By Hamilton Nwosa( Head, The New Diplomat’s Polling, Research & Data desk)
Contrary to a narrative making the rounds that respected billionaire businessman, Chief Leemon Ikpea, unilaterally evicted his estranged wife, Mrs Agnes Ikpea, from their home in Lagos, members of the Ikpea family, friends and associates have revealed that the Edo State born billionaire business mogul appropriately, respectfully sought and obtained necessary court procedures to divorce his estranged wife.
Three multiple sources drawn from the Ikpea family members, friends and associates who spoke with The New Diplomat confided in the newspaper that it is incorrect to say that the Adolor of Ewatto, Chief Ikpea unilaterally threw out his estranged wife, Agnes from his Banana Island, Lagos home, revealing that as a devout Christian, and an international business personality, the Edo State born business icon followed the due process and procedures in seeking divorce, as well as ensuring that he provided needed accommodation for Agnes as determined by the appropriate institution.
Multiple sources further told The New Diplomat that the business mogul, Chief Ikpea already bought a multi-millionaire home for Agnes son in Banana Island, which Agnes could move into if she wants to stay in Banana Island.
” There is a house in the Island which the Chief has provided for her, there is a house in Lekki where Chief set up their daughter with a multi-millionaire event centre, a decent accommodation. But she simply wants to draw public attention, whip up sympathy and raise hairs and for a very private, quiet and very humble man like Chief Ikpea, who despite his huge accomplishments, live a very private and humble life, that is against his standard practice of humulity We want to appeal to Agnes to respect his husband’s wish and let the marriage end peacefully. After-all, for a man of that stature to say he doesn’t want the marriage anymore, he must have weighed all options and chosen to take the right path…”, a family members said anonymously.
The family members and close friends who are not keen on giving specific details, consequently appealed to members of the public to respect the well-thought out decision of Chief Ikpea, the distinguished billionaire businessman and esteemed Adolor of Ewatto in Esan, Edo State to seek legal divorce from his wife, Agnes.
The family members, friends and associates who craved anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said Ikpea is a dignified, respected and accomplished family man who has raised all six children, born by Agnes for him as their father, to the most highly accomplished career, professional and business heights in life.
According to them, “the diligent, highly respected father and accomplished businessman has done what every distinguished father would offer for his children and family members. The family members pleaded with Agnes to give peace a chance, and retrace her steps by desisting from attempting to drag the businessman into the media terrain for unwarranted reasons.”
Family members also urged the public to listen to the other side of the narrative and “respect the wishes and decision of our father and brother to pursue a permanent separation and divorce from his estranged wife, Agnes.”
According to the two family members, “for an industrialist, eminent family man, father, top-notch philanthropist, a humanist and a respected Christian who has married his now estranged wife for almost four decades and raised children that have been trained to the highest levels of educational accomplishments and have had these children fully established with the best life can offer, including excellent educational attainments, professional accomplishments, decent houses and businesses, to seek legal divorce away from his now estranged wife, Agnes must be based on well-founded, grounded and tough personal decision, which should be respected by all.”
“Such choices and decisions must no doubt be painful and difficult, but decisions have to be made and respected by all parties. A situation where one party tends to play to the gallery and seek public attention is uncalled for. Chief Leemon Ikpea, the patriarch of our family is a very private, God-fearing and conscientious father who cares for all family members, relations, community members, etc. We therefore plead that the matter should be left as a private matter, and the media is enjoined to respect it as a deeply private matter,” the family members added.
The family members added that even in international environment couples whose marriages that have broken down are always allowed to go their separate ways in line with the domestic protocols of that domestic jurisdiction.
They added: ” In this case, the domestic jurisdiction protocols has been faithfully followed and we continue to appeal to Agnes to please allow peace to reign by allowing the wish of Chief Ikpea to reign so that she too can go her separate way peacefully. Chief Ikpea has never met the Judge in Edo State. The process has simply taken its course.”
