Court dissolves 5-year-old marriage for lack of affection

An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved a five-year-old marriage between Mrs Fayoke Akomolafe and her husband, Olakitan, over lack of affection.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the court president, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, held that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved it.

She awarded the custody of their two children to the petitioner, Fayoke, until they are of age.

Akomolede ordered the respondent to pay a sum of N5, 000 monthly as feeding allowance for the children.

She said both parties should be responsible for the education of the children.

Akomolede, however, over ruled the respondent’s request that the petitioner should refund the N653, 000 he used to support the petitioner’s education and shop.

“The court lacks the jurisdiction to deal with the issue pertaining to the N653, 000 you gave to the petitioner.

“I advise you file a case at the high court for a proper claim of your money from the petitioner,’’ she said.

Alomolede, however, granted the respondent access to visit his children twice a month, without any restriction from the petitioner.

The petitioner, Fayoke, a 30-year-old trader, told the court that the respondent was fond of beating her whenever they had misunderstanding.

She said the respondent beat her while she was carrying the pregnancy of her second child who is now two years old.

Fayoke told the court that the respondent sent her packing out of his house on September 31, 2016, and threatened to kill her if she came back.

She urged the court to dissolve the 5-year-old marriage in order for her to be able to eat the fruit of her labour.

The respondent, Olaikan, a businessman, denied the entire allegations.

He told the court that the petitioner was fond of nagging whenever they had any misunderstanding.

“She had even called the police to arrest me on several occasions,’’ he said.

The respondent also urged the court to dissolve their marriage for peace to reign and urged the court to award the custody of the children to the petitioner for proper care.

Olakitan pleaded with the court to compel the petitioner to refund a total sum of N653, 000 which he had spent on her education and shop.