Former retail banker Francis Ushie has recounted how he became separated from his wife and four children after the family’s Canadian permanent residency application was approved, claiming that his wife blocked him from contacting her and refused to disclose their address after relocating to Canada.
Ushie said he was married to a woman from Obuloku in Delta State and that their marriage had experienced difficulties, including what he described as an episode of infidelity on his wife’s part.
According to him, he chose to forgive her and hoped that relocating the family to Canada would provide an opportunity for them to rebuild their relationship.
Ushie said he voluntarily resigned from his banking job after their application for Canadian permanent residency was approved. However, his wife and their four children travelled to Canada ahead of him, while he remained in Nigeria for almost a year because his former employer needed to complete an audit of his position.
He eventually travelled to Canada in November 2014 but alleged that his wife refused to provide him with the family’s address.
“Unfortunately when my wife got there she blocked me and didn’t give me the address where she was staying… I was stranded at the airport. That’s airport in Canada, that’s Alberta Calgary,” he said.
Ushie said he eventually returned to Nigeria using his return ticket after being unable to locate his family.
He explained that he did not immediately return to Canada, saying he was also pursuing compensation from the Lagos State Government over a house that had allegedly been demolished and was waiting for funds from his business.
According to Ushie, he has remained in Nigeria since 2016 and has spent years separated from his wife and children.
Describing his situation, he said he had effectively been left without his family or a companion and expressed his willingness to reconcile with his wife.
Ushie also claimed that his children had been prevented from maintaining communication with him, a situation he said had caused him significant emotional distress.
Appealing directly to his children, the former banker maintained that he had played an active role in providing for the family and said he contributed towards securing their passports, flights and two years’ rent after their relocation.
“So please my children, I am a very, very responsible father,” he said.
Ushie’s account has drawn attention to the complexities that can arise when families relocate internationally amid unresolved marital disagreements. His allegations remain his account of the circumstances, and the version of events from his wife or other members of the family was not included in the account provided.