"Problem Started After I Found Out Lanre Was Sleeping With My PA" -- Mercy Aigbe speaks

Star actress, Mercy Aigbe, says the current crisis her marriage is facing began a few days after she found out that her husband, Lanre Gentry, was sleeping with a certain lady and her PA.

The actress who had accused her husband of domestic violence which she said affected her sight and caused her to bleed internally for over three weeks, disclosed this in a new-tell-it-all interview with BroadwayTV.

The actress who has since removed ‘Gentry’ (her husband’s name) from her social media accounts, also revealed the circumstances that led to the unfortunate event.

She recalled, “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 bore a child for you).

When probed on why she stayed this long despite the consistent beating, Mercy revealed that she covered up because she wanted to keep her home.

“I stayed because I loved him and because every time he beats me, he would plead with me and get his 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”.

Speaking further, the 39-year-old Nollywood star also defended her decision to move out her matrimonial home saying, “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 added that, “I’m still coughing and sneezing blood even after three weeks”.

In the interview, the Nollywood star said she agrees that she was a fool for staying that long in spite of the regular beatings and humiliation.

“I believed that a wise woman builds her home. That’s why I stayed that long. 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. My husband was in detention for over 7 months and I never left him or went anywhere. Why would I want to go now? He says my bruises are all fake. He is not showing any form of remorse and still sponsoring lies against me.”

A fight between the couple allegedly led to her bleeding, a situation which informed her decision to storm the office of the Lagos State Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Commissioner, Lola Akande, last week Tuesday, to report the matter.

Mr. Gentry was remanded in Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos last week Tuesday. The 52-year-old hotelier, who finally appeared in court after failing to show up twice, was remanded in prison until he meets the bail demands of N500,000 and two sureties who reside in Lagos and have landed properties.

He was initially granted bail after he was arraigned at an Ikeja magistrate court on a three-count charge of domestic violence, assault and threat to life.