Popular Nigerian actor, Saidi Balogun, has denied the report that says he dragged his ex-wife Actress Fathia Balogun to court over the use of his surname, insisting that she drops it.
As stated by the report, Saheed was quoted to have said: "She is my ex. As for my name that she is still answering, the deed will be done soon. The Nigerian law says that after three or four years, you can do something about it. If somebody wants to keep my name, what of the new person coming in? This has nothing to do with grudges."
Fathia was also reported to have said, "I laugh, my name is Fathia Balogun and it’s going to remain Balogun; nobody can ever change that and nobody can stop me from answering that name".
However, the actor has denied the report in a statement.
Find his reaction below:
I would be glad if my personal life can be kept out of the public eye. If a "news story" begins with the phrase "As stated by unconfirmed reports", and the affected stakeholders did not confirm such reports, is the story really newsworthy?
Punch called me about a personal issue (about a previous marriage) that I have no knowledge of. My response to them is the same response I have stated times without number to all unconfirmed, untrue and other rubbish stories of the like:
I, Saidi Balogun, am focusing on my work! I am married to my work and my work is all I know!
When I told this to Punch, they at least printed what I stated. But, they used a completely different headline that has no basis in fact, which they even admitted to themselves via their failed effort to provide evidence or confirmation of the rumour.
Abeg o, as Saidi Balogun, keep my personal life which you know nothing about out of the public eye and concentrate on the work I do that so many credible people respect me for.
Thanks and God Bless all of my fans, I love you!