Ekiti Court Dissolves 5-year-old Marriage for Lack of Care
An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court on Friday dissolved a five-year-old between Ayodele Yemisi and her husband Olarewaju for uncaring attitude to wife and the only child.
The President of the court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, in his judgment, held that the marriage had broke down irretrievable and consequently dissolved the marriage.
He awarded the custody of the child to Yemisi, ordered the respondent to pay N4,000 monthly upkeep allowance for the child be and responsible for the child’s education
He, however, granted access to the husband to see his child without hindrance
Yemisi,32, a resident of No. 36 Oke-Ila, Ado-Ekiti, had told the court that when she got pregnant, her husband, Olarewaju, initially suggested an abortion before changing his mind.
She said she was, however, surprised that after delivery, her husband denied being responsible for the pregnancy.
“I took responsibility for the naming of the child.
“I also reported him to his parents, demanding that we should meet at the Palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, but his father told me that would not be necessary.
“His father said this considering the fact that the child resembled my husband,” she said.
Yemisi claimed she took care of the child till when she was one and half years old and when she approached her husband for the school fees of the child, he looked the other way.
“He complained and said there was no way he would pay the fees of a child who was yet able to talk fluently,” she said.
She, however, said that four years into the marriage, she met and told her mother-in-law that she was fed up with taking care of the child alone.
“I, therefore, pray the court to dissolve our marriage and order him to take care of the education and welfare of our only child,” she said.
Olarewaju, 36, a resident of No 16, Alafia Tayo, Ado-Ekiti, denied the allegationS
“I am responsible for the pregnancy as well as being the father of the child, although we do not live together.
“I visit her house and with whatever I can afford, I do take care of her and the child,” he said.
Olarewaju said they were both paying the child’s school fees until last year when he started having challenges with his business.
“The downturn of my business made me to stop giving her money for upkeep,” he said.
He prayed the court not dissolve his marriage to Yemisi, claiming he was still in love with her and help beg Yemisi not to go.
-NAN
