Court dissolves 23-year-old marriage over constant beatings

An Ikole-Ekiti, Ekiti State Customary court has dissolved a 23-year-old marriage between Mrs Esther Owolabi and her husband, Lukman, over alleged fighting and unbearable lifestyle of the defendant.

The court president, Mrs Yemisi Ojo who delivered the judgment in the defendant’s absence, ordered that both  parties should go their separate ways and also awarded the custody of the six children produced by union to the plaintiff.

Stating that the decision was in the best interest of the children, Mrs Ojo said, “The plaintiff has established her case beyond any doubt that the defendant has been so irresponsible towards his children.

“The Court also said that the defendant lacks the capacity to care for children in nurturing manner, hence his counter-prayer for the custody of the children is hereby denied.

“Both parties are to go their separate ways as they stand unmarried.”

The court ordered that the defendant should pay the sum of N10,000 as monthly support in addition to the payment of the children’s school fees in their respective schools.

The court also granted the prayer of the plaintiff seeking to restrain her husband from encroaching into one plot of land she claimed she owned.

“Regarding the land in dispute, evidence on record has made it abundantly clear that the plaintiff is the owner of the land as the defendant could not produce any evidence or witness to support his claim”, the court ruled.