Court dissolves 6-year-old marriage due to abandonment

AN FCT High Court, Jabi on Friday dissolved a six-year-old union between Michael Ndep and his wife, Jackline, on grounds that the marriage had broken down irretrievably due to abandonment.

Justice Charles Agbaza held that the court was duty bound to dissolve any marriage that had broken down irretrievably.

The judge further said: “the respondent Jackline never appeared in court and she was not represented by legal counsel throughout the proceedings.

“Processes and hearing notices were served on her but she never appeared.

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“Also, because the court had held that where evidence is neither challenged nor controverted, the court should deem that evidence as admitted correct and act on it.

“From the evidence of petition, it is sufficient proof that the marriage between the parties has indeed broken down irretrievably.

“Having proven to the reasonable satisfaction of a court of facts relied upon for the dissolution of marriage, this petition succeeds.

“The marriage celebrated at AMAC Registry Abuja on March 19, 2013, under the Marriage Act between Michael and Jackline has broken irretrievably.

“I hereby pronounce a decree Nisi, dissolving the marriage between the parties, the union between Michael and Jackline is hereby dissolved”, the judge said.

In his petition, Michael, who resides in Olympia Estate, Kaura District, Abuja said that his wife whom he married on March 19, 2013, abandoned him when he was hospitalised in Dubai after a spinal cord injury.

He further submitted that Jackline left their home in May 2015 and all efforts and pleadings made for her to return failed.