Nollywood actress Doris Simeon has opened up about the harrowing experiences she faced when her ex-husband, director Daniel Ademinokan, took her son, David, without her consent.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Doris Simeon married the filmmaker in 2006 and they had their son before separating in 2010. Ademinokan married actress Stella Damasus and moved to the US with David in 2013, with Doris later moving to the United States in 2018 to keep in touch with him.
Doris, who appeared as a guest in a “Talk-To-B” interview with Biola Adebayo, whose roles in 2000s Yoruba films captivated many, recounted her struggle and efforts to stay in touch with her son.
Recalling her plight for the first time since the saga became heated, the 45-year-old actress said: “I'm sure a lot of people know my history with my ex.” He said he was going to his mother's house the day it happened. He stopped taking my calls and suddenly I was in Abuja. He lied to me about going there and took my son without my consent. I tried to avoid this. A lot of people think I don't talk, but I'm not that kind of person. I know what I've been through when I tried to talk, so I decided to stop and be alone. I prayed and looked for a better way to handle things.
Doris Simeon
“And then, he (my ex-husband) was in Abuja with my son. My son was three or maybe four years old when he came to the U.S. He was three years old the last time I mothered him.''
Unconscious
Unaware of the situation, Doris claimed that she repeatedly tried to contact her ex-husband and son before a friend hinted at her departure with her son.
The actress, famous for her roles in Yoruba films, said: “I think one of my friends told me about the plan. I didn't know because it was done without my consent. So there were just rumors and I started calling them, trying to find them for almost a year.
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“I kept calling him, but he didn't answer. When he did, he said, 'I'll call you again; I'm busy.' Months went by – two, three, even five months – and I still couldn't communicate with them. When I finally got through, it was work related. I had already started to move on, leaving my husband in the past because I didn't even know I would eventually travel.
“I finally got to talk to my son, who was still little, and he said, 'Dad just bought a big car.' When am I coming home? I said, 'I'll be there soon.' But after that, the judicial process began. When my son turned 10, we went out to eat and he was smiling and nervous. I asked him what was going on and he said, “I'm happy because I don't want this day to end.” I said, 'You know what? I'm not going anywhere. I will stay here with you. “That was what made me decide to stay in the United States in 2018.”
Legal battle
Doris revealed that she spent years in a custody battle to regain access to her son, who now resided in the United States.
The Edo-born actress noted: “I was already in the US, involved in a court case for about four or five years. I woke up every morning and drove to court. In the end they awarded custody to my ex-husband. The court reasoned that he lived in the United States, a country they considered offered a “better life.” Although I gave birth to my son in Nigeria, I found the court's ruling unfair. “They decided that my ex should take my son to Nigeria on vacation at least twice a year since he was studying in the United States.”
While it was a small victory, Doris admitted that she was emotionally drained by the court process and continued separation from her son. “I got tired of the constant coming and going. I was frustrated and depressed, but I couldn't let that show because of the way my parents raised us. I learned to stay strong, no matter what was happening. I finally decided to let it go, thinking, 'If I die today, my son will continue to live his life.' However, my move to the US later led us to begin co-parenting my son.”
Negligence accusations
In the interview, the actress, who played Da Grin's girlfriend in 2010's 'Ghetto Dreamz' and co-produced 'Omo Iya Kan', also addressed her ex-husband's accusations that she was not a responsible mother.
Defending herself, the award-winning actress said: “I heard the accusations. This same ex-husband, every time I went with him, I went with my nanny and my son. Since I had my son, I would even take him with me if I had to leave Lagos to film. If I was filming in Lagos, I would always return home afterwards. He never spent the night out when he worked in Lagos; I always came home to where he was with the babysitter.
“I made sure I was there because if I worked in Lagos, why would I leave it behind? So when he (my ex) made those claims, he also traveled frequently, so how would I know? “He wasn’t there for our son.”
Rumored relationship
Doris also speculated that her ex-husband was in a relationship with fellow actress Stella Damasus before their separation.
Director Ademinokan's move to the United States sparked controversy and fueled rumors when he allegedly began dating Stella and secretly married in 2011.
However, Doris dismissed these suspicions, stating: “No, at some point in our marriage I encouraged him to go out, have fun and make friends, so I didn't notice anything.”
When asked how she felt upon finding out about her new marriage, Doris said: “I didn't feel anything because by then I had moved on with my life. We even got legally divorced after the court ruling. I may have my flaws and he has his. But the only painful thing, and I will continue to say it, is that they (his ex and Stella) did not let me be the mother of my son. That's the only painful part. “My son is now 16 years old and maybe this is how God wants us to live in this life.”
On her acting career, Doris, who landed her first role auditioning for a cameo in a situational comedy produced by Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) titled 'Papa Ajasco', said: “I recently did a shoot with a filmmaker, and the “People keep asking, 'When are you coming back? We miss you on screen.'” I still film here and make some movies in America. It may not be exactly what we did in Nigeria, but it's still better than years ago.
When asked if she would give love a second chance, the 45-year-old actress revealed that she is dating someone. She said: “There is someone, but I'm not going to put my private life on social media. “I don't guarantee you a wedding soon, but I have someone.”
Doris Simeon Fund
Doris and Ademinokan faced issues that led to their separation, but in October 2013, she alleged that her ex-husband and Stella took her son away and that she had not been able to see or contact him since 2011. Many followers took Doris' side and criticized Ademinokan and Stella. .
However, the filmmaker responded in December 2013 with a letter accusing Doris of misleading the public and presenting text messages as proof of regular contact with her son, claiming that he had offered to fly her to the United States to visit him. Doris remained quiet about her marital problems, focusing on her career and choosing not to discuss the details publicly. The split, however, continued to attract media attention.
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After years of speculation, Ademinokan and Stella's relationship ended in 2020. After their split, they both posted cryptic messages on social media suggesting challenges in the relationship. Stella advised women to pay attention to “red flags,” while Ademinokan warned against following advice blindly. The breakup rekindled sympathy for Doris, and many fans revisited her story, some seeing it as “karma” for her past situation.
By 2023, Ademinokan married a third wife, director Tope Oshin, in a private ceremony in Houston and welcomed their son, TJ Ademinokan, in July. Although he kept many details private, the couple received many congratulatory messages.