Dotun alleges U.S. Embassy helped ex-wife relocate children despite court order

Dotun alleges U.S. Embassy helped ex-wife relocate children despite court order

Nigerian on-air personality Dotun has accused the United States Embassy in Nigeria of facilitating the alleged child abduction of his two daughters by his ex-wife, Taiwo Oyebanjo, despite an active child custody case in a Nigerian court.

Dotun and Taiwo, who were married for eight years, have been embroiled in a prolonged legal dispute over custody. The broadcaster has consistently alleged that Taiwo, her family, and her brother, singer D’Banj, have repeatedly denied him access to the children despite a court order granting joint custody.

In a series of social media posts, Dotun claimed the U.S. Embassy “connived” with his estranged wife to relocate the children to the United States three years ago, violating a standing court order that prohibited either parent from taking the children out of Nigeria without mutual consent.

According to the OAP, he had possession of the children’s original passports at the time, and the court order required his approval for any international travel. Dotun alleged that the embassy issued new U.S. passports to the children — American citizens by birth — without notifying him or verifying parental consent.

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“The American Embassy in Nigeria is an enabler of child abduction… very biased. No proper investigation,” he wrote. “I have written for years and kept quiet for 3 years. It’s time.”

He further accused former U.S. Consul-General Mary Beth Leonard of overseeing what he described as a “compromised and biased process,” claiming that the embassy disregarded its standard two-parent consent policy, possibly relying on forged documents to process the children’s travel.

Dotun said the alleged actions of the embassy not only violated his parental rights but escalated his family dispute into an international custody battle. He demanded accountability and questioned how the children were able to depart Nigeria despite an active court case and travel restrictions.

“Even though my children are U.S. citizens, their mother is not. Issuing new passports without my consent or a court mandate shows a failure to protect the rights of a non-American father.”

He added: “Do you not need the consent of both parents to issue a passport? Do you realize people submit fake documents and publications to mar reputations? It’s 3 years now, American Embassy — where are my kids?”

As of the time of filing this report, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has not publicly responded to Dotun’s allegations.

Dotun alleges U.S. Embassy helped ex-wife relocate children despite court order