A Grade ‘A’ Customary Court sitting in Oke-Eda Akure, Ondo State, has seen Theophilus Ayodeji Obayan, a middle-aged man, bringing his estranged wife to court for changing their children’s surname to that of her new lover.
Obayan sought the dissolution of his 23-year marriage with Chibuzor Lillian Obayan and custody of their four children.
He accused his wife of denying him access to their children after she left their marital home.
Obayan pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage and grant him custody of their four children, asking that their names be changed back to his surname.
Lillian, however, argued against the petitioner’s claims and stated that her husband was financially irresponsible.
“My lord, life was not easy for me over the years we have been together. In fact, Obayan derived pleasure in always molesting and beating me to the extent that I sustained body fractures,” the respondent told the court.
“Obayan is not a good husband to me and good father to his children, as he doesn’t pay their school fees nor care about how they are living.”
He didn’t pay my dowry. So, I finally found a man to marry. And my new love wants my children to bear his name instead of that of their irresponsible father
“Our children are old enough to choose for themselves as they are no longer kids. My first two girls, Mayomi and Damilola are 22 and 20 years old, while the boys, Ariyo and Aduragbemi are 18 and 16 years old respectively.”
She stated that she had witnesses to prove that there was no traditional marriage between them and urged the court to dissolve the union since Obayan did not pay her dowry.
The President of the court, Magistrate Olusegun Rotiba, advised the parties to seek peace and adjourned the case until September 28, 2023, for further proceedings, including oral addresses or a possible judgment.
