The marriage that took place between Soccer legend, John
Fashanu and his wife, Abigail Onyekwelu, the mother of Nigeria’s former beauty queen,
Adaeze Yobo in 2011 has come to an end. Though little was heard about the sudden
end of the marriage, it became more opened about 14 hours ago when Mirror.co.uk published
their messy divorce tale. Fashanu said it has always been trouble with Abigail
and he has never seen a woman who has so much appetite for money like her. She tried to kill me with a knife, when she
caught me in threesome with two women, he explained. She is also a lesbian and a thief, he said again.
Fashanu and his wife, Abigail Onyekwelu, the mother of Nigeria’s former beauty queen,
Adaeze Yobo in 2011 has come to an end. Though little was heard about the sudden
end of the marriage, it became more opened about 14 hours ago when Mirror.co.uk published
their messy divorce tale. Fashanu said it has always been trouble with Abigail
and he has never seen a woman who has so much appetite for money like her. She tried to kill me with a knife, when she
caught me in threesome with two women, he explained. She is also a lesbian and a thief, he said again.
Abigail however denied all of these and gave her side of the story. Fahsanu is 52, while Abigail is 48 and if I am correct, they
are both grandparents, except none of Fashanu’s children (5 of them) have no child yet.
Soccer legend John Fashanu has accused his wife of trying to
kill him – after she allegedly found him bedding two women at the same time.
kill him – after she allegedly found him bedding two women at the same time.
The retired former Wimbledon and England striker said
estranged Abigail Onyekwelu went for him with a knife during a furious row at
their home.
estranged Abigail Onyekwelu went for him with a knife during a furious row at
their home.
Fashanu, also a former Gladiators host, is now at the centre
of a bitter divorce battle with Abigail – and insists SHE cheated on him with a
woman.
of a bitter divorce battle with Abigail – and insists SHE cheated on him with a
woman.
She denies his claims and the astonishing battle – which
includes the accusation that he bedded their maid – is to be played out in the
high court in Abuja, Nigeria.
includes the accusation that he bedded their maid – is to be played out in the
high court in Abuja, Nigeria.
Furious Abigail, 48, said last night: “Good riddance to bad
rubbish! I’ve left him and washed my hands.”
rubbish! I’ve left him and washed my hands.”
But Fashanu, 52 – dubbed Fash the Bash for his hardman
reputation in Wimbledon’s famous “Crazy Gang” – hit back with an extraordinary
series of allegations.
reputation in Wimbledon’s famous “Crazy Gang” – hit back with an extraordinary
series of allegations.
He said he had to call in police to protect him from
knife-wielding Abigail and was devastated to find her in bed with another
woman.
knife-wielding Abigail and was devastated to find her in bed with another
woman.
He also alleged that she stole thousands of pounds in cash
from their marital home.
from their marital home.
Speaking exclusively to the Sunday People the star – who now
presents the Nigerian version of TV’s Deal or No Deal – said: “She attempted to
use knives on me. It was terrifying.
presents the Nigerian version of TV’s Deal or No Deal – said: “She attempted to
use knives on me. It was terrifying.
“My life was at stake, there’s no two ways about that.
“Even if you did think I was sleeping with the maid, or even
if you thought I was sleeping with Miss Nigeria, don’t kill me! Just leave me
and go. The violence was just too much.”
if you thought I was sleeping with Miss Nigeria, don’t kill me! Just leave me
and go. The violence was just too much.”
6ft 2in Fashanu added: “My life was at risk and I didn’t
want it to happen again. That’s why I filed for divorce.”
want it to happen again. That’s why I filed for divorce.”
He denied his wife’s claim to have discovered him in bed
with two other women – one of them their maid.
with two other women – one of them their maid.
“I’ve been very fortunate to date some of the most beautiful
women in the world,” Fash insisted. “I certainly don’t have to sleep with my
cleaner!
women in the world,” Fash insisted. “I certainly don’t have to sleep with my
cleaner!
“This is me, John Fashanu, you’re talking to. It’s absolute
nonsense. If she wants to make up that story, at least let her say it’s
Beyoncé or someone.
nonsense. If she wants to make up that story, at least let her say it’s
Beyoncé or someone.
“Don’t say it’s my cleaner, that’s just b******s. It’s not
true at all.
true at all.
“The truth is she’s been cheating on me with a woman she
calls her spiritual partner.
calls her spiritual partner.
“I caught them in the bed many times. That was why I kicked
her out of my house.”
her out of my house.”
Abigail is the mother of former beauty queen Adaeze Yobo.
Fashanu met her in 2009. They married two years later but the relationship hit
the skids last year.
Fashanu met her in 2009. They married two years later but the relationship hit
the skids last year.
Father-of-five Fashanu claimed police are now investigating
an attack on him. He also alleged that officers are trying to retrieve missing
cash from Abigail.
an attack on him. He also alleged that officers are trying to retrieve missing
cash from Abigail.
He said: “I’m the one who is filing for divorce. I couldn’t
stand her and, to be honest, she probably couldn’t stand me. With Abigail it
was just money, money, money.
stand her and, to be honest, she probably couldn’t stand me. With Abigail it
was just money, money, money.
“I’ve never seen a woman who has such an appetite for money.
Nearly one million Nigerian naira (around £3,300) was stolen from my house in
Abuja. There are police reports you can see.
Nearly one million Nigerian naira (around £3,300) was stolen from my house in
Abuja. There are police reports you can see.
“There were so many assaults, it was just getting too much.
It was absolutely ridiculous. She attacked me on multiple occasions. The whole
situation was far too hot for me. There are some wonderful, wonderful women.
It’s just that I met the wrong one.”
It was absolutely ridiculous. She attacked me on multiple occasions. The whole
situation was far too hot for me. There are some wonderful, wonderful women.
It’s just that I met the wrong one.”
Former beauty queen Adaeze Yobo and mother, Abigail
Glamorous socialite Abigail, a qualified lawyer and
mother-in-law to former Nigerian football captain Joseph Yobo, paints a totally
different picture of the marriage breakdown.
mother-in-law to former Nigerian football captain Joseph Yobo, paints a totally
different picture of the marriage breakdown.
The mother of four said: “John’s saying I tried to kill him?
Oh my God, this is so funny. I don’t quite understand all this.
Oh my God, this is so funny. I don’t quite understand all this.
“How can I kill him? How can somebody like me kill this
huge man who is an expert in karate. I don’t understand how I can kill him.”
huge man who is an expert in karate. I don’t understand how I can kill him.”
Told that he had accused her of going to his house armed
with knives before trying to attack him, Abigail retorted: “Oh my God, that is
ridiculous.”
with knives before trying to attack him, Abigail retorted: “Oh my God, that is
ridiculous.”
She also rejected Fashanu’s claim that he threw her out of
his house after finding her in bed with another woman.
his house after finding her in bed with another woman.
Abigail said: “He didn’t kick me out of his house. We were
living in my house. He couldn’t have kicked me out of my own house – I kicked
him out.”
living in my house. He couldn’t have kicked me out of my own house – I kicked
him out.”
Of the woman concerned, she insisted: “She is a good friend
to me. She has a husband and children. It is ridiculous. She was living with me
for a while to get back on her feet.”
to me. She has a husband and children. It is ridiculous. She was living with me
for a while to get back on her feet.”
Abigail went on: “I caught him in bed with two women, the
housemaid and one other woman. There were two women, it was awful.
housemaid and one other woman. There were two women, it was awful.
“They were on the bed. They were undressed. I said to them,
‘Who are you and what’s going on here?’
‘Who are you and what’s going on here?’
“He told me that he doesn’t know what he’s doing and I
should pray for him. He knows how to manipulate people, that’s one thing he is
good at.
should pray for him. He knows how to manipulate people, that’s one thing he is
good at.
“I last saw him in April last year. I didn’t know he’d filed
for divorce. He has been calling people asking them to plead with me to get
back with him.
for divorce. He has been calling people asking them to plead with me to get
back with him.
“I would have filed for divorce myself but I haven’t because
I’ve been very busy. And he asked me not to because he did not want to make it
known that we had separated.
I’ve been very busy. And he asked me not to because he did not want to make it
known that we had separated.
“So I went on my way and I left him but I didn’t tell
anybody anything.
anybody anything.
“I’ve told him, ‘I don’t want you any more, I have forgiven
you, I’m a Christian. But I don’t want you any more, just leave me alone.’
you, I’m a Christian. But I don’t want you any more, just leave me alone.’
I don’t take him seriously. I don’t have time for him. If I
should be angry at anyone, I should be angry at myself for descending so low as
to enter into marriage with such a person.”
should be angry at anyone, I should be angry at myself for descending so low as
to enter into marriage with such a person.”
Responding to claims she stole money from Fashanu, Abigail
added: “Anybody can say anything – but how can I go to his house and steal from
him in his house?
added: “Anybody can say anything – but how can I go to his house and steal from
him in his house?
“I wasn’t living there with him. He’s sick and he needs
help.”
help.”
Fashanu was born in London to a Guyanan nurse, Pearl, and
Nigerian barrister, Patrick. After they split up he had a spell in a Barnado’s
home and was fostered in Norfolk.
Nigerian barrister, Patrick. After they split up he had a spell in a Barnado’s
home and was fostered in Norfolk.
His football career included spells with Norwich City,
Lincoln City, Crystal Palace, Millwall and Aston Villa.
Lincoln City, Crystal Palace, Millwall and Aston Villa.
He joined Wimbledon in 1986 and famously won the FA Cup in
1988 in a team including Vinnie Jones and Lawrie Sanchez.
1988 in a team including Vinnie Jones and Lawrie Sanchez.
Fashanu scored more than 100 goals during his 17-year
career, which also included two appearances for England.
career, which also included two appearances for England.
After retiring from football he hosted the hit 1990s TV show
Gladiators for seven years alongside Ulrika Jonsson.
Gladiators for seven years alongside Ulrika Jonsson.
In 2003 he starred as a contestant in the ITV reality show
I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
His first marriage, to Ivory Coast model Melissa
Kassa-Mapsi, ended in divorce in 2004. Now Fashanu is a famous and respected
figure in Africa.
Kassa-Mapsi, ended in divorce in 2004. Now Fashanu is a famous and respected
figure in Africa.
He has carried out extensive charity work and is understood
to have been a friend of Nelson Mandela.
to have been a friend of Nelson Mandela.
He is a UN Ambassador for Nigeria, a former Unicef goodwill
ambassador for 53 African countries and a former board member of the Nigeria
Football Association.
ambassador for 53 African countries and a former board member of the Nigeria
Football Association.
He also worked to develop professional football across
Africa and was Nigeria’s Ambassador for Sport and Tourism. Fashanu now presents
the Deal or No Deal Nigeria game show on The Africa Channel and is a successful
businessman with interests in London and Abuja.
Africa and was Nigeria’s Ambassador for Sport and Tourism. Fashanu now presents
the Deal or No Deal Nigeria game show on The Africa Channel and is a successful
businessman with interests in London and Abuja.
But the star suffered heartbreak when his brother Justin,
who was Britain’s first openly gay professional footballer, hanged himself in
London in 1988.
who was Britain’s first openly gay professional footballer, hanged himself in
London in 1988.
After his brother’s suicide, Fashanu expressed remorse for
disowning him because of his homosexuality.
disowning him because of his homosexuality.
But he later claimed he did not believe Justin was genuinely
gay.
gay.
Wife Abigail claims he has fathered six children by three
different women.
different women.
Meanwhile he added: “I filed the divorce petition in
September and it’s listed for mention on the 19th of next month at the court in
Abuja. We’re trying to move it through.”
September and it’s listed for mention on the 19th of next month at the court in
Abuja. We’re trying to move it through.”
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