Court dissolves 20 -year-old marriage over  ill-treatment

By Fasusi Martins, Okitipupa
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An Okitipupa Customary Court has dissolved the 20-year-old marriage between  Mr. Kehinde Oyekanmi  and his wife, Abike  on the grounds of desertion and ill-treatment.

The petitioner, Abike, had filed a civil summons before the court on March 19, 2019, and claimed that her estranged husband, Oyekanmi, always engaged her in physical combat without provocation, in the presence of their children.

Abike alleged that for about three years  Oyekanmi neglected and deserted the two children of the marriage without performing his roles as a father .

She told the court that she needed separation from her husband.

In his defence, the respondent, Oyekanmi, told the court that the petitioner had been so wayward and that she found it very difficult to take care of the children whenever he was not at home .

He, however, pleaded with the court that he still loved his wife and would not like to separate from her because of the children .

In his judgement, the president of the court, Mr Adedeji O. Adebisi, held, “it is obvious that the marriage has failed and broken down irretrievably and not granting the petitioner’s prayer may lead to further hardship and depravity.

” It is worthy of note that the court cannot compel unwilling and a suffering party in a marriage to continue to suffer in the marriage.

Consequently, Adedeji dissolved the marriage and ordered the petitioner to refund the sum of N2,500, which the respondent paid for her dowry, while he granted the custody of the children  to the petitioner .

Oyekanmi was also ordered to pay the sum of N15,000 as monthly allowance through the court to the petitioner for the feeding and upkeep of the children .

The court added that the respondent will also provide 60% for the overall educational, health and social advancement of the children, while the petitioner will provide the remaining 40%