“We are separating” – 9ice confirms marital split from wife Toni Payne
Posted on Friday, January 8th, 2010 at 4:56 PMBy Nolita
Sad news filtered through the entertainment community today. Just as speculation was mounting, an official press release from 9ice’s PR representatives confirmed the news. Nigerian musician 9ice and his wife of one and half years, beauty entrepreneur Toni Payne have broken up.
According to the press release, “The couple have agreed to separate for a while, even though they continue to remain good friends and business partners…And it is their wish that we all respect their privacy at this period”.
The couple who wed in July 2008 began dating before the musician attained widespread acclaim and success. 
Many credit the combination of 9ice’s talent and Toni’s managerial and publicity skills as the formula for the singer’s success. The couple is blessed with a son – Zion. According to the press release, Toni Payne will retain primary custody of their child.
This is truly an unfortunate development. As we all know, marriage is a tough journey and only the two people within that relationship can paint the full picture of the situation. We wish both 9ice and Toni Payne the best in this difficult time.
Photo Credit: Bella Naija | Suby & Sinem
Tags: 9ice, toni payne
i really do wish them the best, this is sad =(
Its most unfortunate for the both of them. I wonder if we are talking about foreign stars the way we have embraced divorce. Why do people get married? Are they aware that its hard work. Do they consider the children involved or just themselves. Do they think of the big picture besides the wedding ceremony.
I may just be rambling, its just that i really hate divorce and if you can help it kindly avoid it.
They were married for almost 1.5 years, not 2.5 years.
I do wish them both all the best. Perhaps the separation will give them to see that they are better together – you never know!
Ah painful. I wish them both well.
men………. i won’t blame any of them for now ,but i feel 9ice must have done something……just my own opinion.
Why d heck did they get married then….this is sooooo annoying if true
OMG!….say it’s a lie.
This is a sad news for the entertainment industry and is not encouraging. Hope both parent should come together to settle this. Please save the future of Zion.
I like that bella handled the matter courteosly.
This is a rather sad way to begin the New Year. I wish 9ice and Toni Payne the best; the two of them are the only ones who know what is really going on in their home. Hopefully, their separation will bring each member of their family the result they seek.
Naija people and una mouth.
Someone said they were sure that 9ice was the problem….why go Justifying and making assumption on what you don’t know. This a personal issue which needs to be resolved between both party. Secondly, if the marriage is not working why stay in it? marriage is not supposed to be a prison. Yes, it could also be best in the interest of the child to disolve things now than raising a kid in a unhealty and unhappy marriage. I bet neither of them had wished for a divorce when they got into the whole relationship? So why stay in it if it ain’t working out? They can try to work things out but if it is over, it is over…..life goes on.
I never saw this coming for them and I wish them all the best!!
@ Ragga, i agree with you, this whole marriage thing…people just seem to have a ceremony of dating, not a union of 2 souls. It gets to me.
I hope they get thru this…
well i guess all they need is another year and a half…oops1 did i say that??!!
This is so sad how i wish they can talk it over again, Divorce is never the best option
I KNEW IT…I THINK SHE JUST MARRIED HIM CUZ OF THE PREGNANCY AND THEY WERE JUST NOT A GOOD COUPLE…HE IS AN ILLITERATE AND SHE WAS WAY ABOVE HIS CLASS (EVEN THO SHE IS WOWO SHA)…SHE IS ALSO A VERY PROPER GIRL LIVING IN CALIFORNIA…I WAS SHOCKED WHEN THEY GOT MARRIED…NOT SURPRISED THOUGH. DON’T MARRY A MAN JUST CUZ U R PREGNANT BCOS THAT MARRIAGE WON’T LAST AND GIRLS SHUD WATCH WHO THEY MARRY…STILL WAITING FOR SULTAN’S MARRIAGE…LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS…FEEL BAD FOR TONI AND 9ICE’S BABY THOUGH
OMG!!! I think I am psychic! I swear.
I had this feeling for sometime for some odd feeling but I kept asking myself ” habba wetin come consine you for matter?” lol
aww! How sad! Hopefully they can work things out!
I think things just went by so quickly with them and a long distance marriage? Gosh! takes a whole lot of work and perseverance.
All d best
@Preye, my thoughts exactly (although did you mean to say 9ice wowo instead of Toni?) A well educated girl like her…come go marry that tout…Toni, you can do better than that! By the way, when did Nigerians start doing press release for separation lol…na wa o!
Its unfortunate things had to go this way for them….really wish the opposite was the case..ppl need to be cautious of what they say,there are emotions involved,families,siblings and especially the child in between.I pray this is not the end for toni and 9ice.divorce is not a thing of joy. being judged and some even saying they saw it coming is not a fair to say to anyone….wish toni and 9ice all the best…hope they can sort things out.
what up with the press release anyway? i suggest if you are not ready to get married, don’t my god people don’t take marriages serious anymore now a child has to grow up without the benefit of having two parents in a household. i think divorce is an easy option but in some diffcult cases inevitable.
It is easy to date and courtship is sweet but living together is very hard and sad sometimes. Couples go through hell! There is no perfect marriage like some people claim.
never get married to save your face after a pregnancy.
Separation isn’t an option. 9ice and Toni please sort your marriage out no matter the issue (unfaithfulness, lack of trust, infidelity etc) you name it. The truth is that in marriage let no man put asunder (separation). I believe both of them are responsible no matter what the problem is. I must admit that It’s a difficult time for them but I won’t hesitate to advise them to seek counsel from the Lord and their pastor(s).
I learn something today that when you don’t have the right foundation and you embark on a huge task/responsibility like marriage – it’s risky because if your foundation is right or strong – when the time of trails comes the building will surely collapse.
9ice my brother – Toni isn’t the problem. Toni my sister – 9ice isn’t the problem (both of you are the problem). Both of you should seek the face of the Lord (there is nothing God can’t do). I wish you a successful marriage – I speak life into your marriage. God bless you both really good!! Don’t let the devil rejoice because life is about choice – make the right choice according to God’s word and take responsibility for your actions and make it work. I love you 9ice, Toni & Zion.
N/B: there is no marriage that won’t get to the point where you want to go your separate ways…but if you stick and fight for it…you’ll reap the fruits.
IM SAD THEY WEREN’T SUPPOSE TO BREAK UP!!! I USE TO LOVE READING ABOUT THEM TOGETHER, MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD THEY’LL GET BACK TOGETHER
i did like 9ice and toni and thought they made a great couple…..no one should be passing judgement on this as no one knows wot has truely happened…..
its easy to sit there as an outsider and say woteva but we need to all understand that no matter wot, it will be a very difficult time for both of them and they will need support no matter wot caused the split….
i’m wishin them they best…..
Toni payne beauty what? did YOU ugly enterpreneur,she cant dress,she isnt beautiful n she cant doi makeup no sense of style oh well you guys should not act like it is that serious its normal in AFrica no paoers to sign they’ll just go seperate ways…goodluck to them hope 9ice starts eating good and looking a little 9icer as he looks like he’s suffering and does not eat
na wa oh! but thank God they put this up here for people to see especially now everyone seems to be getting married and girls never stop saying “i must get married this year oh”. like marriage i just a beautiful one day ceremony that solves all your problems.
Oh WOWERS! This is so shocking!!!!
I agree with a few here, what’s with the press release? Same thing I asked when I read a recent interview from Monalisa Chinda. Why can’t these people learn to keep their private lives private. ATTENTION! ATTENTION!! LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME!!! What ever.
wow.. I’m in shock
crap opinion and totally irrelevant in the scheme of things.
why the caps?
are you so insecure you need to draw attention ?
‘a proper girl living in California’?
You must be the most deluded of humans to make such a comment.
She did not remember she lived in California when she was sleeping with him?
you all need to stop these crass comments that are simply delusional.
Let them have their peace and sort out their lives as they deem fit.
some of those commenting here have worse relationships than this couple.
Whatever they do and whatever they seek, i wish them God’s strength.
you are waiting for Sultan’s marriage?
what are you?
a witch or a psycho.
please get off that keyboard and check into a mental facility.
you are sick.
Oh wow! This is sad – splitting up so soon! They both seemed to be so much in love and they were both good for each other’s careers. What a pity. Only God knows what went wrong between them. And their little son…. hmmm
It’s not surprising, long distance relationship fail 99% of the time.
Na wa you guys! Instead of you to pray say make yr own no be like that you are saying ‘he is tout and she’s princess!’ How is that yr bizness? Gosh! You pple sha!
Toni na my girl any given day…can we fault her for picking the razz stupid ibadan boy up, cleaning him and even considering him worthy of marriage and now..the idiot just bounceD? Chei…women have suffered sha…A whole Toni Payne..to Abolore Akande? the name sounds so razzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww!. His H-factor alone would have turned me off, let alone his eleran boy looks. Shio…Toni, keep your head up. You will be fine…
nawa o,some naija peeps and their big fat mouth,what is wrong with 9ice marrying the so called ‘a proper girl living in California’,some people really need to think before posting comment.KMT
This is a must be a really difficult time for them.Wishing them all the best and most importantly hoping dey wud try and work things out asap.
This is rubbish.you two should sit back and think.how would it fill like growing up without the ever watching eye of a dad.this is gonna have a negative effect on Baby Zion.for God’s sake,he is way too little to be experiencing this kind of thing.its rather late than never.
Faramade….. Ur soooo stupid it hurts me just reading ur comment. If it was left for pple like u, we would have two worlds…one for the “Toni Paynes” and the other for regular people with “H-factor”… Idiot!!!
what a pyscho you are Preye!!..i’m sure you sef get boyfriend(or psn wey u dey sleep with)..na the person i pity…..
Hw can u b such a blind critic??? Both of dem must hv liked something in each oda be4 goin 2 d altar. 9ice got style n dat’s why she wz trinpinp @ 1st. So if der’ve got issues nw, let dem sort it out like adults, beta still parents
lol , faramade sayin abolore is razz(talkin names now). ain’t dat a lil bit delusional. try n address issues and throw dem emotions in d in aiight
)
this is so sad…you guys need to get back togeda
Faramade…u really av tew work on tha way u bring out stuffz….itz sad tew read this kinda fin from u….
Well,i wish they ll comeback tewgether for better…thatz jst tha real spirit….
Hahaha lol, if you think Abolore sounds razz…check out FARAMADE. That’s like 500% more razz-sounding. Although I quite agree with you that 9ice is a razz guy but there’s nothing wrong with his name.
I pray and hope dt 9ice and Toni settle their differences and get back 2gether not just becos it`s the right thing 2 do but becos they`ve exchanged vows and as such produced a loving son “Zion”…In my opinion after being married for almost 10yrs despite d fact dt i`d settled abroad for over 2 decades b4 going back 2 Naija to get married…i can say there is NO formula for a successful marriage even if the love is diminishing @ a rapid speed…” you stick with it regardless of d circumstance”….I`m quite certain dt if you approach d likes of olu & Joke Jacobs…they will have 1 or 2 ups & downs to narrate…If both 9ice & Toni are really and truely God fearing & very considerate, they will most certainly do the right thing….
Finally i would love them to know dt 1) Gbo Gbo aso ko la`n sa s`orun (i.e Do not expose ur relationship)2)For two different people to come 2gether to become one and actually know eachother..You need 10yrs ie odun mewa gbako gbako 3)Nomatterwhat always communicate with oneanother 4)No condition is ever permanent…
Take care and Remain blessed
T.K Baba
This is really quite sad. I’ve heard that 9ice really loves (or is it now loved?) her. Men and Infidelity sha! Tufia!
I know they had been dating before 9ice blew up but I cant help but wonder if that helped facilitate the ‘shotgun’ marriage. I wonder if they had just chilled and not gotten married, maybe by now it will simply be a break up and not a divorce. IMO, we Nigerians seem to think we must get married once there’s pregnancy involved…not true!
Say what you will about 2baba but at least we know he’s taking his time where marriage is concerned lol.
P.S – check out my new blog: nigerian nougat x
Lmao…crazy chica…trust me, Faramadeola…omo **** infact if you hear my last name, na posh too. Real Ikorodu last name.lol Abolore is still razz name. what’s the short form? Abo ? In fact if you hear my momz call my name..you will swear to name your child after me…hahahhahaha
Marriage is not for small Boys
9ice and Toni should please for the sake of Zion should remember their first love and make this marriage work. Wake up and disappoint the devil over your marriage. you can do it……
Since that’s how they want it. I wish them good luck.