By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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An Ekiti Grade ‘A’ Customary Court was shell shocked yesterday, as a prophetess, Mrs Rita Ajagunigbala admitted at a crowded court that she had sex with a herbalist.
Her confession, however led to the dissolution of the 22-year-old marriage between her and the husband, Pastor Joshua Ajagunigbala.
In her defence, the cleric gleefully admitted having sexual relationship with the Ikere Ekiti popular herbalist, Chief Ifadayomi, otherwise known as Ejiogbe.
The embattled cleric who was caught on January 3, 2023, with the late herbalist, sensationally told the court, “Yes, my lord. I had sex with Ejiogbe because my husband abdicated his responsibilities”.
“My lord, I am the one responsible for the feeding, shelter and school fees of the children.”
She claimed that she had incurred huge debts managing the family which Ejiogbe helped her to defray.
The Lady Pastor who spotted well tailored attire at the court spoke glowingly about her concubine as the audience listened in rapt attention what transpired between her and Ejiogbe, which ended in tragedy on January 3, 2023 at a popular hotel in Ikere, during which the herbalist slumped and died after a sex romp.
The petitioner, Pastor Ajagunigbala, had approached the court to seek for dissolution of his 22-year-old relationship with his wife, Rita, on the grounds of adultery, shortly after she got involved in the scandal.
The death of the late herbalist, had caused ripples among members of his family and the church where Pastor (Mrs) Ajagunigbala, was acting as a presiding Pastor, until the unfortunate incident.
Mrs Ajagunigbala was earlier detained at the Ekiti State Police Command, but was later released on bail after settlements between the late herbalist’s family and members of the church.
Scandalised by the whole scenario, her husband, Mr Joshua Ajagunigbala, who is also a Pastor in one of the white garment churches in Ikere-Ekiti, pushed for separation.
In his claims, Ajagunigbala pleaded with the court to dissolve the union on the grounds of adultery, pointing out that the allegation would be the third time he had taken his estranged wife to court over her adulterous lifestyle.
He said since 2017, the respondent had been having an illicit affair with the herbalist called Ifadayomi, a.k.a Ejiogbe, who is now late.
The petitioner, during his evidence narrated how the late herbalist died after a sex romp with the respondent at the hotel in Ikere-Ekiti and said the development led to a commotion where some suspected thugs attacked and destroyed his house and his church in Ikere and he was thereafter suspended by his church authority.
The cleric said he was no longer interested in the association and pleaded with the court to dissolve the association, praying that the custody of his children be granted him.
Though he admitted that he did not pay the dowry of the respondent despite the fact that they had both lived together for over 22 years.
In her defence, Mrs Rita Ajagunigbala, denied having any sexual relationship with an interpreter in the church as alleged by her husband.
To the amazement of all, she admitted having sexual relationship with the late herbalist, claiming that the affair she had with him was as a result of lack of care from the petitioner.
Delivering his judgement, the President of the Court, Mr. Joseph Oyedele, said there was no legal marriage between them, saying that the duo were free to go their separate ways.
“Having gone through all the oral evidence presented before this court, it was discovered that there was no legal customary marriage between the parties herein and there is no marriage available between parties to dissolve.
“The court, hereby order the parties are now free to go on their own without disturbing the peace of each other.”
The Court ordered that the petitioner, Mr Ajagunigbala should take full responsibility of the welfare and education of the last two children Olarewaju and Victoria Ajagunigbala, because they are still minors.
“On the issue of the custody of the children, the court can only order on the last two children of the marriage because they are yet to reach the age of maturity. The first two children are free to decide under who they can live between the two parties, because they are no longer minors,” the court held.
