Dotun and Taiwo, who were married for eight years, have been embroiled in a legal battle over custody of their daughters. The OAP claims that Taiwo, her family, and her brother, singer D’Banj, have repeatedly denied him access to the children, even though a court order granted him joint custody.
In a series of social media posts, Dotun alleged that the U.S. embassy “connived” with his estranged wife to move the children abroad three years ago, in violation of a court order that prohibited either parent from taking the children out of Nigeria. According to Dotun, he held the children’s original passports, and his consent was required for international travel. He further claimed that the embassy issued new passports for the children—both U.S. citizens by birth—without his knowledge or approval.
“The American embassy in Nigeria is an enabler of child abduction… very biased. No proper investigation,” Dotun wrote. “I have written for years and kept quiet for three years. It’s time.”
He also specifically accused former U.S. Consul-General Mary Beth Leonard of overseeing a “compromised and biased process” that allowed the relocation, arguing that the embassy disregarded its standard two-parent consent policy. Dotun suggested that documentation submitted to the embassy “was most likely forged, or games played.”
Dotun claimed that these alleged actions violated his parental rights and escalated a difficult custody dispute into an international legal issue. He demanded accountability from the embassy, insisting that it explain how the children were able to leave Nigeria despite the court order and travel restrictions.
“Even though my children are U.S. citizens, their mother is not. Issuing new passports without my consent or a court mandate shows a failure to protect the rights of a non-American father,” he wrote.
In his posts, Dotun questioned whether a court order in Nigeria carries any weight if false documents or misrepresentations are submitted abroad. He referenced ongoing U.S. immigration reforms, writing:
“@POTUS is trying to clean up in the immigration system… The American embassy, it’s time to provide my kids or give me a fair hearing… Where are my kids?”
As of this report, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has not issued a public response to Dotun’s allegations.