Actor and film producer Fred Amata has criticized his ex-wife, Agatha Amata, famous for her talk show 'Inside Out with Agatha', for giving his daughter's hand in marriage without her consent.
Agatha, CEO of RaveTV Lagos and Trend FM100.9, Asaba, divorced the famous actor in 2005. The divorce was reportedly amicable and they have two children, Oreva and Stephanie. Three years after their divorce, her ex-husband welcomed a daughter, Zino, with actress and former beauty queen Ibinabo Fiberisima.
Amata, absent from his daughter's wedding in the United Kingdom, 'reunited' with his ex-wife for his son Oreva's traditional wedding in Lagos in June 2023. However, he was absent from the white wedding held in the United States in May of the same year.
Fred Amata and his ex-wife Agatha
Amata's latest accusations have once again highlighted his past problems.
On Wednesday, Agatha announced her daughter Stephanie's marriage on her Instagram page and wished her a happy union, sharing a video of the wedding ceremony. In the video, he could be seen walking her down the aisle, a tradition usually carried out by fathers or men.
Reacting to the marriage in a post on his social media accounts, actor Fred Amata expressed his shock and disbelief at his ex-wife's action, describing it as a grave injustice in his culture.
Article page with financial support promotion
She said: “Abomination, embracing taboo, looking Africa in the eyes to manipulate my daughter and her husband, deceiving lovebirds and leading my daughter to the altar to give Stephanie to a husband. I can't stay silent anymore. It's time to talk. This is an abomination. This is taboo. Nowhere in the world, nowhere in Africa, nowhere in Delta State and the lands we come from, can a woman give away her child in marriage, especially when the father is alive.
“Especially when the father is willing and able. Even worse, when the father is in the same city. What malice would lead a woman, in an attempt to scorn her ex-husband, to bring her daughter into marriage? What manipulation would justify hiding the date and time from a father who has already given his blessing? Even if the daughter forgets when the father and daughter are in the same city of London, isn't that the place of 'The Good Wife'?
heartbroken father
The 61-year-old questioned his ex-wife's audacity in giving his daughter's hand in marriage without his knowledge.
Amata, who rose to fame in 1986 for his role in Legacy, sought advice from Nigerians and supporters on what to do next.
Ibinabo, Fred Amata and their daughter, Zino
He said that a good wife would never do such a thing simply to make a man look bad.
“Good people, Internet users, supporters, enemies and influencers. What options are left for this heartbroken father? How do you throw the baby out with the bathwater? Do you reject those you will love forever because a 'good wife' has been blinded by wealth and fury to jeopardize the father's blessings on his daughter?
“They came to see me in London; Aaron brought drinks like cola to me, the father, as the photos show. Do you throw the baby out with the bathwater? Do you reject those you will love forever because a 'good wife' has been blinded by wealth and fury to jeopardize the father's blessings on his daughter? What kind of 'good wife' does something like this just to make a man look bad?
Tarnished image
The actor also alleged that his ex-wife had tarnished his reputation, belittled his achievements and exploited his name for her selfish gain since their divorce.
He said he had remained silent and refrained from commenting on his failed marriage, hoping that wounds would heal and reconciliation would be possible.
The daughter of Fred and Agatha Amata and her spouse.
He said: “Over 25 years ago I came up with the unique idea of 'Inside-Out with Agatha', a talk show with six informed and opposing points of view represented by one person with oratory skills, now male, now female. We had watched a Regina Askia talk show and Agatha wanted to be a presenter. I told him not to worry: 'I'll think of something; It'll make you like Oprah Winfrey,' and I did it cleverly.
“I was the dedicated creator, who put flesh, blood and sweat into creating and delivering a concept that had never been done before in Nigeria, barring six similar, perhaps less attractive, episodes of a show called MEE to You, or something like that, for the late May Ellen Ezekiel, who was married to RMD. A program that could stand the test of time and put bread on the table of young marriages; a program so versatile that it is still relevant today.”
From the inside out with Agatha my idea – Fred Amata
Amata further revealed that his ex-wife had used his show, 'Inside Out with Agatha', which has been recognized as the longest running television talk show in Nigeria, airing for over twenty years, against him.
He added that he sacrificed his initial bid for the presidency of the Directors Guild of Nigeria in favor of 'Inside Out with Agatha', which eventually became a huge hit.
However, he said he didn't realize that the show's success would threaten his marriage. He said the concept and vision he presented in 'Inside Out with Agatha' was unprecedented in Nigeria.
“'Inside Out with Agatha' was an instant hit. The genius of the angle, the production values, the directing approach, the lighting and the production design were so attractive that they were irresistible. I was at the height of my appointment as a director and had assembled a production team with the best technical hands in what is now the beginning of Nollywood. Soap operas were the big thing because we dared to stand out from the emerging crowd of Nollywood directors. Kingsley Ogoro, my friend, brother and nemesis, would lead a surge.
READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: After bitter divorce, Nigerian pastor and ex-wife fight over £1.5m UK property
“I co-opted Nollywood greats: Zack Orji, Okey Bakassi, Sunny McDon, Francis Onwochei, Emeka Ossai, Zik Zulu Okafor, Francis Duru, Prince Jide Kosoko and numerous friends who admired me. I asked for their support for the first few episodes and soon everyone who was anyone wanted to be a part of Inside Out.
“I bet all my resources: friends, favors, loyalties, family, extended family and ties. I was involved in the crème de la crème of big productions and studios: Tunde Kelani, Wale Fanu, Tade Ogidan, Tunde Oloyede, Pat Nebo, Uzor Okpeche, Simi Opeoluwa, Opa Williams, the late Chico Ejiro and many others, to ensure There is no failure of the program.”
He described the program as one that could last over time and provide financial stability for young couples.
Fred Amata on marriage resolution
He said that during a resolution meeting of his marital crisis, the families (his and his ex-wife's) agreed that profits from 'Inside Out with Agatha' would continue to support the children.
He said they allowed Agatha to continue with the show because she was the marketing representative.
He alleged that she changed after 'Inside Out with Agatha' became the financial backbone of his ex-wife, whom he described as the 'Good Wife.'
“With the influence she exerted and the contacts and connections she gathered, 'The Good Wife' soon built an empire without an emperor. She used to defame my name to acquire favors and contracts. Inside Out is the source of all of Good Wife's richness. My genius, my sweat, my vision, and for 20 years I swallowed it. My reputation declined as the Good Wife gained momentum. So today, the Good Wife, using my creation, has become a billionaire, without merit to me.
“No compensation, no royalties. But the Good Wife is good; May raising children be my royalty. Buoyed by her success without recourse to the creator, Good Wife, born in Ebu Delta State, has accumulated a litany of resentment. It has registered a new company as the owner of the program, ruling out the company we set up. “She sued and obtained a divorce, and 20 years later she still carries a grudge and will go to extremes to tarnish my image,” he added.
He says everything his ex-wife owns results directly from her show, 'Inside Out with Agatha.'
'But understand this, 'Good Wife' Agatha: everything you have ever had and will ever possess is because of 'Inside Out.' It is my creation, my intellectual property. You have yet to bury me with your silence and indifference to the billions you have reaped while remaining oblivious to your extravagant wealth.
“This so-called 'Good Wife' dares to defy tradition, defy social norms and embrace taboos. He dares to take on Africa, trying to manipulate my daughter and her husband, deceive the lovebirds and take my daughter to the altar to hand Stephanie over to her husband.”
Agatha has not responded to her ex-husband's allegations as of press time.