The Onyegbulas in bitter divorce battle over assault, abuse allegations

…Husband denies claims, seeks dissolution of marriage

By Innocent Anaba

LAGOS — A Lagos State High Court has become the battleground for a bitter divorce dispute between United States-based Nigerian lawyer, Nnedimma Onyegbula, and her estranged husband, Sonny Onyegbula, as both parties trade allegations of assault, abuse and misconduct while seeking the dissolution of their 25-year-old marriage.

Mrs. Onyegbula accused her husband of subjecting her to years of physical violence, emotional abuse, financial manipulation, intimidation and infidelity, allegations the respondent described as false, unfair and a misrepresentation of their relationship.

Justice O. Ogunjobi, who is hearing the matter, adjourned further proceedings until October 2 after the case came up on June 26.

In her response to the husband’s defence, Mrs. Onyegbula urged the court to dissolve the marriage on the ground that it had broken down irretrievably. Mr. Onyegbula, in his reply, also acknowledged that the marriage had irretrievably broken down and filed a cross-petition seeking its dissolution.

According to court documents, Mrs. Onyegbula alleged that she endured repeated physical assaults throughout the marriage, claiming the attacks occurred about three times annually.

She told the court that she suffers from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia, conditions she said were aggravated by the alleged abuse.

Among the incidents cited was an alleged assault in October 2012 after a visit to the respondent’s mother. She claimed that after taking her to Premier Specialists’ Medical Centre in Lekki at about 3 a.m., the respondent abandoned her at the hospital without ensuring she received adequate medical attention.

She further alleged that she later received treatment at Eye Foundation Hospital for injuries sustained during the incident and reserved the right to institute separate civil proceedings over the alleged assaults after the conclusion of the divorce case.

The petitioner also alleged that while recovering from a major hip replacement surgery, she was assaulted by her husband’s brother’s wife at the respondent’s family home in the village in the presence of her husband and other family members, who allegedly failed to intervene.

According to her, the injuries sustained during the incident later required further treatment in the United States and resulted in another surgery in 2014.

Beyond the allegations of physical violence, Mrs. Onyegbula accused her husband of emotional abuse, claiming he regularly withheld affection, frequently abandoned the matrimonial home without explanation, body-shamed her and compared her unfavourably with other women.

She also accused him of manipulating relatives by portraying her as chronically ill and financially dependent while taking credit for her financial contributions to the family.

However, Mr. Onyegbula denied all the allegations, insisting that he consistently provided for the family, paid the children’s school fees and maintained the household, even while his wife travelled extensively for work within and outside Nigeria.

He told the court that he supported the petitioner through her health challenges, including accompanying her to medical appointments.

In a counter-allegation, the respondent claimed that the petitioner was prone to anger and had damaged household property, including two television sets, during domestic disputes.

He also alleged that she physically attacked him on several occasions and that one of their sons once intervened to prevent a confrontation from escalating.

Mr. Onyegbula further denied allegations of inappropriate relationships with the petitioner’s sister or household staff, describing the claims as “spurious” and damaging to his reputation.

On the issue of matrimonial assets, the respondent acknowledged that the couple jointly owns a plot of land and informed the court that both parties had agreed to a sharing formula of 65 per cent to the petitioner and 35 per cent to him from the proceeds of any sale.

He opposed his wife’s request for monthly maintenance of $1,500, arguing that she is gainfully employed, financially independent and capable of supporting herself.

The marriage was contracted on May 20, 2000, at Our Saviour’s Church, TBS, Lagos. Both parties are asking the court to formally dissolve the union, although they remain sharply divided over the circumstances that led to its collapse.

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