Against the backdrop of prevalent romance scams, an American woman, Clarissa Zoe Arokodare, has revealed that she hired a private investigator to conduct a background check on her Nigerian husband before she came to Lagos to meet him for the first time.
In an interview with the Vanguard, the songwriter narrated how she met her husband through TikTok and resigned from work last year after coming to Nigeria to spend time with her husband before their marriage.
“I didn’t meet my husband in a conventional way. I met my husband through TikTok. I first connected with his late wife’s brother, who later introduced us. His wife had passed away, and the fact that her own brother introduced him to me speaks volumes about the kind of person my husband is. In today’s world, people rarely vouch for others so openly,” she said.
Clarissa noted that she met her husband when she was actually done with relationships.
“However, before meeting him, I had met a Nigerian man in New York, who exposed me to Yoruba culture, and it was something I admired deeply. That experience planted a seed. When I eventually met my husband, even though I wasn’t looking for a relationship, it was the way he valued family and cared for his children that drew me to him.”
She admitted to having entertained a fear of romance scam so she hired a private investigator based in Lagos to verify everything her husband had told her.
“Initially, yes, but those fears disappeared. Before coming to Nigeria, I hired a private investigator based in Lagos to verify everything my husband had told me. The report confirmed that everything checked out. Beyond that, my husband never pretended to be what he was not. He showed me exactly where he lived, even when he wasn’t proud of it. He told me plainly; “This is me. Take me as I am.” He never asked me for money. In fact, when I tried to help during a difficult time, he refused, saying it was too early in the relationship for that. That level of integrity made me respect him even more.
On her children and parent’s reactions when she informed them about her husband, she said: “My family initially had reservations. Years ago, a cousin of mine had a negative experience with a Nigerian man, which shaped my family’s perception. However, over time, my husband proved them wrong. He never pretended to be wealthy or something he wasn’t. Because of his honesty and consistency, my family grew to respect him. Today, they have nothing negative to say.
“We began talking in May 2024. At the time, I wasn’t even thinking about marriage. I just wanted to have a child, not a partner. In October 2024, I came to Nigeria for the first time. I planned to stay for one week, but I ended up staying six weeks. Our relationship moved differently from what I was used to in America. It felt natural, sincere and deeply connected from the beginning.
“After six weeks together, he proposed in November 2024 at Leola Hotel, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos, with the room beautifully decorated. We got married in April 2025. The bond we share is rooted in healing, respect and intentional love . He has shown me a kind of love that helped heal wounds from my past.”
