Wife of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Christ Embassy Church, Anita, has finalised divorce proceedings in the United Kingdom.

According to a statement released on the website of her United Kingdom-based solicitors, Attwaters Jameson Hill solicitors (www.attwatersjamesonhill.co.uk), the divorce proceedings were finalised on February 8, 2016

The statement reads: “We have been requested by Anita Oyakhilome to confirm that on February 8, 2016 a decree absolute was pronounced in the High Court of Justice Principal Registry of the Family Division dissolving her marriage to Christian Onehirokpeana Oyakhilome. Anita Oyakhilome would like to confirm that she is no longer involved in or part of Christ Embassy always known as Believers Loveworld Inc.”

News broke in 2014 that Anita reportedly made the first move to severe ties from her estranged husband by filing for divorce in a London court citing irreconcilable differences as reason for her decision.

Following the controversy, the ministry pulled down her profile from the church’s website, and her name was conspicuously missing from ‘Rhapsody of Realities’, a devotional she co-authored with her husband for many years.

Anita, who later took to blogging, wrote on her self-titled blog, www.pastoranita.org, messages which suggested that her marriage to the pastor was rocky and abusive.

One of the messages, posted shortly after the controversy broke reads in part: “My story is not one of a bed of roses. Far from it but, I had a choice to either beat myself over the regret of tolerating abuse for so long or put a stop to the abuse and recreate my life for the best. My journey was not in vain. I can now help others realise that their situation does not define them. In order to move on with life, I have come to realise that nothing is permanent. Your problem is not permanent; you can do something to change it by ensuring you do not allow the situation or the person make your life miserable.”

Anita and Chris were married in 1991 and have two daughters.

She has since reverted to her maiden name: Anita Ebhodaghe (Daily Sun)

•Photo shows Chris and Anita Oyakhilome during good times.

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