Nollywood actor-cum-producer, Emeka Ike, has accused Rev. Chris Okotie of Household of God Church, in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, as being behind the ongoing crisis in his family.
The actor and his wife of over ten years, Suzanne, are currently in court – with the latter calling for the dissolution of the union, but Emeka is pleading otherwise and pledging his continuous love for the woman.
According to the star actor, in spite of all his efforts to get the woman to rescind her decision and withdraw the divorce case, Okotie is allegedly pushing her on.
He revealed that the pastor got his wife a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, to pursue her case, gave her N500,000 for her mother’s burial and even bought her a Blackberry Passport phone!
Emeka said “Yes, ‘Pastor Chris Okotie just absolved (sic) my wife into his church without making any effort to get in touch with me. If as a pastor your church member is having issues with her husband, and you failed to do anything to resolve it, what kind of pastor are you?
"When I called him, he refused to pick my call. He also failed to react to a text message I sent to him. Is that a man of God? Even, if you have a police case, they will make effort to hear from you
before taking a position, not to talk of the church…
"I want the whole world to know because there is a lot of misinformation out there. The lawyer which Okotie hired for my wife is also frustrating every attempt I make to resolve the matter peacefully.”
Okotie’s media consultant, Mr. Ladi Ayodeji, however, denied knowledge of the development.
He said, “This is news to me…This is completely news to me, but I will bring it to the attention to the pastor and I will get back to you.”
Suzanne had filed for divorce a couple of months ago and it surfaced in her court testimony that she had allegedly suffered emotional and physical abuse for years.
Emeka Ike refuted the reports and he denied ever laying a hand on his wife but admitted that his wife has left their home. He appealed for her to come back and explained why he cannot be a wife beater.
“I want people to look into this issue critically. I’ve never beaten this woman in my life. When she ran out of home, I called my pastor and they took us for counselling. For one week, I was begging her every day; I would go home alone and she would go home alone as well.
“At a point, pastor asked us to write five things we like and dislike about each other. The pastor said that maybe we could work it out. I wrote mine, she wrote hers and she never said there that I used to beat her. I still have that document with me. She gave me what she wrote and I gave her what I wrote. If I used to beat her, she could not have left it out from that then. Any man that beats a woman is a coward. I know that someone somewhere must have done something to her. How can I beat a woman I adore so much? I love my family and this is very unfortunate. Her children have been begging her to come home, and she has refused.
“I am pretty sure my wife is acting confused; she is acting as if she is under a spell, which is psychological and then she is acting under blackmail.
“There was a time I accused her of bringing men to my house. I mean, which woman will wake her husband up in the middle of the night and said to him, share your property I want to get my share now from what you have? Tell me, which woman will do that if not acting under a spell?
“There was a time I travelled and she closed down my school and sent all the students away. So, there is a lot to it, other than the allegation of battery against me and I want the whole world to know. My name is precious to me and I don’t want anything to drag it in the mud.
“When we went to court, I told my wife that I’m interested in amicable settlement of the matter, and that I still want her back. But she refused. Even, if you don’t want me, what of your children, I asked her and she still would not listen to me. I want the whole world to know because there is a lot of misinformation out there. The lawyer which Okotie hired for my wife is also frustrating every attempt I make to resolve the matter peacefully.”
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| Chris Okotie (right) has a penchant for going after divorced women. Is yet to be ascertained if he has been instrumental to the divorces. He has had two failed marriages |
On 24th June, 2012, Chris Okotie announced that his second marriage to two-time divorcee, Stephanie Henshaw had collapsed:
“Stephanie and I are no longer married. We have separated. You can see she’s not in church today. It’s due to irreconcilable differences and you should please respect our wishes at this time because there is no going back.”
Members of Chris Okotie’s Household of God Church were banned from discussing his failed marriage. They were expressly warned to “get rid of the finger that could lead them to hell.” Chris Okotie apparently said he plans to re-marry again. He is reported to have quoted from the book of Genesis: “It is not good for a man to be alone.”
Stephanie Adie Henshaw wrote a series of emotional appeals on her Facebook page which sheds some light on her separation from her “husband:”
“Today makes it three weeks I was asked for a separation and a week and four days I packed out. Romans 8:28: ‘All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. I am as shocked as most people are, as there has not been an argument in my home. In over a year we have been as happy as everybody thought we were. I wait because I know in time God will make known what has gone wrong.”
“Twenty years I have known a man, 15 years we have been the closest friends. I prepared all his meals for 10 years, including the four years we were married. The day I was asked to leave I prepared his meal, served it and I left. For the four years he never fell ill but today I am called all sorts of names -’ ‘witch’, and ‘mermaid spirit.’ I have served Jesus with clean hands and a clean heart. I have loved all that have come my way and if I do not live through this pain and hurt as sure as Jesus lives my children will see my vindication.”
“Lies, not from the world but the church; accusations not from the world, but the church. Where are the spirit filled Christians, the ones who fear and hear the Lord. My husband loves and adores me; he is not the one saying these things, the enemies from within who hate me. They hate the grace God showed me. They hate the mercy God has had on me. So, they come up with all kinds of lies. My going can bring one Mrs. Okotie, but what happens to the rest of you? You bring shame to the body of Christ out of your jealousy and selfish desire and in the process expose your pastor. The work he has to do cost Jesus his life, don’t joke with it. Our friendship is not based on marriage. You manipulate things at the expense of God’s work and name. It is not about me. It has never been: it is about the will of God.’’
“I submitted to the end, I did all I was asked to do, lord I left that home blameless before u, I have loved, but have not been loved, I have given and not received but that is contrary you yr word lord so today I ask yr word be made manifest in my life.”
“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wing until the danger passes by. Vindicate me, Lord. All things are open before you, righteous judge. I remain still, speak on my behalf. I submitted to the end. I did all I was asked to do, Lord. I left that home blameless before you. I have loved but have not been loved. I have given and not received; but that is contrary to your word, Lord. So, today I ask your word be made manifest in my life.”
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