The marriage between former vice
president, Atiku Abubakar and one of his wives, Jennifer is heading for the
rocks. The crack in their relationship seems
unamendable as Jennifer confirmed her divorce to Atiku in a statement
issued on Tuesday.
Jennifer threw more light on the
divorce and stated that contrary to the insinuation in some quarters that the
marriage collapsed because Atiku married a new wife, she didn’t request for a
divorce because Atiku married a new wife.
“That His Excellency married a
new wife was never the cause of our problem as many have said. His Excellency
is a Moslem and I have never questioned him about his wives or intended,” she
said.
According to her, some of Atiku’s
friends tried to mediate and stop the divorce but their efforts failed.
Jennifer explained that “the core
reason for the divorce was disagreement over my continued stay in the United
Kingdom” among other “long-standing issues”.
She also claimed that Atiku has
requested to collect an asset previously given to her, adding that the property
in Dubai is a subject of litigation.
The estranged wife added, “During
the initial mediation discussion, Excellency denied that he gifted the house
(matrimonial home in Asokoro) even after I showed him the document with the
signatures of his aide, his Excellency asked me to give him the deed of gift.
“’When I asked him, where will I
and the kids stay when we come to Nigeria?’, he told me that since I am the one
that asked for a divorce, I should find a place to stay, and subsequently, I
moved out.”
Atiku has yet to make any public
statement on the issue as of the time of filing this report.
Read the full statement:
For some time now, especially in
the last few weeks, there has been a whole lot of rumours and in circulation
about the state of my marriage to his Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the
Waziri Adamawa, GCON. The stories got more vicious as they continued to
circulate. I deem it necessary to defend myself against the calculated
propaganda to malign my character and position me in a bad light and damage my
name. Without resorting to nonsensical talk, I would address the two key issues
at hand:
(1) That I asked for a divorce
because His Excellency got married again.
(2) That I sold his Excellency’s
house in Dubai.
That I asked for a divorce
because His Excellency got married again
• On June. 26, 2021, I asked His
Excellency to grant me a divorce in light of the breakdown of our marriage.
And, during that period, I told his Excellency that I remain at his
Excellency’s service to continue to assist him in his activities even If I am
no longer married to him. Suffice it to say that several friends of his
Excellency tried to mediate in this matter. I thank them most graciously and
remain grateful for their efforts, Peter Okocha, Senator Ben Obi, Tunde Ayeni,
Captain Yahaya, and Senator Ben Bruce.
The core reason for the divorce
was disagreement over my continued stay in the United Kingdom, to look after my
children and several other long-standing issues. I needed to play the role of a
mother at this time to the children who have gone through the absence of both
father and mother growing up; especially, with the passage of my elder sister
who used to look after them. Furthermore, in light of COVID-19 times, choosing
to stay with the children was non-negotiable. And, in line with Northern
culture, the new wife takes up the baton so I can also focus on giving the kids
more care.
Despite not informing us
officially according to northern/Islamic culture, I knew about his Excellency’s
new wife from the time Excellency was dating her and when his Excellency
eventually married her. I have graciously invited our new wife to my son’s
wedding in Dubai in 2018 without any ill feelings and congratulated his
Excellency when our new wife gave birth.
I was already aware that His
Excellency had gotten married to our new wife but that did not deter me from
supporting His Excellency and indeed, we went through a most rigorous
electioneering campaign and garnered massive support for his election in 2019.
That His Excellency married a new
wife was never the cause of our problem as many have said. His Excellency is a
Moslem and I have never questioned him about his wives or intended.
I hope this brings this issue to
rest as I did not leave the house because of his new marriage.
Moving out of the matrimonial
Home in Asokoro and Yola
The matrimonial home in Asokoro
where we reside was gifted to me by him even before we moved into that home
from a previous residence. Indeed, His Excellency caused his Private Secretary
to process the DEED of assignment documents for the house, which he did and
handed me the documents. I then commenced processing the title to the property.
During the initial mediation
discussion, Excellency denied that he gifted the house even after I showed him
the document with the signatures of his aide, his Excellency asked me to give
him the deed of gift. “When I asked him, where will I and the kids stay when we
come to Nigeria?”, he told me that since I am the one that asked for a divorce,
I should find a place to stay, and subsequently, I moved out.
His Excellency further gave
orders to have my nephews living with me in the house ejected within an hour of
his order and gave orders that I and my family members are not allowed to enter
the house. Hence, during my last visit to Nigeria in December 2021, I stayed at
a hotel. I have long released these assets to him and hereby reiterate that
thee titles are at his disposal to pick up whenever he deems fit.
Dubai Home
• There has been a lot of
speculation on the Dubai home. For a while now, I had purposely stayed away the
Dubai until I took custody of that property September 2021 after his Excellency
reneged on his word to give the current value of the said property in exchange.
When I came to Nigeria, in early September, 2021. I asked to have a private
conversation with His Excellency. During that conversation, I informed his
Excellency that once I get back to the United Kingdom, I will go to Dubai and
take over the house. He subsequently departed for his medical trip to Germany
refusing to address any of the issues I privately wanted to conclude with him
outside of third parties.
I subsequently travelled to
Dubai, and took custody of the said property. Once I did that, on 18 September
2021, His Excellency sent me a text and I quote: “I hear you have moved to
Dubai to take over the house. I am still in Germany for my medicals. Make sure
all my properties including (redacted) are intact so I can collect all my
properties. I wish you well’.
I responded to him: “ Excellency,
I am left with no other option as we need to get on with our lives amicably. I
hope your medicals are coming up good. I wish you well too’.
On 19th September, 2021 in
response to his text that I am not being amicable and I quote ”Good morning,
with due respect, Excellency, I told you on Saturday before you left for
Germany, that I was going back to UK, take [our son] back for his test, then
come to Dubai. I reiterated that day the need for an amicable resolution. I
maintain that stance and remain at your service Your Excellency’.
Further on Tuesday, 21 September,
2021, I asked His Excellency in another text whether he wanted me to pack up
his clothes and give them to Rahim (his driver) since the driver on his
instructions was moving his cars. I also asked Excellency in that text whether
he wanted me to have Rahim pack up his office. Then his Excellency sent me a
text back and asked: ‘So it’s true you have sold the villa?’
Subsequently, His Excellency sent
the driver to take possession of all the cars.
The truth subsists with regard to
the Dubai house. I will make no further comments on it because it is the
subject of litigation filed by his Excellency against me.
I need to also put on record that
if I wanted to take His Excellency assets, I would not have returned to him his
property documents in Abuja and Jos and document, allowed the driver to collect
his cars, gave up the house in Asokoro and Yola.
The last time I was in Nigeria I
called to have the Asokoro and Yola documents delivered to him. It was never
picked up and I still state that Excellency is free to send someone to have the
documents picked up anytime he deems fit.
0 Comments