Nollywood star opens up on painful marriage collapse, ignored warnings, and losing contact with his children

Nollywood actor Jimmy Rolland has shared a deeply personal account of his failed marriage, alleging that his former wife misled him into believing she was a virgin before they tied the knot — a claim he says was shattered on their wedding night.

Speaking on the African A-List podcast, Rolland described the moment as one of the most painful revelations of his life, admitting he had overlooked several warning signs because he trusted her.

“I’m not a fool. I saw the signs, but I was carried away — even influenced by my mother-in-law,” he said.

According to the actor, both his mother and close friends had cautioned him against going ahead with the marriage after what he described as spiritual consultations. Despite the warnings, he chose to proceed.

Rolland revealed that the relationship lasted four years before marriage, during which his partner repeatedly assured him she was a virgin. He said this influenced his decision to abstain from intimacy throughout their courtship.

“She told me she was a virgin, so I didn’t make any move. We dated for four years,” he said.

He added that after their formal introduction, she insisted they wait until their wedding night before becoming intimate — a request he honoured, only to discover what he now calls a “lie.”

“I waited for months after the introduction. But on the wedding night, it turned out to be false,” he said.

The actor admitted the discovery left him devastated and that he considered ending the marriage immediately, but ultimately stayed.

“I was disappointed. I should have walked away, but I didn’t. It wasn’t easy,” he said.

Reflecting on the aftermath, Rolland said the most painful consequence of the separation was losing access to their two children, whom he claims his ex-wife took away.

“What hurt me the most is that we have two kids together, and she took them,” he said.

He further claimed the emotional strain of being separated from his children took a serious toll on his health, leading to a stroke.

“I had a stroke because of the stress and thinking about my children,” he said.

Rolland added that his mother has also been deeply affected by the situation, lamenting the absence of her grandchildren.

“My mother still cries. She wants to see the children,” he said.

The actor did not disclose when the marriage ended or whether any legal steps have been taken regarding custody of the children.