A Mapo Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital has dissolved the union between a middle-aged woman, Olawumi Olasemo, and her husband, Wale Olasemo, on grounds of attempted money ritual and domestic violence.
Delivering judgement, the court’s President, S.M. Akintayo, pronounced the 15-year-old marriage dissolved, noting that the dissolution became necessary in the interest of peaceful living, especially with the involvement of the lives of the children for money ritual.
She held that the evidence tendered by the petitioner indicated that there was a valid customary marriage between Olawumi and Olasemo.
Quoting relevant sections of the law to back her, verdict, Akintayo awarded custody of the two children from the union to Olawumi and ordered Olasemo to pay N20,000 as the children’s monthly feeding allowance to the court.
The petitioner, Olawumi told the court that Olasemo attempted to use their two children for money ritual.
She added that she was afraid of her husband due to his bad attitude and lack of love for her.
”When I noticed Olasemo’s desperate attempt to use our two children for money ritual, he became unhappy and beat me.
“I parted ways with Olasemo about eight years ago and he has since remarried,” she said.
Olasemo, was however, absent from court to put up his defence.
The court noted that the respondent was duly served with originating summon as well as notice of court hearing, but preferred not to make any appearance.
Akintayo also granted the order restraining the respondent from harassing, molesting, and interfering with the private life of the petitioner.
She directed the two to be jointly responsible for the education and other welfare of the children.
