The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Court dissolves

  • Court dissolves pastor’s 11-year-old marriage over domestic violence

    An Agege Customary Court has dissolved the 11-year-old marriage of Pastor Ijeoma Okoli of Rhema Pentecostal Church International.

    The marriage was dissolved because of domestic violence.

    The court President, Mrs Ibironke Elabor, held that the estranged couple was tired of the marriage, noting that all efforts to reconcile them had failed.

    “Since both parties consented to the dissolution of the marriage; this court has no choice but to dissolve the marriage.

    “The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Mrs Ijeoma Okoli and Mr Ifeanyi Okoli dissolved today; both parties henceforth cease to be husband and wife,” she ruled.

    She gave the custody of their two children to the petitioner and instructed the respondent to pay N20,000 monthly for their upkeep, education and other bills.

    “Both parties are free to go their separate ways without any hindrance or molestation.”

    Earlier, Ijeoma, 36, who lives at Salako Street, Ogba, Lagos told the court that she was fed up with her husband.

    “My husband is aggressive, untrustworthy and troublesome.

    “He failed to tell me that he is addicted to drugs which l later discovered after our traditional marriage in 2007,” she said.

    The petitioner said her husband no longer loved and cared for her and was nonchalant about their children’s welfare.

    “I want peace, l do not want any problem in my life, the court should end our marriage as I do not love him again.”

    She described her husband as a drug addict, adding that he has become aggressive towards her and the children.

    “As a result of the drugs, he has become very violent and he abuses me and the children by pouncing on us when he is angry; he may kill us one day if I do not end the marriage.

    “I joined him in India in 2009 after I had our first child; when I got to India I realised that my husband is a drug addict.

    “The marriage is full of domestic violence, verbal abuses and threats to life.”

    Ijeoma said she had been separated from her husband since 2013, when she and her children returned home from India.

    She added: “I have been responsible for our children’s upkeep and I am the one who pays their school fees.

    “My husband is violent and l can no longer bear the pains; l do not want to lose my life.

    “I pray the court to separate us so that I can live comfortably with my children.”

    She pleaded with the court to grant her custody of the children and to facilitate the return of the bride price Ifeanyi paid on her.

    The defendant did not appear in court but, it was learnt that he did not oppose the petition.

  • Court dissolves 10-yr-old marriage

    A Somolu Customay Court on Thursday dissolved a 10-year-old marriage of a couple, Muritala Bolaji Kareem and Toheebat Mojisola Kareem.

    Kareem, 34, had dragged his wife, Mojisola to court asking for a dissolution of the union, accusing her of defamation against his person.

    He had also accused Mojisola of picking fight with him, and lacking respect for him and their marriage.

    He denied abandoning his wife saying that he had spent a sum of N2 million to sponsor her a d the children on a visit to the United States of America.

    Mojisola, however said her estranged husband has no love and respect for her adding that he has since stopped sleeping at home.

    She said her husband restricted from going out and had showered her rival with more affection.

    Although, the President of the court, Mrs Oluwatoyin Lakanu had called for circumspection on the part of the defendant last week, she however dissolved the marriage on Thursday.

    Delivering the judgment, Lakanu said: “After listening to the both parties, I have no choice than to drop this marriage, since both parties are no longer interested in the marriage. The petitioner will be responsible for her accommodation, since the children are still very young, the respondent will have custody of the children.

    ‘’The petitioner will be responsible for the children’s school fees and upbringing allowance, the petitioner will pay a sum of N5,000 per child making it N15,000, and it is to be paid to the court every month. The respondent should have access to the children as agreed by both parties. The right of appeal of this judgment to either of the party being granted, within 30 days from today, otherwise it is valid and final.’’

  • Court dissolves 5 year old marriage over crisis

    An FCT High Court, Maitama, on Tuesday dissolved the five- year- old marriage between Mr Agada Egwu and Onyowo, over Onyowo’s refusal to consummate the marriage and deserting the matrimonial home.

    The judge, Justice Jude Okeke, in his judgment on the divorce petition filed by Egwu, held that the marriage has broken irretrievably.

    “The court is satisfied with the evidence of the petitioner, that the respondent did not only refuse to consummate the marriage, but also deserted the petitioner for over a period of one year.

    “The respondent undeniably parked out of her matrimonial home since June 2014, the petitioner has satisfied the grounds provided by Section 15 (2) (a)and (b) of the Matrimonial Causes Act, 2004,’’ Okeke held.

    The judge said that evidences before the court were sufficient to grant dissolution of the marriage contracted under the Marriage Act on June 19, 2012 at the Marriage Registry, Makurdi.

    Okeke who reviewed the evidence, noted that immediately after the marriage on June 19, 2012, the wife changed from a caring and loving wife she presented herself prior to the marriage.

    The husband’s efforts to unravel the sudden change proved abortive. She suddenly hated him, and treated him with scorn that made him reluctant to come home after close of work, but he still endured.

    In his effort to resolve this problem, he reported to his pastor and some relatives yet it was not resolved.

    He said his wife denied him conjugal rights and he reasoned that because of this the marriage did not produce any child

    Okeke noted that while the petitioner was away in June 2014, the respondent who left the matrimonial home earlier to Makurdi, came and parked her belongings

    In 2015, the traditional marriage was annulled, with the return of the bride price he paid on her.

    The court noted that the respondent did not file any reply though represented by a counsel.

    Okeke said that “the court has no option than to act accordingly.’’

  • Court dissolves 10-yr-old marriage

    The Isolo Customary Court, Lagos has dissolved the marriage between a Lagos–based businessman, Anughere Kingsley Elochukwu, and his wife, Adaeze   Tina.

    Anughere had dragged his wife before the court on the grounds that she had abandoned her matrimonial home to engage in adultery.

    The petitioner, who resides at No 13, Ofokarie Street, Okota, Lagos State, claimed that his 10-year-old marriage to the respondent had broken down irretrievably, hence it should be dissolved.

    The respondent, however, denied all the allegations.

     In his ruling, the president of the court, Mr. A. Haastrup, said that it was not love that brought the feuding couple together as husband and wife but mere infatuation.

    The judge gave the custody of the two children produced by the marriage, Onyekachi and Ogechukwu, to the respondent.

    He, however , ruled that the petitioner should be allowed access to his two children and that he should place them on a monthly allowance for their upkeep.