A Customary Court in Agbarho, Ughelli North council area of Delta State, on Monday dissolved the marriage between former Minister of Science and Technology, Grace Ekpiwhre, and her husband, Chief Peter Epkiwhre.
Giving her ruling, President of the Court, Mrs. Stella Okah, said she dissolved the marriage because the couple had been estranged for long.
According to the judge, the former minister, who was at a time Head of Service in Delta State, had approached the court for dissolution of the marriage as she is no longer interested in the union.
Okah, supported by Chief Adadi Omosowho and Mr.Richard Onosigho, members of the court, however ordered the ex-minister’s family to refund the sum of N120, 000 paid on her as dowry to the court registry.
Meanwhile, the eldest member of the Akpoguma family of Agbarho, where the former minister hails from, Chief Samuel Salubi, had since refunded the dowry to the court registry.
Mrs. Ekpiwhre, retired as Delta State’s Head of Service before becoming Minister of Science and Technology under late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007.
She was later appointed Minister of State, Works and Housing after a cabinet reshuffle.
She also served as Supervising Minister, Women Affairs and Social Development.