“I stayed in the marriage cos of my children n coz a lot of people look up to me” – Mercy Aigbe

Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, who had publicly experienced challenges in her marriage to business man and hotel owner Lanre Gentry, has said that her coming out with the story of the domestic abuse was to enable them get help.

“It’s not like I want to walk away, but I just feel that we need help,” she had said in an interview with BroadwayTV.

In several social media posts, Mercy claimed that the domestic abuse allegedly inflicted on her by her husband had left her bruised and with injuries to the head on many occasions.

Mr Gentry is currently being remanded in Kirikiri Prisons on account of Mercy’s complaints.

Mercy Aigbe told the BroadwayTV:  “I stayed because of my children and because a lot of  people  look up to me.

“I was a role model to some sort and I really wanted to keep it together. I just wanted a home.”

About Beating…

“He beats me consistently.” When probed on why she stayed that long after the consistent beating, Mercy revealed that she did because she wanted a home. “I stayed because I loved him and because everytime he beats me, he begs and gets family and friends to beg me. He promised regularly to change but he never did. When my husband gets angry, he gets physical, not only to me but to anyone. He has done that with my house help who reported him to the Police years ago.

“I stayed because of my children and because a lot of people look up to me. I was a role model of some sort and I really wanted to keep it together. I just wanted a home”.

Why she wants to leave now…

“It’s not like I wanted to walk away but I just feel like we need help. I spoke to my husband’s brother about it. I told him I was going to pack out for some time while my husband seeks therapy. I just wanted to feel safe, that is why I moved my things out. This last beating was brutal. I actually thought I was going to die”.

I’m Still Coughing blood

The Nollywood actress revealed that her husband broke her orbits which will necessitate a surgery for her to see properly. “I’m still coughing and sneezing blood even after three weeks”, she reveals how severe the injury inflicted upon her is.

My Husband Was Sleeping With a Girl

Aigbe also revealed that the last incident started few days before when she discovered that her husband was sleeping with a lady. A lady she claimed to be her friend whom she was close to. This was a regular attitude from her husband; a man she claims has slept with a lot of people close to her, even her PAs.

He confronted him and it led to a huge argument which was turning violent before she had to keep quiet.

He Kept Beating Me

On the day of the incident, Mercy had informed her husband that she was attending a burial of her colleague. After his hesitance, she explained that it would not be fair on the lady since she had promised to be there and even invited him to come along.

Mercy revealed that it was her refusal to go and pick her husband up while she was still at her designer’s place that brought the fury of the man on her. He was said to have driven there and started to beat her in the presence of everybody.

“Immediately, I opened the door, he kept beating me. I was begging him and asking why he was beating me. He said he would destroy my face such that no make-up would fix it and destroy my career. He was acting like someone who was possessed. I told him “Lanre, mo ma bi mo fun e” (translated as “I have a child for you).

I agree that I am a fool

In the exclusive interview, the Nollywood star said she agrees that she was a fool for staying that long even with all the beating and humiliation. “I believed that a wise woman builds her home. That’s why I stayed that long”, she said.

About Cheating

“If he had shown a bit of remorse, maybe things would have been different. He went on saying that I cheated on him several times. I never cheated. That’s why I told him to come out with proof”, she said.

My Husband was in detention for over 7 months

“My husband was in detention for over seven months and I never left him or go anywhere. Why would I want to go now? He says all this is make-up. He is not showing any form of remorse and still sponsoring lies against me.