Nigerian Lawyer Seeks Divorce Citing Domestic Abuse and Financial Manipulation
Mrs. Nnedinma Onyebula, a Nigerian attorney residing in the United States, has filed a petition with the Lagos State High Court to end her decades-long marriage to Sonny Onyebula. She has accused her husband of a pattern of domestic violence, emotional abuse, infidelity, financial manipulation, and blackmail.
In her response to the ongoing divorce proceedings, Mrs. Onyebula asserts that she has been the primary breadwinner throughout their marriage, a claim his husband vehemently denies. This dispute is central to Suit No. LD/26404WD/2026, where Mrs. Onyebula has requested the court to dissolve their marriage, citing its irretrievable breakdown.
Among her most serious allegations are repeated incidents of physical abuse. She claims that her husband often grabbed her by the neck, choked her, and lifted her off the ground, despite her history of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia. According to Mrs. Onyebula, these assaults occurred approximately three times each year.
One particularly troubling incident occurred in October 2012, when she alleges that her husband assaulted her mother in front of their children until she lost consciousness. Following this episode, he reportedly took her to the Premier Specialist Medical Center in Lekki around 3 a.m. but left before she could receive adequate care for her injuries, which later required treatment at Eye Foundation Hospital.
Mrs. Onyebula has indicated her intention to file a separate civil lawsuit addressing the assault charges once the matrimonial proceedings conclude. In contrast, Mr. Onyebula has denied all allegations of physical abuse, asserting that during conflicts, his wife had become aggressive, citing an instance where she allegedly vandalized property and attacked him physically.
Beyond claims of physical violence, Mrs. Onyebula accuses her husband of ongoing emotional abuse, alleging that he exhibited affection while simultaneously neglecting her, leaving their home for days, and defaming her character to relatives as ill and financially dependent. She alleges that while he took credit for his financial contributions, she had always supported the family financially.
Further accusations of infidelity include claims that Mr. Onyebula confessed to having multiple extramarital affairs, including one with a pregnant married woman in Ikeja. He is also alleged to have maintained an inappropriate relationship with a female domestic worker and acted inappropriately towards her sister. Mr. Onyebula, however, refutes these claims, insisting he has never been unfaithful.
Moreover, Mrs. Onyebula disputes her husband’s account of their wedding financing. She asserts that he was unemployed during their marriage and that she paid for both their traditional and church weddings, as well as covering expenses for both families. According to her, she even facilitated his employment opportunities through her network, shouldering significant financial responsibilities throughout their marriage, including their children’s education and household expenses.
She claims that her contributions amounted to N8 million towards a family property, only to discover later that the title deed listed Mr. Onyebula as the sole purchaser, while subsequent revisions reduced her name to that of a witness. Allegedly, the defendant’s mother advised him to omit her name to prevent her from claiming ownership in the event of a divorce. Moreover, when Mrs. Onyebula sought her father’s intervention, she claims the defendant threatened her, which he denies.
During the proceedings, Mr. Onyebula argued that the years of alleged violence, emotional abuse, infidelity, and manipulation had irrevocably damaged their marriage, exacerbating his medical condition and leaving him traumatized. He maintained that it was his wife who denied them both intimacy and emotional connection.
As the trial approaches, Justice O.O. Ogunjobi has scheduled the next court session for October 2, 2026, to continue deliberations on the case.
