Anthony Okorodas, a Delta State High Court judge, revealed last Thursday that DNA test showed he is not the biological father of his 3 adult children from his Ex-wife, Celia.
He said his ex-wife left the marriage when the last born, now 17 years old, was just 6.
The judge described the development as traumatizing, stating that he and his present wife have been responsible for the welfare and education of the 3 children. Two of the children are university graduates.
Okorodas who said he has four children with his recent wife mentioned that an anonymous source tipped him that the three children were not his during the lockdown in April 2020, and he was only able to confirm this in August 2020 through a DNA test.
He said: “I have taken the decision to address the press in respect of certain traumatic developments that have arisen between me and my ex-wife, Barrister Celia Juliet Otoro’s family of Oyom in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
It is now nearly 11 years since our separation and divorce. This press statement is important in order to prevent damages speculations, half-truths, and outright lies from persons who may want to cash in on the tragedy that has befallen my home.
Sometimes during coronavirus lockdowns 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.
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.”
Owing to this fact, Anthony arranged for a meeting between his family and Celia’s family, where he confronted her with the paternity fraud allegation.
He revealed that;
“Although she initially strongly initiated that I was the biological father, she has since confessed to having the child with another man during the course of our marriage. This repulsive act of my ex-wife prompted me to conduct DNA tests in respect of our two other children. A few days ago, the result came out. Sadly, none of them is my biological child.
This abomination has caused excruciating mental trauma to me, my present wife, Barrister Ebi Okorodas, and all of the innocent children involved. Four children from my current wife confirmed to be mine.”
He mentioned that because of this incident, he decided to have a DNA test conducted on the four from his recent wife and the results showed he is their biological father. Anthony said notwithstanding the outcome of the DNA test, he would continue to show care to the ex-wife’s children.
He also said:
“It is important to state that Celia walked away from the marriage when her youngest child who is now 17years of age was just six years old.
Since then, all of her 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.
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 graduates. 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 boyfriends, we leave them to their conscience.”
