Court dissolves 30-years marriage over wife’s infidelity

An Agege Customary Court has dissolved a 30-year-old marriage between a 54-year-old man, Mr. David Owonifari and his wife, Mrs. Abosede Owonifari over wife’s infidelity. According to Mr. David, there is no more love in the marriage. He added that the union has produced four children, Adebola 28 years & triplet, Iyanu, Ayodele, Damilola 26 […]

An Agege Customary Court has dissolved a 30-year-old marriage between a 54-year-old man, Mr. David Owonifari and his wife, Mrs. Abosede Owonifari over wife’s infidelity.

According to Mr. David, there is no more love in the marriage. He added that the union has produced four children, Adebola 28 years & triplet, Iyanu, Ayodele, Damilola 26 years. 

“I am feeling resentful, my wife no longer allow me to have sex with her, she is cheating on me and don’t give me my due respect anymore.”

He also told the court that the wife’s friends usually misled her into many social vices such as skin bleaching, outrageous dressing and regularly going to parties. “Anytime I caution her, she quarrels with me,” he said.

Mr. David accused his wife of being in possession of magical powers and belonging to a witch group.

He said none of the children is ready to work or do anything good as “they always threaten to set my house on fire and burn all my properties.”

“She has turned my children against me; when we are fighting, they all supports her and beat me,” he said.

Responding, Mrs. Owonifari debunked all the charges levelled against her and said she’s not leaving the marriage.

She claimed her husband is diabolical and uses native charm. “He’s always burying objects in our compound in the middle of the night,” she said.

Mrs. Abosede further told the court that “I did not belong to any witch society and have told the petitioner several times which he refused to accept”

"The petitioner has falsely accused me of having affairs with my business partners which I had explained the relationship between us to him on many occasions," adding that her husband had once brought a lady into their house to taunt her.

The Presiding Judge, Mr. Philip Williams, thereafter asked them to seek reconciliation, mediation and counselling so that both parties can reconcile their differences.

However, the husband rejected that offer, saying his wife must leave his house and the children should live with whoever they please.

Since the court cannot force a willing wife on an unwilling husband and to ensure peace, fairness, justice and impartiality, the judge therefore dissolved their marriage.

The judge declared: “The marriage between the petitioner and the respondent is hereby dissolved and they should cease to be regarded as husband and wife.

“The children having come of age are free to decide who to live with. The petitioner should pay the sum of N500, 000 (five hundred thousand) to the respondent within 30 days from judgment to resettle herself and any aggrieved party has the right to appeal against this judgment within 30 days in accordance with section 38 Sub-section 1 of Lagos state Customary Court Law.”