Court dissolves 23 -yr-old marriage over cruelty

From Fasusi Martins, Okitipupa

An Okitipupa Customary Court has dissolved  a 23-year-old  marriage between Mr. Kolawole  Ewuokun  and Mrs. Omowunmi Ewuokun on  the grounds of cruelty and ill-treatment.

According to the civil summons filed on January 7, 2019, the petitioner, Mrs. Omowunmi Ewuokun claimed that the estranged husband, Mr. Kolawole Ewuokun always engage her in fisticuffs even without provocation in the presence of their children.

The petitioner  told the court how  her husband, turned her to a punching bag which has caused her a lot of psychological and emotional trauma and damages.

Aggrieved and dissatisfied with the ill-treatment  she prayed the court for separation from the respondent.

She equally prayed the court to grant her the custody of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th children of the marriage and for the court to grant maintenance order as it is deemed fit.

During cross-examination, the  respondent built his case around the fact that the petitioner had been so wayward and found  it very difficult to take care of the children whenever he was  not at home .

He added that the petitioner sometimes in December 2018, destroyed his personal belongings because he corrected her for attending a meeting and for leaving  the  children uncared for.

In his judgement,  the presiding magistrate, Adedeji  O. Adebisi, held that it is obvious that the marriage has failed and broken down irretrievably, saying not granting the petitioner’s prayer might lead to further exceptional hardship and depravity.

Adedeji, however, dissolved the marriage and ordered the petitioner to return the  N2500 dowry fees.

Adedeji granted the custody of the third child Oluwatimilehin  Ewuokun (17), the fourth child, Titilope Ewuokun (10)and  the fifth child Oluwatamilore  Ewuokun to the petitioner .

But the court permitted the respondent to visit the children as much as he desires during reasonable hours and with reasonable notice.