Nigerian Dad In Canada Calls Out Wife Over Custody Battle
A father of two in Ontario, Canada, Ejikeme Benedith Ifeanyi, has taken to Facebook to complain about his wife’s demand for full custody of their children.
In a series of posts, Ifeanyi revealed that he has been fighting the battle alone for eight months and is now speaking out to raise awareness about the challenges men face in similar situations.
“As I was going to pick up my children from their mother, I got an email from her lawyer. This really breaks me down! Because I don’t want to stay in the marriage again. All your frame-ups with the police didn’t work out for you. You want to take my kids away from me. Gave you and your mother a life you never dreamed of! You want to take my money alone and not let me have a say in my kids’ lives ever. I’m speaking up [because] of tomorrow,” he lamented.
According to Ifeanyi, the issue is not about child support, as he has been paying it even when the court didn’t require him to.
He added that it was rather about his wife’s desire to be the sole decision-maker for their children, leaving him only with the responsibility of providing financial support.
“Men are passing through a lot; I’ve been fighting this for the past 8 months. I’m coming to social media because she wants to take the kids away; hopefully, the children will grow up and see it. No, child support is not the problem; I’ve been paying it even when the court didn’t ask me to. If you know how much I love my kids, I will do anything just to make them happy,” he said.
Ifeanyi affirmed his love for his children and his desire to be involved in their lives, citing a lavish birthday party he threw for his daughter as evidence of his commitment to their well-being.
He expressed frustration that his wife’s actions seemed motivated by a desire to portray him as a “deadbeat father” on social media.
Ifeanyi, who alleged that many Nigerian men are facing the same challenge in custody battles, spoke on the emotional toll the disputes can take on fathers and urged them to speak out and not remain silent.
“I’ve received calls from not less than 30 people (men) who are facing the same challenges abroad.
“Why will a woman request full custody of the kids when the man wants to be in the lives of the kids? Even going to the extent of requesting to be the sole decision-maker.
“Dear men, speak up. Let them laugh at you. You will be glad you did eventually!” he wrote
He advised men to ensure that they sign a prenup before getting married to any woman.
“Let them call you any names they want; you will be proud you eventually did,” he posted.
Ifeanyi warned that nobody should ask him to delete his post, citing the story of a cardiologist who committed suicide due to his custody dispute with his wife.
A few weeks ago, a cardiologist committed suicide, and most of you were here saying he would have spoken up. Now, I’m speaking up; you all tell me to pull the post down. Who gave you the right? Lol, I’m trying to enlighten that innocent man out there who thinks love is enough,” he added.
However, a check on the Facebook page of Ifeanyi’s wife, Okigwe Tessy Ejikeme, reveals that the couple seem to have been having difficulties in their marriage since 2023.
In an August 2023 post, Tessy criticised fathers who neglect their children after separation, questioning why they would leave the burden of care on the mothers.
She advised fathers to take direct responsibility for their children’s needs, such as paying school fees directly to the school and providing essentials.
Tessy emphasised that children shouldn’t suffer due to their parents’ issues.
“This is for divorcees and men who have separated from their partners. Why do most of you not feel obligated or responsible for your kids after a separation? Because as far as I could remember, it’s the kid’s mom you have a problem with and not the kids.
“Why do the kids bear the consequences? If you feel you don’t trust their mum with your money or your part in the kids’ lives, you should keep up with it. Instead of giving their mum school fees, pay it to the school directly, go shopping and buy them clothes, goodies and foodstuffs and drop them off for them.
“It’s an eyesore seeing a well-to-do man’s estranged partner begging on all platforms for school fees and other basic things her kids need, while their dad could provide that, but because he wants to teach her a lesson, he punishes his kids as well.
“Please be there for your children even if you separate from your spouse. Those kids didn’t ask to be born, so don’t make them suffer. Thank you,” she posted.
In a post in March 2025, she also accused someone of playing the victim and manipulating others, though she didn’t mention names.
“Stop playing victim in situations you’ve created and then flip the story to manipulate people to think you’re innocent,” she posted.
Nigerian Dad In Canada Calls Out Wife Over Custody Battle is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
