“I’m in Pains, I Haven’t Laid Eyes on My Children in Over 10 Years — I Don’t Even Know If They’re Still Alive,” Judy Austin’s Ex-Husband Cries Out

In a heart-wrenching cry for help that has stirred deep emotions across the country, Obasi Emmanuel, the estranged ex-husband of actress Judy Austin, has made a disturbing revelation about his long-lost children. In a voice that quivered with pain and desperation, Emmanuel recounted his decade-long agony of not seeing or hearing from his children—his own flesh and blood—since their mother, Judy Austin, allegedly shut him out of their lives after her sudden departure from their marriage years ago.

Obasi, who had once lived a simple life as a businessman and family man in Anambra State, said his world began to crumble when Judy, then still relatively unknown in the movie industry, started seeking a path into Nollywood and gradually distanced herself from him. According to him, their marriage, which produced two children, was filled with the typical challenges of young couples trying to grow together, but never did he imagine he would one day become a stranger to his own children.

With tears streaming down his face and a tremor in his voice, Emmanuel said, “I’m in pains. I haven’t laid eyes on my children in over ten years. I don’t even know if they are still alive. I am just a man who wants to see his kids again before I die.” His statement has since gone viral, igniting conversations about fathers' rights, parental alienation, and the consequences of unresolved domestic conflicts.

Obasi's account paints a picture of a man who loved his family but was allegedly denied the opportunity to continue being part of it. He claims Judy left the marriage after she gained entrance into the entertainment industry and moved to Enugu, taking the children with her. All his attempts to reach them, according to him, were frustrated. “I begged. I went to her family. I went to people we both respected. I tried every peaceful means, but she shut every door in my face,” he said.

This revelation comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding Judy Austin’s new marriage to popular actor Yul Edochie, a union that has dominated headlines and sparked heated debate online for months. While much of the public conversation has focused on Judy's boldness and the turbulence within the Edochie family, Obasi’s voice had remained silent—until now.

Many Nigerians are now seeing this man’s tears not just as personal pain, but as a symbol of the unheard voices of countless fathers who have been denied access to their children after separations and divorces. Social media is now buzzing with emotional responses, as many users express outrage, heartbreak, and empathy over Obasi’s ordeal. Hashtags like #JusticeForObasi and #BringBackHisKids have started to trend, as people call for answers and accountability.

“This is not just about Judy or any celebrity gossip,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “This is about a man who has lost a whole decade with his kids. A man who wakes up every day not knowing if his children are safe, healthy, or even alive. That’s a different level of suffering.”

Another wrote, “Judy Austin owes this man an explanation. And if she feels she doesn’t, then the law should compel her to explain why a father has been kept in the dark for ten years.”

Obasi also opened up about his mental and emotional toll, admitting that he had suffered depression, poverty, and social ridicule over the years. “People mocked me. They said I wasn’t man enough to keep my wife. They said I must have done something wrong. But no one ever asked how I was coping without my children,” he said. “Every birthday, I cry. Every holiday, I weep. I don’t even know their voices anymore. I don’t know if they look like me. I don’t know if they even remember me.”

He said his last memory of his children was watching them play in the compound while Judy packed up a few bags and told him she was visiting her sister in Enugu. He never saw them again. He alleged that every attempt to trace them was met with hostility and silence, especially after Judy began to gain prominence in the film industry.

The issue has now sparked legal interest, with some lawyers and child rights advocates suggesting that if Obasi’s claims are true, he has every legal right to file for custody access or at least visitation. Human rights organizations have also begun to weigh in, urging the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the matter and offer mediation or support.

“This is more than a family issue. This is a human rights issue. Children deserve both parents, and no parent should be erased from their child’s life unless they pose a danger,” said Barrister Ada Eze, a family law expert based in Lagos. “If the law cannot ensure that both parents are involved in a child’s life, then the system has failed.”

While Judy Austin has yet to respond to the allegations, pressure is mounting for her to speak up. Many are now questioning how a mother could deny a father even the most basic updates about his children’s well-being for ten long years. Others, however, have cautioned the public not to rush to judgment, noting that every family has its own side of the story.

Yet for Obasi Emmanuel, no explanation will erase the years lost. No statement will return the birthdays missed, the hugs unsqueezed, or the questions unanswered. “I just want to see them again,” he repeated over and over during the emotional interview. “Even if it’s once. Even if they don’t want to speak to me. Let me just know they are alive. That’s all I ask.”

In a country where broken homes and custody battles are often shrouded in silence and shame, Obasi’s story has broken the dam wide open. His pain is raw, his voice is broken, and his hope is dim—but in the echo of his tears, thousands of forgotten fathers are finding the courage to speak up. Whether justice will follow remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this man’s pain can no longer be ignored.