Anthony Ezonfade Okorodas, a judge in Delta state, has narrated how DNA tests revealed he is not the biological father of all three children from his previous marriage.
In a press statement dated January 28, Okorodas said he decided to make the issue public “in order to prevent damaging speculations, half-truths and outright lies from persons who may want to cash in on the tragedy that has befallen my home”.
The judge accused Celia Juliet Ototo, his ex-wife, of walking away from their marriage 11 years ago, when the last out of three children was six years old.
“Sometime during the coronavirus lockdown early last year, I received information from an anonymous source that indicated that the last of the three children from my previous marriage was in fact not my biological child,” he said.
“Due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, I had to wait until August 2020 to carry out a DNA test.
“The DNA test result which came out in September 2020 confirmed that I was not the biological father of the child.”
The judge said although his ex-wife denied the paternity fraud allegation after a confrontation in the presence of family members, “she has since confessed to having the child with another man during the course of our marriage.”
Narrating further, Okorodas said the revelation prompted him to conduct DNA tests for the other two children.
“A few days ago, the results came out. Sadly, none of them is my biological child,” he said.
“This abomination has caused excruciating mental trauma to me, my present wife, barrister (Mrs) Ebi Okorodas, and all of the innocent children involved.
“This is particularly so for Ebi, who has had to agree to having DNA tests on the four children of our own marriage. Thankfully, the test results confirm each of them to be my biological child.”
He said since Celia walked away from the marriage, the three children “have lived with my wife, Ebi and I, and we have been wholly responsible for their wellbeing and education”.
“Friends who are close to my family would readily attest to the fact that unless specifically informed, no one could tell that the children were not the biological children of my present wife,” he added.
“Ebi and I would continue to support the children in any way that we can.
“Indeed, even after the release of the first DNA test result which proved that I was not the biological father of the last child, we have continued to pay for his education in a private boarding school.
“The two other children are university undergraduates. The first, a female, will be a graduate later this year, and the second will soon enter his 4th year of study. We pray for them to overcome the trauma and become responsible citizens of our country.
“For Celia and her boyfriend or boyfriends, we leave them to their conscience.”
