‘I don’t want my children to be with their stepmother’ — Laide Bakare cries out over custody battle
Nollywood actress Laide Bakare has appealed for help over the custody of her two sons, alleging that their stepmother has been treating them badly.
The actress made the allegation in a video posted on Instagram, saying she was forced to speak publicly because her concerns about her children’s welfare had allegedly not been addressed.
Bakare said she and her former husband have been involved in a custody dispute since their separation, claiming that he has not allowed the children to spend as much time with her as she wants.
She further alleged that she once overheard her ex-husband’s wife instructing some boys on how to attack her children without leaving visible marks.
“I’m currently not thinking straight. People say you shouldn’t take your problems to the public or social media, but when it gets scary and threatening, one has to speak out. My baby’s father and I don’t agree on some issues, which is why we separated. But now we are having issues with the custody of our children. He doesn’t want them to be with me as much as I want, and I’m not happy about it,” she said.
“My worry now is about the boys being with another wife who isn’t treating them well. On one occasion, over the phone, I heard my baby’s father’s wife telling some boys not to beat my children where the scars would be obvious, but to strangle them instead. I recorded the conversation as evidence.
“I have complained to my baby’s father several times, but he has refused to act on it. Now, I’m crying out because I don’t want my children to be with their stepmother, whom I believe is a hypocrite. She behaves nicely whenever she sees me but turns mean and wicked when I’m not around.
“My baby’s father has also refused to allow me to renew their passports so I can send them to America or bring them to live with me. So please, help me appeal to my children’s father to give me custody of my boys.”
Bakare urged members of the public to advise her on how best to handle the situation and appealed to her former husband to grant her custody of their sons.
Her ex-husband had not responded to the allegations as of the time of the report.
Bakare was previously married to American-based businessman Olumide Okunfulure, with whom she has a daughter, Simi. She later married Mutairu Orilowo, with whom she has two sons.
