Nigerians hold divergent views as paternity fraud allegations rock many families

Olanrewaju Kolawole, an Ikire native living in Osun State’s Irewole Local Government Area, thought he was the father of all four of the children living in his home.

When the findings of the DNA tests performed on the four children were made public, his hopes of paternizing the four children raised by his wife, Toyin Tella, were shattered.

The 44-year-old guy is not the biological father of the four children, according to the results of the DNA test performed at the DDC DNA Diagnostic Center in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.

This caused Kolawole to cry out and ask kind-hearted Nigerians for assistance.

On Agidigbo 88.7 FM in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state, Kolawole and his estranged wife Toyin Tella made an appearance on a live radio program called “Kokoro Alate,” which was hosted by Oriyomi Hamzat.

When the results of the DNA test revealed that none of the children were his biological children, Kolawole sobbed uncontrollably.

Four children were born into the marriage between Kolawole and his wife Toyin, which took place in 2007.

According to Kolawole, the first child’s DNA test showed that the child did not belong to him.

He continued by saying that the three additional kids he tested later on all had negative findings.

He declared, “I must not suffer this in vain, so I beg Nigerians to come to my help. In 2007, Toyin and I got married, and we had four kids. Despite the results of a DNA test, none of the four children she gave birth to are mine.

The wife wasn’t happy with the outcome, though.

She claimed that she was not present when the sample was taken and that she was unaware of which samples had been taken.

“I reject the outcome. Since I wasn’t present when the samples were taken and I’m not sure which sample they collected, I can’t accept it. I know how I created those children, so I can’t accept it,” she murmured.

The aforementioned tale is based on an actual account of a family that has been devastated by claims of paternity fraud rather than a scene from a Nollywood film.

In recent years, there have been other paternity fraud cases that have attracted media attention.

A case of purported paternity fraud between the families of Mr. Adam Nuru and Mr. Tunde Thomas garnered national media attention in 2021.

It was said that Moyo Thomas, who wed Mr. Tunde Thomas, was secretly involved in a love liaison with Mr. Adam Nuru, the managing director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

It was stated that Moyo Thomas and Nuru’s relationship began when the woman worked for FCMB.

It was widely accepted at the time that Tunde Thomas and Moyo Thomas were lawfully married, and that Mr. Thomas was the parent of the couple’s two children.

According to reports, Moyo told her husband that she was taking the children with her when she left Nigeria for the United States, but she later told him that the children belonged to the FCMB MD instead of him.

Mr. Thomas apparently suffered a stroke and a cardiac arrest as a result of the news, which ultimately resulted in his death.

Later on, though, Moyo spoke up and refuted the allegations.

She disputed in her statement that she had ever informed her late husband that he was not her children’s father.

“I’m writing in response to all of the claims and accusations that have been circulating on the internet and other social media sites lately. I have not replied to this for a number of reasons, one of which is to honor Tunde’s memory who passed away on December 16, 2020, to be with his maker. Recollections, for myself as well as for his young children and all those who shared a relationship with him.

Like every marriage, Tunde’s and my had many disagreements, some of which even required the involvement of the police. However, I’m still determined to retain only good recollections of him. Nobody will ever be able to fully comprehend the events that occurred between us or the experiences that each of us had in the marriage; as they say, only the one who walks in the shoes knows where the pinch is. I never once felt awful for him during it all. Like many others, I’m still in disbelief over his unexpected and abrupt passing.

I never once told him that he wasn’t the father of our two kids. Therefore, it is intentional and purposeful untruth to say and imply that I told him the children are not his. The kids are still called after him. Why he passed away so suddenly is only known by God. It is neither my place nor anyone else’s to play god and declare with confidence what caused his death in the absence of solid medical evidence.

“We never let our disputes interfere with our respective relationships with the children, even after we separated. Up until his untimely and tragic demise, he continued to converse with the kids like any parent would. Seeing the images of these helpless kids all over the internet with strange and derogatory remarks is really depressing and heartbreaking.

“I do hope that his friends and family will have the strength to deal with this sad loss, and I beg that we all be given the space to grieve in silence. Now that he’s been laid to rest, we want everyone to respect our privacy and give those who are mourning his loss—including the kids and me—time to do so in peace,” she said.

Nuru was also reported to have refuted the claims, but he chose to take a leave of absence while the bank looked into the accusations.

A 48-year-old artisan’s pleas for the dissolution of his marriage were granted by the Ikorodu Customary Court in Lagos in 2016, according to another source. The artisan had verified that his second kid was the property of another man.

After a DNA test revealed that the second child was not his, the 10-year-old marriage was split up by the court president, Mrs. Omolara Abiola.

Following a paternity issue involving a Lagos big boy named Mosh and his wife Doyin Aduke, Nollywood actor Yomi Alore, better known by his stage as Yomi Gold, called out for assistance in February of this year, citing an alleged danger to his life.

Nigerians are concerned about the rise in paternity fraud cases in numerous households throughout the country.

Nigerians voice differing opinions

Although few cases of paternity fraud have been documented, it is widely believed that many families have been devastated by it.

Pius Akah, a lecturer in the University of Calabar’s Department of Social Work, pointed out that combating paternity fraud in the nation necessitated a multifaceted strategy.

Akah, who also served as the Nigeria Association of Social Workers’ (NASoW) National Auditor, insisted that in order to lessen the prevalence and effects of paternity fraud throughout the nation, a mix of legislative actions, outreach programs, and support services was required.

“There’s no doubt that the 44-year-old man and his family are facing a significant emotional burden in light of this news.

It is imperative that social workers tackle this issue with sensitivity and a dedication to promoting understanding.

“Offset intervention could entail offering a secure environment for the man to communicate his emotions and anxieties. By facilitating open communication, family counseling services can help all family members work through the range of emotions that come with this discovery.

Rebuilding trust, encouraging resiliency, and making sure the children involved are okay should be the main priorities. In order to help the man negotiate this unanticipated and emotionally taxing journey, the social worker may also point the family in the direction of legal resources and assist him in building a support system.

The ultimate goal is to facilitate reconciliation, healing, and a route towards a more positive family dynamic.

“To combat paternity fraud, a multifaceted strategy is needed. People can be made aware of the value of openness and honesty in relationships through education and awareness initiatives.

Legal changes may center on revising laws pertaining to paternity testing to guarantee reliable and easily accessible procedures.

“Access to counseling services should be easy for people to get in order to help families and individuals deal with the emotional fallout from such disclosures.

Furthermore, encouraging honest communication and respect between partners might help to avert these kinds of circumstances.

In general, he said, “lawful actions, educational programs, and support services can all be combined to lessen the incidence and effects of paternity fraud.”

Marriage counselors should be governed by regulations regarding the administration of paternity tests.

Mrs. Elizabeth Adamolekun, a marriage counselor, suggested that the government step up and establish a law governing paternity testing.

She went on to say that the government ought to take the initiative to regulate the process.

“We need to look at it holistically,” she said. We must ascertain whether the tools utilized and the outcome are unaffected.

“If we are certain of that, we must examine the couple’s agreement before declaring the lady at blame.

“We must confirm whether the male is fertile and that his reproductive organs are in a decent location. In certain cases, a man arranges for his friends or family to help him become pregnant with the lady when his sperm is infertile.

“This situation affects not just the family but also society as a whole. It demonstrates the moral decay in the culture. The government needs to step up to the plate.

DNA testing can be ordered by the court – Attorney

Sam Tokz, an attorney in Jos, pointed out that the law is unambiguous when it comes to a child’s paternity.

In his speech, Toks, a former president of the University of Jos Students’ Union Government, asserted that the Supreme Court had ruled that a child born during an active marriage carries a presumption of fatherhood.

He went on to say that the court has the authority to require DNA testing in cases where there is doubt about a child’s paternity.

Yes, the law is unambiguous when it comes to child paternity. According to a ruling of the Supreme Court, there is presumed paternity for children born within a continuing marriage.

“The Court may, at its discretion, authorize the testing of DNA in cases where there is doubt about the paternity of a child. According to the sources I’ve read thus far, civil liability predominates over criminal liability. Everything is dependent upon the situation, he stated.

Public health expert: Men should normalize DNA testing in the first few weeks after giving birth.

If a man does not trust his wife, pharmacist Opeyemi Akindele, a public health professional, suggested that he set aside money for a DNA test.

Additionally, he urged males to resume DNA testing during the first few weeks after giving birth.

He continued by saying that after having sex, women who see men other than their husbands should take emergency contraceptives.

“We have to get to a place where society recognizes the benefits of delaying having sex until marriage. It will stop a lot of the problems.

Having said that, if a husband hasn’t had sex with his wife in a few weeks and he has reason to believe she’s having an extramarital affair, he should demand that she take a pregnancy test before they may hook up again.

This sounds strange because it doesn’t make sense to be untrusting in a married relationship.

“Secondly, during the first few weeks after giving birth, men ought to make DNA testing commonplace. Put money aside for a DNA test if you don’t trust your wife. You won’t have headaches from that.

“To prevent situations like these, women who see men other than their husbands should take emergency contraception after intercourse.

“The Nigerian government supports the availability, affordability, and wide availability of emergency contraceptive drugs,” he said.

If the husband is unsure, there is no sin associated with the DNA conduct – Deaconess

During her speech, Mrs. Funmi Ogundipe, a deaconess at one of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) churches in Oyo State, stated that the Bible contains no references to DNA prohibition.

According to Ogundipe, a husband who is unsure about his child’s paternity can test them using DNA.

“The husband can use DNA testing if he is unsure about his child’s paternity.

The Bible has no verse that forbids the use of DNA testing. It is an issue of decision. Couples should have faith in one another, she said.