his verified Instagram page.
“I am sad that once again, I need to clear the air on what I consider a private matter. But for the sake of all the parties involved, it is pertinent that I do so.
“Please let the following be clear to all journalists, blogs, news platforms, etc;
“ Contrary to the rumours being peddled around, I do take care of my children and will continue to as it is my duty.
“Neither I nor the police forcefully took my kids away from my ex-wife. It was a unanimous agreement. Please feel free to read her handwritten statement and also see the bag with which she brought their clothes.
“The children in question were taken to Owerri to live for over a month without my consent or permission. My ex-wife took that decision without consulting me… I paid for the flight for her to go and bring them back to Lagos after it was agreed by all parties that it was better they were returned to Lagos especially as they school in Lagos.
“I am a person who believes in doing things the right way and so far on this matter, I have stayed within the provisions of the law. A case was filed against my ex-wife for cyber-bullying and other grievances. She was invited to respond and the matter is ongoing alongside custody resolution.
“I am tired of the sensational manner in which this news is being dispersed. I do not grant interviews or speak on the matter to the press. I would advise my ex-wife and her cousins/sister to follow suit.
“We are not dealing with inanimate objects here but living and breathing beings who will one day deal with the consequences of this fall-out.
“I truly want to continue to focus on my career, my family and my life as I am not the first or the last man to have a failed marriage.” He wrote.
The ex-wife however, rebutted his claims when she spoke with The PUNCH insisting Nedu used police to force her to hand over her kids against her will.
According to her, she has been reporting at the SCID for a while and she was treated as a crime suspect by the Police, while her lawyer was usually not allowed to be in the interrogation room with her.
She also said that police were bias in the matter, because while the comedian was allowed to bring in phones to take pictures, she was told she cannot take her phone in , so left them at the entrance.
The mother-of-three found it difficult to understand why the kids were handed over to their father at a police facility when it was a civil matter.
“That is so untrue. Those people have dealt with me so much. They have threatened me and forced me to do things that I didn’t want to do.
“My children were not meant to be back in Lagos. Those people have threatened me so much.
“Yes, we’ve been having rent issues. Yes, we’ve been asking him to support and help us, which he has refused to do. So, these people have done a whole lot.
“There is nothing like willingly giving him my children. There was nothing like that.
“Nedu is just hell-bent on getting rid of me. I have a lawyer, but every time he came with me to the Police, they would send him out; but Nedu would be allowed to enter with at least five people, including one NGO woman, Landa, his prophet and his co-workers. They all troop in while they don’t allow me to see my lawyer.” Uzoamaka said
The duo have been having a running battle over issues bordering on domestic abuse, infidelity and custody of their children.
She recently accused Nedu, her ex-husband, of domestic violence and abandoning the welfare of his two kids.
The comedian in response posted a DNA test result of their first child, which showed that he was not the child’s biological father and by extension evidence of her infidelity while they were together.
She has since admitted that he is not the father of the boy and tried to explain the circumstances that led to the mix up , but their relationship is getting messier by the day.
