Wale Odunsi, Dailypost
Justice Anthony Ezonfade Okorodas has shared the story of how he realized that three children delivered by his first wife were not his.
Okorodas said a DNA test exposed Celia Juliet Ototo, a lawyer.
Celia hails from the Ototo family of Ovom in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The judge of the Delta State High Court and the woman parted ways years ago.
During the lockdown last year, an anonymous individual called to hint Okorodas that he was not the father of one of the children.
Based on the information, the judge decided to carry out a medical evaluation.
In a statement, Okorodas said due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, he had to wait until August 2020 to carry out a test.
The result came out in September 2020 and confirmed that he was not the biological father.
Okorodas recalled that he convened a meeting between his extended family and Celia’s paternal and maternal families where he confronted her.
Celia initially denied but later confessed to having the child with another man.
Okorodas noted that the repulsive act prompted him to conduct DNA tests in respect of the two other children.
“A few days ago, the results came out. Sadly, none of them is my biological child. This abomination has caused excruciating mental trauma to me, my present wife, Barrister (Mrs) Ebi Okorodas and all of the innocent children involved”, Okorodas wrote.
“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. It is important to state that Celia walked away from the marriage when her youngest child (now 17) was just 6 years old.
“All of her children have lived with 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.
“Ebi and I would continue to support the children. 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.”
Okorodas added that he has left Celia and her boyfriend or boyfriends to their conscience.
