February 01, (THEWILL) – One of the wives of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Jennifer Abubakar, nee Douglas, has divorced the former presidential candidate under the People’s Democratic Party.
Jennifer on Monday issued a statement where she stated the real reasons she divorced him, contrary to the news making the rounds that she divorced him for marrying a Moroccan wife in 2019 or over asset sharing.
In her clarification, Jennifer said, the divorce isn’t about his new wife as he is a Moslem. Besides, she has never questioned him about his wives or intends to.
She added that despite Atiku not informing her officially according to northern/Islamic culture, she knew about his new wife from the time he was dating her and when he eventually married her.
According to her, to show she harbours no Ill feelings, she invited the new wife to her son’s wedding in Dubai in 2018 without any ill feelings and congratulated him when the new wife was put to bed.
Jennifer insists that she divorced him over disagreements with her continued stay in the United Kingdom, to look after her children and several other long-standing issues.
According to her, she needed to play the role of a mother to the children who have gone through the absence of both father and mother growing up; especially, with the passing of her older sister, who used to look after them.
Furthermore, choosing to stay with the children was non-negotiable for her due to COVID-19. And, in line with Northern culture, the new wife takes up the baton of staying with Atiku, so she can also focus on giving the kids more care.
She did however thank some of Atiku’s close friends for mediating in the matter. People like Peter Okocha, Senator Ben Obi, Tunde Ayeni, Captain Yahaya, and Senator Ben Bruce.
On the assets sharing, she said she moved out of the Asokoro and Yola homes she shared with Atiku after the divorce and didn’t retain the homes.
Here is her full statement replicated below:
“The Matrimonial home in Asokoro where we reside was gifted to me by him, even before we moved into that home from a previous residence. Indeed, His Excellency caused his Private Secretary to process the DEED of assignment documents for the house, which he did and handed me the documents. I then commenced processing the title to the property.
“During the initial mediation discussion, Excellency denied that he gifted the house even after I showed him the document with the signatures of his aide, his Excellency asked me to give him the deed of gift. “When I asked him, where will I and the kids stay when we come to Nigeria?”, he told me that since I am the one that asked for a divorce, I should find a place to stay, and subsequently, I moved out.
“His Excellency further gave orders to have my nephews living with me in the house ejected within an hour of his order and gave orders that I and my family members are not allowed to enter the house. Hence, during my last visit to Nigeria in December 2021, I stayed in a hotel. I have long released these assets to him and hereby reiterate that the titles are at his disposal to pick up whenever he deems fit.
“There has been a lot of speculation on the Dubai home. For a while now, I had purposely stayed away from Dubai until I took custody of that property September 2021 after his Excellency reneged on his word to give the current value of the said property in exchange. When I came to Nigeria, in early September, 2021. I asked to have a private conversation with His Excellency.
“During that conversation, I informed his Excellency that once I get back to the United Kingdom, I will go to Dubai and take over the house. He subsequently departed for his medical trip to Germany, refusing to address any of the issues I privately wanted to conclude with him outside of third parties.
“I subsequently travelled to Dubai, and took custody of the said property. Once I did that, on 18 September 2021, His Excellency sent me a text and I quote: “I hear you have moved to Dubai to take over the house. I am still in Germany for my medicals. Make sure all my properties including (redacted) are intact so I can collect all my properties. I wish you well’.
“I responded to him: “ Excellency, I am left with no other option as we need to get on with our lives amicably. I hope your medicals are coming up good. I wish you well too’.
“On 19th September, 2021 in response to his text that I am not being amicable and I quote ”Good morning, with due respect, Excellency, I told you on Saturday before you left for Germany, that I was going back to UK, take [our son] back for his test, then come to Dubai. I reiterated that day the need for an amicable resolution. I maintain that stance and remain at your service Your Excellency’.
“Further on Tuesday, 21 September, 2021, I asked His Excellency in another text whether he wanted me to pack up his clothes and give them to Rahim (his driver) since the driver on his instructions was moving his cars. I also asked Excellency in that text whether he wanted me to have Rahim pack up his office. Then his Excellency sent me a text back and asked: ‘So it’s true you have sold the villa?’
“Subsequently, His Excellency sent the driver to take possession of all the cars. The truth subsists with regard to the Dubai house. I will make no further comments on it because it is the subject of litigation filed by his Excellency against me.
“I need to also put on record that if I wanted to take His Excellency’s assets, I would not have returned to him the documents to his properties in Abuja and Jos, allowed the driver to collect his cars, and gave up the house in Asokoro and Yola.
“The last time I was in Nigeria, I called to have the Asokoro and Yola documents delivered to him. It was never picked up and I still state that Excellency is free to send someone to have the documents picked up anytime he deems fit.”
