Laide Bakare custody battle takes centre stage as the Nollywood actress recounts two failed marriages and her 10-year struggle over her sons
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Laide Bakare has spoken candidly about the difficulties surrounding her two previous marriages and a prolonged custody dispute over her two sons during an interview with Nigerian media personality Chude Jideonwo in November 2026.
The actress reflected on the emotional and personal challenges of her relationships, alleging that her financial independence contributed to the collapse of her first marriage and revealing that she has spent about 10 years fighting to maintain access to her children from her second marriage.
The conversation offered a more personal glimpse into the actress’s experiences beyond her public career, touching on financial freedom, relationship difficulties, motherhood and the complicated realities of family separation.
Recounting the circumstances surrounding her first marriage, Bakare said her return from a trip to the United States marked a difficult period in her relationship with her former husband.
According to the actress, her husband became uncomfortable with the financial independence she had acquired and eventually asked her to leave their matrimonial home.
She recalled his reaction in a particularly striking statement.
“I travelled to the US, and when I came back, he said, ‘Don’t bring that back to the house.’ My first husband was threatened by me being financially free,” she said.
Her account suggests that the independence she considered an achievement became a source of tension within the marriage.
Bakare did not present the experience simply as a disagreement over money. Rather, her recollection highlighted the difficulties that can arise when personal ambition, financial autonomy and expectations within a marriage come into conflict.
Her comments have also reopened conversations about the position of financially independent women in relationships, particularly when professional success changes the balance of economic responsibility between partners.
The actress also revisited her second marriage, offering an account of the relationship between her former husband and his current partner.
According to Bakare, the woman was already romantically involved with her former husband while Bakare was still in the relationship. She claimed the woman kept her distance whenever she heard her name.
“When I used to be with him, the woman was just his girlfriend. A girlfriend that was hiding from me, and whenever she heard my name, she would run,” she recounted.
The actress’s comments were presented as part of her wider reflection on the experiences that shaped both marriages. However, the claims concerning the former husband’s relationship with his current partner remain her personal account.
The most emotional aspect of the interview centred on her two sons and the custody disagreement that she says has continued for approximately a decade.
Bakare disclosed that she had previously secured custody of the children but later lost access to them, describing the experience as a prolonged struggle that has affected her relationship with her sons.
“I have been fighting for custody of my kids for the past 10 years. At one point, I got custody of them and then was denied access to them,” she said.
The actress shares two sons with her second former husband, Mutairu Atanda Orilowo. She also has a daughter from her first marriage to US-based businessman Olumide Okunfulure. The three children have featured in previous public discussions about Bakare’s family life.
The custody issue had already entered the public spotlight in October 2026, when Bakare appealed for help over concerns about the welfare of her sons while they were living with their father and his wife.
In a separate public statement, the actress alleged that she had overheard a disturbing telephone conversation involving her former husband’s wife and some children in the household.
Bakare claimed the woman instructed another child not to beat her sons in a way that would leave visible marks but to strangle them instead. She said she had recorded the conversation and expressed concern about the children’s safety.
She also alleged that Orilowo had refused to allow her to renew the boys’ passports, making it difficult for her to arrange for them to travel to the United States or live with her.
The allegations attracted attention because they shifted the discussion from the breakdown of a marriage to the welfare of children caught in a prolonged parental disagreement.
In its October 6 report, TheCable Lifestyle covered Bakare’s concerns and noted that the allegations against her former husband’s wife had not been independently verified. The former husband had not publicly responded to the claims in the reports reviewed at the time.
Bakare’s marital history has also been a subject of public interest over the years.
Her first marriage to Olumide Okunfulure produced a daughter, while her subsequent relationship with Mutairu Atanda Orilowo produced two sons. The second marriage reportedly took place in 2012, although some media accounts have given 2013 as the marriage year.
In April 2026, Bakare attracted further attention when she announced plans to marry again, describing the proposed union as her first official marriage despite having previously been married twice.
She did not disclose the identity of her prospective husband or the wedding date during that announcement.
Her latest interview with Chude Jideonwo therefore offers another opportunity to reflect on the personal experiences behind her public image.
Beyond the controversies surrounding her previous relationships, Bakare’s account highlights the emotional complexities of rebuilding life after failed marriages, maintaining financial independence and navigating parenthood after separation.
For many parents, custody disagreements can become particularly difficult when communication breaks down and access to children becomes a source of prolonged conflict. The circumstances surrounding Bakare’s case, however, would require further clarification from the parties involved and, where applicable, the relevant legal authorities.
As the actress continues to speak publicly about her experiences, the central concern remains the welfare of her two sons and the possibility of resolving the custody disagreement in a manner that protects their interests.
Her account is also a reminder that financial independence and personal success do not necessarily shield individuals from difficulties within their private relationships.
For Bakare, the latest revelations are not simply about two marriages that did not work out. They are also about the continuing challenges of motherhood, personal freedom and the desire to remain actively involved in the lives of her children.
Editorial verification note: The first-marriage account and interview quotations are attributed to Bakare. The custody and child-welfare allegations remain unverified claims, and no independent court record establishing the current custody position was identified in the sources reviewed.
