Nollywood star Doris Simeon has broken her silence about the painful years spent separated from her son, David, after her ex-husband, director Daniel Ademinokan, took him to the United States without her consent.
Simeon, who married Ademinokan in 2006, gave birth to David before the couple separated in 2010. Ademinokan later remarried actress Stella Damasus, with whom he moved to the U.S. with David in 2013.
Following his recent divorce from Damasus, Ademinokan married screenwriter and producer Tope Oshin in a private ceremony in 2023, and they welcomed a son, T.J., in July.
Simeon, who relocated to the U.S. in 2018 to be closer to her son, opened up about the traumatic events for the first time since the ordeal began.
She said, “Many people know my story with my ex. He told me he was going to his mom’s place but suddenly vanished. He stopped picking up my calls, and then I heard he was in Abuja. He took my son without telling me. I tried everything to prevent this from happening.”
Reflecting on her repeated attempts to connect with her son, the actress shared how a friend revealed that her ex had left with David.
She stated, “One of my friends eventually told me. I had been trying to contact them, but he never answered. When he did, he’d say, ‘I’ll call you back,’ but I wouldn’t hear from him for months. I finally moved on because I couldn’t reach my son. Later, I got to speak with my son, and he asked me, ‘When am I coming home?’ That conversation was one of the last I had with him before the legal proceedings began.”
Describing her ongoing legal battle to regain access to her son, Simeon said, “When I got to the U.S., I spent about four to five years involved in court proceedings.
“Every morning, I’d drive to court, hoping for a favorable outcome. In the end, the court granted custody to my ex-husband, reasoning that he lived in the U.S., which they saw as providing a ‘better life.’ It was painful, especially since I had raised him in Nigeria. The court ruled that my son should visit me in Nigeria twice a year during holidays, as he was attending school in the U.S.”
Emotionally drained by the custody battle and continual separation, Simeon admitted, “I grew tired of the constant back and forth. I was frustrated and depressed, but I kept a strong face, as my parents raised us to be resilient. Eventually, I decided to let go and move forward, realizing that life would go on for my son even if I wasn’t there.”
Responding to her ex-husband’s accusations that she was not a responsible mother, Simeon stated, “I always took my son with me, even when traveling for work outside Lagos. If I was working locally, I would always return home afterward. I made sure to be present. When he made those claims, it was frustrating because he frequently traveled as well and wasn’t around to know my routine with our son.”
Simeon also addressed the rumors surrounding Ademinokan’s relationship with Damasus, which began while she was still married to him. Ademinokan and Damasus later married secretly in 2011, sparking controversy and fueling speculation. However, Simeon dismissed any suspicions, saying, “At one point, I even encouraged him to go out and socialize, so I never suspected anything.”
Asked about her reaction to her ex-husband’s remarriage, Simeon said, “By that time, I had moved on. We had already divorced legally. What hurt the most was not being able to mother my son. That’s the only part that stings. My son is 16 now, and maybe that’s the way things are meant to be.”
When questioned about her own romantic life, Simeon hinted that she’s open to love again.
“There is someone in my life, but I’m keeping it private. I’m not promising a wedding anytime soon, but I have someone,”
