Lagos court dissolves 25 year old marriage

A Nigerian customary court in the city of Lagos has dissolved a 25-year-old marriage over adultery and excess alcohol drinking by the husband.

The President of the Orile-Agege Grade ‘B’ Customary Court , Mr Joseph Adewusi, today ruled that the marriage between Mr Kayode Oladepo and Mrs Comfort Oladepo had broken down beyond repair.

“Starting from today, you seize to be addressed as husband and wife. You shall go your separate ways unmolested. The custody of the children is referred to the Family Court, Ikeja but in the interim, the children should remain with their mother.

“In the interim, the respondent shall be paying N8,000 monthly through the court for the children’s upkeep,” he ruled.

Comfort filed the suit on January 21, seeking the dissolution of her marriage. In her petition, Comfort, 44, an auxiliary nurse, claimed that her husband refused to work in the past 20 years. Comfort, who lives at Shodipo St., Papa Ashafa, Orile Agege, also told the court that her husband was adulterous and given to alcohol.

“I am the one feeding and clothing the family as well as paying the house rent. All he knows is to drink to stupor and chase single ladies in the neighbourhood. I made efforts to stop him from the disgraceful acts but he did not listen, ‘’ she said.

Comfort said she was tired of giving Kayode money weekly because of his refusal to find a job. The mother of four children, aged between seven and 24 years, said that she would not regret quitting the marriage.

“I have endured for 25 years; I want to stay alone now; he is useless,’’ she said.

Responding, Kayode, 54, said he was caring for his family, although he had no money.

“When one of our children was sick, I was with him for three months in the hospital doing what his mother could not do. I protect the family and take care of the children while she brings home the money,’’ he said.

Kayode prayed the court to save the union, saying that he still loved his wife and would continue to do so.