'I'm Not Wicked', Says Father Who Abandoned 3 Kids In Boarding School For 8 Years

A man who abandoned his three children in a boarding school in in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Segun Adepegba, has resurfaced eight years after, claiming he did not act out of wickedness.

The children, Seun, 14, Titilola 13, and Seyi, 10, were 6, 5 and 2 years old respectively when their father enrolled them in the school and abandoned them in 2007.

Following a news report detailing the incident, the father of three finally reached out, claiming he is not a "wicked father".

In a telephone interview with Punch, Adepegba, said financial challenges and problems with his wife forced his decision to abandon his children because he could not cater for their needs.

“In 2007, my wife and I had a misunderstanding and she told me she was leaving me. I was frustrated and the children were little. Seyi, the youngest was just two years while Titilola was just five," he said.

“There was no way I could give them motherly care. I had no job. As a man, I needed someone to help me take care of them and that was why my sister suggested that we enrol them in a boarding school.”

Adepegba said he would have visited the school but for the fear that he would be arrested having failed to pay his kids' accumulating bills, adding that he has been jobless and "putting up with someone."

"I am not a wicked father," he said.

"I can assure you that before the week runs out, I will visit them.”

He also said his efforts to reach his estranged wife "has not been fruitful."

Interestingly, Puch reports that the proprietor of the school says there is no plan to arrest the runaway father.

"My grievance was that he kept on rejecting my calls and abandoned his children. How could he as a father leave his children for this long?"

Adepegba imminent visit has left the children excited.

Both Seun the eldest and Titilola said they will be "very happy" to see him.

It is however not certain if Adepegba will keep his promise and let his children see his face for the first time in eight years.