Jennifer Douglas -Abubakar, the wife of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has issued an exclusive statement on the divorce saga with her husband, Atiku Abubakar. 

In a statement published by The Trent, Ms Abubakar set out to clarify multiple issues surrounding her divorce from Mr Abubakar. 

On one hand, Ms Abubakar noted the divorce was not a result of Mr Abubakar’s new marriage.

“On June 26, 2021, I asked His Excellency to grant me a divorce in light of the breakdown of our marriage. And, during that period, I told his Excellency that I remain at his Excellency’s service to continue to assist him in his activities even If I am no longer married to him,” said the statement. 

Ms Abubakar also commented on the controversy surrounding the Dubai residence, dismissing claims that she attempted to take over the properties.

The statement noted that Ms Abubakar had been away from the property until September 2021, after the ex-vice president “reneged on his word to give the current value of the said property in exchange.” 

“When I came to Nigeria in early September 2021, I asked to have a private conversation with His Excellency. During that conversation, I informed his Excellency that once I get back to the United Kingdom, I will go to Dubai and take over the house,” added Ms Abubakar. “He subsequently departed for his medical trip to Germany refusing to address any of the issues I privately wanted to conclude with him outside of third parties,” the statement said. 

After returning to the Dubai residence, Ms Abubakar wrote that Mr Abubakar messaged her, saying “I hear you have moved to Dubai to take over the house. I am still in Germany for my medicals. Make sure all my properties including (redacted) are intact so I can collect all my properties. I wish you well.”

Ms Abubakar also noted that she had asked the former Vice President via a text message if he wanted his clothes and other personal belongings packed and given to his driver. This conversation was in light of Mr Abubakar’s instructions to have the cars moved from the Dubai residence. 

“Further on Tuesday, 21 September, 2021, I asked His Excellency in another text whether he wanted me to pack up his clothes and give it to Rahim (his driver) since the driver on his instructions was moving his cars. I also asked Excellency in that text whether he wanted me to have Rahim pack up his office,” she explained. ”Subsequently, His Excellency sent the driver to take possession of all the cars.”

Ms Abubakar noted that there would be no further discussion on the Dubai residence as it is currently in litigation, adding that if she had the intention to “take His Excellency’s assets, I would not have returned to him his property documents in Abuja and Jos and documents, allowed the driver to collect his cars and gave up the house in Asokoro and Yola.”

A spokesman for Mr Abubakar did not return requests seeking comments since Monday evening.

Last January, Peoples Gazette reported Ms Abubakar’s exit from their matrimonial home, over Mr Abubakar’s decision to take a fourth wife. The report noted that Mr Abubakar’s other wives had been more accepting of the new wife of Moroccan descent than Ms Abubakar, despite her claims in the recently released statement.