It’s not just in the movies.
Even in Nigeria, as frowned upon and shameful the act of husband snatching is in the eyes of so many, a couple of Nigerian celebrities have still gone ahead to do it. Personally I find that term “husband snatcher” very funny. It sounds like you snatched, that is just took without asking, the husband from the other woman. But these are not toys that can just be snatched, they are full-grown men who by themselves decided to follow these women. So while I don’t like the way the word ‘husband snatcher’ makes women look like they are the bad guy, it is the Nigerian term for what these women did and how the Nigerian people see them as – husband snatchers.
So without further ado, here are 8 Nigerian Celebrities Who Are Real-Life Husband Snatchers
For such a long time, Stella never commented on the allegations of being a “husband snatcher” but then eventually around 2016, she finally talked about the allegations and had this to say:
One of the comments I have seen consistently, over and over again’ is, ‘Stella snatches somebody’s husband’; ‘Stella the husband snatcher which is what has been going on.
And I had sworn that I would never talk about it or even listen or stress myself about the issue. But I have decided to talk about it now, so that I end it once and for all.
How is it possible to go to somebody’s home, and take a man, and take his son, away from his home and say follow me.
(Let’s assume) You are a man, and according to their story, he is happily married inside his home with his family. Complete and I walk into that home to forcefully take a man, able-bodied man, and a kid, away from somebody’s hand and you are there looking at me. How does that work?
So logically if people actually sit down and think about it intelligently, how do you snatch somebody from somebody and the person is there looking at you?
So when you see a man who has settled ties with a woman and decides to move on with his life and you feel that there is something in this man that you like and he likes you, is there a problem there?
I am not a kid. I am 36 years old. I am not about to start hiding myself.
Nuella Njubigbo and her husband prolific movie-director Tchidi Chikere got married in 2014. The news of their marriage hit the internet sphere by storm, majorly because the groom Tchidi was previously married to another actress, Sophia before getting with Nuella.
It was ugly.
There were rumors that Tchidi and Nuella were dating before Tchidi dumped Sophia. They was also news that the two had moved in together at Graceland Estate, Ajah shortly after Tchidi dumped Sophia and their kids. Shortly before getting married Nuella released a statement saying she was only following her heart and that she only started dating Tchidi after he left his wife, not when they were together.
But Sophia didn’t have it. She went online to slam the couple saying:
I swear with my life, my children’s life and everything I have that Nuella started dating my husband before he left the marriage. Let the wrath of God be your portion. Now that you have taken my hubby and you are getting married to him like I heard, are you happy? Are you fulfilled? Let the Almighty God fight for me and judge you.
Woo! Talk about drama.
In 2013, Mercy Aigbe got married to Nigerian hotelier, Lanre Gentry. Again, because Lanre had previously been married, accusations and rumors about Mercy being a husband snatcher started spreading. In an interview with Encomium Weekly, Mercy was questioned about the allegations. An excerpt from the interview below:
Let’s talk on another issue. There was a time you told us in an interview that you’re aware your husband had a wife but you’re coping with the situation, no quarrel between you and the first wife. But months later you granted another magazine an interview where you said your husband had divorced eight years back. Which one do you want us to believe?
The truth is that my husband is divorced, he doesn’t have any wife apart from me. I am the only one in his house. My husband was once married and he has kids, but the woman had remarried. They had separated and even divorced for like eight years before I came into the picture.
Does that mean you’re not well informed about the situation before you told us then…
Not really, the thing is that he was separated from his wife. I didn’t want to start saying this and that. I wanted them to be through with their divorce matter. Now, the woman is remarried. That means they are through with their divorce papers which also mean that my husband is also free to move on.
Are you sure she didn’t quit the marriage because of you?
She didn’t leave because of me. They were separate for like eight years before I came in.
So, what you’re telling us is that you’re not an intruder?
I am not. I met my husband as a divorcee and I chose to marry him. And the woman had also remarried three years ago.
When did you get married to Gentry, your husband?
That was two years ago. I didn’t snatch anybody’s husband.
A popular name in this whole “husband snatcher” saga is Nigerian actress, Mercy Johnson. Mercy was tagged a ‘home-wrecker’ when in 2011, she got married to her husband Prince Okojie who had allegedly been married to one Lovely Okojie who he had two children with.
Reports said that Lovelyn was the mother of Prince Okojie’s children and was living outside the country. This sparked a huge controversy in Nigeria as people accused Mercy of snatching someone’s husband to marry him.
Before Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele got married to her first husband Adeola Kehinde Oloyede, there were rumors circulating that the beloved actress was a husband snatcher because at the time Adeola had already been married prior. In an interview in 2010 with Vanguard, Funke was interrogated about this and this is an excerpt from that interview:
You sound friendly, and innocent, but your name have been characterised with controversy in recent times; it’s either you are been alleged of snatching somebodys husband or that you are locked in a battle over a boyfriend. What’s the truth in all these allegations?
I said earlier, I wasn’t going to talk about this matter, but there’s no way this interview session can be completed without me clearing the air. Let me state categorically here that, I did not snatch anybody’s boyfriend or husband. I‘m single but I’m not searching . By the grace of God, I will get married very very soon. My fans out there, please pray for me that it works out fine.
Funke Akindele is a role model to many young people. Many young girls today want to be like Funke Akindele. So, why should I snatch another woman’s husband or boyfriend? Funke Akindele did not snatch anybody’s husband period. I rather would stick to my fans out there than to do things that would tarnish my image.
Her marriage to Adeola didn’t last up to two years. She is now however happily married to current husband JJC Skillz with whom she has two children.
Ini Edo is another Nollywood celebrity who has been tagged a husband snatcher. Ini Edo in 2008 wedded her American-based hubby, Phillips Ehiagwina. Around the time before their wedding, Phillips’ estranged wife, Ruth Okoro sat down with Uche Olehi of Encomium Magazine and said this about Ini Edo and her husband:
Would you say Ini Edo, your husband’s fiancee is a husband snatcher?
Ruth Okoro: I’m not in a position to call anybody names. I just know that God has the final judgment for everything. I’ve never met her before; all I know is that she’s an actress. But I remember when I heard the rumour she was sleeping around with my husband, all I did because I didn’t know was to send her an email and explained everything to her.
The email: “Maybe you don’t know what’s going on. I heard you’ve been sleeping with my husband, so when you are done with him, let him come back to his wife.”
I explained he left me when I had cancer. He caused my miscarriage when I was carrying his child. I heard he got two other women pregnant, Stories like that just to put her on the track, just in case she didn’t know. I didn’t put any blame but rather than reply me, she emailed it to my husband. My husband called me and said “Ruth, you know I love you so much and whatever happened, we will always be together. But you don’t have to send emails to Ini Edo exposing me” He was calling me on the phone, Ini Edo heard everything but she didn’t reconsider her actions. Maybe it is the money that is tripping her. Maybe it’s the cars or the looks, but whatever it is, the fact is that Philip was nothing close to that when I married him. I know where I picked him up from and I know hard both of us worked together for him to get to where he is now. If Ini thinks life is all about money, she’s wrong. When you do something to someone, it will come back and hurt you. Let them move on with their lives, it’s a free world.”
Another actress who was ruthlessly accused of husband snatching is Foluke Daramola whose marriage to Pastor Kayode Salako caused a lot of eyebrows to raise because reports were that Kayode was married when he met Foluke and it was Foluke who caused Kayode to break up with his ex-wife.
In an interview with The Tribune, Foluke addressed the issue. Here is an excerpt from the interview:
Let’s talk on your marriage to Kayode. How did you feel?
Of course, I felt good. I am happy in my marriage
But people said you snatched somebody’s husband?
I did not snatch anybody’s husband. I never asked her to pack out of her husband’s house. Moreover, I did not meet her at home when I married Kayode.
But, when you were dating him, you knew he was married?
I knew.
But you still went ahead to marry him?
That is between him and me.
